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Why You Need a Conversion Guide
Shopping across borders means decoding three different sizing systems. A UK 12, US 8, and EU 40 can be the "same" size — or not, depending on the brand. This guide gives you approximate conversions to get in the right range, plus the one rule that keeps you out of trouble.
Women's Clothing (Approximate)
| US | UK | EU |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 6 | 34 |
| 4 | 8 | 36 |
| 6 | 10 | 38 |
| 8 | 12 | 40 |
| 10 | 14 | 42 |
| 12 | 16 | 44 |
| 14 | 18 | 46 |
A useful rule of thumb: UK = US + 4, and EU = US + 30 (roughly) for women's apparel.
Men's Clothing (Approximate)
Men's tops often use the same alpha sizes (S/M/L/XL) across regions, but suits, shirts, and trousers differ. Men's shirt and suit sizing frequently uses chest measurement in inches (US/UK) vs centimeters (EU) — e.g., a 40" chest ≈ EU 50. Trousers are usually labeled by waist in inches (US/UK) and may map to a different EU number, so always check the waist measurement.
Shoes (Approximate)
| US (W) | UK (W) | EU |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | 4 | 37 |
| 7 | 5 | 38 |
| 8 | 6 | 39 |
| 9 | 7 | 40 |
| 10 | 8 | 41 |
Footwear conversions vary even more than clothing because of how brands measure length and width — see Why Shoes Have the Highest Return Rate.
The One Rule: Conversions Are Approximate
Every chart like this is a starting point, not a guarantee. Because there's no universal standard and brands vanity-size to their own scale (see Why Clothing Sizes Are Different Between Brands), a converted size can still be off. The reliable move is always the same: confirm against the brand's own measurements in centimeters or inches, and compare to your body. See How to Measure Yourself for Clothes.
Where YourSizer Fits
Conversions get you close; they don't account for the specific garment or your body. YourSizer skips the conversion guesswork entirely — it gives you the right size for that brand's product directly, whatever sizing system the label uses.
Sources
- Statista: global apparel market
- Nielsen Norman: international ecommerce UX
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I convert a US size to UK and EU?
For women's apparel, roughly: UK = US + 4, and EU = US + 30. So a US 8 ≈ UK 12 ≈ EU 40 — but always confirm against the brand's measurements.
Are size conversions exact?
No. They're approximate because there's no universal standard and brands size differently. Use conversions as a starting point, then check the brand's measurements.
Why are shoe conversions so inconsistent?
Footwear brands measure length and width differently, so converted shoe sizes vary more than clothing — confirm with the brand's size chart.