About clothing size conversion
There is no single global clothing-size standard, which is why a women's US 8 is an EU 38, a UK 12, and a Japanese 13, all the same garment. Sizes are regional traditions: the US and UK use roughly sequential numbers, the EU bases women's sizing on body measurements in centimetres, and Japan uses its own numeric scale. This converter maps a size in one system to the equivalent in the others for women's, men's, and kids' clothing, so you can shop international brands with confidence.
Conversion charts get you close, but two cautions apply. First, vanity sizing means the same label has drifted larger over decades, so a modern size 8 is bigger than a 1980s size 8. Second, fit varies by brand and cut even within one country. Treat the converted size as a starting point and always check the specific brand's measurement chart before buying.
How it works
The converter uses the standard offset relationships between systems. For women's wear the EU size is the US size plus a fixed offset, and UK and Japan track from there:
Women's: EU = US + 30 (US 8 -> EU 38)
UK = US + 4 (US 8 -> UK 12)
JP = US + 5 (US 8 -> JP 13)
Men's: sized mainly by chest/waist in inches; EU = inches + ~10
Kids: sized by age or height (cm), fairly consistent across regions
- Women's wear varies most between systems, so the offsets above matter most there.
- Men's wear varies least: shirts and trousers are often labelled directly in chest or waist inches, which travel well.
- Kids' sizing is usually by age or height in centimetres, so a measured height beats a label.
Worked example
You wear a women's US size 6 and want to buy a dress from an EU brand and a UK brand.
- Start: US women's 6.
- To EU: 6 + 30 = EU 36.
- To UK: 6 + 4 = UK 10.
- To Japan: 6 + 5 = JP 11.
- Verify: check the brand's body-measurement chart, since a slim-cut EU 36 may run smaller than the offset suggests.
Women's size conversion chart
Standard equivalents across the four major systems. Use it as a guide, then confirm against the brand's own measurements.
| US | EU | UK | Japan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 30 | 4 | 5 |
| 2 | 32 | 6 | 7 |
| 4 | 34 | 8 | 9 |
| 6 | 36 | 10 | 11 |
| 8 | 38 | 12 | 13 |
| 10 | 40 | 14 | 15 |
| 12 | 42 | 16 | 17 |
Measure your body, then map it
Because labels drift and brands disagree, the reliable workflow is to convert from your body measurements, not from a number you usually wear. Take three measurements with a soft tape: the bust or chest at the fullest point, the natural waist at the narrowest part of the torso, and the hips at the widest point. Keep the tape level and snug but not tight, and measure over light clothing or none.
Most international brands publish a size chart that lists those three measurements in centimetres against each size. Find the row your measurements fall into, and if you straddle two sizes, choose by the part of the garment that must fit best (the bust for tops, the waist for trousers, the hips for fitted skirts). This is why the EU system, which is anchored to body centimetres, is often the most predictable to convert into: an EU 38 is built around a defined bust and waist range rather than an arbitrary sequence number. Use the chart on this page to jump systems quickly, then confirm against the brand's centimetre ranges before you buy.
Common pitfalls
- Trusting the label over the tape measure. Vanity sizing has inflated numbers over time; your measurements in centimetres are the reliable anchor.
- Assuming brands agree. Two EU 38 dresses from different labels can differ by a full size in real fit.
- Mixing up letter and number sizes. S/M/L scales map only loosely to numeric sizes and vary by garment type.
- Ignoring shoe vs clothing scales. These charts are for apparel; shoe sizing uses an entirely separate set of conversions.
- Forgetting cut and stretch. A fitted or non-stretch fabric runs smaller than a relaxed cut at the same labelled size.
Related tools
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert a US clothing size to EU?
For women's wear, add 30 to the US size to get the EU size, so a US 8 is an EU 38 and a US 6 is an EU 36. UK sizes are the US size plus 4, and Japanese sizes are the US size plus 5. Men's wear is often labelled directly in chest or waist inches, which converts more directly.
Why is there no universal clothing size standard?
Clothing sizing grew up as separate regional traditions. The US and UK use sequential numbers, the EU bases women's sizes on body measurements in centimetres, and Japan uses its own numeric scale. No international body forced them to align, so the same garment carries different numbers in different markets.
What is vanity sizing?
Vanity sizing is the gradual drift of size labels to smaller numbers for the same body measurements over time. A modern size 8 is physically larger than a size 8 from decades ago because brands relabel to flatter shoppers. It is the main reason a label alone is an unreliable guide to fit.
Can I rely on a conversion chart to buy online?
Use it as a starting point, not the final answer. Charts give the standard offset between systems, but real fit varies by brand, cut, and fabric. Always compare your own bust, waist, and hip measurements in centimetres against the specific brand's size chart before ordering.
How is kids' clothing sized across countries?
Children's clothing is usually sized by age or by height in centimetres, and these are fairly consistent across regions. Because kids vary so much at the same age, a measured height is more reliable than an age label. Measure the child and match to the brand's height range.