Shapewear works only when it fits. A garment that is too small digs in and creates the bulges it is meant to smooth; one that is too large does nothing. The right size comes from your measurements and the maker’s chart, not from your dress size. This calculator reads your bust, waist and hips and gives the sizes for the three main kinds of shapewear on Leonisa’s size guide, plus Target’s shapewear chart.
How to use the shapewear size calculator
- Measure your bust at the point where it sticks out most.
- Measure your natural waist, the narrowest part of the torso.
- Measure your hips at the widest point, tape level.
- Enter the three numbers in inches or centimetres and read the sizes for each style.
Shapewear size formula (chart lookup)
shaper bottoms and body shapers = size by hips
Target = the largest of the sizes by bust, waist and hip
never size down for more shaping
The Leonisa tables (bodysuits by bust and hips, body shapers and bottoms by hips) and the Target chart are published figures (retrieved 2026-10-15). A measurement exactly on an upper limit belongs to that size. Leonisa matches each size to a dress or pants size, shown below.
Bodysuits (Leonisa)
| Size | Bust (in) | Hips (in) | Dress / pants |
|---|---|---|---|
| XXS | 30.5 – 32.5 | 32.5 – 34 | 000–0 |
| XS | 33 – 34 | 34.5 – 36.5 | 0–2 |
| S | 34.5 – 36 | 37 – 38 | 4–6 |
| M | 36.5 – 38 | 38.5 – 40 | 8–10 |
| L | 38.5 – 40 | 40.5 – 42 | 10–12 |
| XL | 40.5 – 42.5 | 42.5 – 44.5 | 14–16 |
| 2XL | 43 – 45 | 45 – 47 | 16–18 |
| 3XL | 45.5 – 47 | 47 – 49 | 18–20 |
| 4XL | 47.5 – 49.5 | 50 – 51.5 | 22 |
| 5XL | 50 – 52 | 52 – 54 | 24 |
Shaper bottoms (Leonisa)
| Size | Hips (in) | Pants |
|---|---|---|
| XXS | 32.5 – 34 | 000–00 |
| XS | 34.5 – 36.5 | 0–2 |
| S | 37 – 38 | 4–6 |
| M | 38.5 – 40 | 8–10 |
| L | 40.5 – 42 | 10–12 |
| XL | 42.5 – 44.5 | 14–16 |
| 2XL | 45 – 47 | 16–18 |
| 3XL | 47 – 49 | 18–20 |
| 4XL | 50 – 51.5 | 20–22 |
| 5XL | 52 – 54 | 22–24 |
Target shapewear
| Target size | Bust (in) | Waist (in) | Hip (in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| S | 33.5 – 35.5 | 27 – 30.5 | 35 – 37.5 |
| M | 36 – 38 | 31 – 33 | 38 – 40.5 |
| L | 38.5 – 40.5 | 33.5 – 35.5 | 41 – 43 |
| XL | 41 – 43.5 | 36 – 39 | 43.5 – 45.5 |
| 1X | 44 – 47.5 | 39.5 – 42 | 46 – 49.5 |
| 2X | 48 – 51.5 | 42.5 – 45 | 50 – 53.5 |
| 3X | 52 – 54 | 45.5 – 48 | 54 – 56 |
Worked example
Bust 37 in, waist 30 in, hips 39.5 in.
- Leonisa bodysuit: bust 37 → M; hips 39.5 → M; the bodysuit size is M.
- Shaper bottoms by hips: M (pants size 8–10).
- Body shaper: M, designed for bras 36B, 36C, 36D.
- Target: M.
Getting comfortable
- Do not size down: a smaller garment gives bulges and discomfort, not a smaller shape.
- Choose the compression level that suits the day: light for everyday, firm for special occasions.
- Style matters: a high-waisted shaper covers more of the torso and can reduce a muffin-top effect.
- Check seams and edges for rolling or digging; try the next size if they do.
For underwear see the Underwear / Panty Size Calculator, and for a waist-cinching corset the Corset Size Calculator. The calculator gives general guidance from published charts and does not replace a fitting or medical advice, for example after surgery.
Sources
Every figure above comes from these pages, read directly on the dates shown. Brand names are used only to identify published charts.
- Leonisa — how to find your shapewear size (bodysuits, body shapers, bottoms; do not size down) — checked 2026-10-15
- Target — shapewear size chart (bust, waist, hip) — checked 2026-10-15
Frequently asked questions
What size shapewear should I buy?
Buy your normal size from the brand’s chart, not a size down. Leonisa states plainly that sizing down does not give more shaping, causes bulges and can cut off circulation. The calculator gives the size from your measurements.
Which measurements does shapewear use?
It depends on the style. Leonisa sizes bodysuits by bust and hips, body shapers that leave the bust uncovered by hips, and shaper bottoms by hips only. Target’s chart uses bust, waist and hips.
What if my measurements fall in different sizes?
Take the larger size. For a bodysuit the calculator picks the bigger of the bust size and the hip size, and for Target’s chart the biggest of all three measurements.
Should I go up a size for firm compression?
No chart says so. If a garment feels uncomfortable, Leonisa suggests trying a lighter compression level, a different style, or a size up. Shapewear should fit snugly but not dig in.
Are shapewear sizes the same as clothing sizes?
Roughly: Leonisa pairs M with a dress or pants size 8–10 and L with 10–12. Compare with the Pants / Trouser Size Calculator and Underwear / Panty Size Calculator.