Does American Eagle Run Small? (Sizing Review!)

The women’s clothing at American Eagle runs small, while the men’s clothing is true to size. So if you are a woman shopping at this brand, you are going to need to size up.

While only American Eagle can know the reason behind their irregular sizing, it corresponds with the general trend in fast fashion of constantly reducing the size of products such as jeans.

In this article, I’ll be going over the various sizing options at American Eagle and which size you should get if it’s your first purchase with this brand.

How does American Eagle Fit?

While certain products at American Eagle tend to be true to size, the vast majority of women’s clothing runs small at this brand.

The men’s section (which I personally tried) was pretty good when it comes to sizing but the sizes at the women’s section (according to my girlfriend who is a fashion designer herself) made absolutely no sense.

The only garment that fits true to size at American Eagle is their mom jeans. The rest of their women’s line is just way too skinny compared to the rest of the market.

So, what size should you buy when shopping from their website?

Here’s what I recommend. Take a look at the official size chart on the American Eagle website. Compare your body measurements with it, and just go with a size larger than what the chart recommends. This rule of thumb will help you get the best fit possible.

Another thing to note is that if you are purchasing swimwear or certain casual clothing items, their sub-brand Aerie is the better choice.

While American Eagle clothing, in general, runs small, their sub-brand Aerie runs true to size. Their products are going to fit you just right.

Quick Tip 👉 Always to check out the clearance section at American Eagle. Sometimes, due to a glitch, it is possible that the discount on a certain item is available only through the ‘Clearance’ page and not the product page itself.

What size should you get at American Eagle?

The size that one should get at American Eagle depends on several factors including their body measurements, fit preference, and the specific garment they are purchasing.

For men, the best way to determine the right size is to use the size guides on the American Eagle website and compare your own body measurements to the size chart provided. It is important to measure yourself accurately and take into account any differences in fit preference, such as whether you prefer a tighter or looser fit.

However, it is also important to use your own judgement and take into account that usually, their sizing runs a little bit small for women. Therefore, it is important to pay attention to user reviews in this case.

In conclusion, using the size guides on the American Eagle website is a great starting point, but it’s important to consider your own body measurements and past experiences to determine the best size for you.

Which American Eagle Items Run Small?

American Eagle Clothing	Sizing
Jeans	Run small. Size up.
Shorts	Fit Small. Sizing up is necessary.
Shirts	Half-a-size small.
Jackets	True to size.

Jeans

Jeans are the biggest culprits when it comes to sizing issues at American Eagle. Their jeans are just too tight if you are buying true to size. Wearing them can get pretty uncomfortable, especially if you are going for their skinny fit.

Their mom jeans fit true to size though, if that kind of style floats your boat.

But other than that, most jeans at American Eagle run small and you would need to size up in order to get the perfect fit.

Shorts

Shorts are also known to run small at American Eagle. Especially their curvy range can be particularly tight if you have thicker than average thighs.

The men’s shorts however fit very well and pose no such sizing issues. Except personally I would like them to be just a little bit longer, but again that’s a personal preference.

If you are planning to purchase the women’s shorts at AE, then you just have to size up in order to get the perfect fit.

Shirts

The shirts at American Eagle aren’t as bad as the bottoms when it comes to sizing and fitting, but they still run just a little bit small.

The only time that I would recommend you to size up for the tops at the brand is if you are in-between sizes. Let’s say that the XS is 36 and the S is 37, but if you are a 36.5 then I recommend that you go with the S.

The men’s polo shirts, t-shirts, and button-down shirts all fit true to size, so no need to size up or down.

Jackets

The jackets at American Eagle are probably the only item that fit completely true to size for both men and women.

There are a wide variety of cuts and styles available, and you can go for any of them without needing to worry about size problems.

The only slight nitpick would be that their denim jackets are about half an inch longer than what is industry standard, but to be honest, it’s not that big of a deal.

American Eagle Size Chart For Men

Shirts

Size	Neck	Chest	Arm
XXS	13-13.5	32-34	30.5
XS	13.5-14	35-36	31.5
S	14.5-15	37-39	32.5
M	15-15.5	40-42	33.5
M Tall	15-15.5	40-42	34.5
L	15.5-16	43-45	34.5
L Tall	15.5-16	43-45	35.5
XL	16.5-17	46-48	35.5
XL Tall	16.5-17	46-48	36.5
XXL	17-18	49-51	36.5
XXXL	18-19	52-54	37.5

Shorts and Jeans

Size	Waist
XS	26-28
S	29-31
M	32-34
L	35-38
XL	44-46
XXL	44-46
XXXL	48

American Eagle Size Chart For Women

Tops

Size	Numeric	Bust
XXS	00	31
XS	0	32
XS	2	33
S	4	34
S	6	35
M	8	36
M	10	37.5
L	12	39
L	14	40.5
XL	16	42
XXL	18	44

Jeans

Size	Numeric	Waist	Hip
XXS	00	23.5	33
XS	0	24.5	34
XS	2	25.5	35
S	4	26.5	36
S	6	27.5	37
M	8	28.5	38
M	10	30	39.5
L	12	31.5	41
L	14	33	42.5
XL	16	34.5	44
XL	18	36.5	46
XXL	20	38.5	48

Does American Eagle Make Plus-Size Clothing?

Yes, American Eagle does make plus-size clothing that goes up to XXL or a size 20, depending on what item you buy.

In fact, there is a special plus-size clothing store that you can see on their website.

The collection is also really vast (and fits surprisingly well), which is not that common with fast fashion manufacturers.

Final Remarks

That’s everything you need to know about the sizing system at American Eagle. However, if you have the memory of a goldfish, here’s a quick recap.

Do American Eagle clothes run small? The woman’s line at American Eagle runs about a size small, while the men’s clothing is mostly true to size.

As to what size you should get at American Eagle, the simplest way to figure this out is by taking a look at the product size chart before making the purchase! The information given in it is accurate and by comparing the measurements with your own body measurements, you would be able to figure out the perfect size for you.