Evalu8 -

Ask the Bargain Shopper: Size Conversions for Apparel

Be sure to bookmark this handy page!

Read evalu8.org's other Ask the Bargain Shopper answers...

Part of getting what you want is being able to order the correct size for your needs. Sophisticated online clothing sources and catalogues include detailed measurement charts with their price lists. Outlets in Hong Kong, Scandinavia and Great Britain are particularly good at this, but just in case, here’s a complete list of all the size conversions you might need. Note that Hong Kong sizing for sales in their market is in British sizing, but if the goods are meant for export, sizes will be Canadian/U.S.

T-shirts are slack-measured for a relaxed fit:

In inches for English measurement fans:

S(34-36), M(38-40), L(42-44), XL(46-48), XXL(50-52), XXXL(54-56)

And in centimetres, if you favour metric:

S(86-91), M(96-101), L(106-112), XL(117-122), XXL(127-132), XXXL(137-142)

Conversions to U.S. Clothing Sizes

Clothing Conversion Charts

Waist

U.S./UK Europe Japan

24
26
28
30
32
34
36
38 61
66
71
76
80
87
91
97 61
66
71
76
80
87
91
97

Collar

U.S./UK Europe Japan

14
14 1/2
15
15 1/2
16
16 1/2
17 36
37
38
39
41
42
43 36
37
38
39
40
42
43

Shirts

U.S./UK Europe Japan

Small

34 87 87

Medium

36
38 91
97 91
97

Large

40 102 102

Extra Large

42
44
46 107
112
117 107
112
117

Women's Shoes

U.S. UK Europe Japan

4
5
6
7
8
9 2 1/2
3 1/2
4 1/2
5 1/2
6 1/2
7 1/2 35
37
38
39
40
42 21.5
22.5
23.5
24.5
(rare)
(rare)

Men's Shoes

U.S. UK Europe Japan

7
8
9
10
11
12
13 5 1/2
6 1/2
7 1/2
8 1/2
9 1/2
10 1/2
11 1/2 39
41
42
43
45
46
47 24.5
25.5
26.5
27.5
(rare)
(rare)
(rare)

Dresses/Blouses

U.S. UK Europe Japan

5
6/7
8/9
10/11
12/13
14 6
7/8
9/10
11/12
13/14
15 34
36
38
40
42
44 4
5
7
9
11
13

Men's Hats

U.S. UK Europe Japan

6 3/4
6
7
7
7 1/4
7 1/2 6 5/8
6 3/4
6
7
7
7 54
55
56
57
58
60 54
55
56
57
58
60

Some children’s clothing from the UK is sized in Continental measure, which has always driven me crazy. Hong Kong sizes for children’s garments is the same as in the U.S. and Canada, because they know their merchandise is mostly going for export. Remember to buy larger sizes of anything from offshore suppliers if the garment is made of 100 per cent cotton, because they aren’t into pre-shrunk cottons as much as are American and Canadian manufacturers.

Children's Clothing

U.S. UK Europe Japan

2
4
6
8
10
12 16/18
20/22
24/26
28/30
32/34
38/38 40/55
50/55
60/65
70/75
80/85
90/95 90 cm
100 cm
110 cm
120 cm
130 cm
140 cm

British and Canadian standards are the same. Remember to request fabric swatches anytime you order suits online or by mail – and hang onto your sample to compare it with the finished garment for colour and "hand" (how it feels).

Women's Suits

U.S. UK Europe Japan

Use dress
size 22-24 more
than U.S. 28 more
than U.S. Use Dress
size

Example: UK 28 = U.S. = 6 = Euro 34 = Japan 5

Again, British and Canadian standards are the same. Remember to request fabric swatches anytime you order suits online or by mail – and hang onto your sample to compare it with the finished garment for colour and "hand" (how it feels).

