Clothing size from measurements
Put in your measurements and we will estimate your UK size on a typical high street chart.
Your details
For men we only need chest and waist. Measure over light underwear.
Your likely UK dress size
Size 12
Tops 12, bottoms 12
- Bust sayssize 12
- Waist sayssize 12
- Hips sayssize 12
- Roughly EU / US40 / 8
- SizingRoom to move: rounded up
Sizes vary between shops by a size or more, so check the brand’s own chart for anything you really care about. Different numbers for top and bottom are completely normal.
The working
How sizes step up
On a typical UK women’s chart, size 8 is about 82 cm bust, 64 cm waist and 89 cm hips, and each size adds about 5 cm. We work out the size for each measurement, then use the biggest for dresses. A 36 in (91.4 cm) bust, 29 in (73.7 cm) waist and 39 in (99.1 cm) hips comes out at size 12. When you are clearly between sizes we round up, since a little room is easier to fix than too little, but we allow 1 cm for tape wobble first.
Mixed sizes
Why your top and bottom differ
Almost nobody is the same size everywhere. Different numbers for top and bottom are normal, and so is being a 12 in one shop and a 14 in another. Use this as a starting point, then check the brand’s own chart.
For men
Chest and waist
| Size | Chest (inches) |
|---|---|
| S | 36 to 38 |
| M | 39 to 41 |
| L | 42 to 44 |
| XL | 45 to 47 |
| XXL | 48 to 50 |
Trousers are sold by waist in inches, usually from 28 to 44.
Fit and abroad
Close fit, room to move, and EU and US sizes
Pick close fit and we use the nearest size for each measurement instead of rounding up, which suits stretchy fabrics. For women we also show the rough EU and US equivalents: EU is about the UK size plus 28 and US about the UK size minus 4, so a UK 12 is an EU 40 and a US 8. If your measurements point to sizes two or more apart, wrap styles and separates usually fit better than a fitted dress.
Questions
Common questions
What size am I with a 36 inch bust?
Usually a UK 12 on the high street, but brands vary by a size either way.
Are UK and US dress sizes the same?
No. A UK 12 is roughly a US 8. European sizes are different again, with a UK 12 about a 40.
Why do sizes vary between shops?
There is no legal standard for UK clothing sizes, and each brand designs for its own customers.
Sources
Last checked 21 October 2026. Spotted something wrong? Tell us and we will fix it.
Clothes not fitting like they did?
Sizes change for lots of reasons and most are nothing to worry about. If your weight or shape has changed quickly without you trying, mention it to your GP.
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