Overall Sizes: Bib Overalls, Coveralls and Dungarees
"Overalls" covers two different garments: bib overalls (dungarees) with straps over the shoulders, and coveralls (boiler suits) with sleeves. They use different size systems. Here is how each one is labeled, the charts behind the labels, and the European workwear numbers.
Bib overalls are sized like jeans, by waist × inseam in inches: a 34 × 30 fits a 34 in (86 cm) waist with a 30 in (76 cm) leg. Coveralls are sized by chest (or S-5XL) with a length option: a typical 42 Regular fits a 42 in (107 cm) chest and a 30 in inseam, Short takes 2 in off and Tall adds 2 in.
- Bib 34 × 30
- 86 × 76 cm
- Coverall M chest
- 38-40 in (97-102 cm)
- Regular inseam
- 30 in (76 cm)
- Short / Tall
- -2 in / +2 in
On this page
Bib overall size chart
Bib overalls (dungarees in the UK) carry jeans-style labels: waist then inseam, in inches. The bib and adjustable straps take care of the upper body, so only the waist, seat and leg length need to fit.
| Waist size | Body waist | Common inseams | Letter equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | 30 in (76 cm) | 28, 30, 32 | S |
| 32 | 32 in (81 cm) | 28, 30, 32, 34 | M |
| 34 | 34 in (86 cm) | 28, 30, 32, 34 | L |
| 36 | 36 in (91 cm) | 30, 32, 34 | L |
| 38 | 38 in (97 cm) | 30, 32, 34 | XL |
| 40 | 40 in (102 cm) | 30, 32, 34 | XL |
| 42 | 42 in (107 cm) | 30, 32 | XXL |
| 44 | 44 in (112 cm) | 30, 32 | XXL |
| 46-50 | 46-50 in (117-127 cm) | 30, 32 | 3XL |
The larger workwear brands extend bib waists well beyond 50 in, usually only in 30 and 32 in inseams. If you know your jeans size, start there; the jeans size chart shows how waist labels compare with real waist measurements.
Bib overall fit details
- Bib height: the top of the bib should sit around mid-chest. If it sits at your collarbone with the straps fully let out, the torso is too short for you.
- Strap adjustment: buckles and slides give several inches of range, so overalls fit far more torso lengths than jumpsuits do. Tall wearers should check the strap length on the size chart if listed.
- Insulated bibs: a quilted lining takes up room. Unless the maker says the size already allows for layers, go up one waist size for winter bibs worn over thermals.
- Inseam: work bibs are usually worn over boots, so many people buy 1 in longer than their jeans to stop the hem riding up when kneeling.
Coverall and boiler suit size chart
Coveralls cover the arms and torso, so they are sized by chest. US workwear charts use the same chest bands as men's jackets, plus a length choice tied to height. If you fall between two chest sizes, take the larger: you need to raise your arms and bend without the back pulling tight.
| Letter | Numeric chest size | Chest (in) | Chest (cm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| S | 34-36 | 34-36 in | 86-91 cm |
| M | 38-40 | 38-40 in | 97-102 cm |
| L | 42-44 | 42-44 in | 107-112 cm |
| XL | 46-48 | 46-48 in | 117-122 cm |
| 2XL | 50-52 | 50-52 in | 127-132 cm |
| 3XL | 54-56 | 54-56 in | 137-142 cm |
| 4XL | 58-60 | 58-60 in | 147-152 cm |
| Length | Inseam | Approximate height |
|---|---|---|
| Short | 28 in (71 cm) | 5 ft 4 in - 5 ft 7 in (163-170 cm) |
| Regular | 30 in (76 cm) | 5 ft 8 in - 6 ft (173-183 cm) |
| Tall | 32 in (81 cm) | 6 ft 1 in - 6 ft 5 in (185-196 cm) |
Some brands base Regular on a 32 in inseam instead, so check the product listing. Torso length matters as much as leg length in a one-piece: if you are long-bodied, take Tall even when your inseam is regular. Disposable protective coveralls (Tyvek-style) are sized much larger, by height and chest bands on the packaging, and are worn over normal clothes.
