Compression Size Chart | Fitting Guide - CSO Australia
Answer four quick questions and get your exact size in every brand we stock — Sigvaris, JUZO, JOBST, VENOSAN, Bauerfeind and ReadyWrap — for stockings, socks, arm sleeves and adjustable wraps.
Why are you looking for compression?
We’ll pre-select the right garment and compression class for you — you can change both.
What do you need?
Pick the garment type, then the style.
Compression class
Australia uses the European (RAL) classes. If you have a prescription, choose the class on it.
Your measurements
Use a soft tape measure. Centimetres, please.
Sizes are calculated from each manufacturer’s published ready-to-wear chart. They are a guide, not a medical fitting — if a measurement sits on a boundary, or you have a prescription for Class 3, please call or email our fitters before ordering. Free exchange on unworn stockings if the size needs adjusting.
How to measure for compression stockings
⏰ Measure in the morning
Take all measurements within 30 minutes of waking, before gravity swells the lower legs. If that’s not possible, lie with your legs raised above heart level for 15–20 minutes first. Legs can be 1–3 cm larger by the afternoon — enough to push you into the wrong size.
You’ll need: a flexible cloth tape (not a metal builder’s tape), a pen, and ideally a helper for thigh and length measurements. Measure on bare skin, standing with weight evenly on both feet, tape parallel to the floor, snug but not compressing.
Circumferences
- cB — Ankle: the narrowest point just above the ankle bone (malleolus). This is the most important measurement: it sets the working pressure at the ankle and is the first thing every chart is sorted by.
- cC — Calf: the widest part of the calf muscle, usually 12–15 cm below the knee crease. Decides Normal vs Plus (Sigvaris, Venosan 4000, Bauerfeind), Full Calf (JOBST) or Wide (JUZO thigh highs).
- cD — Below knee: about 2 finger-widths (4 cm) below the kneecap. Used by JUZO and Venosan charts and by knee wraps.
- cG — Thigh: the widest point of the upper thigh, about 5 cm below the gluteal fold. Needed for thigh highs, pantyhose and leggings.
- cH / cT — Hip and waist: only for pantyhose, maternity and leggings.
Lengths
- lD — Below-knee length: from the floor to the bend behind the knee. Picks Short / Normal (Regular) / Long.
- lG — Thigh length: from the floor to the gluteal fold, for thigh highs and pantyhose.
- Arm sleeves (C–G): wrist to underarm with the elbow slightly bent; wrist (cC), forearm or elbow (cE) and upper arm 2 cm below the armpit (cG).
📏 Between two sizes?
If the ankle sits in one size and the calf in the next, choose the Plus / Full Calf / Wide version of the ankle size rather than moving up an ankle size — pressure at the ankle is what treats the condition. For post-operative or acute oedema your clinician may prefer the firmer option. Left and right legs commonly differ by 1–2 cm: measure both, and if they land in different sizes order a single stocking of each (all brands we sell come as singles or pairs — contact us for split sizes).
Compression classes explained (Australian / RAL standard)
| Class | RAL pressure at ankle | US equivalent | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | 18–21 mmHg | 15–20 mmHg | Tired, heavy legs; early varicose veins; travel and DVT prevention; pregnancy; standing occupations |
| Class 2 | 23–32 mmHg | 20–30 mmHg | Moderate varicose veins; post-DVT; post-sclerotherapy or vein surgery; mild–moderate oedema; lymphoedema maintenance |
| Class 3 | 34–46 mmHg | 30–40 mmHg | Severe chronic venous insufficiency (C4–C6); post-thrombotic syndrome; lymphoedema stage I–II — prescription advised |
| Class 4 | 49+ mmHg | 40–50 mmHg | Severe lymphoedema — custom flat-knit, specialist prescription only |
JOBST and the Sigvaris US ranges (Soft Opaque, Sheer Fashion, Microfiber Shades, Merino, Athletic) are labelled in the US scale; European brands (Sigvaris Cotton/Magic/Traditional, JUZO, VENOSAN, Bauerfeind) use RAL. The calculator handles the mapping for you — Class 2 is Class 2 in both.
🇦🇺 Claiming in Australia
Class 2 and above garments are commonly claimable under private health insurance extras (check your fund), and may be funded through DVA or NDIS consumables for eligible participants. We can supply invoices with the item detail your fund needs.
Brand size charts
Every chart used by the calculator, transcribed from the manufacturers’ current ready-to-wear sizing (cm). Expand a brand to see each line.
Quick size conversion between brands
Switching brands? Find your ankle measurement to see the equivalent base size. Because calf ranges differ between brands, a Plus or Full-Calf variant may be needed — the calculator above checks that for you.
