Wedding Dress Size Chart (Bridal Sizing Explained)
Bridal sizing is famously different from everyday clothing — wedding dresses run one to two sizes smaller than your normal size, and you order to your largest measurement, then tailor down. Understanding this before you order saves a lot of panic.
Wedding Dress Size Chart (to-fit body, inches)
| Bridal size | Bust | Waist | Hip |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 33 | 25 | 35 |
| 4 | 34 | 26 | 36 |
| 6 | 35 | 27 | 37 |
| 8 | 36 | 28 | 38 |
| 10 | 38 | 30 | 40 |
| 12 | 39 | 31 | 41 |
| 14 | 41 | 33 | 43 |
| 16 | 43 | 35 | 45 |
Notes
Bridal runs small — expect it. Wedding dresses typically run one to two sizes smaller than your regular clothing, so your bridal size number will likely be higher than you're used to. This is normal and not worth stressing over — order by the measurements, not the number.
Order to your largest measurement. Take your bust, waist, and hip, find which one maps to the largest bridal size, and order that size. A dress can be taken in at the other points, but letting it out is limited — so size to the biggest measurement and tailor down.
Budget for alterations. Almost every wedding dress is altered — hem, bust, and waist especially. Order early to allow time, and treat alterations as part of the plan, not an afterthought. Buying to the largest measurement is what gives the tailor room to work.
FAQs
Why do wedding dresses run small?
Bridal manufacturers use their own sizing standard that runs about one to two sizes smaller than everyday clothing. So a bride who normally wears a US 8 might need a bridal 10 or 12. Always go by the measurements, not the size number.
How do I measure for a wedding dress?
Measure your bust at the fullest point, your natural waist, and your fullest hip. Compare each to the chart, find the largest resulting size, and order that — then have the dress tailored down at the other points.
Should I order my wedding dress bigger?
Order to your largest of the three measurements rather than 'bigger' generally. Dresses can be taken in but only let out a little, so sizing to your biggest measurement gives the tailor room to achieve a perfect fit.
Need this on your store?
Tailor Size Guide ships pre-built size charts for Shopify.