H&M and Bershka both label clothes in EU sizes and both run small — but Bershka takes it further. As Inditex's youth brand, it's cut for a young, slim frame and carries perhaps the strongest "size up" consensus on the high street: one size up is standard for anything fitted, and two isn't unusual for jeans. H&M's smallness is narrower, concentrated in bottoms, with tops sitting closer to true to size.
The letters are where switching between them goes wrong. Bershka assigns one letter per EU size — its M is EU 38 — while each H&M letter spans two EU sizes, making its M cover EU 40–42. The same M on the hanger is a genuinely different garment in each store, so the tables below convert through the EU number and through body measurements, never the letter.
The short answer
Bershka runs smaller — and its letters sit one to two EU sizes below H&M's
Bershka is the smaller-fitting brand on both counts. By the label, its letters map one to two EU sizes below H&M's — Bershka's M is EU 38 while H&M's M spans EU 40–42 — so converting by letter overshoots immediately. By the garment, Bershka's youth cut runs slim everywhere: fitted tops, dresses, and especially jeans, which run on their own numeric scale (EU 32–48) and routinely need two sizes up.
Measure to measure, the published charts tell a subtler story: at the same EU number, Bershka allows a slightly fuller bust but a slightly smaller waist than H&M — its EU 40 lists a 72–75 cm waist against H&M's 74–78 cm. Either way, the practical rules barely change: size up for anything fitted at Bershka, size up for bottoms at H&M, and let each brand's oversized pieces (Bershka's knits and hoodies, H&M's flowy styles) be the exception you take at true size.
H&M vs Bershka at a glance
| H&M | Bershka | |
|---|---|---|
| Letter sizes | Each letter spans two EU sizes; M is EU 40–42 | One letter per EU size; M is EU 38 |
| Overall fit | Runs small — bottoms worst, by one to two sizes | Runs slim everywhere — strongest size-up consensus around |
| Jeans | Size up one to two; sized on the regular EU scale | Own numeric scale (EU 32–48); two sizes up isn't unusual |
| True-to-size corner | Tops and knitwear; flowy styles run generous | Oversized hoodies and knits |
| Target cut | Broad mainstream blocks, inconsistent item to item | Youth blocks for a young, slim frame |
Letter sizes compared (women)
The same EU size carries a different letter at each brand — converting by letter is the mistake this table exists to prevent.
| EU | US | Bershka label | H&M label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 34 | 2 | XS | XS |
| 36 | 4 | S | S |
| 38 | 6 | M | S |
| 40 | 8 | L | M |
| 42 | 10 | XL | M |
| 44 | 12 | XXL | L |
Women's bust and waist side by side
Body measurements at the same EU size. Bershka's figures are as republished from its size guidance (aggregator-sourced); H&M's come from its published size guide. Note the pattern: Bershka allows slightly more bust but slightly less waist at each EU size.
| EU | Bershka bust | H&M bust | Bershka waist | H&M waist |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 34 | 80–83 cm · 31.5–32.7" | 78–82 cm · 30.7–32.3" | 60–63 cm · 23.6–24.8" | 62–66 cm · 24.4–26" |
| 36 | 84–87 cm · 33.1–34.3" | 82–86 cm · 32.3–33.9" | 64–67 cm · 25.2–26.4" | 66–70 cm · 26–27.6" |
| 38 | 88–91 cm · 34.6–35.8" | 86–90 cm · 33.9–35.4" | 68–71 cm · 26.8–28" | 70–74 cm · 27.6–29.1" |
| 40 | 92–95 cm · 36.2–37.4" | 90–94 cm · 35.4–37" | 72–75 cm · 28.3–29.5" | 74–78 cm · 29.1–30.7" |
| 42 | 96–99 cm · 37.8–39" | 94–98 cm · 37–38.6" | 76–79 cm · 29.9–31.1" | 78–82.5 cm · 30.7–32.5" |
| 44 | 100–103 cm · 39.4–40.6" | 98–102 cm · 38.6–40.2" | 80–83 cm · 31.5–32.7" | 82.5–87.5 cm · 32.5–34.4" |
Men's tops — read with caution
Not directly comparable: Bershka's figures (aggregator-republished from its size document) are garment chest measurements — the clothing itself — while H&M's are body measurements. Equal numbers therefore mean Bershka fits a smaller body once wearing ease is accounted for. Orientation only.
| Size | Bershka chest (garment) | H&M chest (body) |
|---|---|---|
| S | 90–94 cm · 35.4–37" | EU 46 (S): 90–94 cm · 35.4–37" |
| M | 96–100 cm · 37.8–39.4" | EU 48 (M): 94–98 cm · 37–38.6" |
| L | 102–106 cm · 40.2–41.7" | EU 52 (L): 102–106 cm · 40.2–41.7" |
| XL | 108–112 cm · 42.5–44.1" | EU 54 (L): 106–110 cm · 41.7–43.3" |
Switching between H&M and Bershka
- Convert through the EU number on the label, never the letter — the letters disagree by up to two sizes, with Bershka's running lower.
- Coming from H&M to Bershka: keep your EU number as the floor, then add Bershka's slim-cut correction — one size up for fitted pieces, and check the separate denim chart before buying jeans, where two up is common.
- Coming from Bershka to H&M: tops at the same EU number will feel similar or roomier, but H&M bottoms still need one to two sizes up — Bershka habits don't exempt you from H&M's denim problem.
- Both brands have an oversized exception: Bershka's hoodies and knits and H&M's flowy styles fit true to size or generous, so don't stack a size-up on top of an oversized cut.
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 H&M size guide and the Bershka size guide.
H&M vs Bershka sizing FAQs
Which runs smaller, H&M or Bershka?
Bershka. Both run small, but Bershka is cut for a young, slim frame and carries one of the strongest size-up consensuses anywhere — one size for fitted pieces, often two for jeans. H&M's smallness is mostly confined to bottoms, with tops closer to true to size.
Is an H&M medium the same as a Bershka medium?
No — and the gap is bigger than between most brands. Bershka's M maps to EU 38, while H&M's M spans EU 40–42, so the H&M medium is physically one to two sizes larger before fit differences even enter. Convert through the EU number instead.
How do I convert my H&M size to Bershka?
Keep the EU number and expect a different letter: your H&M EU 40 (labelled M) is Bershka's EU 40, labelled L. Then apply Bershka's fit correction — go up one for fitted tops and dresses, and check the denim chart separately, since Bershka jeans run on their own EU 32–48 scale.
Do I size up in jeans at both brands?
Yes, and Bershka needs more. H&M denim runs one to two sizes small. Bershka denim combines a slim youth cut with its own separate numeric scale, and going up two is a routine recommendation. At both, the cm waist measurement beats any label conversion.
Why does the men's comparison look so close on paper?
Because the numbers measure different things. Bershka's republished men's figures are garment measurements — the chest of the clothing itself — while H&M's are body measurements. A 96–100 cm Bershka M garment fits a body comfortably smaller than 96 cm, so matching the raw numbers understates how much slimmer Bershka fits.
