Levi's and Bershka sell to different generations, and their sizing philosophies show it. Levi's puts the measurement on the label — jeans are sized by actual waist in inches, and men's pairs even fit about half an inch to an inch above the number. Bershka, Inditex's youth brand, labels in EU sizes, cuts for a young slim frame, and carries perhaps the strongest size-up consensus on the high street: one size up for anything fitted, and two isn't unusual for jeans.
This comparison needs more caveats than most. Levi's guide is denim-specific, but Bershka's published measurements are its general clothing chart — and Bershka jeans don't even use that chart, running instead on their own numeric scale (EU 32–48) with separate waist specs. Bershka's figures are also aggregator-republished rather than a single official chart. So treat the tables below, aligned by body waist rather than label, as orientation — and lean on the size-up rules in the tips.
The short answer
Bershka runs smaller — by cut and by consensus; Levi's jeans fit the number on the label.
Even on paper, Bershka's chart describes a slimmer body per label than Levi's US-anchored sizing: convert both brands to US sizes and a Bershka US 4 (EU 36, 64–67 cm waist) sits nearly two inches under a Levi's US 4–5 (a 27, at 28.25" · 72 cm). And the paper gap understates the real one, because Bershka's slim youth cut means garments commonly fit a size or two under even its own chart, with jeans the worst offenders.
Levi's, by contrast, is the rare brand where the label is the measurement. Its exceptions are deliberate and fit-specific — the Ribcage and Wedgie run small, rigid 501s are tight in the hip, the 511 snug in the thigh — not a brand-wide tendency. The practical rule for switching: your Levi's waist number is your true measurement; use it to enter Bershka's cm chart, then add one size for anything fitted and up to two for denim, which lives on its own scale anyway.
Levi's vs Bershka at a glance
| Levi's | Bershka | |
|---|---|---|
| Sizing system | Waist-in-inches: men's W×L, women's numeric 24–34 | EU numeric (34–44) with letters; jeans on their own separate scale, EU 32–48 |
| Overall fit | True to size on paper; varies by fit line (Ribcage small, rigid 501 tight) | Runs small across the board — cut for a young, slim frame |
| Denim advice | Label is a real waist; size up mainly in rigid or small-running fits | Up to two sizes up is normal; check the denim-specific chart |
| Where it's true to size | Stretchier washes can be taken true to size or down | Oversized hoodies and knits — don't size up there |
| Chart reliability | Published US guide; the number on the label is a body measurement | Measurements republished from size guidance (aggregator-sourced); jeans excluded from the main chart |
Levi's women's sizes in Bershka EU sizes
Rows aligned by body waist measurement, not label — and on-paper only: this uses Bershka's general clothing chart (aggregator-republished), while Bershka jeans run on their own EU 32–48 numeric scale with separate waist specs. Given Bershka's slim cut, treat each match as a minimum.
| Levi's size | Body waist (Levi's chart) | Bershka size by waist (general chart) |
|---|---|---|
| 24 | 25.25" · 64 cm | 36 (64–67 cm · 25.2–26.4") |
| 25 | 26.25" · 66.5 cm | 36 (64–67 cm · 25.2–26.4") |
| 26 | 27.25" · 69 cm | 38 (68–71 cm · 26.8–28") |
| 27 | 28.25" · 72 cm | 40 (72–75 cm · 28.3–29.5") |
| 28 | 29.25" · 74.5 cm | 40 (72–75 cm · 28.3–29.5") |
| 29 | 30.25" · 77 cm | 42 (76–79 cm · 29.9–31.1") |
| 30 | 31.25" · 79.5 cm | between 42 and 44 |
| 31 | 32.75" · 83 cm | 44 (80–83 cm · 31.5–32.7") |
| 32 | 34.25" · 87 cm | beyond the chart (44 tops out at 83 cm · 32.7") |
Women's waist side by side
Aligned by body waist, not label. Bershka figures are republished from its size guidance and exclude denim; Levi's figures are from its jeans-specific US guide. Bershka's women's chart stops at EU 44, while Levi's continues to a 34 (37.75" · 96 cm waist).
