British clothing sizes

U.K. clothing sizes differ from U.S. and EU ones (Photo courtesy of AliExpress)
U.K. clothing sizes differ from U.S. and EU ones

I'm a size what? U.K. clothing and shoe size conversion charts and how to convert American clothes sizes to British (and European) ones

The United States, Britain, and Continental Europe all use different systems for measurements to make sure, no matter who we are, nothing will quite fit properly.

As anyone who's ever carried more than the allowed four items into a dressing room knows, clothing size is rather more subjective than it should be (especially for women), and sizes vary between manufacturers and from store to store.

Basically: you gotta try it on no matter what. But at least the following charts will give you a ballpark size to take off the rack and start with.

U.K., U.S., and metric sizes for women's clothing and shoes

Figuring out U.K. dress sizes from U.S. ones is pretty easy: just add 4 (and try not to feel too insulted by it).

When it comes to continental European sizes, things get trickier, since many countries have their own formula, usually a variation on diving the bust circumference in half (Italy stops at that, but France divides then subtracts 4, Germany subtracts 6).

Women's shoes
U.K. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
U.S. 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Europe 35     35-36 36-37 37-38 38-39 39-40 40-41 41-42 42-43

 

Women's dresses, coats, and suits
U.K. 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28
U.S. 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24
Italy 36 38 40 42 44 46 48 50 52 54 56 58 60
France 32 34 36 38 40 42 44 46 48 50 52 54 56
Germany 30 32 34 36 38 40 42 44 46 48 50 52 54

U.K., U.S., and metric sizes sizes for men's clothing and shoes

Men have it easy. Shoe measurements in the U.K. are just half a size smaller than in the U.S., and most British clothing manufacturers use the same measurements as does the U.S. (though a few prefer the continental European sizing—and might do so increasingly as the metric system slowly takes over). 

Men's shoes
U.K. 5.5 6.5 7.5 8.5 9.5 10.5 11.5 12.5 13.5
U.S. 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
Europe 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47

 

Men's jackets
U.K./U.S. 32 34 36 38 40 42 44 46 48 50 52 54
Continental Europe 42 44 46 48 50 52 54 56 58 60 62 64

 

Men's shirts
U.K./U.S. 14 14-1/2 15 15-1/2 16 16-1/2 17 17-1/2
Europe 36 37 38 39 41 42 43 44

 

Men's pants: Waist
U.K./U.S. 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 36 38 40 42 44
Europe 64/68 68/72 72/76 76/80 80/84 84/88 88/92 92/96 96/100 100/104 104/108 108/112 112/116
Italy 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55

 

Men's pants: Length
U.K./U.S. 25/26 27/28 29/30 31 32 33 34 36
EU 34 36 38 40 42 44 46 48