About the Clothing Size Converter
Clothing sizes change the moment you cross a border: a US women’s 8 is a UK 12, a German 38, a French 40 and an Italian 44. This clothing size converter translates women’s dress and top sizes, men’s suit and jacket sizes and men’s shirt collar sizes between the main international systems, and gives the approximate letter size (S, M, L) as well.
It is useful when shopping on European or Japanese websites, buying from a UK brand, sizing a gift for someone abroad, or packing for a trip where you might shop. Pick the type of garment, the system your size is in and the number, and the table below shows the whole conversion chart for that garment.
Conversions follow the standard offsets retailers publish. Fit still varies by brand and cut — European fashion houses often run small and US brands use vanity sizing — so always check the brand’s own measurements when you can.
How to use the clothing size converter
- 1Choose the type of garment.
- 2Choose the country system your current size is in.
- 3Enter your size.
- 4Read the equivalents and check the chart for neighbouring sizes.
Formula and method
Women’s numeric sizes in different countries are fixed offsets from each other, so a US 8 maps to UK 12, EU (German) 38, French 40, Italian 44 and Japanese 11. Men’s suit and jacket sizes in the US and UK are the chest measurement in inches, and European sizes add 10 to that number (a US 40 is an EU 50).
Men’s dress shirt collars are measured in inches in the US and UK and in centimetres almost everywhere else, so the converter multiplies by 2.54 and rounds to the nearest whole centimetre. Letter sizes are approximate bands, since S, M and L are not standardised between brands.
Worked examples
US women’s 8
A US 8 is a UK and Australian 12, a German 38, a French 40, an Italian 44 and a Japanese 11 — a medium in letter sizes.
European (German) 42 to US
Subtracting 30 from EU 42 gives a US 12, which is a UK 16 and an Italian 48 — usually a large.
Men’s UK 40 suit jacket
A 40-inch chest is a 40 in the US and UK and a 50 in European and Italian sizing.
EU shirt collar 41
41 cm is 16.1 inches, so a European 41 collar is a US and UK 16 — a large dress shirt.
Frequently asked questions
What is a UK size 12 in US sizes?+
A UK women’s 12 is a US 8. UK dress sizes are generally 4 higher than US sizes, so UK 8 = US 4, UK 10 = US 6, UK 14 = US 10 and UK 16 = US 12.
How do I convert EU dress sizes to US?+
For German, Dutch and Scandinavian sizes, subtract 30 (EU 38 = US 8). French and Spanish sizes run 2 higher (FR 40 = US 8), and Italian sizes 4 higher again (IT 44 = US 8).
What size is a 40R suit in Europe?+
A 40 Regular is a European 50 (Regular length). European suit sizes are roughly the US chest size plus 10; short and long lengths use different number series in Germany.
Why do sizes vary so much between brands?+
There is no binding international standard for clothing sizes. Brands design around their own fit models, and many US brands use vanity sizing, labelling garments smaller than the measurements would suggest. Brand size charts with body measurements are always the best guide.
What is my shirt size in centimetres?+
Multiply your US collar size by 2.54 and round: 15 in is 38 cm, 15.5 in is 39 cm, 16 in is 41 cm and 17 in is 43 cm. Many European shirts list the collar in centimetres on the label.