# Suit size runs and lot planning for wholesale buyers

The wrong size mix leaves you with unsold 44s and no 52s. This guide explains EU suit sizing, how it converts to UK and US sizes, and how to plan size ratios for your market.


## How should a wholesale buyer plan a suit size run?

Plan your size run around your customers' body sizes, with most units in the middle sizes and fewer at each end. For most markets that means EU sizes 46 to 56 as the core, with 44 and 58 to 60 added depending on who you sell to. Size planning is the main reason stock gets stuck, so it is worth getting right before your first order.

There are two ways to buy from us, and they handle sizes differently:

- **Stock lots** come in a fixed size run, one suit per size. Most suit lots run EU 46-48-50-52-54-56 (6 pieces) or 48 to 58 (6 pieces). Most tuxedo lots run EU 46 to 58 (7 pieces).
- **Made-to-order** production, from 100 units per style, lets you set your own size ratio.

## How do EU suit sizes work?

An EU suit size is roughly half the chest circumference in centimetres. A size 50 jacket fits a chest of about 100 cm. This is the system used in Turkey, Italy, Germany and most of continental Europe, and it is the system we produce to.

## How do EU sizes convert to UK and US sizes?

Subtract 10 from the EU size to get the UK or US chest size in inches. EU 50 is a UK/US 40. The table below shows the standard conversion for regular lengths.

| EU size | UK / US chest size | Approx. body chest (cm) | German short | German long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 44 | 34 | 88 | 22 | 90 |
| 46 | 36 | 92 | 23 | 94 |
| 48 | 38 | 96 | 24 | 98 |
| 50 | 40 | 100 | 25 | 102 |
| 52 | 42 | 104 | 26 | 106 |
| 54 | 44 | 108 | 27 | 110 |
| 56 | 46 | 112 | 28 | 114 |
| 58 | 48 | 116 | 29 | 118 |
| 60 | 50 | 120 | 30 | 122 |

Brands and fits vary, so treat this as a guide and check garment measurements, not only the label. A slim fit 50 and a classic fit 50 can fit the same man differently. Our [size guide](/size-guide) has more detail on how we size.

## What is a suit drop, and which one do I need?

The drop is the difference between jacket chest and trouser waist, and it tells you how slim or full the suit is. A bigger drop means a slimmer waist relative to the chest.

There are two ways of writing it, and they are not the same:

- **US and UK:** drop is in inches of full measurement. A drop 6 suit pairs a 40 jacket with 34 trousers. Drop 6 is the usual standard, drop 7 or 8 is slimmer and athletic.
- **Italian and EU:** drop is in centimetres of half measurement. A drop 6 suit in size 50 has a half chest of 50 cm and a half waist of 44 cm. Drop 7 is slimmer, drop 4 is a comfort fit for a fuller waist.

So a US drop 6 and an EU drop 6 do not describe the same fit. When you order, tell us your market and the fit you want, and we will confirm the trouser waist for each jacket size in writing.

## What about short and long fits?

Short and long fits change the jacket and sleeve length for shorter and taller men, while keeping the chest the same. In German sizing, short sizes are half the regular number (24 is a short 48) and long sizes are roughly double (98 is a long 48). In the US you will see S, R and L after the chest size, for example 40R or 42L.

Most retailers start with regular lengths only. Add short or long fits when you know your customers need them. For example, markets where men are taller on average, such as the Netherlands or Scandinavia, often need long fits, while markets with a shorter average height may need more short fits. For made-to-order, we can produce short and long versions of the same model.

