Sizes
Buying clothes from US and EU shops
The labels that cause returns, and the converters that untangle them.
Ireland uses the same clothing and shoe sizes as the UK. Brands still vary from any chart.
Three labels that catch people out, using the same charts as the converters:
| What the shop prints | On the UK and Irish scale | Chart |
|---|---|---|
| US women’s size 8 | UK 12 | Women’s clothing |
| EU 38 dress | UK 12 | Women’s clothing |
| French 38 dress | UK 10 | Women’s clothing |
| US women’s shoe 8 | UK 6 | Women’s shoes |
| Men’s chest 40 in | UK 40, EU 50 | Men’s clothing |
| Men’s UK shoe 9 | US 10, EU 42 or 43 | Men’s shoes |
Measure yourself before you order. A US dress size is often cut larger than the same UK number, which is why a US 8 lines up with a UK 12 on the chart above. An EU 38 is not a UK 38. Import charges can apply on delivery; the rate depends on the goods, the value and the carrier, and this page does not quote one. Check the shop’s returns window before you rely on ordering two sizes.
Converters: women’s clothing, men’s clothing, women’s shoes, men’s shoes, children’s shoes, bras, rings.
These are standard published conversions. A label from one brand can sit a size either side of the chart.
How to use it
- Read the worked examples for the labels that cause the most returns.
- Open the converter for the thing you are buying and use the shop’s own chart where it disagrees.
- Measure, check the returns window, and assume a delivery from abroad can attract charges.
The labels that do not mean what they seem
A US women’s dress size is cut to a different scale from a UK size with the same number. On the Unit Juggler chart a US 8 is a UK 12, and a UK 12 is a US 8. Ordering “the same size” from a US shop is a common reason a dress arrives too small.
An EU 38 dress is a UK 14 on that chart’s EU column. A French 38 is a UK 10, because the French number sits with the FR column, two above the EU number. ASOS and some other UK shops print the French number under the heading European. Women’s shoes from the US are about two sizes above the UK number: a US 8 shoe is a UK 6 on the ASOS footwear chart. Men’s US shoes are about one size above the UK.
Before you pay
Measure bust, waist, hips or foot length and compare them with the brand’s garment measurements when the brand publishes them. The country conversion gets you into the right region of the chart. The brand’s ease and fabric do the rest. Ireland uses the same clothing and shoe sizes as the UK, so an Irish shopper faces the same jump when the site is American or continental.
Read the returns policy before relying on ordering two sizes. A return from outside the country can cost more than the garment, and some outlets exclude sale goods. Import charges can be collected on delivery. The amount depends on what the goods are, what they cost and which carrier clears them. This page does not quote a duty or VAT rate.
Questions
Is a UK 38 the same as an EU 38?
A UK 38 and an EU 38 are different sizes. A UK 38 is far up the plus-size end of the UK scale. An EU 38 is around a UK 14 on the chart used here. Match the system before you match the digits.
Do I need to convert for an Irish shop?
Irish shops use UK sizes. Convert when the shop is pricing in dollars, listing US or EU sizes, or shipping from outside the UK and Ireland.