Men's Suits and Coats

U.S. UK Europe Japan

Use dress
size Same
as U.S. 10 more
than U.S. In letters,
see below

Example: UK 36 = U.S. 36 = Euro 46
U.S./Japan = 34/S 38/M 40/L 44/LL

MORE CLOTHING size CONVERSIONS:

Clothing Sizes

Clothing sizes in the United States and Canada differ from sizes in other countries. Ready-to-wear clothes are standardized in size.

Women's clothing sizes

Dresses -- Petite sizes (women under 5'5" tall)

USA	3	5	7	9	11
UK	5	7	9	11	13

Dresses -- Misses sizes (women 5'5" and over)

USA/UK	8	10	12	14	16
European	34	36	38	40	42

Bras are sold by the bust measurement (number of inches around the body at the fullest part of the bust, compared to the number of inches measuring right under the breasts). The cup size depends on difference between these two measurements – and of course the numbering (34, 36, 38, etc.) is taken from the measurement under the breasts. In Europe, this number is expressed in metric.

Cup sizes are AA, A, B, C, D, DD, or DDD with A being the smallest size and DDD (sometimes called "E") being the largest size.

Panties are sold in small, medium, large or extra-large sizes or by a series of size numbers (5, 6, 7, etc...). In Europe, panties are called "knickers" or "pants." And what we call "pants" are referred to in the UK as "trousers."

Men's clothing sizes

Coats and pyjamas

USA/UK	36	38	40	42	44
European	46	48	50	52	54

Canadian and British sizes for men’s shirts are the same. It’s safe to buy men’s short-sleeved shirts are small (approx. size 15); medium (approx. 16-1/2); and large (approx. 18). Once again, consider possible shrinkage in cotton, if it’s going to be a tight fit; buy one size larger. Most Hong Kong, Italian, French and U.S. suppliers use only pre-shrunk cotton for shirts. This is especially true for big sportswear sources such as Lands’ End, the GAP, Banana Republic or J. Crew that are fussy about quality and fit in men’s shirts.

Shirts are sold according to neck measurement (in inches) and sleeve length if long-sleeved (number of inches from the centre of the top back, across the shoulder, and down the arm of the bottom of the cuff). For example, 15 x 32 means 15 inches around the neck and 32-inch sleeve length.

Shirts

USA/UK	14	15	16
European	36	38	40

Trousers are sold according to waist measurements (in inches) and inseam measurement (length of the seam in inches from the crotch seam to the bottom of the cuff). Department stores usually sell trousers already hemmed.

Men's underwear comes in small, medium, large, or extra-large sizes. Pyjamas are marked in sizes A, B, C, and D. The smallest is A and the largest is D. Suits are sold according to chest measurement and waist measurement in short, medium, or long lengths.

Shoes

USA	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
European	38	39	40	41	42	43	44	45

Rings are generally sized with those little pieces of cardboard, with cut-outs marked for each size (and into which you fit your finger until you find one that’s just right). If you already know your ring size "in American," this quick online Conversion might be helpful when ordering from other countries:

To convert your ring size, click here

My Virtual Model™ — try clothing on a model that looks like you

Military sizes are a little different:

size CHART

JACKETS

U.S.	34	36	38	40	42	44	46	48	50	52	54
METRIC	88	92	96	102	107	112	117	122	127	132	137
RUSSIAN		46	48	50	52-54	54-56	58	60	62	64
EAST GERMAN	44		48		52	56		60

PANTS

U.S.	30	32	34	36	38	40	42	44	46	48	50
METRIC	76	81	86	91	96	102	107	112	117	122	127
EAST GERMAN	44	48		52		56		60
RUSSIAN	48	50	52	52-54	54-56	58	60	62	64

BOOTS

U.S.	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13
BRITISH	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
EAST GERMAN	24	25	26	27	28	29	30	31
RUSSIAN	39	40	41	42	43	44	45	46
METRIC		255	262	270	277	285	292	300

If you live near a branch of Tilley’s Endurables, drop in to see their hat-sizing machine at work. You can even measure a man’s hat without his head in it, to determine the correct size.