Measure your chest over the clothes you will wear underneath, with the tape under the armpits and across the shoulder blades. Measure inseam from the crotch to the top of your work boots, not to the floor.
European workwear sizes
European work trousers, bibs and coveralls use German-style size numbers, and protective garments are also labeled with body dimensions in centimeters under EN ISO 13688 (typically a pictogram showing height and chest or waist range).
| Size family | Numbers | Example | Approx. US waist × inseam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal | 44-64 | 50 | 34 × 32 |
| Short, stout (untersetzt) | 24-34 | 25 | 36 × 30 |
| Long, slim | 94-114 | 102 | 36 × 36 |
| Short leg (Nordic brands) | 84-124 | 88 | 31 × 30 |
| Long leg (Nordic brands) | 144-162 | 146 | 31 × 35 |
Scandinavian workwear brands use their own numbering, and some add letters before or after the number as fit codes, so a label like "88C" should be checked against that maker's chart. The German normal, long and short sizes are explained further in the pant size chart.
Women's overalls
Fashion overalls for women follow the regular women's sizes (US 0-18 or XS-XL), and the hip is usually the deciding measurement because the bib and straps adjust everywhere else. A US 8 fits about a 28.5 in (72 cm) waist and 38.5 in (98 cm) hip. Women's work bibs and coveralls are increasingly sold in women's cuts with numeric sizes and a shorter torso; a man's coverall on a woman usually fits the hip only when the chest is one or two sizes too large.
Shortalls (overall shorts) use the same sizes; only the leg changes. In pregnancy, adjustable-strap overalls are one of the few non-maternity garments that keep fitting into the second trimester, because the bib sits in front of the bump rather than around it; see the maternity clothes guide.
Kids' and baby overalls
| US size | EU size (height) | Typical age |
|---|---|---|
| 12M | 80 cm (31.5 in) | 9-12 months |
| 18M | 86 cm (34 in) | 12-18 months |
| 2T | 92 cm (36 in) | 18-24 months |
| 3T | 98 cm (38.5 in) | 2-3 years |
| 4T | 104 cm (41 in) | 3-4 years |
| 5 | 110 cm (43.5 in) | 4-5 years |
| 6 | 116 cm (45.5 in) | 5-6 years |
Baby and toddler overalls usually have snaps along the inside leg for diaper changes and two or three button positions on each strap, which add growing room in the torso. Roll-up cuffs do the same for length. Buy by height, and if the child is between sizes, choose the larger one. For outerwear sized over overalls, see jacket sizes; work vests are in the vest size guide.
Frequently asked questions
How do you write the size of overalls?
Bib overalls: waist × inseam, for example 36 × 32. Coveralls: chest plus length, for example 44 Tall or L Regular. European workwear: a single number such as 50 (normal), 25 (short and stout) or 102 (long), sometimes with a height and chest pictogram under EN ISO 13688.
Should bib overalls be the same size as my jeans?
Usually yes in the waist, because bibs are cut with a fuller seat than jeans. Go up 1-2 waist sizes if you plan to wear them over jeans or thick thermal layers, and keep the same inseam or go 1-2 in longer if you work kneeling or climbing.
What does 'overall size' mean in cm?
On European labels, overall and coverall sizes are often printed as body height and chest girth in centimeters, for example 176-182 / 100-104. That garment fits a person 176-182 cm (5 ft 9 in - 6 ft) tall with a 100-104 cm (39-41 in) chest.
Are dungarees the same as overalls?
In British English, dungarees are bib overalls, and "overalls" usually means a full coverall or boiler suit. In American English, overalls means bib overalls. Check the product photo before you use a size chart.
What size overalls for a toddler?
Toddler overalls follow age sizes (2T-5T) or European height sizes (92-110). Adjustable straps let them fit for longer, so choose by the child's height and leg length rather than waist.