US to UK Clothing Size Conversion Chart (Men, Women, Kids)
A US 6 is a UK 10. A US 8 is a UK 12. A US men's 9 shoe is a UK 8.5. The gap isn't constant — and the formula changes between women, men, and kids. Here's the full chart for shirts, jeans, dresses, and shoes.
A US size 6 dress is a UK size 10. A US 8 is a UK 12. A US men's shoe size 9 is a UK 8.5. The numbers are different, the gap isn't constant, and the formula changes depending on whether you're shopping for women, men, or kids.
The result: most online shoppers buying from across the pond either guess or skip the purchase entirely. The size chart on the brand's website helps, but only if you know how to read it.
This guide cuts the guesswork. The full US to UK conversion for men's shirts, men's jeans, women's clothing, women's dresses, kids' clothing, and shoes for both genders. Plus the four-number gap rule that explains 90% of women's conversions, the brand exceptions that break the rule, and the specific notes that decide whether a UK 10 from one brand fits like a UK 12 from another.
The Four-Number Gap Rule (Women's Clothing)
The most useful rule in US-UK conversion: US + 4 = UK for women's clothing.
| US | UK |
|---|---|
| 0 | 4 |
| 2 | 6 |
| 4 | 8 |
| 6 | 10 |
| 8 | 12 |
| 10 | 14 |
| 12 | 16 |
| 14 | 18 |
| 16 | 20 |
| 18 | 22 |
| 20 | 24 |
This holds for tops, dresses, blouses, skirts, jumpsuits, and most ready-to-wear. It does not hold for shoes, men's clothing, or kids' wear, which all use different conversion formulas.
Women's Tops and Dresses (US to UK)
| US Letter | US Size | UK Size | UK Letter | Bust |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| XS | 0–2 | 4–6 | UK XS to S | 31–33" / 79–84 cm |
| S | 4–6 | 8–10 | UK S | 33–35" / 84–89 cm |
| M | 8–10 | 12–14 | UK M | 35–37" / 89–94 cm |
| L | 12–14 | 16–18 | UK L | 38–40" / 97–102 cm |
| XL | 16–18 | 20–22 | UK XL | 41–43" / 104–109 cm |
| XXL | 20–22 | 24–26 | UK XXL | 44–46" / 112–117 cm |
UK letter sizing matches US letter sizing
Women's Jeans (US to UK)
| US Numerical | UK Numerical | W-size (waist in inches) |
|---|---|---|
| 00 | 4 | W23–W24 |
| 0 | 6 | W24–W25 |
| 2 | 8 | W25–W26 |
| 4 | 10 | W26–W27 |
| 6 | 12 | W27–W28 |
| 8 | 14 | W28–W29 |
| 10 | 16 | W29–W30 |
| 12 | 18 | W30–W31 |
W-sizes work in both countries
Men's Clothing (US to UK)
Men's clothing has the smallest US-UK gap. In most cases, the same number works in both countries.
Men's shirts (casual and t-shirts)
| Size | US Chest | UK Chest |
|---|---|---|
| XS | 32–34" | 32–34" |
| S | 35–37" | 35–37" |
| M | 38–40" | 38–40" |
| L | 41–43" | 41–43" |
| XL | 44–46" | 44–46" |
| XXL | 47–49" | 47–49" |
US and UK men's letter sizes are identical. UK shirts often run 1 to 2 cm narrower in the shoulder due to British tailoring traditions, but the chest and waist measurements match.
Men's dress shirts
| US/UK Neck | EU |
|---|---|
| 14" | 36 cm |
| 14.5" | 37 cm |
| 15" | 38 cm |
| 15.5" | 39 cm |
| 16" | 41 cm |
| 16.5" | 42 cm |
| 17" | 43 cm |
UK dress shirts sometimes label sleeve length in cm rather than inches. 32-inch sleeve = 81 cm.
Men's jeans
UK brands sometimes drop the W and L prefixes and just write "32x32" or "32/32." Same numbers, different formatting.
Women's Shoes (US to UK)
Women's shoe conversion follows a different formula: US − 2 = UK (approximately).
| US Women | UK Women | EU |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | 3 | 35 |
| 5.5 | 3.5 | 36 |
| 6 | 4 | 36–37 |
| 6.5 | 4.5 | 37 |
| 7 | 5 | 37–38 |
| 7.5 | 5.5 | 38 |
| 8 | 6 | 38–39 |
| 8.5 | 6.5 | 39 |
| 9 | 7 | 39–40 |
| 9.5 | 7.5 | 40–41 |
| 10 | 8 | 41 |
| 10.5 | 8.5 | 41–42 |
| 11 | 9 | 42 |
Australian women's shoe sizing matches UK. AU 7 = UK 7 = US 9.
Men's Shoes (US to UK)
Men's shoe conversion: US − 0.5 = UK (approximately).
| US Men | UK Men | EU |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | 6.5 | 40 |
| 7.5 | 7 | 40.5 |
| 8 | 7.5 | 41 |
| 8.5 | 8 | 41.5 |
| 9 | 8.5 | 42 |
| 9.5 | 9 | 42.5 |
| 10 | 9.5 | 43 |
| 10.5 | 10 | 43.5 |
| 11 | 10.5 | 44 |
| 11.5 | 11 | 44.5 |
| 12 | 11.5 | 45 |
| 13 | 12.5 | 46 |
The 0.5 size gap is exact for most brands. UK 8.5 in men's shoes is the most common adult size.
