International Clothing Size Conversion: US, UK, EU, IT

International clothing size conversion follows a few simple patterns: for women, UK sizes are usually four numbers above US sizes (US 6 = UK 10), German and Dutch EU sizes are 30 numbers above US sizes (US 6 = EU 36), French and Spanish sizes add two to the German number (FR 38), and Italian sizes add six (IT 42). For men's jackets, US and UK sizes are the chest in inches, and EU and Italian sizes are about ten numbers higher (US 40 = EU 50). These are reference points — the brand's own chart and your measurements always win.

Below you will find the charts, the logic behind them and the reasons sizes still do not line up perfectly. To convert a specific size instantly, use the clothing size converter.

Why there is no universal size

Clothing sizes grew out of national traditions. Some countries label garments by a number linked to body measurements, others by a number with no direct meaning, and many brands use letters (XS to XXL) on top. There are standards — the European standard EN 13402, for example, defines how body measurements should be labeled — but brands are not required to cut their clothes to the same measurements.

The result: two garments with the same label can fit very differently. Conversion charts give you the right neighborhood; measurements give you the exact address.

Women's clothing size chart (dresses, tops, jackets)

US	UK	EU (DE/NL)	FR/BE/ES	IT	Letter
0	4	30	32	36	XXS
2	6	32	34	38	XS
4	8	34	36	40	S
6	10	36	38	42	S
8	12	38	40	44	M
10	14	40	42	46	M
12	16	42	44	48	L
14	18	44	46	50	L
16	20	46	48	52	XL
18	22	48	50	54	XL

The patterns to remember

• UK = US + 4.
• EU (German/Dutch) = US + 30.
• French, Belgian and Spanish = German + 2.
• Italian = German + 6.

Letter sizes span two numeric sizes each, which is why a "Medium" can feel generous in one shop and snug in another. If you shop Italian brands often, our guide to Italian clothing sizes covers the details, including how Italian men's and women's numbering differs.

Men's suit and jacket sizes

Men's tailoring is more logical than women's sizing, because it is anchored to a body measurement: the chest.

EU/IT/FR	US/UK	Chest (cm, approx.)	Letter
44	34	86–89	XS
46	36	90–93	S
48	38	94–97	M
50	40	98–101	L
52	42	102–105	XL
54	44	106–109	XXL
56	46	110–113	3XL

How it works

• US/UK size = chest circumference in inches, measured around the fullest part.
• EU size ≈ half the chest circumference in centimeters. A 100 cm chest is roughly an EU 50.
• US/UK + 10 ≈ EU/IT.

Jackets also come in length fittings. In the US and UK, suffixes like S (short), R (regular) and L (long) are common; in Germany, short and long fittings use entirely different numbers. When in doubt, ask for the brand's chart.

Men's shirt sizes (collar)

Dress shirts are sized by neck circumference.

US/UK (inches)	EU (cm)	Letter
14	36	S
14.5	37	S
15	38	M
15.5	39	M
16	40/41	L
16.5	42	L
17	43	XL
17.5	44	XL

Casual shirts are often sold only in letter sizes. Dress shirts may add a sleeve length, for example 15.5/34 in US sizing (collar 15.5 inches, sleeve 34 inches). Our dress shirt size guide shows how to measure both.

Trousers and jeans

Trousers are the category where measurements and labels match most often:

• Waist and inseam in inches (W32 L32) are common for jeans and casual trousers worldwide.
• German-style numeric sizes for men's trousers (46, 48, 50…) roughly follow the jacket scale.
• Women's trousers often use the same numbers as dresses, so the women's chart above applies.

Because brands measure waistbands differently — some at the natural waist, some lower — check whether the listed number is the garment measurement or the body measurement.

Shoes are a separate system

Shoe sizes do not follow clothing sizes at all. EU shoe sizes are based on a unit of two-thirds of a centimeter, UK and US sizes on a third of an inch, and US men's and women's sizes are offset from each other. The shoe size converter handles that, and our shoe size conversion guide explains the systems step by step.

Use measurements, not only labels

The most reliable way to buy across brands and countries is to know your measurements and compare them with each brand's chart. You need just a soft tape measure and a few minutes:

1. Bust or chest: around the fullest part, tape level.
2. Waist: at the narrowest part of the torso.
3. Hips: around the fullest part of the hips and seat.
4. Inseam: from the crotch to the ankle bone, on the inside of the leg.
5. Neck: around the base of the neck, one finger under the tape.

Our step-by-step guide on how to measure yourself for clothes shows each measurement in detail.

Worked example: buying abroad

Imagine you wear a UK 12 and want a dress from an Italian brand and a blazer from a French one:

• UK 12 → US 8 → EU (DE) 38 → FR 40 → IT 44.
• Look up the Italian brand's chart: if its IT 44 lists a 94 cm hip and yours is 96 cm, consider an IT 46.
• For the French blazer, start at FR 40 and check the shoulder and bust measurements.

Quick checklist before ordering

• Identify which country's sizing the brand uses
• Convert your usual size as a starting point
• Compare your measurements with the brand's own chart
• Read the fit notes: slim, regular, relaxed, oversized
• Check the fabric: stretch fabrics forgive more than rigid ones
• Confirm the return policy

For more on reducing returns when shopping online, see how to buy clothes online that fit.

Common mistakes

Assuming "EU" is one system. A French 38 and a German 38 are different sizes. Check which scale a label uses.

Converting letter sizes. An "M" is not a conversion target; it is a range that varies by brand. Convert numbers and measurements instead.

Ignoring cut. An oversized coat in your usual size will still fit loosely. Size and fit are different questions.

Trusting the label over the tape. If a brand's chart puts you in a different size than usual, follow the chart.

International sizes look chaotic, but a handful of rules covers most cases. Learn the offsets, know your measurements, and keep the converter close when shopping across borders.