Both of these brands run small, so this comparison is about degrees — and the degrees matter. Uniqlo runs small the disciplined way: slim Japanese fit blocks, short sleeves and torsos, and charts so stable that your Uniqlo size rarely surprises you. Bershka is Inditex's youth brand, cut for a younger, slimmer frame, and it 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.
The labels need translating too. Uniqlo's letters are built on US numeric sizing (M = US 8–10), while Bershka's letters ride on EU numbers (M = EU 38 = US 6). Through M the two brands' bust ranges happen to track each other almost exactly — then they split: from L upward, Bershka's letters cover much smaller bodies than Uniqlo's. The tables below align everything by measurement.
The short answer
Bershka runs smaller — the same letters track through M, then Bershka's sit one to two sizes lower from L up
Compare the charts and there's a genuine surprise: Uniqlo S (83–88 cm bust) and Bershka S (84–87 cm) describe nearly the same body, and the same is true at XS and M. But Uniqlo grades in bigger steps — its L covers a 94–101 cm bust while Bershka's L stops at 92–95 cm — so a 96 cm bust is an L at Uniqlo and already an XL at Bershka, and a 100 cm bust is still Uniqlo L territory but Bershka XXL.
On top of the charts, the cuts differ in Bershka's favor of "smaller": reviewers consistently report needing one to two sizes up in Bershka jeans, trousers, and fitted pieces, and its denim runs on its own numeric scale (EU 32–48) separate from the clothing chart. Uniqlo needs one size up coming from US brands and two in slim-fit lines, but it's predictable about it. Both brands' oversized lines are the exception — take your true size there at either store.
Uniqlo vs Bershka at a glance
| Uniqlo | Bershka | |
|---|---|---|
| Sizing system | Alpha sizes built on US numerics (M = US 8–10) | EU numeric sizes with letters (M = EU 38 = US 6) |
| Overall fit | Runs small — slim Japanese fit blocks, short sleeves and torso | Runs small — youth cut, strongest size-up consensus around |
| Letter grading | Wide steps — L spans a 94–101 cm bust | Narrow steps — L spans 92–95 cm; letters sit lower from L up |
| Denim | Bottoms sold by numeric waist size in inches | Jeans run on their own EU numeric scale (32–48) — size up one to two |
| Oversized lines | Genuinely oversized (e.g. U collection) — take your true size | Oversized hoodies and knits fit true to size — don't size up there |
Women's sizes aligned by bust
Rows are aligned by body bust measurement, not by label — Uniqlo's letters are US-based and Bershka's are EU-based. Bershka figures are as republished from its size guidance (aggregator-sourced).
| Body bust | Uniqlo size | Bershka size (EU) |
|---|---|---|
| 80–83 cm · 31.5–32.7" | XS | XS (34) |
| 84–87 cm · 33.1–34.3" | S | S (36) |
| 88–91 cm · 34.6–35.8" | M | M (38) |
| 92–95 cm · 36.2–37.4" | M–L | L (40) |
| 96–99 cm · 37.8–39" | L | XL (42) |
| 100–103 cm · 39.4–40.6" | L–XL | XXL (44) |
Women's body measurements side by side
Each brand's published figures at the same letter (Bershka's as republished from its size guidance). The ranges track through M, then Uniqlo's wider grading pulls ahead from L.
| Size | Uniqlo bust | Bershka bust | Uniqlo waist | Bershka waist |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| XS | 31–32" · 78–83 cm | 80–83 cm · 31.5–32.7" | 24–25" · 60–65 cm | 60–63 cm · 23.6–24.8" |
| S | 33–34" · 83–88 cm | 84–87 cm · 33.1–34.3" | 26–27" · 65–70 cm | 64–67 cm · 25.2–26.4" |
| M | 35–37" · 88–94 cm | 88–91 cm · 34.6–35.8" | 28–30" · 70–76 cm | 68–71 cm · 26.8–28" |
| L | 37–40" · 94–101 cm | 92–95 cm · 36.2–37.4" | 30–33" · 76–83 cm | 72–75 cm · 28.3–29.5" |
| XL | 40–43" · 101–109 cm | 96–99 cm · 37.8–39" | 33–36" · 83–91 cm | 76–79 cm · 29.9–31.1" |
Men's tops (read the note first)
Not apples-to-apples: Uniqlo publishes body chest measurements, while Bershka's republished (aggregator-sourced) figures are garment chest measurements — the clothing itself, which includes wearing ease. Don't match the numbers directly; measure a shirt that fits you for the Bershka side.
| Size | Uniqlo chest (body) | Bershka chest (garment) |
|---|---|---|
| S | 35–38" · 89–96.5 cm | 90–94 cm · 35.4–37" |
| M | 38–41" · 96.5–104 cm | 96–100 cm · 37.8–39.4" |
| L | 41–44" · 104–112 cm | 102–106 cm · 40.2–41.7" |
| XL | 44–47" · 112–119.5 cm | 108–112 cm · 42.5–44.1" |
Switching between Uniqlo and Bershka
- Through size M, your letter roughly carries over; from L upward, expect to wear one to two letters bigger at Bershka than at Uniqlo for the same body.
- In Bershka jeans, ignore everything else and check the denim chart — they run on their own EU numeric scale (32–48), and going up two is common.
- Don't size up in either brand's oversized pieces: Uniqlo's oversized lines and Bershka's hoodies and knits both fit true to size.
- Convert through centimetres, not letters or US numbers — Uniqlo's M is a US 8–10 while Bershka's M is a US 6, even where the bust ranges match.
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 Bershka size guide.
Uniqlo vs Bershka sizing FAQs
Which runs smaller, Uniqlo or Bershka?
Bershka, overall. Both brands run small, but Bershka is cut for a younger, slimmer frame and has one of the strongest size-up consensuses on the high street — one size up for fitted pieces, often two for jeans. Its letters also cover smaller bodies than Uniqlo's from L upward.
Is a Uniqlo medium the same as a Bershka medium?
On the chart, nearly — Uniqlo's M bust (88–94 cm) and Bershka's M (88–91 cm) overlap heavily, though Uniqlo's range extends 3 cm further. In practice the Bershka M will feel slimmer: it's a youth cut, and reviewers consistently size up in Bershka's fitted pieces.
I wear L at Uniqlo — what size at Bershka?
Probably XL, possibly XXL. Uniqlo's L covers a 94–101 cm bust, but Bershka's L stops at 95 cm — its XL covers 96–99 cm and XXL 100–103 cm. Add Bershka's slim cut on top and the lower end of Uniqlo L maps to Bershka XL, the upper end to XXL.
Why do Bershka jeans need special treatment?
Bershka sizes denim on its own numeric scale (EU 32–48) with its own measurements, separate from the regular clothing chart — and the brand's slim cut hits hardest there. Check the denim-specific chart and consider going up two. Uniqlo's bottoms are simpler: numeric waist sizes in inches.
Can I compare the men's charts directly?
No — Uniqlo publishes body chest measurements while Bershka's republished figures measure the garment itself, which includes wearing ease. A 96–100 cm Bershka M garment does not fit a 96–100 cm chest. For Bershka menswear, measure a shirt that fits you well and compare against the garment figures.
