These are two of the more trustworthy charts on the high street — and two completely different labelling systems. Levi's sizes jeans by actual waist measurement in inches, so the number on the label is a body measurement. Mango, the most true-to-size of the Spanish high-street brands, labels primarily in alpha sizes (XS–XXL) built on EU sizing, with each letter pinned to a single set of body measurements in centimetres.
A fair-comparison note up front: Levi's published guide is jeans-specific, while Mango's chart covers its clothing in general — and Mango's own guidance says its jeans run snug despite the true-to-size chart. Waist measurement is the common ground, so every table below aligns rows by body waist, not by label.
The short answer
Chart to chart it's a tie — but in actual denim, Mango runs snugger: its jeans fit smaller than its chart, while Levi's fit the label.
On paper, neither brand runs smaller. A Mango M waist (72 cm · 28.3") is essentially a Levi's 27 (28.25" · 72 cm), and the alignment stays that clean up the chart. The divergence is in behaviour: Levi's runs true to size with fit-specific exceptions (Ribcage and Wedgie run small, rigid 501s are tight in the hip), while Mango is true to size everywhere except the two categories that matter here — fitted woven dresses and jeans, which run snug enough that many shoppers size up.
Two structural quirks are worth knowing when you switch. Mango cuts for a taller frame, so inseams run long — whereas Levi's lets you buy your exact inseam via W×L sizing. And Mango's size steps widen above S (each size up adds more room than the step below), so at the L–XL end its sizes cover more ground per step than Levi's tidy one-to-one-and-a-half-inch increments.
Levi's vs Mango at a glance
| Levi's | Mango | |
|---|---|---|
| Sizing system | Waist-in-inches: men's W×L, women's numeric 24–34 | Alpha sizes (XS–XXL) on an EU base, converted regionally to US and UK |
| Overall fit | True to size on paper; varies by fit line (Ribcage and Wedgie run small) | True to size overall; fitted woven dresses and jeans run snug |
| Denim advice | Rigid fits often need a size up; stretch washes relax with wear | Size up in jeans — they run snug against the chart |
| Lengths | You pick the inseam: L30, L32, L34 and so on | One length per size, cut long — inseams suit taller frames |
| Size steps | Even steps — each women's size is a fixed waist measurement about an inch apart | Steps widen above S, so L and XL cover more room per size |
Levi's women's sizes in Mango letters
Rows aligned by body waist measurement, not label. Mango publishes a single value per size while Levi's runs in roughly one-inch steps, so several Levi's sizes land between two Mango letters. This is the on-paper mapping — for Mango jeans specifically, lean a size up.
| Levi's size | Body waist (Levi's chart) | Mango size by waist |
|---|---|---|
| 25 | 26.25" · 66.5 cm | S (66 cm · 26") |
| 26 | 27.25" · 69 cm | between S and M |
| 27 | 28.25" · 72 cm | M (72 cm · 28.3") |
| 28 | 29.25" · 74.5 cm | between M and L |
| 29 | 30.25" · 77 cm | between M and L, just under L |
| 30 | 31.25" · 79.5 cm | between L and XL |
| 31 | 32.75" · 83 cm | between L and XL |
| 32 | 34.25" · 87 cm | between XL and XXL, just above XL |
| 33 | 35.75" · 91 cm | between XL and XXL |
Women's waist side by side
Aligned by body waist, not label. Mango figures are from its official general clothing chart; Levi's are from its jeans-specific guide — not perfectly apples-to-apples, but waist is the honest common denominator.
| Mango size | EU | Mango waist | Closest Levi's size | Levi's waist |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| XS | 34 | 62 cm · 24.4" | below the chart (starts at 24) | 25.25" · 64 cm |
| S | 36 | 66 cm · 26" | 25 | 26.25" · 66.5 cm |
| M | 38 | 72 cm · 28.3" | 27 | 28.25" · 72 cm |
| L | 40 | 78 cm · 30.7" | 29 | 30.25" · 77 cm |
| XL | 42 | 85 cm · 33.5" | 31 or 32 | 32.75" · 83 cm / 34.25" · 87 cm |
| XXL | 44 | 92 cm · 36.2" | 33 | 35.75" · 91 cm |
Men's waist side by side
Aligned by body waist. Mango's men's waist figures come from its tops chart (Mango Man trousers run EU 36–48 by waist); Levi's column shows the body waist each W label actually fits — about half an inch to an inch above the labeled number.
| Mango size | Body waist (Mango chart) | Levi's W size that fits |
|---|---|---|
| XS | 76 cm · 30" | W29 (fits 29.5–30" · 75–76 cm) |
| S | 80 cm · 31.5" | W31 (fits 31.5–32" · 80–81.5 cm) |
| M | 84 cm · 33.1" | W32 (fits 32.5–33" · 82.5–84 cm) |
| L | 90 cm · 35.4" | between W34 (fits 34.5–35" · 87.5–89 cm) and W36 |
| XL | 96 cm · 37.8" | between W36 (fits 36.5–37.5" · 92.5–95.5 cm) and W38 |
Switching between Levi's and Mango
- Convert through the tape, not the label: find your Levi's waist number in inches, multiply by 2.54, and match it to Mango's centimetre chart — the letters will fall where they fall.
- In Mango jeans specifically, take the mapped size and go one up — Mango itself runs snug in denim, even though the rest of its range is true to size.
- Watch lengths in opposite directions: Mango inseams run long (great if you're tall), while at Levi's you should just buy your real inseam as the L number.
- Between sizes at the top of Mango's range? Its steps widen above S, so the smaller L or XL often works — whereas at Levi's, rigid fits like the 501 reward going up instead.
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 Mango size guide.
Levi's vs Mango sizing FAQs
Which runs smaller, Levi's or Mango?
By the charts, neither — a Mango M waist (72 cm · 28.3") matches a Levi's 27 (28.25") almost exactly. In practice Mango edges smaller in the category that matters here: its jeans run snug against its own chart and many shoppers size up, while Levi's jeans genuinely fit the labeled measurement, with only fit-specific exceptions like the Ribcage.
What Levi's size is a Mango medium?
Mango's women's M lists a 72 cm (28.3") waist, which is a Levi's 27 (28.25" · 72 cm) on the nose. For Mango Man, the M waist of 84 cm (33.1") corresponds to a Levi's W32, which fits a 32.5–33" body waist.
Should I size up in Mango jeans if my Levi's size is reliable?
Yes. Your Levi's number tells you your true waist, and Mango's chart will map it cleanly — but Mango's own fit guidance says jeans run snug, so take the mapped size and go one up. Don't apply that to Mango knitwear or outerwear, which fit true to size.
How do lengths compare between Levi's and Mango jeans?
Levi's gives you the choice: W×L sizing means you buy your exact inseam, with L30 suiting roughly 5'6"–5'8" and L32 suiting 5'8"–6'0". Mango sells one length per size and cuts for a taller frame, so inseams run long — petite shoppers should check garment lengths before ordering.
Do Levi's and Mango use the same US size conversions?
They're close but not identical systems. Mango maps XS–XXL to US 2–12 in even steps. Levi's gives each waist size a US dual-size — a 27 is a US 4–5, a 29 is a US 8–9. Converting by waist measurement is more reliable than chaining the two US conversions together.
