This is about as far apart as two mainstream brands get. Banana Republic is the tailored member of the American GAP family — US numeric sizes under its letters, true to size, cut for a standard adult frame. Bershka is Inditex's youth label — EU sizes, cut slim for a young customer, with one of the strongest "size up" consensuses on the high street.
The trap when switching is the letters. By body measurement, Bershka's letters run about one full size smaller: its L covers the body that BR's M covers. The EU-to-US numeric conversion, on the other hand, holds up surprisingly well. Below is the letter mapping that actually works, both charts aligned by US size, and what Bershka's slim cut adds on top.
The short answer
Bershka runs smaller — about one letter by the chart, more in the garment
Compare by body and the offset is consistent: Bershka's M (88–91 cm · 34.6–35.8" bust) matches Banana Republic's S (34–35"), Bershka's L (92–95 cm · 36.2–37.4") matches BR's M (36–37"), and Bershka's XXL (100–103 cm · 39.4–40.6") matches BR's L (38.5–40"). Oddly, the numeric conversion is fine — Bershka's EU 40 converts to a US 8 and measures like BR's US 8 — it's only the letters that disagree, because Bershka attaches them to smaller bodies.
Then there's how the clothes actually fit. Banana Republic delivers its chart. Bershka runs small even against its own slim chart — one size up is standard for fitted pieces, two isn't unusual for jeans, which run on their own numeric scale. So a BR M shopper should walk into Bershka thinking L at minimum, XL for anything fitted. The other ceiling to know: Bershka's women's chart stops at EU 44 (100–103 cm bust), roughly where BR's L sits — BR XL territory has no Bershka equivalent.
Banana Republic vs Bershka at a glance
| Banana Republic | Bershka | |
|---|---|---|
| Sizing system | US numeric (00–16) mapped to alpha sizes | EU numeric (34–44) with letters; jeans on a separate scale (32–48) |
| Overall fit | True to size — tailored, standard-US cut | Runs small — cut slim for a youth frame |
| What a letter means | M covers a 36–37" bust (US 8–10) | M covers an 88–91 cm (34.6–35.8") bust — one size less body |
| Where to adjust | Size down in flowy blouses and knits; blazer shoulders run generous | Size up one in fitted pieces, up to two in jeans |
| Chart coverage (women) | US 00–16, bust up to 41.5" | EU 34–44, bust up to 100–103 cm — no XL-and-up equivalent |
Letter sizes mapped by body measurement (women)
Aligned by bust, not by label — Bershka's letters sit on smaller bodies than BR's. Bershka measurements are as republished from its size guidance (aggregator-sourced).
| Bershka size | Bershka bust | Closest BR size | BR bust |
|---|---|---|---|
| XS (EU 34) | 80–83 cm · 31.5–32.7" | XS | 31–33" · 78.5–84 cm |
| S (EU 36) | 84–87 cm · 33.1–34.3" | XS–S | 34–35" · 86.5–89 cm |
| M (EU 38) | 88–91 cm · 34.6–35.8" | S | 34–35" · 86.5–89 cm |
| L (EU 40) | 92–95 cm · 36.2–37.4" | M | 36–37" · 91.5–94 cm |
| XL (EU 42) | 96–99 cm · 37.8–39" | M–L | 38.5–40" · 98–101.5 cm |
| XXL (EU 44) | 100–103 cm · 39.4–40.6" | L | 38.5–40" · 98–101.5 cm |
Women's bust side by side, aligned by US size
Rows align through each brand's published US conversion (Bershka EU 34 = US 2, and so on; BR letters span two US sizes). By the numbers the charts roughly agree — it's the letters that diverge.
| US size | Bershka size · bust | BR size · bust |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | EU 34 · 80–83 cm · 31.5–32.7" | XS · 31–33" · 78.5–84 cm |
| 4 | EU 36 · 84–87 cm · 33.1–34.3" | S · 34–35" · 86.5–89 cm |
| 6 | EU 38 · 88–91 cm · 34.6–35.8" | S · 34–35" · 86.5–89 cm |
| 8 | EU 40 · 92–95 cm · 36.2–37.4" | M · 36–37" · 91.5–94 cm |
| 10 | EU 42 · 96–99 cm · 37.8–39" | M · 36–37" · 91.5–94 cm |
| 12 | EU 44 · 100–103 cm · 39.4–40.6" | L · 38.5–40" · 98–101.5 cm |
Women's waist side by side, aligned by US size
Same alignment. Bershka trims a touch smaller through the middle sizes — and remember its garments run small against this chart. Bershka figures are aggregator-sourced.
| US size | Bershka waist | BR waist |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 60–63 cm · 23.6–24.8" | 24–26" · 61–66 cm |
| 4 | 64–67 cm · 25.2–26.4" | 27–28" · 68.5–71 cm |
| 6 | 68–71 cm · 26.8–28" | 27–28" · 68.5–71 cm |
| 8 | 72–75 cm · 28.3–29.5" | 29–30" · 73.5–76 cm |
| 10 | 76–79 cm · 29.9–31.1" | 29–30" · 73.5–76 cm |
| 12 | 80–83 cm · 31.5–32.7" | 31.5–33" · 80–84 cm |
Switching between Banana Republic and Bershka
- Convert by US number, never by letter: a BR M (US 8–10) shops as a Bershka EU 40–42 — which Bershka labels L or XL, not M.
- Then add Bershka's slim cut on top: one size up from the converted size in fitted tops and dresses, and up to two in jeans, which run on their own numeric scale (EU 32–48).
- Skip the size-up in Bershka's oversized hoodies and knits — those fit true to size or roomy, the one corner of the brand where your converted size just works.
- Going Bershka → BR: drop a letter and trust the chart — BR is true to size, and its quirks run the other way (roomy blouses and knits, generous blazer shoulders).
Measurements are based on each brand's published size charts and may vary by garment, fabric, and region. For the full charts and fit notes, see the Banana Republic size guide and the Bershka size guide.
Banana Republic vs Bershka sizing FAQs
Which runs smaller, Banana Republic or Bershka?
Bershka, on both counts. Its letters sit on bodies about one size smaller — a Bershka L covers the bust BR's M covers — and its garments run small even against its own chart, with shoppers routinely sizing up one to two. Banana Republic is true to size.
What Bershka size should I buy if I wear a Banana Republic M?
By body measurement, Bershka's L (EU 40, 92–95 cm bust) matches BR's M (36–37"). But because Bershka cuts slim and runs small against its own chart, take the XL in fitted styles — and check the separate denim chart for jeans rather than converting at all.
Why do the numeric conversions work when the letters don't?
Both brands' published US-number conversions describe roughly the same bodies — Bershka's EU 40 and BR's US 8 both fit about a 36–37" bust. The brands just attach their letters differently: Bershka calls that size L, BR calls it M. Convert through the number and the letters stop mattering.
Can I compare the men's charts directly?
Not cleanly. Banana Republic publishes body measurements (its M fits a 38–40" chest), while Bershka's republished men's chart lists garment measurements — the clothing itself, not your body — so the numbers aren't comparable row to row. For Bershka menswear, the safe route is the brand's own size-up-in-fitted-pieces rule.
I wear a Banana Republic XL — what's my Bershka size?
There may not be one in fitted styles. BR's XL fits a 41.5" (105.5 cm) bust, while Bershka's women's chart ends at EU 44 with a 100–103 cm bust. Bershka's oversized knitwear and hoodies can still work, but its fitted range isn't graded for BR XL measurements.
