Dress Size Chart: US, UK and European Sizes with Measurements

Dress size chart with bust, waist and hip

US misses sizes run from 00 to 20. The figures below are body measurements, not garment measurements, and they reflect the middle of what US brands publish. Expect any one brand to sit up to 1 in (2.5 cm) above or below these values.

The pattern is regular: 1 in per size from 00 to 10, 1.5 in per size from 10 to 16 and 2 in per size above that. Hip is about 10 in larger than waist and 2 in larger than bust throughout. If your proportions differ from that, you will often fall into two sizes, which is normal and covered below.

International dress size conversion

Countries use different numbers for the same body. The UK and Australia add 4 to the US size. France, Spain and most pan-European retailers add 32 to the US size, and Italy adds 36.

The full set of conversions for tops, coats and men's sizes is on the clothing size chart. Bra sizing uses a separate system; see the bra size guide.

Japanese womenswear uses odd numbers under the JIS L 4005 standard, with 7 (S), 9 (M), 11 (L) and 13 (LL) the core range. These are cut for a shorter, narrower frame, and a Japanese 9 corresponds roughly to a US 2-4 by bust and hip, so compare centimeter measurements rather than converting by number.

How to measure for a dress

Use a soft tape, wear the bra you will wear with the dress, and keep the tape level and snug without pressing in.

1. Bust. Around the fullest part of the chest, across the shoulder blades at the back.
2. Natural waist. The narrowest point of the torso, usually 1-2 in above the navel. Bend sideways: the crease that forms is your waist.
3. Hip. Around the fullest part of the seat, typically 7-9 in (18-23 cm) below the natural waist. Stand with feet together.
4. Shoulder to hem. From the high point of the shoulder, where a strap would sit, straight down the front to where you want the hem. Use this to judge the length listed in product details.

Choosing a size when you are between sizes

Most women measure two sizes apart somewhere, often a smaller bust than hip or the reverse. The style decides which measurement matters, because the dress only needs to fit where it is close to the body.

Taking a dress in is cheaper and more reliable than letting it out, since most ready-to-wear seams carry only 0.5-1 in of spare fabric. If you are between two sizes in a fitted style, buy the larger one and have the smaller areas altered.

Dress lengths in inches and cm

Dress length is measured from the high point of the shoulder to the hem. Where the hem lands depends on your height, so the figures below are for someone about 5 ft 5 in (165 cm). For each inch you are taller or shorter, add or subtract about half an inch (5 mm per cm).

Before you order, measure from your own shoulder to the point where you want the hem and compare that with the length in the product details. Many retailers list the length of the sample size only, so a size 16 can run 1-2 in longer than the number shown.

Petite, tall, plus and juniors dress sizes

These ranges change the pattern, not just the number. A petite 8 has the same bust, waist and hip as a regular 8, but on a shorter frame.

• Petite (P): cut for women about 5 ft 4 in (163 cm) and under. The bodice, waist placement, armholes and hem are shorter, typically by 1-2 in through the torso and 2-4 in in overall length. Labeled 0P, 2P, 4P or XSP, SP, MP.
• Tall (T): cut for about 5 ft 8 in (173 cm) and over, with a lower waistline and longer hem and sleeves.
• Women's / plus (W, 1X-3X): usually 14W to 24W or larger. Brands commonly group 14W-16W as 1X, 18W-20W as 2X and 22W-24W as 3X. The pattern has more room in the bust, upper arm and waist than a misses size with the same number.
• Juniors: odd numbers (1, 3, 5 up to 15) cut for a younger figure with a smaller bust-to-hip difference. A juniors 5 is close to a misses 4, but sits straighter through the hip.

Expecting? Maternity dresses use your pre-pregnancy size; the maternity size guide explains how. For one-piece outfits with legs, see jumpsuit sizes, and for separates the skirt size chart.

Common dress sizing mistakes

• Converting UK or EU sizes as if they were US. A UK 10 is a US 6, not a 10. Buying from a UK shop in your US number gets you a dress two sizes too small.
• Using garment measurements as body measurements. Some product pages list the dress itself ("bust 38 in") rather than the body it fits. A fitted dress needs 1-3 in of ease over your bust, so a 38 in garment bust fits a 35-37 in body.
• Ignoring stretch. Jersey and knit dresses with 3-5% elastane can fit one size either side. Woven cotton, linen and silk have almost no give, so size by the largest measurement.
• Measuring over thick clothing adds 0.5-1 in per layer and pushes you into a size that is loose everywhere.
• Assuming vintage sizes match modern ones. Sizing has grown over the decades: a size 12 from a 1970s sewing pattern fits a 34-26.5-36 in body, which is a modern US 2-4.

Frequently asked questions