Nike Kids
Here’s how Nike Kids fits your child compared to other brands you might be considering, so you know before it’s in your cart.
Find your child’s size in Nike Kids
Enter your child’s measurements once — we’ll size them in Nike Kids and at 100+ other brands, each from that brand’s own published chart. Height and weight are required; add chest, waist, hips and inseam to sharpen the fit.
Your child wears one size in Nike Kids. What should you buy elsewhere?
Pick the size your child wears at Nike Kids to see which brands have the same label and measurements (twins) and which run shorter or longer (strangers) — based on each brand’s own chart.
Show the full cross-brand table (every size)
| Nike Kids | Size twinssame number fits the same | Size strangerssame number, different cut |
|---|---|---|
| XS (6-7Y)48–50" | Mango Kids↑ longerTea Collection↓ shorterJ.Crew Crewcuts↓ shorterGap Kids↓ shorterCarter's↓ shorterLittle Planet by Carter's↓ shorter+4 more | |
| S (8-9Y)50–54" | Nautica↓ shorterTea Collection↓ shorterVans Kids↓ shorterAmazon Essentials Kids↓ shorterJ.Crew Crewcuts↓ shorterGap Kids↓ shorter+4 more | |
| M (10-12Y)54–57" | Nautica↓ shorterVans Kids↓ shorterAmazon Essentials Kids↓ shorterTea Collection↓ shorterJ.Crew Crewcuts↓ shorterReebok Kids↑ longer+5 more | |
| L (14-16Y)57–61" | Nautica↓ shorterVans Kids↓ shorterAmazon Essentials Kids↓ shorterTea Collection↓ shorterJ.Crew Crewcuts↓ shorterReebok Kids↑ longer+4 more | |
| XL (18-20Y)61–65" | Vans Kids↓ shorterAmazon Essentials Kids↓ shorterJ.Crew Crewcuts↓ shorterMango Kids↑ longerTea Collection↓ shorterGap Kids↓ shorter+9 more |
Sizes shown use Nike Kids’ girls’/unisex chart where the brand splits by gender; boys’ sizes at the same number can run slightly taller.
In short
Where labels drift. The exceptions are the “strangers” above — e.g. at size M (10-12Y), Nautica, Vans Kids, Amazon Essentials Kids cut the same number differently. Check those before you trust the label.
Bottom line: for most sizes, a Nike Kids number is a safe bet elsewhere — measure once, then double-check only the handful of “stranger” brands above.
Curious about a size that isn’t your child’s here? Every size, compared across every brand, lives here: Browse all size comparisons →
Nike Kids makes shoes, too — see how it and every other kids’ shoe brand runs (true, big, or small) and how wide each is cut: Compare kids’ shoe sizing →
Fit & the transitions that trip parents up
Nike Kids-specific things the size number alone won’t tell you — drawn from its own charts.
Runs true, with a slim athletic cut
Nike fits as labeled but sits closer to the body — narrower through the chest and shorter in length than roomy basics brands — so a child used to a loose fit will find the same size more tailored. The performance fabric resists shrinking, so the fit holds after washing.
Lettered “Kids Fit” sizing (XS–XL)
Nike sizes kids in letters (XS–XL) rather than US numbers, so match your child by measurement instead of carrying over a numeric size from another brand. Girls and boys share those letters but are charted separately — the same letter is cut differently, wider through the chest and hips on the girls’ side.
A Plus line for a fuller build
Nike offers a Plus line — S+, M+, L+, XL+ (roughly ages 8–20) — for both girls and boys, same length with more room through the body. It starts at the bigger sizes, so it won’t apply to a younger child.
Specialty & inclusive fits
Which trimmer, roomier, or adaptive cuts Nike Kids publishes alongside its standard sizes.
What shoppers say about the fit
Community consensus
Shopper opinion · not Little & Youth’s measurementThis is what parents report anecdotally — crowd sentiment, not a Little & Youth determination. Our sizing above is computed from Nike Kids’ own published chart; the notes here come from public parent discussion.
Nike runs true to size with a slim, athletic cut. It fits as labeled but sits closer to the body — narrower through the chest and shorter in the length than roomy basics brands — so a child used to a loose fit will find the same size more tailored. Its performance fabrics resist shrinkage, so the fit holds after washing.
Based on anecdotal discussion from multiple publicly available online sources; your experience may differ.
Should you buy Nike Kids?
Consider it if…
- You want performance wear — moisture-wicking, built-to-move pieces for active and sporty kids.
- You need an adaptive option — Nike’s FlyEase line uses easy-entry closures for dressing without a struggle.
- You want a brand kids ask for — strong logo appeal for older kids and teens.
Think twice if…
- You shop on Amazon — Nike isn’t sold there; you’ll buy on nike.com or at sporting-goods retailers.
- You’re used to numeric sizes — Nike kids uses alpha sizing (XS–XL) tied to age, which reads differently from a 6/8/10 chart.
- You want everyday basics — it’s sportswear-first, priced accordingly, not a plain-staples line.
Skip the cross-referencing — let Little & Youth do it.
Enter your child’s measurements once. We’ll show their Nike Kids size and their size at 100+ other brands, each from that brand’s own chart.
Find my child’s size →Shop Nike Kids ↗A few things parents ask that the chart won’t tell you
Should I size up in Nike?
Only if your child is broad or husky — that’s the one build the slim cut can pinch, so go up a size there. For an average or lean child, buy the straight size; the performance fabric won’t shrink, so the fit you pick holds after washing. Between sizes, check the chest measurement rather than the age, since Nike labels by alpha size (XS–XL).
Does Nike make adaptive clothing?
Yes — its FlyEase line uses easy-entry zippers and closures designed for kids who find regular fastenings hard, so getting dressed is simpler.
How does Nike’s XS–XL kids sizing work?
Nike kids uses alpha sizes tied to age — for example XS is about 6–7 years and XL about 18–20 years. Our comparison maps that to real height so you can line it up against numeric brands.
Where can I buy Nike kids?
On nike.com and at sporting-goods and department retailers.
What measurements do I need to size Nike kids?
It publishes height, chest, waist, and hips. Height drives the size; the chest and waist figures matter here because of the slim, athletic cut.
Do Nike Kids boys’ and girls’ sizes fit the same?
From the bigger sizes up, Nike Kids publishes separate girls’ and boys’ charts, so the same number can differ by gender. The figures on this page use Nike Kids’ girls’/unisex chart.
How do I choose between Nike Kids’ regular and Plus cuts?
A Plus is the same numbered size as the regular cut — same length, adjusted through the waist and seat (Plus roomier). So size to your child’s usual Nike Kids number from the chart above, then pick the cut by build: a smaller waist for Slim, a fuller waist and seat for the roomier cuts. You don’t need a separate measurement to choose. Nike Kids also carries an Adaptive line, which is about easy closures and sensory-friendly construction rather than a different cut.
How do Nike Kids’ shoe sizes work?
Nike Kids’ shoes fit true to size, and they’re cut narrow. Kids’ shoe sizes go by foot length, not age — measure your child’s foot and match it to the size. See how every kids’ shoe brand runs and how wide each is cut on our kids’ shoe sizing guide.