Clothing Size Converter

Translates clothing sizes across letter sizing (XS–XXL), US numeric sizing, EU sizing, UK sizing, and Japanese sizing. Separate conversion tables apply for women's, men's, and children's garments. Footwear and hat sizing are handled in dedicated tools.

A single garment described as a US size 8 may correspond to UK 12, EU 38, and Japanese 11. Manufacturer drift is significant; the tables represent industry baselines, not vendor-specific cuts.

The underlying conversion factors derive from body-measurement standards: US sizing tracks bust/waist/hip in inches; EU sizing uses centimeter measurements with a country-of-origin offset; UK sizing tracks the same measurements as US but with a four-size shift in women's; Japanese sizing references measurements common in Asian populations and skews smaller. The conversion tables in widespread use derive from the work of standards bodies (ISO 8559 for body measurements) crossed with retailer practice.

A worked example for women's tops: a 36-inch bust corresponds to US 12, UK 16, EU 42, JP 13, and letter size L. The same bust measurement in a fitted dress shirt may shift down a size because the cut allows less ease. Letter sizing absorbs this with stretch ranges that span 2–4 inches; numeric sizes do not, which is why letter sizing is more forgiving of cross-vendor purchases.

Vanity sizing has compressed US women's numeric sizing by roughly four sizes since 1958. A modern US 6 corresponds to a 1958 US 12 in body measurements. Industry data from Project Runway studies and the Bureau of Labor Statistics confirm this trend. Men's sizing has been more stable because it remained tied to neck and chest measurements rather than a numeric ordinal.

Limitations are substantial. The tables represent industry medians, not vendor-specific cuts. Banana Republic's M differs measurably from Uniqlo's M; both differ from American Apparel's M. Athletic-fit, slim-fit, and relaxed-fit modifiers shift the conversion further. For online purchases of unfamiliar brands, the brand's own size chart with garment dimensions in inches or centimeters is the only reliable input. The converter is useful as a starting point for narrowing the candidate range, not as a final answer.