A 5T isn't the same size everywhere. At most brands a 5T fits a child roughly 41½ to 43½ inches tall — but some brands cut their 5T shorter, and some cut it longer. Here's where the 28 brands on Little & Youth land with their 5T, taken straight from each brand's own published size chart.
One toddler's height, 28 different ideas of '5T.'
The bands shift to the right as brands cut their 5T for taller kids.
Grouped by where each brand's published 5T height range lands.
These brands cut their 5T a little smaller — the whole range sits lower — so it fits a slightly shorter or leaner toddler. Worth a look if your child runs small for their age.
Calvin Klein Kids, Kohl's Jumping Beans, abercrombie kids, and Gerber Childrenswear.
These brands land right in the most common range, about 41½–43½" — the way most brands cut a 5T.
Adidas Kids, Burt's Bees Baby, Champion Kids, Columbia Kids, Crocs Kids, L.L. Bean Kids, OshKosh B'gosh, Skechers Kids, Stride Rite, The North Face Kids, Vans Kids, Carter's, Gymboree, Little Planet by Carter's, Mini Mioche, and Otter Avenue.
These brands cut their 5T a little bigger — the whole range sits higher — so it fits a taller toddler, and it often lasts longer before it's outgrown. Worth a look if your child runs tall.
JCPenney Thereabouts, Macy's Epic Threads, Macy's First Impressions, Walmart Wonder Nation, Target Cat & Jack, Fabletics, Old Navy, and babyGap.
All 28 brands on Little & Youth that publish a 5T, sorted from the shortest-cut to the longest. Every figure is that brand's own published 5T height range.
| Brand | 5T fits (height) | How its 5T runs |
|---|---|---|
| Calvin Klein Kids | 40–42" | Shorter |
| Kohl's Jumping Beans | 41–42½" | Shorter |
| abercrombie kids | 41–43" | Shorter |
| Gerber Childrenswear | 40–43½" | Shorter |
| Adidas Kids | 41½–43½" | Typical |
| Burt's Bees Baby | 41½–43½" | Typical |
| Champion Kids | 41½–43½" | Typical |
| Columbia Kids | 41½–43½" | Typical |
| Crocs Kids | 41½–43½" | Typical |
| L.L. Bean Kids | 41½–43½" | Typical |
| OshKosh B'gosh | 41½–43½" | Typical |
| Skechers Kids | 41½–43½" | Typical |
| Stride Rite | 41½–43½" | Typical |
| The North Face Kids | 41½–43½" | Typical |
| Vans Kids | 41½–43½" | Typical |
| Carter's | 41½–44" | Typical |
| Gymboree | 41½–44" | Typical |
| Little Planet by Carter's | 41½–44" | Typical |
| Mini Mioche | 41½–44" | Typical |
| Otter Avenue | 41½–44" | Typical |
| JCPenney Thereabouts | 42–44" | Longer |
| Macy's Epic Threads | 42–44½" | Longer |
| Macy's First Impressions | 42–44½" | Longer |
| Walmart Wonder Nation | 42–44½" | Longer |
| Target Cat & Jack | 43½–44½" | Longer |
| Fabletics | 42–45" | Longer |
| Old Navy | 42–45" | Longer |
| babyGap | 42–45" | Longer |
It depends on the brand. A 5T runs a little big at Target Cat & Jack, babyGap, and Old Navy, where it fits up to 45 inches. A 5T runs a little small at Calvin Klein Kids, Gerber Childrenswear, and Kohl's Jumping Beans. Most brands land in between, fitting a child about 41½–43½" tall.
At most brands, a 5T fits a toddler roughly 41½–43½" tall. A few brands stretch a 5T up to 45 inches. Because height is what actually determines fit, it's worth checking your child's height against the specific brand's 5T rather than going by age.
No. A 5T is not standardized — the same "5T" is used for kids from 40 to 45 inches tall depending on the brand. That's why a 5T that fits perfectly in one brand can be too short or too roomy in the next.
Usually a 5T and a 5 cover a similar height, but a 5T is cut fuller through the middle for a toddler still in diapers or pull-ups, while a plain size 5 is cut for an older, leaner child. Many brands offer one or the other, which is part of why sizes jump around between labels.
A 5T is designed with 5-year-olds in mind, but age is only a rough guide. Because a 5T is built around height and build, plenty of children wear a 5T a year earlier or later than the label suggests. Checking your child's height against a specific brand's 5T is far more reliable than going by age alone.
After a 5T, most brands move to a straight size 5 or 6. Sizing can shift noticeably at that step, so it's worth checking the next size's height range rather than assuming it picks up exactly where the 5T left off.
Among the brands here, Fabletics cuts the longest 5T, fitting up to about 45 inches. The other longer-cut brands reach the upper end of the range too. Those are good brands to look at if your child is at the tall end of a 5T and you want the outfit to last.
All else equal, that comes down to how wide a brand's 5T size band is — how many inches of height it's built to cover. Gerber Childrenswear has the widest 5T (about 3½ inches of height), with Fabletics and Old Navy close behind, so it tends to give the most room to grow. The narrowest 5T bands — around 1 inches — are at Target Cat & Jack, so a child may move out of those a bit sooner. Real-world life also depends on your child's growth spurts and how well a piece holds up, but the size band is a solid all-else-equal starting point.
Enter your child's measurements once and Little & Youth shows the size to buy across all 90+ brands on the site — 5T or otherwise — each pulled from that brand's own published chart.
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