One body, eight different numbers
Shopping for a dress should be the fun part — but the moment an international size chart appears, the fun tends to stop. You might be a US size 8 at home, a UK 12 in a British store, a European 40 on a French site, and something else entirely in Japan. None of these numbers means your body has changed; each country simply describes the same measurements in its own sizing language.
That is exactly what this converter is for. Tell it the size you already know — in the system you are most comfortable with — and it instantly shows your equivalent across the US, UK, Australian, European, French, Italian, and Japanese systems, plus your letter size and typical body measurements. Use it before ordering from an overseas retailer, or keep the full reference chart below bookmarked for the next time a size tag leaves you guessing.
Pick the sizing system you know, then choose your size.
Dress size conversion chart
The standard equivalents, all in one place. If you already know your size and simply want the matching number in another system, scan the row — no calculator needed. A dash means that system does not normally produce that size.
| US | UK | AU | EU / DE | FR | IT | JP | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 4 | 4 | 32 | 34 | 36 | 5 | XXS |
| 2 | 6 | 6 | 34 | 36 | 38 | 7 | XS |
| 4 | 8 | 8 | 36 | 38 | 40 | 9 | S |
| 6 | 10 | 10 | 38 | 40 | 42 | 11 | S |
| 8 | 12 | 12 | 40 | 42 | 44 | 13 | M |
| 10 | 14 | 14 | 42 | 44 | 46 | 15 | M |
| 12 | 16 | 16 | 44 | 46 | 48 | 17 | L |
| 14 | 18 | 18 | 46 | 48 | 50 | 19 | L |
| 16 | 20 | 20 | 48 | 50 | 52 | 21 | XL |
| 18 | 22 | 22 | 50 | 52 | 54 | — | XL |
| 20 | 24 | 24 | 52 | 54 | 56 | — | 1X |
| 22 | 26 | 26 | 54 | 56 | 58 | — | 1X |
| 24 | 28 | 28 | 56 | 58 | 60 | — | 2X |
| 26 | 30 | 30 | 58 | 60 | 62 | — | 2X |
Why sizes differ by country
There is no single worldwide authority for clothing sizes, so every region built its own logic — and the logics do not match. American and British sizes are essentially labels: the numbers drifted away from real body measurements decades ago, which is why a US 8 today is noticeably roomier than a US 8 from the 1990s. That slow inflation even has a name: vanity sizing, the industry habit of printing smaller numbers on larger garments so shoppers feel good.
Continental European systems stayed closer to the tape measure. French, Italian, and German sizes relate to actual body measurements in centimetres, which makes them feel more consistent once you learn the translation — roughly speaking, a European size tracks about half your bust measurement in centimetres. Japanese sizing follows yet another scale of its own, and it tends to run smaller overall, so paying attention to the conversion matters most there.
Layered on top of all of this, every brand cuts to its own fit model: a size 10 in a relaxed bohemian label will not match a size 10 in a tailored European house. Conversions get you to the right neighbourhood; the brand’s own size chart gets you to the right door.
How to measure yourself
Conversions only work if the starting size is right, and the starting size is only right if your measurements are. Grab a soft tape measure and take two minutes:
- Bust: wrap the tape around the fullest part of your bust, across your shoulder blades. Keep it snug but not tight, and breathe normally.
- Waist: measure your natural waistline — the smallest part of your torso, usually just above the navel. Do not hold your breath or suck in.
- Hip: stand with your feet together and measure around the fullest part of your hips and bottom.
- Good practice: wear thin, fitted clothing (or just underwear), keep the tape level all the way round rather than dipping at the back, and take each measurement twice to be sure.
- Write them down in both inches and centimetres and keep them in your phone — comparing your numbers to a brand’s garment measurements beats trusting any size label.
Dress sizing FAQs
Why am I a different size in different brands?
Because brands design for different fit models and many practise vanity sizing, labelling larger garments with smaller numbers. A “medium” is a marketing decision as much as a measurement. Your tape-measure numbers never change — trust them over the tag.
What is the difference between US and UK dress sizes?
UK sizes run about four numbers higher than US sizes: a US 8 is a UK 12, a US 10 is a UK 14, and so on. Australian sizes follow the UK numbering, so a UK 12 and an AU 12 are the same thing.
What is vanity sizing?
It is the industry’s gradual habit of assigning smaller size numbers to larger garments, so customers feel flattered at the fitting room mirror. The practical effect: a vintage size 10 is much smaller than a modern size 10, and sizing varies wildly between labels.
Should I size up or down when I am between sizes?
Let the fabric decide. For structured, woven fabrics with no stretch, size up — a tailor can take in, but cannot add fabric. For knits and anything with elastane, size down and let the stretch do the work. And always compare your measurements to the garment’s listed measurements when they are published.
Do European sizes equal centimetres?
Not exactly, but they are related: a European dress size is roughly half your bust measurement in centimetres, with wearing ease built in. That is why EU sizes feel more logical than US or UK numbers — they stay tethered to the body instead of floating free as pure labels.
What about petite and tall sizing?
Petite and tall ranges are not simply shorter or longer versions of regular sizes — proportions shift too (shorter rises, higher knee breaks, adjusted sleeve lengths). If you are under about 5’4″ or over about 5’9″, look for dedicated petite or tall lines rather than just hemming a regular size.