The ultimate guide to dress size conversion

Wondering if you’re actually a size 12 or a 14? Sizes seem to differ from store to store in Australia alone, so online shopping opens up a whole new world of confusion with international sizing. To try and make sense of it – we’ve researched a few different sources and constructed a few handy conversion charts for all your international online shopping needs.

A few easy rules to remember:

• AU dress sizing is the same as UK
• Minus 2 sizes to get your US size
• S/M/L can vary hugely – always check the retailer’s own sizing chart
• French sizes are also used in Belgium and Portugal
• German sizes are also used in Austria, Netherlands, Switzerland, Sweden, Denmark and Norway.

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Women’s Dress Sizes in measurements:

Australian size	Bust		Waist		Hips
	INCHES	CM	INCHES	CM	INCHES	CM
4	32	78	24.5	60	34	84
6	33	80.5	25.5	62.5	35	86.5
8	34	83	26.5	65	36	89
10	36	88	28.5	70	38	94
12	38	93	30.5	75	40	99
14	40	98	32.5	80	42	104
16	42	103	34.5	85	44	109
18	45	110.5	37.5	92.5	47	116.5
20	50	127	42.9	109	54.7	139
22	52.8	134	45.7	116	57.5	146
24	55.5	141	48.4	123	60.2	153

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Women’s Dress Size Chart: International

Australia	4	6	8	10	12	14	16	18	20	22	24
UK	4	6	8	10	12	14	16	18	20	22	24
France & Spain	32	34	36	38	40	42	44	46	48	50	52
Germany	34	36	38	40	42	44	46	48	50	52	54
Italy	36	38	40	42	44	46	48	50	52	54	56
USA	0	2	4	6	8	10	12	14	16	18	20
Japan	5	7	9	11	13	15	17	19	21	23	27

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Men’s shirt sizes – in measurements:

Size	Chest		Neck
	INCHES	CM	INCHES	CM
XXXS	30-32	76-81	14	36
XXS	32-34	81-86	14.5	37.5
XS	34-36	86-91	15	38.5
S	36-38	91-96	15.5	39.5
M	38-40	96-101	16	41.5
L	40-42	101-106	17	43.5
XL	42-44	106-111	17.5	45.5
XXL	44-46	111-116	18.5	47.5
XXXL	46-48	116-121	19.5	49.5

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Men’s jacket/suit sizes – international:

USA	UK	Italy	France	Australia	Japan	Chest (inches)	Chest (CM)
34	34	44	44	34	S	34	86
36	36	46	46	36		36	92
38	38	48	48	38	M	38	97
40	40	50	50	40	L	40	102
42	42	52	52	42		42	107
44	44	54	54	44	LL	44	112

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Men’s trouser sizes:

USA	UK	Italy	France	Australia	Japan	Waist (inches)	Waist (cm)
28	28	44	28	28	XS	28	71
29	29	45	29	29		29	74
30	30	46	30	30	S	30	76
31	31	47	31	31		31	79
32	32	48	32	32	M	32	81
33	33	49	33	33		33	84
34	34	50	34	34	L	34	86
35	35	51	35	35		35	89
36	36	52	36	36	XL	36	92
37	37	53	37	37		37	94
38	38	54	38	38	2XL	38	97
39	39	55	39	39		39	99
40	40	56	40	40	3XL	40	102

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What clothes size should i be for my height?

There is no specific size you should be for your height, your overall health cannot be determined only by dress size, so it’s best to see a doctor if you want advice on what a healthy size would be for you. The average height and weight for a woman in Australia is 70kg and about 161cm tall.

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How to find your dress size?

The best way to determine your dress size is to use a conversion chart such as the ones above. These are based on our research across the web, but if a retailer you’re buying from has their own, it’s best to check that out. Use a tape measure to get accurate bust, waist and hip measurements at home.

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What dress size is a ‘Medium’?

This varies from brand to brand and by country. Some stores will consider a medium to be a size 10, while others a size 12-14. As an average, a Medium is likely to be a around a size 12. Generally a Small will be an AU 8-10 and a Large an AU 14-16. An Extra Small is likely to be a size 6, with an Extra Large likely to be a size 18. This is all dependent on retailers, dress cut and shape — so we’d always recommend trying a dress on, checking the store’s own sizing chart or using a retailer with free returns.

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What dress size is plus size?

It absolutely depends on the retailers, but a lot of plus size-specific retailers will stock from a size 14 or 16