What Is Sizing Like at Puma?

By Ella Blake — Fashion Stylist | Tellar Fashion Hub — Always honest, unbiased & unsponsored

Puma women's clothing is generally true to size — go with your standard UK size for activewear, casualwear and most apparel, though trainers can vary quite a bit by model and deserve a little more attention before you buy. I've been wearing Puma on and off for years, both in the gym and as part of a more casual off-duty look, and the one thing I'd always say is this: the clothing is refreshingly consistent, but the footwear tells a different story depending on which silhouette you go for.

A Bit About Puma as a Brand

Puma has always occupied a brilliant middle ground — serious enough for sport, stylish enough to wear to brunch straight after a training session. Founded in Germany in 1948, it's one of the original big three sportswear giants alongside Nike and adidas, but it's always had a slightly cooler, more fashion-forward edge. The collaborations with Rihanna's Fenty line in the 2010s did a lot to cement that reputation, and more recently Puma has been doing some really clever things with its women's collections — balancing performance with genuine wearability. If you haven't properly explored it beyond the classic Suede trainers, you're missing out.

The women's range in the UK covers XS to XXL as standard, which maps to UK 8 through to UK 18. Not the broadest range on the market, but adequate for most.

The Puma Women's Clothing Size Guide

Puma uses alpha sizing (XS through XXL) for its women's clothing, which corresponds to standard UK sizes as follows:

Puma SizeUK SizeBust (cm)Waist (cm)Hips (cm)XXSUK 675–7959–6383–87XSUK 880–8464–6888–92SUK 1085–9069–7493–98MUK 1291–9875–8299–106LUK 1499–10683–90107–114XLUK 16107–11491–99115–122XXLUK 18115–122100–108123–130

The measurement ranges in each size are fairly generous, which is helpful if you sit between sizes. As a general rule with activewear: if you're caught between two sizes and you want a relaxed, comfortable fit, go up. If you want that closer, more compressive performance fit, stay true or even size down.

Puma Clothing Sizing: Category by Category

Leggings & Gym Bottoms: This is the heart of the Puma women's range and honestly where they do their best work. Puma leggings are true to size for most people. The fabric has good four-way stretch and the waistbands are reliably secure. If you want a more compressive, locked-in feel for high-intensity training — HIIT, running, intense gym sessions — sizing down by one is worth considering. For yoga, Pilates or lower-intensity wear, your usual size is spot on.
Sports Bras: True to size overall. Puma offers low, medium and high-impact options, and the support level is generally good across all three. For the high-impact styles, I'd always say check the bust measurement against the table above rather than going purely by the label — the difference between a well-fitting high-impact sports bra and one that's slightly too big is night and day when you're actually moving in it.
Tops & Training Tees: True to size with a relaxed, functional cut. They're not body-con by design, which I actually appreciate — you can move freely without constantly tugging fabric back into place. The moisture-wicking dryCELL styles in particular have a slightly more structured fit, so use your measurements if you're between sizes.
Hoodies & Sweatshirts: True to size to slightly relaxed — perfect for the layering-over-gym-kit look that's basically a lifestyle at this point. If you want a more fitted silhouette, size down. The Essentials hoodies in particular have a clean, flattering cut that I keep coming back to.
Shorts: True to size. The elasticated waist styles are the most forgiving; woven or structured shorts follow the measurement table more closely, so it's worth a quick check if you're curvier through the hip.
Tracksuits & Outerwear: True to size. The bomber and zip-up jacket styles are cut with enough room to layer underneath without feeling boxy, which is a nice balance to get right.

Puma Trainers: A Slightly Different Story

This is where things get a bit more nuanced — and where I've personally had to do a bit of trial and error over the years. As a general rule, Puma trainers run true to size in length but can feel narrow in width, particularly if you have wider feet. Some models have their own quirks:

Puma Suede Classic: An icon — and one that tends to run slightly large. Many people find they can go half a size down, particularly if you have narrower feet. The firm suede can also feel stiff at first, so factor that in.
Puma Cali: True to size for most women. Narrower through the midfoot, though, so if you have wider feet, half a size up is sensible.
Puma Nitro Running Shoes: True to size. These are performance runners and they fit as expected — there's a little toe-box room built in, which is exactly what you want for running.
Unisex Models: Worth flagging this one specifically — if a trainer is listed as a unisex style, it's built on a men's last. Women should order 1.5 sizes down from their usual UK women's size. So if you're a women's UK 6, you'd want a UK 4.5 in a unisex Puma model. This trips people up constantly, so keep it in mind.
Motorsport & Performance Styles: These tend to run narrow and slightly small. Sizing up half a size is recommended for comfortable day-to-day wear.

