Modelling requirements: height, measurements and age

Fashion and runway

The narrowest category and the one most people picture. Women are typically 175–181 cm, men 185–192 cm, with measurements close to sample size because clothes arrive already made. Age at signing is usually 16–22 for new faces.

This category has the most competition and the least steady work. It is also the one where a mother agency in a smaller market places you with a booking agency in Milan, Paris or Tokyo.

Commercial

The largest category by volume of work. Height requirements soften considerably, age range is genuinely open, and the look agencies want is closer to how people actually look. Advertising, catalogue and lifestyle work sits here.

Plus-size, petite and e-commerce

Plus-size typically starts around UK 12–14 with consistent measurements mattering more than the number itself. Petite covers models below runway height who work in commercial and e-commerce. E-commerce is the steadiest paid work in the industry and cares mostly about fit and reliability.

What matters more than measurements

Once you clear a category threshold, the things that decide whether you keep working are consistency, punctuality and being easy to deal with. Those are also the things agencies get rated on from the other side — and they vary a lot between agencies.

Frequently asked questions

Can you be a model under 170 cm?

Yes, in commercial, petite, e-commerce and parts work. Runway is the only category where height is close to non-negotiable.

What measurements do agencies ask for?

Height, bust or chest, waist, hips, shoe size and dress size. Give real numbers — every agency measures you in person before signing.

Is there an age limit for modelling?

For runway new faces, effectively yes. For commercial and lifestyle work there is no upper limit, and demand for older models has grown.