Kids' Clothing (US to UK)
Kids' clothing in the US and UK uses different label systems but converts cleanly by age and height.
| US | UK | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 0–3M | 0–3M | 22–24" / 56–61 cm |
| 3–6M | 3–6M | 24–26" / 61–66 cm |
| 6–9M | 6–9M | 26–28" / 66–71 cm |
| 12M | 9–12M | 28–30" / 71–76 cm |
| 18M | 12–18M | 30–32" / 76–81 cm |
| 24M / 2T | 18–24M | 32–34" / 81–86 cm |
| 3T | 2–3 yrs | 36–39" / 91–99 cm |
| 4 | 3–4 yrs | 39–42" / 99–107 cm |
| 5 | 4–5 yrs | 42–45" / 107–114 cm |
| 6 | 5–6 yrs | 45–48" / 114–122 cm |
| 7 | 6–7 yrs | 48–50" / 122–127 cm |
| 8 | 7–8 yrs | 50–52" / 127–132 cm |
| 10 | 9–10 yrs | 52–55" / 132–140 cm |
| 12 | 11–12 yrs | 55–58" / 140–147 cm |
| 14 | 13–14 yrs | 58–61" / 147–155 cm |
Match by height first, then age
Brand Exceptions to the Conversion Rules
The four-number gap rule is a starting point. Some brands break it.
Women's UK brands:
- Topshop, ASOS: UK-based. Use UK sizes natively. Their US conversions are accurate. Match the four-number gap.
- M&S (Marks & Spencer): runs slightly larger than UK standard. If between sizes, size down.
- Reiss: runs slim. Order one UK size up if between sizes.
- All Saints: runs slim, especially in jackets. Order one UK size up.
- Burberry: Italian-influenced sizing. Runs smaller than UK standard. Size up.
- Whistles: runs slightly large. Match the chart or size down.
- The Outnet, Net-a-Porter: UK retailers selling international brands. Each brand uses its own home country's sizing. Always check the specific brand's chart.
- John Lewis: department store. Uses standard UK sizing across own-label.
Men's UK brands:
- Paul Smith: Italian-style cut. Runs slim. Order one size up.
- Ted Baker: runs slim. Sized 1 (XS), 2 (S), 3 (M), 4 (L), 5 (XL).
- Barbour: country/outdoor wear. Runs roomy. True to chart.
- Reiss men: runs slim. Size up.
- Charles Tyrwhitt, T.M.Lewin, Hawes & Curtis: UK dress shirt makers. Sized by neck (in inches), with US-equivalent fits.
Five Mistakes That Wreck US-UK Conversion
Assuming a constant gap across categories
Women's tops use +4, women's shoes use −2, men's clothing uses 0. Different formulas for different items.
Ignoring brand-specific calibration
A UK 10 at one brand is a UK 12 at another. Always check the brand's own size chart.
Using the conversion for kids' wear without height check
UK kids' sizes use age, but kids vary widely in height for their age. Match by height first.
Forgetting that UK uses cm for sleeve length
UK dress shirts may list a 32-inch sleeve as "81 cm." Convert to inches before comparing.
Trusting one site's conversion calculator
Many calculators use generic formulas that miss brand exceptions. Use the specific brand's chart.
FAQs
Are UK and US clothing sizes the same anywhere?
Yes. Men's letter sizes (XS to XXL), men's chest measurements, men's neck and sleeve, and men's jeans (W and L) are all identical between US and UK.
What about Ireland and Australia?
Ireland uses UK sizing for clothing and shoes. Australia uses UK sizing for clothing (US numerical + 4 = AU) and shoe sizing close to UK.
Why do UK men's shoes run 0.5 smaller than US?
Historical convention. The Brannock device (US standard) and the British shoe last system never aligned exactly. The 0.5 gap has been stable for decades.
Should I trust a US-to-UK calculator?
Yes for women's tops/dresses (the four-number rule is reliable), and for men's shoes (the 0.5 rule is exact). For shoes and brand-specific items, always cross-reference the brand's own chart.
My UK size doesn't match my measurements. What do I do?
The four-number gap is approximate. Take your bust, waist, and hip measurements, find them on the brand's UK chart, and order accordingly. The chart matters more than the size letter.
What is the four-number gap rule?
For women's clothing, US + 4 = UK. A US 4 is a UK 8. A US 8 is a UK 12. The rule applies to tops, dresses, blouses, skirts, and jumpsuits — but not shoes (US − 2 = UK), men's clothing (often identical), or kids' wear.
Save Your Numbers and Use the Chart
Three numbers and a brand cheat sheet handle US-UK shopping for the rest of your life.
- Bust, waist, hip (women)
- Chest, neck, sleeve (men)
- Foot length and width (both)
Plus the brand-specific calibration notes for whichever UK or US brands you buy regularly.
Match against the brand's own chart, factor the brand calibration, and orders from across the pond start arriving in the right size on the first try. Stores running Tailor Size Guide let shoppers save their measurements once and reuse them across every product, with US/UK conversion built in.
Shipping to the UK or selling UK-imported brands on Shopify?
International sizing is the silent reason cross-border conversion drops. Tailor Size Guide adds smart US/UK conversion charts and brand-specific recommendations to your product pages so customers in either country find their right fit.