Tellar
Search

What’s My Clothes Size at H&M? Does H&M Run Big or Small?

Author: Stylist and brand team at Tellar

Date: 2025

The Tellar Fashion Hub is the UK's Largest, 100% Free, Fully searchable, Fashion Library.

Filled with 4000+ Honest & Unbiased posts, written by our expert stylists.

No adverts, no sponsored posts, no subscriptions. We are 100% free to use.

We are paid by affiliates, but we never allow brands to influence our recommendations.

Honest, Unbiased, Accurate & Free.

What’s My Clothes Size at H&M? Does H&M Run Big or Small?

H&M is one of the most recognised fashion retailers in the world, offering affordable, on-trend clothing across womenswear, menswear, kids, maternity and activewear. But despite its popularity, H&M’s sizing remains one of the most commonly searched and complained about issues online.

So, does H&M run big or small? Why are some items perfectly sized while others are way off? And how can you avoid the frustration of ordering the wrong size? This post answers those questions—and introduces Tellar.co.uk, the UK’s leading free sizing tool.


Does H&M Run Big or Small?

H&M has a reputation for inconsistent sizing, especially in women’s clothing. Some garments run small (notably trousers and formal dresses), while others—like oversized jumpers or boxy shirts—run large by design.

General Observations:

Category

Fit Tendency

Suggested Action

Casual Tops & T-Shirts

True to size

Stick to your usual size

Tailored Dresses

Small fit

Often need to size up

Denim & Trousers

Runs small

Size up for comfort

Knitwear

Generous cut

Can size down if in between

Shirts & Blouses

Mixed (tight shoulders common)

Size up if broad-shouldered

Men’s Shirts & Trousers

True to size

Usually consistent


Why H&M Sizing Feels So Unpredictable

Several factors contribute to sizing inconsistencies at H&M:

1. Global Brand, Mixed Standards

H&M designs for a global audience, operating in over 70 countries. The company mixes European and US size logic across ranges, which can create confusion when converting to UK sizes.

2. Fast-Fashion Production Cycles

New collections drop weekly. In this environment, grading (scaling the same design across sizes) may vary by supplier, factory, or season.

3. Diverse Product Lines

H&M spans multiple sub-brands and styles:

  • H&M Basics

  • H&M Trend

  • H&M Conscious

  • Divided (targeted to teens/younger customers)

    Each of these lines may follow slightly different sizing blocks.

4. Oversized Aesthetics

Current trends favour oversized, relaxed fits. Some garments are intentionally large—but without clear labelling, this leads to customers second-guessing.


UK Customers vs. H&M’s Fit Model

H&M is a Swedish brand, and its fit models often reflect taller, narrower proportions—similar to brands like COS and & Other Stories (also owned by H&M Group). This can cause issues for UK customers with:

  • Curvier hips

  • Shorter torsos

  • Fuller busts

As a result, a UK size 12 shopper may need a size 14 or even 16 in structured items.


Sizing Challenges by Category

Women’s Dresses

  • Slim through the waist and hips

  • Sleeves often narrow

  • Zip styles less forgiving

    ➡️ Size up if curvy

Trousers & Denim

  • Tight waistbands

  • Low stretch in some ranges

    ➡️ Often need to size up 1–2 sizes

Casual Wear (T-shirts, lounge sets)

  • More forgiving

    ➡️ True to size

Menswear

  • Generally consistent across shirts, trousers, outerwear

  • Slim fit styles may require sizing up

    ➡️ Check cut label (regular vs. slim)


The Problem With Guessing Your H&M Size

Buying multiple sizes “just in case” is wasteful and frustrating. It leads to:

  • Increased returns

  • Higher environmental impact

  • Wasted money and time

This sizing uncertainty is what Tellar.co.uk was built to solve.


Tellar.co.uk: Find Your Best-Fitting H&M Size in Seconds

Tellar.co.uk is a free tool that uses your exact body measurements to calculate your size in real time—specifically for H&M’s current sizing logic.

It eliminates the guesswork by working category by category, using actual fit data and garment logic from H&M’s system.


How It Works

  1. Go to www.Tellar.co.uk

  2. Create a free profile in under a minute

  3. Enter your chest, waist, and hips (in cm or inches)

  4. Choose H&M from the brand list

  5. Instantly see your correct size across shirts, dresses, jeans, and more

Once set up, you can also get your size in 1,500+ brands—automatically.


Why Tellar is the Smartest Way to Shop H&M

✅ Accurate

Tellar calculates your size based on H&M’s current sizing block—not guesswork or outdated charts.

✅ Free Forever

No fees, upsells, or hidden features.

✅ One-Time Setup

Create your profile once. Use it across every brand you shop.

✅ Real-Time

Sizing logic is updated live—so you’ll always get a recommendation that reflects H&M’s actual data.


Example: A UK Customer With These Measurements

  • Bust: 90cm

  • Waist: 74cm

  • Hips: 100cm

Tellar might recommend:

  • H&M jumper: Size M

  • H&M tailored trousers: Size 14

  • H&M dress: Size 14 (structured), Size 12 (stretch)

  • H&M jeans: Size 31 or EU 42

You’ll also see why that size was selected—whether it was based on hip measurement, stretch factor, or cut.


H&M vs Other Brands

You might be:

  • Size 12 at Next

  • Size 14 at H&M

  • Size M at COS

  • Size L at Mango

That variation is normal—but only if you have a tool like Tellar to track it properly and instantly.


Not Just for H&M

Tellar works for all brands you shop, including:

  • Zara

  • Mango

  • COS

  • ASOS

  • Reiss

  • White Stuff

  • Massimo Dutti

    …and many more.

Each brand uses different logic—Tellar keeps it all consistent for you.


Final Thoughts

H&M sizing is inconsistent due to global production, mixed fit blocks, and varying product categories. While some ranges run small (especially denim and formalwear), others are more forgiving—but there’s no reliable way to tell unless you try everything on.

That’s why Tellar.co.uk exists: to simplify your shopping, reduce returns, and give you the confidence that you’ve picked the right size—every time.


“Find your size in 1,500+ brands real-time. It’s Free & Easy.”


Try it today:

👉 Create your free profile

👉 Log in any time to get instant size matches

Follow us:

Instagram: @Tellarsizing

Pinterest: TellarSizing

Twitter (X): @TellarSizing

Facebook: TellarSizing