Size Studio
Dress Size Converter: UK, US, EU & International Sizes
A UK dress size 10 is a US 6, an EU 38 (German and Dutch sizing), a French 40 and an Italian 42, and a UK 12 is a US 8 and an EU 40. Pick the size you know in the dress size converter below to see the same size in UK, US, EU, French, Italian, Australian and Japanese sizing, with typical bust, waist and hip measurements.
Your conversion appears here. The full chart is below.
| UK | US | EU (DE/NL) | FR/ES | IT | AU | JP | Letter | Bust/Waist/Hip cm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 0 | 32 | 34 | 36 | 4 | 3 | XXS | 74/57/82 |
| 6 | 2 | 34 | 36 | 38 | 6 | 5 | XS | 78/60/86 |
| 8 | 4 | 36 | 38 | 40 | 8 | 7 | S | 82/64/90 |
| 10 | 6 | 38 | 40 | 42 | 10 | 9 | S/M | 86/68/94 |
| 12 | 8 | 40 | 42 | 44 | 12 | 11 | M | 90/72/98 |
| 14 | 10 | 42 | 44 | 46 | 14 | 13 | L | 95/77/103 |
| 16 | 12 | 44 | 46 | 48 | 16 | 15 | L/XL | 100/82/108 |
| 18 | 14 | 46 | 48 | 50 | 18 | 17 | XL | 105/87/113 |
| 20 | 16 | 48 | 50 | 52 | 20 | 19 | XXL | 111/93/119 |
| 22 | 18 | 50 | 52 | 54 | 22 | 21 | 3XL | 117/99/125 |
| 24 | 20 | 52 | 54 | 56 | 24 | 23 | 4XL | 123/105/131 |
How to measure yourself for a dress size
A size number only gets you close. Your own measurements, compared with the bust, waist and hip figures in the chart, tell you which size to try first.
- Wear light clothing or underwear, and use a soft tape measure.
- Bust: measure round the fullest part of your chest, keeping the tape level across your back.
- Waist: measure round your natural waist, the narrowest part of your body, usually a little above the belly button.
- Hips: stand with your feet together and measure round the fullest part of your hips and bottom.
- Keep the tape snug but not tight, and breathe normally while you read it.
- Write the three numbers down in centimetres and compare them with the chart under the converter.
If your measurements fall in different sizes, go by the one that matters most for the garment. For a fitted dress or blouse, that is usually the bust. For skirts and trousers (pants), it is usually the hips.
How women’s sizes compare between countries
UK sizing is the easiest anchor, because the other systems move in fixed steps from it. US sizes are 4 lower than UK, so a UK 14 is a US 10. Germany, the Netherlands and Scandinavia add 28 to the UK size, which is what most shops mean by “EU”. France and Spain add 30, and Italy adds 32. Australian sizes match UK sizes.
This is why “EU 38” can mean two different things. A German 38 is a UK 10, while a French 38 is a UK 8. If a European brand lists only one number, check which country’s sizing it uses.
Japanese sizes use odd numbers: a UK 10 is a Japanese 9. Letter sizes vary most from brand to brand. On this chart, UK 8 is a small, UK 12 a medium and UK 14 a large.
Why the same size fits differently
These conversions describe the size label, not the garment. Two UK 10 dresses can fit differently because one is cut close to the body and the other is loose, or because one fabric stretches and the other does not. The body measurements in the chart are typical UK high-street values, so a fitted style from any one brand may run a little smaller or larger. For close-fitting pieces, check the brand’s own measurements before you order.
Quick answers
- UK 8 in US: 4 (EU 36)
- UK 10 in US: 6 (EU 38)
- UK 12 in US: 8 (EU 40)
- UK 14 in US: 10 (EU 42)
- UK 16 in US: 12 (EU 44)
- EU 38 in US: 6 (UK 10)
- US 8 in UK: 12 (EU 40)
- Italian 42 in UK: 10
FAQs
Is a UK 10 a US 6 or a US 8?
On the standard conversion it is a US 6, because US sizes run 4 below UK. Some brands cut more generously, so if a US 6 has felt loose on you before, compare the brand’s measurements with your own.
What is EU 40 in UK and US sizes?
A German or Dutch 40 is a UK 12 and a US 8. A French 40 is smaller: a UK 10 and a US 6.
Are Australian dress sizes the same as UK sizes?
Yes. In this chart, Australian sizes use the same numbers as UK sizes, so an AU 12 is a UK 12.
Does this converter work for blouses and jumpers?
Yes. Most UK and European shops use the same numbers for dresses, blouses, jumpers (sweaters) and skirts. Jeans are usually sold by waist size instead, which has its own converter.
What bust size is a UK 12?
The chart gives a typical UK 12 as 90 cm bust, 72 cm waist and 98 cm hips. These are high-street averages, not a fixed rule.
For jeans sizes, use the jeans size converter, and for shoes the shoe size converter. Every tool is listed in the size guide.
UK sizes are the anchor. US = UK − 4, EU (Germany, the Netherlands, Scandinavia) = UK + 28, France and Spain = UK + 30, Italy = UK + 32, and Australia = UK. These offsets are the usual conventions rather than a legal standard. Japanese and letter sizes are typical equivalents, and the bust, waist and hip figures are typical UK high-street values in centimetres, not any one brand’s chart.
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