This standard describes the basic Canada Standard sizing system for determining the body size of boys' and girls'. It outlines the development of the system and provides in tabular form body measurements in metric units for standard size ranges covering practically all male and female members of the population from about two to three years of age until they reach their middle to upper teens. This sizing system does not cover footwear, hosiery, headwear or gloves.

While it is desirable to present in this standard a complete system, it has nevertheless been recognized that there is a need for an abridges system which can more readily be applied at the manufacturing and retail levels. The abridged system is described in Standard CAN2-49.6-M.