| Bershka EU | Letter | US | Bershka waist | Closest Levi's size (waist) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36 | S | 4 | 64–67 cm · 25.2–26.4" | 25 (26.25" · 66.5 cm) |
| 38 | M | 6 | 68–71 cm · 26.8–28" | 26 (27.25" · 69 cm) |
| 40 | L | 8 | 72–75 cm · 28.3–29.5" | 28 (29.25" · 74.5 cm) |
| 42 | XL | 10 | 76–79 cm · 29.9–31.1" | 29 (30.25" · 77 cm) |
| 44 | XXL | 12 | 80–83 cm · 31.5–32.7" | 31 (32.75" · 83 cm) |
Same US size, different waist
Each brand's own US conversion, side by side — and they disagree. At a US 4 the two charts are nearly two inches apart at the waist, converging only around US 12. This is why converting Levi's ↔ Bershka through US sizes goes wrong: align by waist measurement instead.
| US size | Bershka size (waist) | Levi's size (waist) |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | EU 36 (64–67 cm · 25.2–26.4") | 27 (28.25" · 72 cm) |
| 6 | EU 38 (68–71 cm · 26.8–28") | 28 (29.25" · 74.5 cm) |
| 8 | EU 40 (72–75 cm · 28.3–29.5") | 29 (30.25" · 77 cm) |
| 10 | EU 42 (76–79 cm · 29.9–31.1") | 30 (31.25" · 79.5 cm) |
| 12 | EU 44 (80–83 cm · 31.5–32.7") | 31 (32.75" · 83 cm) |
Switching between Levi's and Bershka
- Use your Levi's number as your true waist: convert it to cm, find it in Bershka's chart, then add one size for fitted pieces and up to two for jeans — Bershka's slim cut eats the on-paper match.
- Never convert through US sizes between these two — the conversions disagree by up to two waist inches at the small end; only the waist measurement transfers honestly.
- Bershka jeans live on their own EU 32–48 numeric scale with separate waist specs, so check the denim-specific chart on the product page rather than the general mapping above.
- The size-up rule has exceptions on both sides: Bershka's oversized hoodies and knits fit true to size, and at Levi's a stretchy wash can be taken true to size or even down while rigid fits need the size up.
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 Levi's size guide and the Bershka size guide.
Levi's vs Bershka sizing FAQs
Which runs smaller, Levi's or Bershka?
Bershka, decisively. It's a youth brand cut for slim frames with one of the strongest size-up consensuses on the high street — one size up for fitted pieces, up to two for jeans. Levi's runs true to the label, which is an actual waist measurement; only specific fits like the Ribcage run small.
What Levi's size is a Bershka 38?
By waist, a Bershka EU 38 (68–71 cm · 26.8–28") lines up with a Levi's 26 (27.25" · 69 cm). But mind the direction of travel: if your Bershka 38 jeans only fit because you sized up two, your true Levi's size is smaller than the mapping suggests — measure your waist and buy that number.
Why don't Bershka jeans match this comparison table?
Because Bershka sizes denim on its own numeric scale — EU 32–48 — with its own waist measurements, separate from the general clothing chart used here. Combined with the brand's slim cut, that's why jeans are where most Bershka sizing surprises happen. Check the denim-specific chart on the product page.
Can I trust Bershka's chart the way I trust Levi's?
Not quite. Levi's publishes a jeans-focused US guide where the label number is a body measurement. Bershka's measurements circulate as republished size guidance rather than one official chart, its jeans use a separate scale, and the garments run small against the numbers anyway. Use Bershka's chart for orientation and the size-up rules for the actual order.
Is there a men's comparison between Levi's and Bershka?
Not a clean one. Levi's men's jeans are sold as W×L with published body-waist fits, but Bershka's republished men's chart only lists garment chest measurements for tops — no body waist data — so there's no honest waist-to-waist table to draw. For Bershka men's bottoms, the brand-wide advice stands: it cuts slim, so size up.
