Short answer
The same age label covers different heights at different brands.
Range labels such as "5-6 Years" agree far more than single-year labels such as "6 years": the median gap between the tallest-cut and shortest-cut brand is 4.5 cm for range labels and 11.0 cm for single years.
At "5-6 years", 10 of 17 brands publish exactly 110-116 cm.
Where a label prints a cm figure, such as "104 (3-4Y)", it is usually the top of the height range, not the middle.
Age labels in cm: the lookup table
Each row shows the height bracket brands most often publish for that label, how many brands publish exactly that bracket, and the brands with the lowest-cut and highest-cut range. All figures are the brands' own published height ranges in cm, from 51 brands' charts as of October 2026.
| Age label | Brands | Most common bracket | Brands with it | Lowest-cut brand | Highest-cut brand |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2-3 years | 15 | 92-98 cm | 9 of 15 | Decathlon: 89-95 cm | JoJo Maman Bébé: 92-99.1 cm |
| 3-4 years | 16 | 98-104 cm | 10 of 16 | Decathlon: 96-102 cm | Uniqlo: 105-115 cm |
| 4-5 years | 15 | 104-110 cm | 10 of 15 | Tu (Sainsbury's): 104-109 cm | Polarn O. Pyret: 105-110 cm |
| 5-6 years | 17 | 110-116 cm | 10 of 17 | Frugi: 110-116 cm | Uniqlo: 115-125 cm |
| 6-7 years | 14 | 116-122 cm | 10 of 14 | Frugi: 116-122 cm | Zippy: 118-121 cm |
| 7-8 years | 15 | 122-128 cm | 10 of 15 | Zippy: 121-128 cm | Uniqlo: 125-135 cm |
| 8-9 years | 14 | 128-134 cm | 9 of 14 | JoJo Maman Bébé: 121.9-133.3 cm | Decathlon: 131-140 cm |
| 9-10 years | 14 | 134-140 cm | 9 of 14 | Zippy: 132-138 cm | Uniqlo: 135-145 cm |
| 10-11 years | 11 | 140-146 cm | 9 of 11 | Frugi: 140-146 cm | Decathlon: 141-149 cm |
| 11-12 years | 13 | 146-152 cm | 9 of 13 | Zippy: 138-152 cm | Uniqlo: 145-155 cm |
| 12-13 years | 8 | 152-158 cm | 7 of 8 | Decathlon: 150-159.5 cm | Tu (Sainsbury's): 152-158 cm |
| 13-14 years | 9 | 158-164 cm | 6 of 9 | Zippy: 152-163 cm | Adidas Kids: 159-164 cm |
| Age label | Brands | Most common bracket | Brands with it | Lowest-cut brand | Highest-cut brand |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 years | 34 | 86-92 cm | 7 of 34 | Garanimals: 81.3-85.1 cm | John Lewis: 92-98 cm |
| 3 years | 35 | 92-98 cm | 6 of 35 | Vertbaudet: 86-94 cm | John Lewis: 98-104 cm |
| 4 years | 32 | 98-104 cm | 6 of 32 | Kyte Baby: 94-102 cm | Petit Bateau: 104-110 cm |
| 5 years | 28 | 104-110 cm | 5 of 28 | Vertbaudet: 102-108 cm | Petit Bateau: 110-116 cm |
| 6 years | 15 | 110-116 cm | 4 of 15 | Vertbaudet: 108-114 cm | Petit Bateau: 116-128 cm |
| 7 years | 11 | 116-122 cm | 4 of 11 | LEGO Wear: 116-122 cm | Macy's: 124-135 cm |
| 8 years | 12 | 122-128 cm | 5 of 12 | Vertbaudet: 114-126 cm | Petit Bateau: 128-140 cm |
| 9 years | 8 | 128-134 cm | 5 of 8 | LEGO Wear: 128-134 cm | John Lewis: 134-140 cm |
| 10 years | 11 | 134-140 cm | 5 of 11 | Vertbaudet: 126-138 cm | Petit Bateau: 140-152 cm |
| 12 years | 11 | 146-152 cm | 4 of 11 | Vertbaudet: 138-150 cm | Petit Bateau: 152-172 cm |
| 14 years | 9 | 158-164 cm | 3 of 9 | Vertbaudet: 150-158 cm | Petit Bateau: midpoint 172 cm |
Lowest-cut and highest-cut brand: the brands whose published range has the lowest and highest midpoint for that label. Where the per-brand file has no range for that brand, the midpoint is shown.
