European Clothing Sizes vs US: The Complete Conversion Guide
Published May 21, 2026
You're in a boutique in Florence. You find a jacket that fits perfectly on the hanger, looks like it was cut specifically for you. You check the label: EU 48. You're an American medium. Or a US 38. Or maybe a UK 38, which is different from a US 38. You have no idea if EU 48 is your size. You try it on. It fits. You buy it. Later, you order the same jacket online from the same brand — and it doesn't fit. Welcome to European sizing.
International clothing sizes are genuinely confusing, and not because the world is trying to annoy you. They evolved from different body measurement traditions in different countries, none of which agreed to talk to each other before standardising. French haute couture, German industrial precision, Italian tailoring — they all developed sizing systems that made sense locally and create chaos internationally.
This guide cuts through it. You'll get clear conversion tables for women's, men's, and shoes, plus the knowledge to shop confidently from any European brand — in person or online.
Table of Contents
Why European and US Sizes Differ
The short answer: they were invented independently. The long answer involves 19th-century tailoring guilds, post-war standardisation committees, and the fact that human bodies don't actually conform to any sizing system.
European clothing sizes (particularly for women) are generally derived from the bust measurement in centimeters, divided or offset by a formula specific to each country. French sizes, Italian sizes, and German sizes all use slightly different offsets — which is why a "European 38" from H&M (Swedish brand, German sizing) might not fit the same as a "European 38" from Zara (Spanish brand with its own calibration).
US sizes are largely arbitrary numbers that correlate loosely to measurements but have also been subject to decades of "vanity sizing" — the gradual inflation of labeled sizes so that a US 8 today is roughly 2–4 sizes larger than a US 8 from the 1970s. European sizes have been more stable, which is why the gap between a woman's US 8 and EU 38 isn't constant across brands or years.
The one universal truth about international sizing:
Tables give you a starting point. Your actual measurements in centimeters are the only thing that travels reliably across all systems. Take them once, use them everywhere.
Women's Clothing Sizes
| US Size | EU Size | UK Size | Bust (in) | Waist (in) | Hips (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XS / 0 | 32 | 4 | 31.5 | 24 | 33.5 |
| XS / 2 | 34 | 6 | 32.5 | 25 | 34.5 |
| S / 4 | 36 | 8 | 33.5 | 26 | 35.5 |
| S / 6 | 38 | 10 | 34.5 | 27 | 36.5 |
| M / 8 | 40 | 12 | 35.5 | 28 | 37.5 |
| M / 10 | 42 | 14 | 37 | 29.5 | 39 |
| L / 12 | 44 | 16 | 38.5 | 31 | 40.5 |
| XL / 14 | 46 | 18 | 40 | 32.5 | 42 |
Country-specific quirks:
- Italian brands (Gucci, Prada, Max Mara) often run small — a labelled EU 42 may fit more like an EU 40 from a German brand. If ordering Italian, size up.
- Scandinavian brands (H&M, COS, Arket) tend to use standard EU sizing and cut generously for Nordic proportions. Their EU 38 is typically a reliable US 6.
- French brands (Sandro, Maje, A.P.C.) sometimes use their own French sizing scale where FR 38 = EU 38 = US 6, but occasionally run smaller.
Men's Clothing Sizes
Men's sizing is somewhat more predictable because it's grounded in actual chest measurements in centimeters. The EU system labels sizes as the chest measurement: EU 48 means an 48 cm half-chest, or approximately a 96 cm (38 inch) full chest. This maps neatly to US sizing once you know the formula.
| US / Letter | EU Size | UK Size | Chest (in) | Waist (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| XS / 34 | 44 | 34 | 34–35 | 27–28 |
| S / 36 | 46 | 36 | 36–37 | 29–30 |
| M / 38 | 48 | 38 | 38–39 | 31–32 |
| L / 40 | 50 | 40 | 40–41 | 33–34 |
| L / 42 | 52 | 42 | 42–43 | 35–36 |
| XL / 44 | 54 | 44 | 44–45 | 37–38 |
| XXL / 46 | 56 | 46 | 46–47 | 39–40 |
Quick rule for men: EU size = US numeric size + 10. US 38 → EU 48. US 40 → EU 50. It doesn't work for letters (S/M/L) but it's reliable for numeric suit and jacket sizing across most European brands.