HATS

U.S.	6 5/8	6 3/4	6 7/8	7	7 1/8	7 1/4	7 3/8	7 1/2	7 5/8
EUROPEAN	53	54	55	56	57	58	59	60	61

SHIRTS

U.S.	14	14 1/2	15	15 1/2	16	16 1/2	17	17 1/2	18	18 1/2
METRIC	36	37	38	39	41	42	43	44	45	46

WOMAN SIZES

U.S.	6-8	8-10	10-12	12-14	14-16	16-18	18-20
METRIC	36-38	38-40	40-42	42-44	44-46	48	50
RUSSIAN	42	44	46	48	50	52	54
EAST GERMAN		76-82	82-88	88	94	94-50	50-53

Women's Lingerie & Clothing size Chart

size Bust (in inches) Waist (in inches) Hips (in inches) Dress size Cup size

Small 32-34 23-25 34-36 5-7 A-B

Medium 34-36 25-27 36-38 8-11 B-C

Large 36-38 27-29 38-40 12-14 C

X-Large 38-40 29-31 40-42 16-18 C-D

1X 40-42 31-33 42-44 20-22 D-DD

2X 42-44 33-35 44-46 22-24 D-DD

3X 44-46 35-37 46-48 24-26 D-DD

4X 46-48 37-39 48-50 26-28 D-DD

Petite / Small 30-34 21-25 32-36 3-6 A-B

Small / Medium 32-36 23-27 34-38 5-8 A-B

Medium / Large 34-38 25-29 36-40 10-14 B-C

Large / X-Large 36-40 27-31 38-42 15-18 C-D

One size 32-38 23-29 34-40 6-11 A-C

Queen / One size 40-47 31-38 42-49 17-23 C-D

Clothing Size Conversion Chart

size U.S.A. U.K. Int'l.

8 10-32 38

Small 10 12-34 40

12 14-36 42

Medium 14 16-38 44

16 18-40 46

Large 18 20-42 48

20 22-46 50

22 24-46 52

U.S. to Metric Measurement Conversions

Dress size Bust Waist Hips

6 32" = 80cm 24" = 61cm 35" = 89cm

8 33" = 83cm 25" = 64cm 36" = 92cm

10 34" = 87cm 26" = 66cm 37" = 94cm

12 35" = 89cm 27" = 69cm 38" = 97cm

14 36" = 92cm 28" = 71cm 39" = 99cm

16 38" = 97cm 30" = 76cm 41" = 104cm

18 40" = 102cm 32" = 81cm 43" = 109cm

Weird, isn’t it? You’ll find gloves are usually marked in all sizes, regardless of their country of origin.

Stockings & Hosiery size Chart

Stocking size U.S. Women's Shoe size Height Weight (lbs.)

A (Petite) 3-5 4'11"-5'3" 95-115

B (Average) 5-7 5'3"-5'7" 115-135

C (Tall) 7-10 5'7"-6'0" 135-168

One size 4-9 5'2"-5'8" 100-140

Queen / One size 10-14 5'2"-5'10" 145-215

Glove size Chart

size Glove size

Small 6 1/2

Medium 7

Large 7 1/2

X-Large 8

Breast size to Dress size Chart

Free advice: Your online (and other) shopping questions can be answered via evalu8.org's expert staff. Write to: EV8bargains for an online answer.
Read evalu8.org's other Ask the Bargain Shopper answers...

Be sure to bookmark this handy page!

Cup size 30 32 34 36 38 40 42 44 46

A- x 2 3 4 5 6 7 x x

A+ x 3 4 5 6 7 8 x x

B- 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

B+ 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

C- 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

C+ 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

D- x 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

D+ x 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 13

Home | About | Contact Us | FAQs | Terms of Use | Privacy | Advertise | Affiliates | Partners | Links | Press Releases | Suggest a Site | Request a Review | Feedback