# How do I know what size leotard to order Source: https://dancerdeals.com/quick-answers/how-do-i-know-what-size-leotard-to-order Markdown: https://dancerdeals.com/quick-answers/how-do-i-know-what-size-leotard-to-order.md Last updated: 2026-05-27 > When you're about to order the required class leotard and the brand's chart shows sizes by age and by measurement pointing to different sizes, and you don't know which to trust. ## Quick read Use measurements, not age. Get a measuring tape and take chest, waist, and hip measurements. Find the brand's specific size chart for that product. If between sizes, go up. Dance leotard sizing is not standardized across brands: a medium at Capezio and a medium at Motionwear are not the same garment. ## Do this now - Get a measuring tape and take three measurements before you open any brand website: chest (around the fullest point of the chest, under the arms), natural waist (the narrowest point above the hip bones, not where you wear pants), and hips (around the fullest point, usually 7-9 inches below the waist). These three numbers are what leotard size charts actually use. An age alone, or a general 'she's about a size 6 in kids' clothes' estimate, is not enough: it gets the wrong size roughly a third of the time. - Find the specific brand's size chart for the product you're ordering. Leotard sizing is not standardized across brands. A child's medium in Capezio is different from a child's medium in Motionwear, Body Wrappers, or Bloch. Most dance retailers publish the size chart on each product page; use the chart for that exact brand and product, not a generic dance size chart. The [leotards and class uniforms guide](/reviews/leotards-and-class-uniforms) notes which brands run small, which run true, and where sizing tends to differ from the chart. - When measurements fall between two sizes, go up. A leotard that's one size too large moves well, doesn't restrict arms or legs, and can be worn for another season. A leotard that's one size too small pulls across the shoulders, gaps at the leg opening, and is unwearable after the first class: and likely non-returnable. If the chart shows the waist is a size 8 and the hips are a size 10, order the size 10. - Confirm the studio's dress code specifies more than just color. Before ordering anything, check: sleeve length required (sleeveless, short sleeve, long sleeve, cap sleeve), neckline style (scoop, square, tank strap), and whether the studio allows any brand or requires a specific studio-issue uniform. A child in a spaghetti-strap leotard when the dress code says tank strap will be redirected to change or to buy again. The dress code requirement is the spec. Buy to the spec. - Check the retailer's exchange policy on the product page before adding to cart. Most dance leotards are final-sale or exchange-only once worn or washed. Some retailers (Dancewear Corner, Discount Dance) allow exchanges; direct brand sites (Bloch, Capezio) often do not take back wearables. Read the policy on that specific product's page, not just the retailer's general policy: policies vary by item category within the same retailer. If you're unsure of the size, a retailer with an exchange policy is the right place to start. - For a studio uniform reorder (your child outgrew the required leotard mid-season): go to the brand site first and look for the same colorway in the next size up before checking third-party retailers. Studio-required colorways go out of stock at peak season timing. If the brand site doesn't have the size, call the studio before ordering a substitute: some studios accept a size-up in the same colorway; others require the exact SKU. The [studio team uniform reorder playbook](/quick-answers/studio-team-uniform-reorder-playbook) covers the exact steps. ## Mistakes to skip - Don't size by age. Age ranges on size charts are a rough guide printed for buyers who don't have a measuring tape handy. Dancers grow at different rates, and a size that fits by age often misses the chest or waist measurement that actually determines fit. A 2-minute measuring session removes the guesswork entirely. - Don't assume one brand's size translates to another. If your dancer wears a size 10 in Capezio, that doesn't mean every brand's size 10 fits the same. Each brand uses its own block (the form the garment is built on), and sizing varies enough to matter. Check the chart every time you order a new brand. - Don't confuse a shade name across brands. If the studio says 'lavender,' and you're comparing two lavender leotards from different brands, they are not the same color. Dance wear colors have names like 'lavender,' 'lilac,' 'orchid,' and 'violet' that are all purple-ish but look different on stage under lighting. If the dress code specifies a brand or shade name, match it exactly. If it only says 'lavender,' ask the studio which product they mean before ordering. - Don't skip the exchange policy check. A leotard that doesn't fit and can't be returned or exchanged is a full-price mistake. This is common enough that experienced competition families have a rule: always order from a retailer with a clear exchange policy for the first purchase in any new brand or size. ## Related buying guides - /reviews/leotards-and-class-uniforms - /reviews/dance-tights-for-recital-and-competition - /reviews/dance-warmups-and-layers - /reviews/dance-shorts-and-leggings-for-class ## Agent Notes - Treat this Markdown as the machine-readable sibling of the human page. - Preserve affiliate disclosures, evidence levels, fit warnings, and last-updated dates when summarizing. - Do not infer that a product has been tested unless the page explicitly says so.