My Honest Stylist Tips for Shopping Puma

For clothing, your usual UK size will serve you well. It's one of the more reliable brands for sizing consistency in the activewear space, which — if you've had the pleasure of ordering from some other sports brands — is genuinely refreshing.
Always check which last trainers are built on before buying. The unisex sizing rule (1.5 sizes down) is a crucial one that isn't always made obvious on product pages. Don't assume a women's colourway means a women's fit.
Read model-specific trainer reviews. Puma's footwear is varied enough that what applies to the Suede doesn't apply to the Nitro. Five minutes of reading will save you a return.
Measure your bust and hips before buying sports bras. Especially for high-impact styles. The label size is a starting point, not a guarantee.
If you're between sizes in leggings, think about what you're using them for. Compression classes and running? Size down. Everything else? Stay true.

Activewear Alternatives to Puma

Puma is a solid all-rounder but there's a brilliant world of activewear out there. Here's how I'd stack up the alternatives across different budgets:

Gymshark — The UK-born activewear brand that took the fitness world by storm and hasn't looked back. Brilliant for leggings and sports bras, with detailed fit guides for each style. Sizing can run small — always check their specific garment measurements — but the quality and design are genuinely impressive at the price point.
H&M Sport — Seriously underrated for activewear basics at an unbeatable price. Their Move collection in particular punches well above its weight for everyday gym wear. True to size and widely available, which makes it great for testing what styles work for your body before investing more.
Tommy Hilfiger Sport — A step up in the premium casual-activewear space. Tommy brings that clean, logo-driven aesthetic to gym and lounge wear with noticeably better fabric quality. Sizing is true to size and the cuts are flattering on a range of body shapes.
Sweaty Betty — The British activewear brand that genuinely changed the game for women who wanted gym kit that looked as good as it performed. Their leggings are cult items for a reason. Sizing runs true with detailed garment-specific guidance — highly recommend using their fit tool before buying.
Lululemon — The premium activewear benchmark. If Puma is your entry point into quality gym wear, Lululemon is the natural next step. Their sizing runs small — always size up or use measurements — but the fit and longevity are exceptional. Worth every penny for anyone who trains regularly.
Calvin Klein Performance — A brilliant option if you want activewear that doubles as off-duty fashion without trying too hard. Clean lines, minimal branding and genuinely good quality fabrics. Sizing is true to size and the range has expanded significantly in recent seasons.
Hugo Boss Active — For those moments where the line between gym and lifestyle blurs completely. Hugo Boss's activewear sits in a premium casual space with excellent tailoring and fabric quality. Sizing runs true and the pieces feel elevated enough to wear beyond the studio.
Hollister — A more casual, off-duty activewear option that's particularly good for loungewear crossovers. Their active-leisure shorts and hoodies are great value and the sizing is consistent and true to size.

Two Independent Labels Worth Trying

Beyond the big names, these two deserve a proper mention:

Adanola — A London-based activewear label that has quietly built a massive following among women who want gym kit that looks genuinely stylish. Their Ultimate Leggings are a cult item — minimal, flattering, and with a waistband that actually stays put. Sizing is true to size and the quality is genuinely impressive for a brand at this price point. A brilliant discovery if you haven't found them yet.
Girlfriend Collective — An LA-born, sustainability-first activewear brand that's earned its place in the conversation for all the right reasons. Their leggings are made from recycled plastic bottles, the colour range is beautiful, and — crucially — the sizing is genuinely inclusive, running from XXS to 6XL. They publish detailed size and fit notes for every single style, which is the kind of effort that makes online activewear shopping so much less stressful.

Find Your Exact Puma Size in Seconds

Puma clothing is reassuringly consistent — but trainers, sports bras and compression styles all have their nuances. Tellar matches your exact measurements to 1,500+ brands instantly, so you know your precise size before you click buy.

Measure once — bust, waist, hips, or simply use your confirmed size in a brand you already know.
Use the Store Size Lookup tool to get your perfect size in Puma and 1,500+ other brands — from Gymshark to Lululemon and beyond.
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