Shoe Sizes: Where It Gets Genuinely Scientific
Shoe sizing is actually the most logical system of the three. European sizes are based on the Paris Point — one-third of a centimeter — applied to the length of the last (the foot-shaped form used to make the shoe). This means EU shoe sizing has a direct, calculable relationship to foot length in centimeters.
The formula:
EU shoe size = foot length in cm × 1.5
Example: foot length 26 cm → 26 × 1.5 = EU 39. This is why our Length Converter is useful — measure your foot in cm, convert to inches to cross-check, then apply the formula.
| EU | US Women | US Men | UK | Foot Length (cm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35 | 5 | 3 | 2.5 | 22 |
| 36 | 5.5–6 | 3.5–4 | 3–3.5 | 22.5–23 |
| 37 | 6.5 | 4.5–5 | 4 | 23.5 |
| 38 | 7–7.5 | 5.5–6 | 4.5–5 | 24 |
| 39 | 8–8.5 | 6.5 | 5.5–6 | 25 |
| 40 | 9 | 7–7.5 | 6.5 | 25.5 |
| 41 | 9.5–10 | 8 | 7.5 | 26 |
| 42 | 10.5–11 | 8.5–9 | 8 | 26.5–27 |
| 43 | 11.5 | 9.5–10 | 8.5–9 | 27.5 |
| 44 | 12 | 10.5–11 | 9.5–10 | 28 |
How to Measure Yourself Correctly
Tables are approximations. Your measurements are exact. Take these once and you'll never need to guess again.
Bust / Chest
Measure around the fullest part of your chest, keeping the tape horizontal and not too tight. Breathe normally. Record in centimeters. For US sizing, convert cm to inches using our Length Converter.
Waist
Measure at the narrowest point — usually 2–3 cm above your navel, not at the belt line. Don't suck in. This is the measurement you actually need, not the waist on your current jeans (which is probably wrong by an inch or two).
Hips
Measure around the fullest part of your hips, about 18–22 cm below your waist. Stand with feet together. This is the measurement that determines fit in trousers, skirts, and dresses more than anything else.
Foot Length (for shoes)
Stand on a piece of paper, trace your foot, and measure from heel to longest toe in centimeters. Measure both feet and use the larger one. Then apply: EU size = foot length (cm) × 1.5.
Online Shopping from European Brands
Shopping from ASOS (UK), Zalando (Germany), La Redoute (France), or directly from brands like COS, Arket, or Massimo Dutti follows the same principles, but a few extra rules apply:
- Always read the brand's specific size guide, not a generic table. Every brand publishes measurements for each size. Use those measurements against your actual numbers, not the size label.
- Check the fit description. "Slim fit," "relaxed," and "regular" mean different things to different brands. A "regular" German shirt may be cut slimmer than an "athletic" American equivalent.
- Read the reviews for size accuracy. "Runs small," "runs large," or "true to size" comments from buyers who share your measurements are more useful than any conversion table.
- For structured items (blazers, coats), size up if between sizes. You can tailor excess fabric; you can't add it.
- Check the return policy before ordering. Many European brands offer free EU returns but charge for returns from the US. Know this before you order three sizes to try.
Key Takeaways
- EU and US sizes were developed independently with different body measurement systems. A "standard" conversion exists, but brand-to-brand variation is common.
- For women's clothing: US 6 ≈ EU 38 ≈ UK 10. Add/subtract 2 from EU per US size change.
- For men's clothing: EU size ≈ US numeric size + 10. (US 38 jacket = EU 48.)
- For shoes: EU size = foot length in cm × 1.5. Measure your foot for an exact EU size.
- Italian brands run small. Scandinavian brands run standard to generous. Always check brand-specific size guides.
- Your measurements in centimeters are the only sizing data that works everywhere.
Convert Your Measurements
Measure yourself in centimeters and use our converter to check against inch-based size guides from US brands — or vice versa.