Clothing Size Converter (US / EU / UK / International)
Convert clothing sizes between US, UK, EU and international letter sizes (XS–XXL) for women's and men's tops, dresses, skirts and pants. Enter your size, pick the system and garment type, and get all equivalents plus the key body measurement in inches and centimeters.
Clothing Size Converter (US / UK / EU / International)
Clothing Size Formula
Where:
- \(US\) — the US size of the garment
- \(UK\), \(EU\) — the equivalent UK and EU sizes
- bust and waist — estimated body circumference in inches
These are the standard rules of thumb that relate the US, UK and EU numbering systems for each garment category, together with the body measurement that drives the size.
Clothing Size – Calculation Example
Example: you wear a US size 8 in women's tops (blouses, shirts) and want to know your UK, EU and international equivalents.
\[ UK = US + 4 = 8 + 4 = 12 \]
\[ EU = US + 30 = 8 + 30 = 38 \]
\[ bust \approx 28.5 + 8 = 36.5 \text{ in} \approx 92.7 \text{ cm} \]
Result: US 8 = UK 12 = EU 38 = international M, with a bust measurement of about 36.5 in (92.7 cm).
How to use the calculator
- Enter your Your size — the numeric size in the system you know. If you are starting from a letter size (XS, S, M…), this field is hidden automatically.
- Choose the From system — US size, UK size, EU size, or International (letter size).
- Select the Garment type — women's tops, women's dresses, women's bottoms, men's tops, or men's bottoms (pants, jeans). The conversion rules differ between categories, so this step matters.
- If you chose International (letter size), pick your size (XS–XXL) in the International letter size field that appears.
- Read the results: the equivalent US, UK, EU and international sizes, the key body measurement in inches and centimeters, and a short sizing tip.
How clothing sizing systems work
Clothing sizes are not standardized worldwide, which is why the same body can be a size 8 in one country and a 38 or a 12 in another. The converter uses the widely accepted relationships between the systems: for women's clothing, the UK number is typically 4 higher than the US number, and the EU number is about 30 higher. So a US 8, UK 12 and EU 38 are the same size from the same brand.
Men's sizing works differently. In the US and UK, men's tops and pants are labeled with the actual body measurement in inches — chest for tops, waist for bottoms — so US and UK sizes are identical. Continental European brands add an offset: roughly +10 for tops (a 40 EU jacket fits a 40-inch-minus-10... in practice, a 40 EU corresponds to a US/UK 40−10 = 30? No: EU = US + 10, so a US 40 chest is an EU 50) and about +16 for pants (a US 34 waist is an EU 50).
International letter sizes (XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL) are the least precise, because each brand decides its own boundaries. The calculator maps letters to the middle of each range in US terms, so treat the result as a starting point rather than an exact match. The most reliable number in the results is the key body measurement — bust for women's tops and dresses, waist for bottoms, chest or waist for men's garments. If the retailer's size chart lists body measurements, match that number first and use the size labels second. If you also need footwear sizes, our shoe size converter works the same way for US, UK and EU shoe sizes.
Women's tops reference table
| US | UK | EU | Intl | Bust (in) | Bust (cm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 4 | 30 | XS | 28.5 | 72 |
| 2 | 6 | 32 | S | 30.5 | 77 |
| 4 | 8 | 34 | S | 32.5 | 83 |
| 6 | 10 | 36 | M | 34.5 | 88 |
| 8 | 12 | 38 | M | 36.5 | 93 |
| 10 | 14 | 40 | L | 38.5 | 98 |
| 12 | 16 | 42 | L | 40.5 | 103 |
| 14 | 18 | 44 | XL | 42.5 | 108 |
| 16 | 20 | 46 | XL | 44.5 | 113 |
Assumptions and limitations
- Sizes vary between brands. The rules of thumb used here (women's UK = US + 4, EU = US + 30; men's EU = US + 10 for tops, ≈ US + 16 for pants) hold for most mainstream brands, but every manufacturer cuts garments differently. Always check the retailer's own size chart before ordering.
- The body measurement is an estimate. Bust and waist values are derived from the size number, not from your actual body. For a precise fit, measure yourself with a tape and compare against the chart — the size label is only a shortcut.
- Letter sizes are approximate. XS–XXL boundaries differ between brands, regions and garment types; a "M" from one label may overlap an "S" or "L" from another.
- Categories are simplified. Women's dresses use the same numbering as tops; juniors', petite, tall and plus-size scales, as well as men's suit sleeve and neck sizes, are not covered.
- Fit depends on cut and fabric. Two garments with the same size can fit very differently if one is slim-fit and the other relaxed. When shopping online between countries, convert the size, then verify the listed garment measurements. For other unit conversions you may need while shopping — for example height in feet and meters — see our meters to feet converter.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I measure my bust, waist or chest correctly?
Use a soft tape measure over light clothing. For bust or chest, measure around the fullest part, keeping the tape parallel to the floor. For waist, measure around the narrowest part of your torso, usually about an inch above the navel — don't suck in your stomach. Stand relaxed and take the measurement at the end of a normal exhale. Compare your measurement to the retailer's size chart rather than relying on the size number alone.
Why do EU sizes differ between countries like Italy, France and Germany?
The EU size shown on the label is not strictly standardized. Italian and French brands often use a slightly different scale than German or Scandinavian brands, so an EU 38 from one country may be an EU 36 or 40 from another. The rule \(EU = US + 30\) covers mainstream brands well, but when buying from a specific European label, check its own chart and match your bust or waist measurement in centimeters instead of the number.
What is the average women's dress size in the US and UK?
The most frequently cited average US women's dress size is around 16–18, which corresponds to a UK 20–22 or an EU 46–48. Keep in mind that "average" varies by survey and year, and vanity sizing has inflated numbers over time — a modern US 12 fits like a US 16 from the 1980s. Your correct size is simply the one that fits, not a number to chase.
What is vanity sizing and how does it affect conversions?
Vanity sizing means brands label garments with smaller numbers than the actual measurements justify, because shoppers prefer buying smaller sizes. A US 8 from one brand can match a US 12 from another. This is why the body measurement in the results is more reliable than any size number: convert as a starting point, then verify against the specific brand's chart or the garment's flat-lay measurements.
Are US and UK men's sizes really the same?
For casual men's tops and pants, yes — both use body measurements in inches (chest for tops, waist for bottoms), so a US 40 jacket equals a UK 40. Formal dress shirts are the exception: they combine neck size in inches and sleeve length, and UK brands occasionally label collars in centimeters. Continental Europe adds roughly +10 for tops and +16 for pants, so a US 34-waist jean is about an EU 50.
How do juniors' sizes differ from women's sizes?
Juniors' sizes (odd numbers like 1, 3, 5, 7) are cut for a straighter, less curvy figure and run smaller and narrower than misses' even-numbered sizes. A juniors 7 fits somewhere near a misses 4–6, but with a different hip and bust ratio, so there is no exact equivalent. This converter covers standard women's sizes; if you wear juniors' sizes, match your bust and waist measurements to the retailer's chart instead.
Should I compare my body measurements or the garment's measurements?
Check which one the retailer lists. Body measurement charts assume the garment already includes ease (extra room for movement), so you compare your own measurements directly. Flat-lay or "garment measurement" charts describe the actual item — here you typically want the garment 1–3 in (2.5–7.5 cm) larger than your body for a normal fit, more for relaxed cuts. Mixing up these two chart types is the most common online-shopping mistake.