Size Labels for Clothing: Woven, Printed and Heat-Transfer Options

Size labels are the smallest labels in a garment and often the most consulted. Shoppers look for them before they look at the price, sewing lines need them to keep a size run in order, and warehouses rely on them when they pick, pack and sort returns. Getting size labels right means choosing a production method, deciding how and where they are sewn in, picking the size system for your markets and planning quantities per size. This guide covers each step for brands and garment makers ordering size labels for clothing.

Three ways to show the size

Woven size tabs

Woven size labels are produced on jacquard looms, usually in damask or satin. The size is woven into the fabric, so it cannot wash off or fade, and the tab can match the yarn colours of your main woven label exactly. They are the durable, premium choice for neck labels, jackets, knitwear and workwear that is washed often.

Printed size labels

Printed size labels are made on satin, taffeta or cotton tape. Changing the size between labels is simply a data change, which makes them efficient for long size runs, multi-country conversions and frequent style changes. They can be cut to individual labels or supplied as a continuous size ribbon on a roll for high-volume lines. Read more about substrates on our printed labels page.

Heat-transfer size prints

A heat transfer applies the size, often together with the logo, directly onto the fabric. Nothing touches the skin except a thin, flexible print, which makes it a favourite for T-shirts, sportswear, underwear and babywear. It needs a heat press on your line and testing on your fabric. See heat transfer labels for options.

Typical size tab dimensions

Size labels carry only a few characters, so they are small. Common finished sizes are 10 × 15 mm, 12 × 20 mm, 15 × 15 mm and 15 × 20 mm. A tab showing several size systems, such as EU, UK and US, needs more room, typically around 20 × 30 mm. The finished size is what you see after folding; the cut length is longer. For the general method of choosing label dimensions, read how to choose label size; this article focuses on what is specific to size labels.

Legibility comes first: the size character should be the largest element on the tab. A single letter or number on a 10 × 15 mm tab can be bold and clear; a conversion line such as "EU 38 / UK 10 / US 6" needs a wider tab or two lines.

How size labels are attached

• Inserted in the neck seam: a small loop-fold or centre-fold tab is sewn into the back neck seam, directly below or beside the brand label. This is the most common position for tops, shirts and knitwear.
• Folded loop next to the main label: both ends are caught in the same seam so the tab stands as a small flag. See label fold types explained for how each fold is sewn.
• Combined with the main label: the size is woven or printed into the brand label itself, one design per size. This saves a sewing step but multiplies the number of brand-label designs.
• Stitched onto the main label: a flat-cut square tab is sewn across the lower corner of the brand label.
• Side seam: the size is placed on the first panel of the care label or as a separate tab in the side seam, common for trousers, skirts, underwear and swimwear.
• Waistband: on trousers and skirts, a tab or print at the inside back waistband is easy to find.

Size systems: EU, UK, US and letter sizes

There is no single European size system in everyday use; brands choose the systems their markets expect. The most common designations are:

• Letter sizes (INT): XXS, XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL, 3XL. Easy to read and widely understood, popular for casualwear and sportswear.
• Numeric EU sizes: for example 34–48 for womenswear and 44–60 for menswear jackets and suits, with national variations (French and Italian numbering differ from German numbering).
• UK and US sizes: women's UK 6–20 and US 2–16 are common; menswear often uses chest or waist in inches.
• Trousers and jeans: waist and inside-leg length, such as W32/L34.
• Collar sizes for shirts: in cm (for example 39, 40, 41) or inches.

If you print several systems on one tab, keep the order the same across all styles and put your main market first. Size conversions vary between brands, so use your own fit charts rather than a generic table.

Children's sizes by height

Children's clothing in much of Europe is sized by body height in centimetres, following the body-measurement approach of the European standard EN 13402. The common steps are 6 cm apart: 50, 56, 62, 68, 74, 80, 86, 92 for babies and toddlers, continuing with 98, 104, 110, 116 and onwards up to 164 or 176 for older children. Many brands add the age as a secondary designation, for example "104 / 3–4 Y". Babywear labels need extra comfort: soft satin, sealed edges and OEKO-TEX certified materials. Our article on labels for kidswear covers this in detail.

Colour coding by size

Colour-coded size labels let staff identify a size at a glance on a rail, in a box or on a cutting table. You can change the background colour, the text colour or add a coloured stripe per size. On woven tabs, the colour comes from the background yarn; on printed tabs, from the print or tape. Keep one scheme for every style and season, write it into your tech pack and make sure light and dark garments both keep enough contrast. Colour should support the size character, never replace it.

Ordering many sizes

A size run turns one design into many. A T-shirt in XS to XXL is six size labels; a children's line from 56 to 176 can be twenty or more. Plan the order like this:

1. List every size and system exactly as it should appear on the tab, including spacing and slashes.
2. Give quantities per size based on your size curve, not an equal split. Middle sizes usually need the largest share.
3. Add a buffer for sewing losses and reorders, especially for the smallest and largest sizes, which are easy to run out of.
4. Ask how quantities can be split. The minimum order is usually 1,000 pcs per design; for size runs, sizes of one style can often be produced together, so ask us how the total can be divided across sizes.
5. Request packing per size. Labels packed and marked per size go straight to the right sewing station.

Our designers prepare a digital proof of every size, typically within 24–48 h, and physical samples are available before production. After approval, production typically takes 10–20 working days with delivery across Europe. All materials are OEKO-TEX certified, and ultrasonic cutting keeps even the smallest tabs soft and sealed. See the full range on our size labels page.

Frequently asked questions