Sizing & Condition Guide
Military sizing works differently from high-street sizing. Use this guide to read the labels, pick the right size and choose the condition that suits you.
Condition grades
Every surplus item is graded before it is listed. Pick the grade on the product page — the price changes with it.
Brand New
Unissued stock, never worn. May show light marks from storage. Not always in original packaging.
Super Grade
Excellent surplus condition with minimal signs of wear. Not necessarily new or unissued.
Grade 1
Used and fully serviceable. Expect signs of wear such as scuffs, creasing, fading, stampings or light marks.
Grade 2
Heavily used with more noticeable cosmetic wear. Some items may have faults — any are stated on the listing.
Boot sizing
All boots are listed in UK sizes 4–13, with a Medium (M) or Wide (W) fitting.
| UK | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EU | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40/41 | 42 | 43 | 44/45 | 46 | 47 | 48 |
| US (men's) | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 |
Medium (M)
Standard width. The right choice for most people.
Wide (W)
Extra room across the forefoot. Choose this if regular shoes feel tight across the width.
Reading the label
British issue boots show the UK size and width inside the tongue or on the lining, e.g. 9M = UK 9 Medium.
Trouser sizing (NATO)
British Army trousers carry a three-part NATO code on the label, measured in centimetres.
Example: 80/88/104 = 30" leg, 35" waist. Highlighted cells below are the sizes we list.
| Waist (cm) | Waist (in) | Leg 75 28" |
Leg 80 30" |
Leg 85 32" |
Leg 90 34" |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 68 | 27" | 75/68/84 | – | – | – |
| 72 | 28" | 75/72/88 | 80/72/88 | – | – |
| 76 | 30" | 75/76/92 | 80/76/92 | – | – |
| 80 | 31" | 75/80/96 | 80/80/96 | 85/80/96 | – |
| 84 | 33" | 75/84/100 | 80/84/100 | 85/84/100 | – |
| 88 | 35" | 75/88/104 | 80/88/104 | 85/88/104 | 90/88/104 |
| 92 | 36" | 75/92/108 | 80/92/108 | 85/92/108 | 90/92/108 |
| 96 | 38" | – | 80/96/112 | 85/96/112 | 90/96/112 |
| 100 | 39" | – | – | 85/100/116 | 90/100/116 |
| 104 | 41" | – | – | 85/104/120 | 90/104/120 |
| 108 | 43" | – | – | 85/108/124 | – |
Jackets, smocks & shirts
British issue tops use a NATO height/chest code, e.g. 170/96 = fits someone around 170cm tall with a 96cm chest. Where a garment has no military size, we measure it pit to pit (PtP) and size it with the chart below.
| Our size | Pit to pit (flat) | Fits chest approx. | Typical NATO chest (cm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| XXS | 14–15" | 28–30" | 72–80 |
| XS | 16–17" | 32–34" | 80–88 |
| Small | 18–19" | 36–38" | 88–96 |
| Medium | 20–21" | 40–42" | 96–104 |
| Large | 22–23" | 44–46" | 104–112 |
| XL | 24–25" | 48–50" | 112–120 |
| XXL | 26–27" | 52–54" | 120–128 |
| 3XL | 28–29" | 56–58" | 128–136 |
Webbing & belts
PLCE belts are adjustable within each size.
| PLCE belt size | Fits waist up to |
|---|---|
| Small | 40" |
| Medium | 45" |
| Large | 50" |
How to measure yourself
Use a soft tape measure and keep it snug, not tight.
Chest
Around the fullest part of your chest, under the arms, tape level across your back.
Waist
Around where you normally wear your trousers, not your belly button.
Inside leg
From the crotch seam down to the floor, standing without shoes. Or measure a pair of trousers that fit you.
Height
Standing straight, barefoot, back against a wall. Used for NATO jacket codes.
Feet
Stand on paper, mark heel and longest toe, measure the gap. Do it late in the day when feet are largest.
FAQ
Will my item look exactly like the photos?
The photos show the product model. Surplus is individually used kit, so the exact wear on your item depends on the grade you choose.
What is the difference between Super Grade and Brand New?
Brand New is unissued and never worn. Super Grade is excellent condition with minimal wear, but may have been issued.
Is Grade 1 good enough for regular use?
Yes. Grade 1 is fully serviceable — it just shows signs of previous use. It is our best seller for value.
I am between two sizes. Which should I pick?
Boots: go up. Trouser waist: go down (drawcord waist). Trouser leg: go up. Jackets and smocks: your normal size, as they are cut to go over layers.
Do military sizes match high-street sizes?
Not exactly. Always go by your actual measurements and the charts above rather than your usual S/M/L.
Still not sure?
Send us your measurements and the item you are looking at, and we will tell you the best size.
Contact us