Choosing between brands
- Sigvaris (Swiss/German): the widest ready-to-wear size matrix — XXS to XL, each in Plus calf, with Short/Normal/Long lengths — so people who fall between sizes elsewhere usually fit Cotton or Magic. James (men) and Traditional (firm, Class 2–3) share the grid.
- JUZO (German): six sizes I–VI with three lengths including Extra Short, plus a WIDE thigh-high option. Soft is the gentlest knit on skin; Dynamic and Intenso give firmer containment for oedema and lymphoedema.
- JOBST (Essity): hospital standard and best value. Four sizes S–XL plus Large/X-Large Full Calf knee-highs — the go-to for larger calves. Relief, forMen and UltraSheer share one chart.
- VENOSAN (Swiss): Climate-Effect microfibre suited to Australian heat. The 4000 line now runs XS–XXL with Plus calf sizes; 6000 offers an XS for very slim ankles (16–19 cm).
- Bauerfeind (German): anatomical Normal/Plus sizing with the highest stiffness, business-sock and winter (Cocoon) knee-highs; excellent for active wearers.
- Adjustable wraps (ReadyWrap, Sigvaris Compreflex, JOBST FarrowWrap): Velcro wraps sized on ankle/calf or knee/thigh circumferences, adjustable across 20–50 mmHg, ideal when swelling fluctuates or stockings can’t be donned.
Special sizing situations
Pregnancy
Measure in the first trimester, then re-check each trimester — most women move up one size by the third. Maternity pantyhose (Sigvaris Magic and Sheer Fashion, JUZO Inspiration, JOBST UltraSheer) have an expandable panel; size on pre-pregnancy weight where a height/weight grid is used. Class 1 is standard for pregnancy unless prescribed otherwise.
After vein surgery
Legs are most swollen in the first two weeks. Re-measure when you move from the hospital stocking to your own at 1–2 weeks, and again at 3 months — many patients drop a size as swelling resolves.
Lymphoedema and unusual leg shapes
Where the ankle and calf sit more than one size apart, or measurements fall outside every ready-to-wear chart, a custom flat-knit garment (JUZO, Sigvaris) or an adjustable wrap is the right answer. Contact us with your measurements and we’ll quote.
Different sizes left and right
Order one stocking of each size — every brand we sell is available as singles. Add a note at checkout or contact us and we’ll split the pair.
Frequently asked questions
What happens if I get the wrong size?
Too tight creates a tourniquet effect — numbness, tingling, skin marks lasting more than 30 minutes, pain that worsens through the day. Too loose slides, bunches behind the knee and delivers no therapeutic pressure. Stop wearing it, re-measure in the morning, and use our free exchange on unworn stockings.
Which is more important — ankle or calf?
Ankle. Every chart is sorted by ankle circumference because that sets the graduated pressure. Calf then decides the width variant (Plus, Full Calf, Wide). Never go up an ankle size to accommodate a calf.
How often should I re-measure?
Every 6 months as routine, and sooner after weight change of 5 kg or more, in each trimester of pregnancy, at 2 weeks / 6 weeks / 3 months after surgery, or whenever stockings that fitted well feel different. Stockings themselves lose 30–40% of their elasticity after 4–6 months of daily wear — re-measure before reordering rather than repeating the old size.
Do I need thigh high or below knee?
Below knee treats the vast majority of venous conditions and is far easier to wear daily. Thigh highs are recommended after vein surgery on the thigh, for thigh-level varicosities, or when a clinician prescribes them. Pantyhose suit pregnancy and those who dislike a grip band.
Open toe or closed toe?
Open toe is easier to put on (use a donning slide), suits hot weather, sandals and wide feet, and lets you wear normal socks. Closed toe looks like a regular sock or stocking. Compression is identical.
Can I use this calculator for arm sleeves and wraps?
Yes — choose “Arm sleeve” or “Adjustable wraps & liners” at step 2. Arm sleeves are sized on wrist, forearm/elbow and upper-arm circumference plus wrist-to-underarm length; wraps on the circumferences of the segment they cover.
When should I replace my stockings?
After 4–6 months of daily wear, when the fabric feels less firm, when they slide despite the right size, or when the silicone band no longer grips. Owning two or three pairs and rotating extends the life of each. Wash in cool water with mild detergent and air-dry away from direct heat.
🇦🇺 Still unsure? Talk to a fitter
Our qualified fitters are available by phone and email to check your measurements before you order. We stock full size ranges in every brand, offer free exchanges on unworn stockings, and free shipping Australia-wide on orders over $150.
This guide is for information only and does not replace advice from your GP, vascular specialist or lymphoedema therapist. Class 2 and above compression should be used under medical guidance. Charts current as at September 2026.
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