## What size ratio should a lot have?

Put the most units in the two or three middle sizes and taper towards the ends. Here is an illustration for a made-to-order run of 100 units per style. These are starting points as general guidance, not fixed rules. Your own sales history should always come first.

| EU size | Slim European market | Broad mix (Africa, Middle East, Central Asia) | US and Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| 44 | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| 46 | 12 | 8 | 6 |
| 48 | 20 | 16 | 12 |
| 50 | 22 | 22 | 18 |
| 52 | 18 | 22 | 20 |
| 54 | 14 | 16 | 18 |
| 56 | 7 | 10 | 12 |
| 58 | 3 | 4 | 8 |
| 60 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 100 |

As general guidance:

- **US and Canada** buyers usually need more units from EU 52 upward and often ask for 58 and 60.
- **Western and Northern Europe** buyers selling slim fit often start at 44 or 46 and peak at 48 to 50.
- **Mixed markets** sell a wider spread, so a flatter curve across 48 to 54 works better.
- **Wedding and groomsmen stores** need depth in the middle sizes because groups often buy several suits in the same size range.

With stock lots, you get one suit per size. If your middle sizes sell faster, order two lots of a model and reorder the middle sizes as they sell through.

## How do I plan for big and tall customers?

Treat big and tall as a separate line with its own size run, rather than adding a few large sizes to a slim fit model. A big man needs more room in the waist and seat, not only a bigger chest, so the pattern should be graded for him.

- **Big:** EU 58 and up, usually with a smaller drop (fuller trouser waist).
- **Tall:** long fits with longer jacket body and sleeves.
- **Fit:** classic or modern fit works better than slim for most big customers.

We produce [big and tall suits](/mens-suit-manufacturing/big-tall-suits) for made-to-order programs. Tell us the sizes and the drop you need and we will confirm what we can grade.

## Should trousers be hemmed or unhemmed?

Order unhemmed trousers if your customers buy in a store with alterations, and hemmed trousers if you sell online or without a tailor. Both are common in wholesale.

| | Unhemmed (open bottom) | Hemmed |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Shops with in-house tailoring, rental, formalwear | Online stores, value retail, uniforms |
| Advantage | One trouser fits many leg lengths | Ready to wear, fewer returns from customers without a tailor |
| Watch out | Customer pays for or waits for hemming | You need the right inseam for your market |

If you choose hemmed, tell us the inseam you want per size. Buyers selling in markets with taller customers usually ask for a longer inseam.

## How do I order the right size run?

Send us your target market, the fit, and either your size ratio or your past sales by size. For stock lots, we confirm which size runs are available per model. For made-to-order, we confirm the size breakdown, drop and trouser finish in writing before production starts. Typical production time is 12-15 days, depending on quantity, model and fabric availability.

Message us on WhatsApp or Telegram through the [contact page](/contact) to plan your sizes and get a quote. Our [stock lots vs made-to-order guide](/guides/stock-lots-vs-made-to-order) helps if you are deciding between the two.

## FAQ

### What sizes are in a stock lot?

Most suit lots contain one suit in each of EU 46, 48, 50, 52, 54 and 56. Some models run 48 to 58. Most tuxedo lots run 46 to 58 with seven pieces.

### Can I choose my own sizes in a stock lot?

Stock lots are sold as a fixed size run. To choose your own ratio, order made-to-order from 100 units per style, or buy extra lots of the models that sell fastest.

### What is EU 52 in US sizes?

EU 52 is a US and UK 42 chest. Subtract 10 from the EU number to get the inch chest size.

### Do you make sizes above 60?

For made-to-order big and tall programs, ask us with your size list. We confirm what we can produce per model.

### Do your suits come with matching trouser sizes?

Yes. Each suit comes with trousers matched to the jacket size based on the model's drop. For made-to-order, you can specify the drop.


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Wholesale quotes: WhatsApp +90 532 171 14 94 (https://wa.me/905321711494) · Telegram @markmorentesuits (https://t.me/markmorentesuits) · Instagram @mark.morente
Mark Morente, men's suit & tuxedo manufacturer, Istanbul, Turkey. Business buyers only: stock lots of 6–7 suits per model or made to order from 100 units per style. Typical production lead time 12–15 days depending on the order.