EU and French to UK women’s sizes

EU to UK women’s size chart

Each EU size in UK sizes

• EU 32 is a UK 4 and a US 0.
• EU 34 is a UK 6 and a US 2.
• EU 36 is a UK 8 and a US 4.
• EU 38 is a UK 10 and a US 6.
• EU 40 is a UK 12 and a US 8.
• EU 42 is a UK 14 and a US 10.
• EU 44 is a UK 16 and a US 12.
• EU 46 is a UK 18 and a US 14.
• EU 48 is a UK 20 and a US 16.
• EU 50 is a UK 22 and a US 18.
• EU 52 is a UK 24 and a US 20.
• EU 54 is a UK 26 and a US 22.
• EU 56 is a UK 28 and a US 24.

Where the charts disagree

• French sizes: Nordstrom and John Lewis print FR the same as EU. John Lewis prints FR 56 beside EU 54 at UK 26; Joe’s Jeans lists French sizes two lower and Veronica Beard two higher.
• German sizes: Marks & Spencer’s chart lists German sizes two below the EU number, so a German 38 is an EU 40 and a UK 12. Check whether a label says EU/FR or DE.
• Men’s shirts: EU numbers on formal shirts are collar sizes, not dress sizes. An EU 38 shirt is a 15 inch collar; see UK to EU men’s sizes.
• EU 32 (UK 4) rests on Nordstrom and ASOS, and EU 56 (UK 28) mainly on Next.

Why brands still vary

A conversion maps one label to another. It cannot know how a particular brand has cut and graded its sizes.

• Labels drift. Vanity sizing means the same number can describe a larger garment than it did years ago, and brands do not drift at the same pace.
• Body and garment measurements differ. A body chart says which body a size is meant for; a garment chart measures the finished item.
• Cut and fabric change the answer. A slim shirt, a relaxed coat and a stretch trouser can carry the same label and leave very different room.

Here is a worked example from the converter. Marks & Spencer lists a UK 12 at a 92 cm bust, 75 cm waist and 100 cm hips. Nordstrom’s designer conversion chart lists a US 8, which converts to UK 12, at about 89 cm bust, 69 cm waist and 95 cm hips. The labels convert cleanly, yet the waist differs by about 6 cm.

How to measure yourself

A conversion only shortlists a size. Your own measurements in centimetres, checked against the brand's size chart, decide it.

1. Bust: measure around the fullest part, keeping the tape level under your arms.
2. Waist: measure around the narrowest part of your natural waist, usually just above the belly button.
3. Hips: stand with your feet together and measure around the fullest part of your hips and seat.

Keep the tape snug but not tight, and wear light clothing. Then look for whether the brand's chart shows body measurements or garment measurements; a garment measurement includes the room the item is cut with. Our explainer on what "true to size" means covers how to read fit notes such as "runs small" or "relaxed fit".

A note for merchants

Shoppers search for conversions because a single size label does not tell them how a garment will fit. If you sell clothes online, publish a size chart in centimetres for each product, say whether it shows body or garment measurements, and add a short fit note. A free size chart template is a quick place to start. On Shopify, Rendered Fits recommends a size for each product from your own size chart, so shoppers do not need a converter; there is a Free plan.

Other size conversions

• UK to US women’s clothing sizes
• US to UK women’s clothing and jeans sizes
• German to UK clothing sizes
• Italian to UK clothing sizes
• UK to EU men’s suits, trousers and shirts
• UK and US shoe sizes, both ways

Every table in one place: the clothing size converter, or the size conversion guides index.