US, UK, EU and AU dress sizes side by side
Women's dress sizes are just labels with no fixed measurements, so the same body maps to different numbers by country. Use the table to read across, then confirm against the brand's own chart.
| US | UK | EU | AU | Bust | Waist | Hips |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 4 | 32 | 4 | 31 in / 79 cm | 23 in / 58 cm | 33 in / 84 cm |
| 2 | 6 | 34 | 6 | 32 in / 81 cm | 24 in / 61 cm | 34 in / 86 cm |
| 4 | 8 | 36 | 8 | 34 in / 86 cm | 26 in / 66 cm | 36.5 in / 93 cm |
| 6 | 10 | 38 | 10 | 35 in / 89 cm | 27 in / 69 cm | 37.5 in / 95 cm |
| 8 | 12 | 40 | 12 | 36 in / 91 cm | 28 in / 71 cm | 38.5 in / 98 cm |
| 10 | 14 | 42 | 14 | 37.5 in / 95 cm | 29.5 in / 75 cm | 40 in / 102 cm |
| 12 | 16 | 44 | 16 | 38.5 in / 98 cm | 30.5 in / 77 cm | 41 in / 104 cm |
| 14 | 18 | 46 | 18 | 40 in / 102 cm | 32 in / 81 cm | 43 in / 109 cm |
| 16 | 20 | 48 | 20 | 41.5 in / 105 cm | 33.5 in / 85 cm | 44 in / 112 cm |
The rules behind the columns: UK = US + 6, EU = US + 30, AU = UK. EU labels track measurements more closely than US labels, which is why EU garments often feel like they "run small".
Trust the tape, not the tag
- Measure three points. Bust at the fullest part, waist at the natural narrowest, hips at the widest. Keep the tape level and record to the nearest half inch.
- Vanity sizing is real. Labels have shifted smaller over time and each brand differs, so a bust measurement is a far more reliable guide than a number.
- Stretch changes everything. Woven cotton or linen has no give, so size up; jersey and knits usually run true. Empire and wrap styles forgive a mismatched waist.
Common questions
How do I convert a US dress size to UK and EU?
Add 6 for UK and add 30 for EU. A US 8 is a UK 14 and an EU 38. Australian sizes match the UK, so a US 8 is also an AU 14. These are starting points; brands vary, so check measurements when you can.
Why does the same size fit differently at every shop?
There is no enforced sizing standard, so each brand sets its own measurements. Vanity sizing has also drifted the numbers down over decades: a 1960s size 8 is closer to a modern size 0. Compare your bust, waist and hip measurements to the brand chart instead of trusting the label.
What if my measurements point to different sizes?
Size to your largest measurement, usually bust or hips, and adjust the rest. In fitted styles go up and take in the waist; in loose styles go down. One off-the-rack size rarely fits all three points perfectly.
