Uniqlo and Banana Republic are an interesting pair because both are the disciplined one in their family. Uniqlo is the most consistent of the Japanese-rooted basics brands — its fit blocks barely move between seasons. Banana Republic is the most tailored of the GAP family, with detailed charts that the garments mostly deliver on. Both label clothes XS–XL on top of US numeric sizes, and the numeric mappings nearly match: S is 4–6 and M is 8–10 at either store.
But matching labels hide a real gap. BR's women's chart runs about an inch bigger in the bust at the same letter, and where Uniqlo's cut is slim and slightly short on Japanese fit blocks, BR's tailored fit is built to standard US proportions — with roomy blouses and generous blazer shoulders as its known quirks. Here's how the two line up, chart by chart.
The short answer
Uniqlo runs smaller — Banana Republic is true to size, and its chart sits about an inch bigger at the same letter
Banana Republic runs true to size overall; Uniqlo runs small on Asian fit standards. At the same letter, BR's women's chart measures roughly an inch more in the bust (Uniqlo S: 33–34"; BR S: 34–35"), and the cut differences push the same way — Uniqlo trims the chest, shoulders, and sleeves, while BR cuts blouses, knits, and cotton shirts roomy through the body. Most BR shoppers should size up one at Uniqlo, and up two in Uniqlo's slim-fit lines.
Going the other way is more nuanced than a flat size-down. Take your true size in BR suiting, dresses, and most pants; size down in flowy blouses and knits if you want a closer fit; and if you're between sizes in a BR blazer, go down — the shoulders run generous. One more mismatch to note: Uniqlo's women's range extends to 2XL (US 20–22) while BR's published chart stops at XL (US 16), so the letters diverge at the top of the range.
Uniqlo vs Banana Republic at a glance
| Uniqlo | Banana Republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall fit | Runs small — slim Japanese fit blocks, short sleeves and torso | True to size — the most tailored of the GAP family |
| Size labels | Alpha sizes; S = US 4–6, M = US 8–10, up to 2XL (US 20–22) | Same letter-to-numeric mapping, but the chart stops at XL (US 16) |
| Tops | Trim through chest and shoulders; sleeves run narrow and short | Blouses, knits, and cotton shirts cut roomy through the body |
| Where to adjust | Size up one coming from BR; two in slim-fit lines | Size down in flowy blouses and knits; down if between blazer sizes |
| Bottoms | Men's bottoms sold by numeric waist size in inches | Non-stretch tailored trousers run snug at the waist |
US numeric sizes behind each letter (women)
Both brands publish US numeric equivalents, and they nearly match — the divergence is at the extremes, and in the body measurements shown in the next table.
| Size | Uniqlo US size | Banana Republic US size |
|---|---|---|
| XS | 0–2 | 00–2 |
| S | 4–6 | 4–6 |
| M | 8–10 | 8–10 |
| L | 12–14 | 12–14 |
| XL | 16–18 | 16 |
Women's body measurements side by side
Body measurements from each brand's published chart at the same letter. BR's bust figures run about an inch bigger from S upward.
| Size | Uniqlo bust | BR bust | Uniqlo waist | BR waist |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| XS | 31–32" · 78–83 cm | 31–33" · 78.5–84 cm | 24–25" · 60–65 cm | 24–26" · 61–66 cm |
| S | 33–34" · 83–88 cm | 34–35" · 86.5–89 cm | 26–27" · 65–70 cm | 27–28" · 68.5–71 cm |
| M | 35–37" · 88–94 cm | 36–37" · 91.5–94 cm | 28–30" · 70–76 cm | 29–30" · 73.5–76 cm |
| L | 37–40" · 94–101 cm | 38.5–40" · 98–101.5 cm | 30–33" · 76–83 cm | 31.5–33" · 80–84 cm |
| XL | 40–43" · 101–109 cm | 41.5" · 105.5 cm | 33–36" · 83–91 cm | 34.5" · 87.5 cm |
Men's tops side by side
Body chest measurements at the same letter. The bands overlap heavily — L is identical on paper — but Uniqlo's start lower at the small end, and its cut is the trimmer of the two.
| Size | Uniqlo chest | BR chest |
|---|---|---|
| XS | 32–35" · 81.5–89 cm | 34–35" · 86.5–89 cm |
| S | 35–38" · 89–96.5 cm | 36–37" · 91.5–94 cm |
| M | 38–41" · 96.5–104 cm | 38–40" · 96.5–101.5 cm |
| L | 41–44" · 104–112 cm | 41–44" · 104–112 cm |
| XL | 44–47" · 112–119.5 cm | 45–48" · 114.5–122 cm |
| XXL | 47–50" · 119.5–127 cm | 49–52" · 124.5–132 cm |
Switching between Uniqlo and Banana Republic
- Going BR → Uniqlo: size up one as your default, two in Uniqlo's slim-fit lines — and check garment lengths, since Uniqlo sleeves and torsos run short.
- Going Uniqlo → BR: take your true US size in suiting, dresses, and pants; size down in flowy blouses and knits if you liked Uniqlo's closer fit.
- Between sizes in a BR blazer? Go down — the shoulders are cut generously, and a tailor can let out the body but not rebuild a shoulder.
- Above a US 16, only Uniqlo's published chart continues (XL–2XL covers US 16–22, BR stops at XL/16), so compare by bust and waist measurements rather than letters there.
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 Uniqlo size guide and the Banana Republic size guide.
Uniqlo vs Banana Republic sizing FAQs
Which runs smaller, Uniqlo or Banana Republic?
Uniqlo. It cuts slim on Japanese fit standards — trimmer chest, shoulders, and sleeves — while Banana Republic runs true to size with a tailored standard-US fit. At the same letter, BR's women's chart also measures about an inch bigger in the bust, so most BR shoppers go up one size at Uniqlo.
I wear a medium at Banana Republic — what size at Uniqlo?
Start with a large. BR's M fits a 36–37" bust, which sits at the very top of Uniqlo's M range (35–37") — and Uniqlo's slim cut means chart-edge sizing feels snug. In Uniqlo's slim-fit lines, consider XL for the fit your BR medium gives you.
Do the two brands use the same size labels?
Mostly — both run alpha sizes over US numerics, and the mappings nearly match (S is 4–6, M is 8–10, L is 12–14 at both). The differences: BR's women's chart stops at XL (US 16) while Uniqlo continues to 2XL (US 20–22), and the body measurements behind the same letter run about an inch apart.
Which brand fits better for tailored looks?
Banana Republic is built for it — suiting and dresses run reliably true to size, with the known quirks being roomy blouses and generous blazer shoulders. Uniqlo's slim cut gives a naturally trim line in your sized-up size, but its sleeves and torsos run short, which matters in tailoring.
Are both brands consistent between items?
Yes — these are two of the more predictable mainstream brands. Uniqlo's fit blocks barely change season to season, and BR's garments mostly deliver what its detailed chart promises. The exceptions to learn: Uniqlo's slim-fit and oversized lines size differently, and BR's flowy blouses, knits, and non-stretch trousers each have their own quirk.
