Pick up the same dress in New York, London, and Milan and the size label changes three times. None of the numbers actually measure the dress — they are coded shorthand, and the codes are different in each region. Knowing how to translate between them is the difference between a parcel that fits and one that goes straight back to the post office.
Women's Clothing Sizes
| US | UK | EU | Bust (cm) | Waist (cm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 6 | 32 | 78 | 60 |
| 4 | 8 | 34 | 82 | 64 |
| 6 | 10 | 36 | 86 | 68 |
| 8 | 12 | 38 | 90 | 72 |
| 10 | 14 | 40 | 94 | 76 |
| 12 | 16 | 42 | 99 | 81 |
Men's Shirts and Suits
Shirts are sold by neck circumference. A 15-inch neck (US/UK) equals 38 cm in the EU; 16 in = 41 cm; 17 in = 43 cm. Letter sizes (S/M/L/XL) are rough envelopes for those numbers — usually M ≈ 15–15.5 in, L ≈ 16–16.5 in, XL ≈ 17–17.5 in, though every brand draws the boundary differently. Suit jackets are sold by chest measurement: a US/UK 40 corresponds to an EU 50; US/UK 42 = EU 52; US/UK 44 = EU 54. The EU number is essentially chest in centimetres divided by 2 (plus 4 or so for ease).
Where the System Breaks Down
Even within one country, sizing varies between brands. A "small" t-shirt in a slim-fit Italian label can be tighter than an "extra-small" in an American basics range. The cleanest workaround is to measure once and trust your numbers: bust, waist, hips, inseam, shoulder width, neck. Almost every reputable online store publishes a centimetre size chart now; matching your measurements to that chart is far more reliable than translating a US number to a UK number to an EU number.
A Repeatable Process for Buying Abroad
Instead of memorising conversion tables, build a one-time profile you can reuse on any site, in any country:
- Measure once, in centimetres. Record bust/chest, natural waist, hips, inseam, shoulder width and neck. Use a soft tape, keep it level, and don't pull tight.
- Save the numbers in your phone so they travel with you.
- Open the brand's own chart — not a generic conversion table — and match each measurement to a size. When measurements straddle two sizes, size up for structured items (jackets, shirts) and choose by fit preference for stretchy knitwear.
- Check the garment's fit notes. "Slim," "relaxed," and "true to size" tell you how the brand's pattern relates to the chart.
- Read recent reviews for "runs small/large" patterns before committing.
This sidesteps vanity sizing and cross-country conversions entirely, because a centimetre is a centimetre everywhere.
Convert Body Measurements
Inches to centimetres and back, instantly — useful for every size chart in the world.
Length Converter →