Why range labels agree and single years do not
Most range labels follow the standard European 6 cm height brackets: 92-98, 98-104, 104-110, 110-116, 116-122, 122-128, 128-134, 134-140, 140-146, 146-152, 152-158 and 158-164 cm. These are the same steps as the "98", "104", "110" labels many European brands use.
Because so many brands use the same steps, they publish identical brackets. At "3-4 years", 10 of 16 brands publish 98-104 cm. At "4-5", 10 of 15 publish 104-110 cm. At "5-6", 10 of 17 publish 110-116 cm. At "6-7", 10 of 14 publish 116-122 cm. At "7-8", 10 of 15 publish 122-128 cm.
Single-year labels have no shared ladder, so each brand decides where "6 years" starts and ends. Across all 23 age labels, the median gap between the tallest-cut and shortest-cut brand is 7.9 cm. For range labels it is 4.5 cm; for single-year labels it is 11.0 cm.
What the cm figure in a label means
Many labels print a height next to the age, for example "104 (3-4Y)" or "3 years (94cm)". In 87 of 94 labels we checked, that figure is the top of the height range.
KappAhl/Newbie and Lindex "104 (3-4Y)" both cover 98-104 cm. Polarn O. Pyret "104 (3-4Y)" covers 99-104 cm.
Uniqlo is the exception. Its cm figure is the centre of the range in 7 of 7 labels checked: Uniqlo "3-4 Years (110cm)" covers 105-115 cm.
Where brands differ most
The largest gaps are between Petit Bateau and Vertbaudet at the single-year labels 8, 10, 12 and 14 years, from 14 to 18 cm. Both are statements about where each brand's published range sits, not about fit.
Even without these two brands, the median gap across age labels is 6.0 cm and the largest gap is 11.8 cm.
What to do
Measure your child's height, without shoes. Compare it with the brand's own height range for the label, not with the age. If the label prints a cm figure, read it as the top of the range unless the brand says otherwise. Do not buy by age label alone.
The size finder matches a height to each brand's chart. For the wider picture, see the kids clothing size chart guide.
Questions
What does 5-6 years mean in cm?
At 10 of 17 brands we compared, "5-6 years" is published as 110-116 cm. Other brands publish slightly different ranges, so check the brand's own chart before buying. Published charts as of October 2026.
Is the cm figure on a kids' clothing label the child's height?
Usually it is the top of the height range. In 87 of 94 labels checked, the printed cm figure was the upper limit: Lindex "104 (3-4Y)" covers 98-104 cm. Uniqlo is the exception and prints the centre: "3-4 Years (110cm)" covers 105-115 cm.
Why do single-year age labels differ more between brands than range labels?
Range labels such as "5-6 Years" mostly follow the standard European 6 cm height brackets, so brands agree. Single-year labels such as "6 years" have no shared ladder. The median gap between the tallest-cut and shortest-cut brand is 11.0 cm for single-year labels and 4.5 cm for range labels.
Methods and sources
Published brand size charts only: 51 brands, ages 2 to 14, 383 chart rows. Brands that publish in inches are converted at 2.54 cm per inch.
Height only. This is not a fit study: chest, waist, hips, rise, stretch and cut are not compared. Plus, husky, slim and extended fits are excluded.
Brands change charts; check the brand's own chart before buying.
Data as of October 2026. Full method: How we compare kids' size charts.