Quick answer: A UK size 12 dress typically fits a bust of about 93 to 95 cm, a waist of 75 to 77 cm and hips of 98.5 to 102 cm, based on the published charts of ASOS and Hobbs. Each size up adds roughly 5 to 6 cm to every measurement. Sizes vary by shop, so always check the retailer’s chart.
The UK has no single legal dress size chart. Each retailer publishes its own body measurements for each size, and the figures can differ by several centimetres. This page sets out two real UK charts in centimetres, with inch conversions, so you can see both the typical values and how much they vary. For how to take the measurements themselves, see our body and clothing measurement guides.
What is the UK dress size chart in cm?
On the ASOS women’s dress chart, a UK 8 is an 83 cm bust, 65 cm waist and 88.5 cm hip, rising to 103 cm, 85 cm and 108.5 cm at size 16. These are body measurements, so compare them with your own measurements rather than with a garment laid flat.
| UK size | Bust | Waist | Hips |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 78 cm (30.7 in) | 60 cm (23.6 in) | 83.5 cm (32.9 in) |
| 6 | 80.5 cm (31.7 in) | 62.5 cm (24.6 in) | 86 cm (33.9 in) |
| 8 | 83 cm (32.7 in) | 65 cm (25.6 in) | 88.5 cm (34.8 in) |
| 10 | 88 cm (34.6 in) | 70 cm (27.6 in) | 93.5 cm (36.8 in) |
| 12 | 93 cm (36.6 in) | 75 cm (29.5 in) | 98.5 cm (38.8 in) |
| 14 | 98 cm (38.6 in) | 80 cm (31.5 in) | 103.5 cm (40.7 in) |
| 16 | 103 cm (40.6 in) | 85 cm (33.5 in) | 108.5 cm (42.7 in) |
| 18 | 110.5 cm (43.5 in) | 92.5 cm (36.4 in) | 116 cm (45.7 in) |
Source: ASOS women’s dresses size guide (UK 4 to 18). Inches are converted from the centimetre figures at 2.54 cm per inch, so they may differ slightly from the rounded inch values ASOS prints.
How do other UK retailers’ charts compare?
Hobbs lists a UK 12 as a 95 cm bust, 77 cm waist and 102 cm hip, which is 2 to 3.5 cm larger than ASOS. Its chart also runs to size 22, so it is useful for the upper end of the range.
| UK size | Bust | Waist | Hip |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 81.5 cm (32.1 in) | 63.5 cm (25.0 in) | 88.5 cm (34.8 in) |
| 8 | 84 cm (33.1 in) | 66 cm (26.0 in) | 91 cm (35.8 in) |
| 10 | 89 cm (35.0 in) | 71 cm (28.0 in) | 96 cm (37.8 in) |
| 12 | 95 cm (37.4 in) | 77 cm (30.3 in) | 102 cm (40.2 in) |
| 14 | 101 cm (39.8 in) | 83 cm (32.7 in) | 108.5 cm (42.7 in) |
| 16 | 107 cm (42.1 in) | 89 cm (35.0 in) | 114 cm (44.9 in) |
| 18 | 113 cm (44.5 in) | 95 cm (37.4 in) | 120 cm (47.2 in) |
| 20 | 119 cm (46.9 in) | 101 cm (39.8 in) | 126 cm (49.6 in) |
| 22 | 125 cm (49.2 in) | 107 cm (42.1 in) | 132 cm (52.0 in) |
Source: Hobbs women’s size guide (body measurements). Inch values are converted from centimetres.
How much bigger is each UK dress size?
In the middle of the range, each size adds about 5 cm (2 in) on the ASOS chart and 6 cm on the Hobbs chart. The steps are smaller at the bottom of both charts and larger at the top.
- ASOS: 2.5 cm steps from size 4 to 8, 5 cm steps from 8 to 16, then a 7.5 cm step from 16 to 18.
- Hobbs: bust and waist rise 2.5 cm from 6 to 8, 5 cm from 8 to 10, then 6 cm per size from 10 to 22. Hip steps vary between 5 and 6.5 cm.
That is why a dress one size up feels very different on a size 8 than on a size 18. If you sit at the top of one size and the bottom of the next, a 5 or 6 cm gap is large enough that the fabric will decide which one works.
Is there an official UK dress size standard?
No: retailers set their own measurements for each size. The European standard BS EN 13402 defines how body dimensions such as bust, waist and hip girth should be measured and shown on labels, but UK shops still sell by their own numbered sizes rather than a single shared chart.
Some labels carry a small pictogram with body measurements in centimetres, following that standard. When a label shows one, it is more reliable than the size number, because it tells you exactly which body the garment was designed for.
How do you use this chart to find your size?
Measure your bust, natural waist and hips, find each one in the chart, and use the largest resulting size for fitted dresses. Our step-by-step guide to measuring your dress size explains how to choose when your measurements fall in different sizes, and the hip measuring guide shows where the tape should go. For the bust and waist, see how to measure bust size and how to measure your waist.
Frequently asked questions
What size is a 70 cm waist in the UK?
A 70 cm waist is a UK 10 on the ASOS chart. On the Hobbs chart it falls just under the size 10 figure of 71 cm, so a 10 there too.
What are the measurements of a UK size 10 in cm?
ASOS lists a UK 10 as an 88 cm bust, 70 cm waist and 93.5 cm hip. Hobbs lists 89 cm, 71 cm and 96 cm.
How many cm is a UK size 14 hip?
About 103.5 cm on the ASOS chart and 108.5 cm on the Hobbs chart.
Why is my dress size different in different shops?
There is no single UK standard for size numbers, so each retailer sets its own measurements. The difference between two charts can be 5 cm or more at the same size.
Sources
- ASOS women’s dresses size guide: bust, waist and hip measurements for UK 4 to 18.
- Hobbs size guide: women’s body measurements for UK 6 to 22.
- BSI: BS EN 13402-1 Size designation of clothes: body dimensions and label pictograms.