Primark and Bershka are the two brands most likely to make you doubt your own size — both carry firm runs-small reputations, both are budget favourites, and both punish anyone who orders fitted pieces at their usual size. Primark labels in UK numbers; Bershka labels in EU numbers with letters attached, and the two systems convert cleanly (Bershka's EU 38 is Primark's UK 10).
Put the charts side by side and they're nearly twins: at every converted size, Primark's single values sit right at the bottom of Bershka's ranges, within a centimetre or two. So the honest answer to "which runs smaller?" isn't about the charts at all — it's about how each brand misses them. Below are both charts aligned, the conversion table, and the brand-specific traps.
The short answer
It's nearly a tie — both run small, Bershka by design, Primark by inconsistency
On paper there's no meaningful gap. At UK 12 / EU 40, Primark fits a 91 cm (36") bust against Bershka's 92–95 cm; at UK 10 / EU 38 it's 87 cm against 88–91 cm. If anything, Primark's chart reads a sliver smaller in the bust, while its waists run a touch larger at the top end (85 cm at UK 16 versus Bershka's 80–83 cm). Nobody should change size on the chart difference alone.
The difference is in how the garments behave. Bershka is slim on purpose — a youth brand with the strongest size-up consensus on the high street: one up in fitted pieces, up to two in jeans, which run on their own numeric scale. Primark's problem is reliability: it runs small in denim, fitted dresses, and tailored shirts, and two identical garments can fit differently. Practical summary: keep the same converted number between the brands, size up for fitted pieces at both — and trust the label's measurements over the size at Primark.
Primark vs Bershka at a glance
| Primark | Bershka | |
|---|---|---|
| Sizing system | UK numeric (4–20); alpha sizes for men | EU numeric (34–44) with letters; jeans on a separate scale (32–48) |
| Overall fit | Runs small — sharpest in jeans, fitted dresses, tailored shirts | Runs small — slim youth cut, strongest size-up consensus around |
| Why it runs small | Inconsistency — garments often measure under the chart | By design — cut for a young, slim frame |
| Denim rule | Size up one — even staff recommend it | Up to two, on a separate numeric chart (EU 32–48) |
| True-to-size corner | Basics and oversized tops | Oversized hoodies and knits |
Size labels compared (women)
Both brands' published conversions agree, so labels map cleanly: Primark's UK number equals Bershka's UK conversion at the same body. Bershka adds letters; Primark women's labels are the UK numbers.
| Primark (UK) | Bershka (EU) | Bershka letter | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 34 | XS | 2 |
| 8 | 36 | S | 4 |
| 10 | 38 | M | 6 |
| 12 | 40 | L | 8 |
| 14 | 42 | XL | 10 |
| 16 | 44 | XXL | 12 |
Women's bust side by side
Aligned by converted size. Primark publishes single values (from its cm-based chart); Bershka publishes ranges, as republished from its size guidance (aggregator-sourced). The charts track each other closely.
| UK · EU | Primark bust | Bershka bust |
|---|---|---|
| 6 · 34 | 79 cm · 31" | 80–83 cm · 31.5–32.7" |
| 8 · 36 | 83 cm · 32.5" | 84–87 cm · 33.1–34.3" |
| 10 · 38 | 87 cm · 34.5" | 88–91 cm · 34.6–35.8" |
| 12 · 40 | 91 cm · 36" | 92–95 cm · 36.2–37.4" |
| 14 · 42 | 96 cm · 38" | 96–99 cm · 37.8–39" |
| 16 · 44 | 102 cm · 40" | 100–103 cm · 39.4–40.6" |
Women's waist side by side
Same alignment. The only real divergence is at the top, where Primark's waist (85 cm at UK 16) runs above Bershka's (80–83 cm) — Bershka's chart stays slim to the end. Bershka figures are aggregator-sourced.
| UK · EU | Primark waist | Bershka waist |
|---|---|---|
| 6 · 34 | 62 cm · 24.5" | 60–63 cm · 23.6–24.8" |
| 8 · 36 | 66 cm · 26" | 64–67 cm · 25.2–26.4" |
| 10 · 38 | 70 cm · 27.5" | 68–71 cm · 26.8–28" |
| 12 · 40 | 74 cm · 29" | 72–75 cm · 28.3–29.5" |
| 14 · 42 | 79 cm · 31" | 76–79 cm · 29.9–31.1" |
| 16 · 44 | 85 cm · 33.5" | 80–83 cm · 31.5–32.7" |
Switching between Primark and Bershka
- Keep the same converted number when switching — a Primark 12 and a Bershka EU 40 describe the same body — but don't carry letters: Bershka's M is a UK 10, smaller than the UK 12–14 most brands call M.
- In denim, neither brand is safe at your usual size: one up at Primark (staff advice included), and up to two at Bershka — on its separate denim chart (EU 32–48), not the clothing chart.
- Save your true size for each brand's forgiving corner: basics and oversized tops at Primark, oversized hoodies and knits at Bershka.
- At Primark specifically, check the measurements printed on the garment label — item-to-item variation is the brand's defining trait, and the chart can't protect you from it.
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 Primark size guide and the Bershka size guide.
Primark vs Bershka sizing FAQs
Which runs smaller, Primark or Bershka?
Honestly, it's close to a tie. The charts are nearly identical at every converted size, and both brands run small in fitted pieces. Bershka's size-up consensus is stronger and more systematic — up to two sizes in jeans — while Primark's smallness is patchier, driven by garment-to-garment inconsistency. Size up for fitted styles at both.
What Bershka size should I buy if I wear a Primark 12?
Start at Bershka's EU 40 — its 92–95 cm bust matches Primark's UK 12 (91 cm). For Bershka's fitted tops and dresses, go to the 42, and for its jeans check the separate denim chart and expect up to two sizes above what you'd guess.
Do Primark and Bershka use the same size conversions?
Effectively yes. Primark's UK-to-EU-to-US conversions and Bershka's EU-to-UK-to-US conversions line up row for row: UK 10 = EU 38 = US 6 at both, and the body measurements behind those labels nearly match too. It's one of the cleaner brand switches on the high street.
Can I compare their men's charts?
Not directly. Primark publishes to-fit body chest measurements (M is 38–40"), while Bershka's republished men's chart lists garment measurements — the clothing, not your body — so the rows aren't comparable. For Bershka menswear, lean on the brand's general size-up-in-fitted-pieces rule.
Why do both brands run small in different ways?
Bershka runs small by intent: it's Inditex's youth label, cut slim for a young frame, and consistently so. Primark runs small by variance: its chart is reasonable (revised in 2021), but manufacturing tolerances are loose, so fitted garments often measure under the label. With Bershka you can plan the size-up; with Primark you verify each garment.
