Quick answer: To convert a UK dress size to EU, add 28: a UK 8 is an EU 36, a UK 10 an EU 38 and a UK 12 an EU 40. This is the French scale most retailers use. German sizes run 2 lower (UK 12 = DE 38) and Italian sizes 4 higher (UK 12 = IT 44).
European dress sizes look confusing because Europe does not have one system. France, Germany and Italy each number their sizes differently, and a label that just says “EU” usually means the French scale. This chart lines them all up against UK sizes, with US and Australian equivalents too. For measuring yourself first, see our body and clothing measurement guides.
What is the UK to EU dress size conversion chart?
EU (French) size = UK size + 28. The full chart below follows the conversions published by UK retailers Hobbs, ASOS and John Lewis, which all agree on these offsets.
| UK | EU / France, Spain, Belgium, Portugal | Germany, Austria, Denmark | Italy | US | Australia |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 34 | 32 | 38 | 2 | 6 |
| 8 | 36 | 34 | 40 | 4 | 8 |
| 10 | 38 | 36 | 42 | 6 | 10 |
| 12 | 40 | 38 | 44 | 8 | 12 |
| 14 | 42 | 40 | 46 | 10 | 14 |
| 16 | 44 | 42 | 48 | 12 | 16 |
| 18 | 46 | 44 | 50 | 14 | 18 |
| 20 | 48 | 46 | 52 | 16 | 20 |
| 22 | 50 | 48 | 54 | 18 | 22 |
Sizes 6 to 22 match the Hobbs international chart exactly, and ASOS and John Lewis list the same EU, Italian and US equivalents for the sizes they cover.
How do you convert a UK size to EU sizes?
Add a fixed number to the UK size: 28 for French and general EU sizing, 26 for German and 32 for Italian. For the US, take away 4. Australian sizes match UK sizes. Type a UK size into the converter to see all of them at once.
UK dress size converter
UK size=Going the other way is just as simple. To turn an EU size into a UK size, subtract 28, so an EU 42 is a UK 14. For a German size, subtract 26; for an Italian size, subtract 32.
Why are French, German and Italian sizes different?
Each country developed its own numbering system, and those national scales are still in everyday use. The European standard BS EN 13402 describes sizes by body measurements in centimetres instead, but most fashion labels still print the national number.
In practice, high street brands selling across Europe often print a single "EU" size that follows the French scale, and sometimes add the Italian size separately. Italian labels often use the Italian scale, which is why a UK 10 can be labelled 42 in an Italian boutique and 38 on a high street tag.
Does an EU size guarantee the same fit as a UK size?
No. Size conversions only line up the numbers; each brand still sets its own body measurements. A French brand's 38 may be cut closer or looser than a British brand's 10, just as two UK shops can disagree about a size 12.
When buying from a European site, take your bust, waist and hip measurements in centimetres and compare them with that brand's own chart. Our guide to measuring your dress size walks through it, and the UK dress size chart in cm shows typical body measurements for each UK size. If a label carries a pictogram with centimetre measurements, trust that over the size number.
How do letter sizes compare?
Letter sizes such as S, M and L are not fixed to particular numbers, so check each brand. John Lewis's conversion guide, for example, pairs UK 8 with S, UK 10 and 12 with M, and UK 14 with L. Other retailers draw the lines differently, which is why a numbered size is usually the safer choice for fitted dresses.
Shoes and accessories follow their own conversion tables; see our size charts for shoe and ring sizes.
Frequently asked questions
What is a UK 10 in EU sizes?
A UK 10 is an EU (French) 38, a German 36 and an Italian 42. In US sizes it is a 6.
What is a UK 14 in European sizes?
A UK 14 is an EU (French) 42, a German 40 and an Italian 46. In US sizes it is a 10.
What UK size is an EU 38?
An EU 38 on the French scale is a UK 10. If the label is German, a 38 is a UK 12. Subtract 28 from a French size or 26 from a German size.
Is an Italian 42 a UK 10?
Yes. Italian sizes are 32 more than UK sizes, so an Italian 42 converts to a UK 10.
Sources
- Hobbs size guide: international conversions for UK 6 to 22 (Italy, France, Germany, US, Australia).
- ASOS women's dresses size guide: UK, EU, Italian, US and Australian equivalents.
- John Lewis international size conversion guide: UK, Europe, France, Italy and US dress sizes.
- BSI: BS EN 13402-1 Size designation of clothes: the European measurement-based sizing standard.