Clothing size conversion (approx)
Cuts and stretch vary a lot between brands — measure chest and waist when the fit matters.
| Letter | US | UK | EU | CN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| XS | 0–2 | 4–6 | 32–34 | 155/80A |
| S | 4–6 | 8–10 | 36–38 | 160/84A |
| M | 8–10 | 12–14 | 40–42 | 165/88A |
| L | 12–14 | 16–18 | 44–46 | 170/92A |
| XL | 16–18 | 20–22 | 48–50 | 175/96A |
| XXL | 20–22 | 24–26 | 52–54 | 180/100A |
| Men shirt neck (in) | 15 | 15 | 38 cm | 38 |
| Men shirt neck (in) | 16 | 16 | 41 cm | 41 |
| Men pant waist (in) | 32 | 32 | 42–44 | 165/84A |
Notes
- CN sizes like 165/88A encode height/bust-style codes — labels are not universal.
- Athletic fits run small/large differently than fashion fits.
Three systems behind one letter
The letters XS–XXL are shorthand for three different numeric schemes. In this chart, M maps to US 8–10 and UK 12–14: women's US and UK sizes count in steps of 2 from 0 upward, with the UK number always four above the US one. EU sizes also step by 2 (40–42 for M, up to 52–54 at XXL) and descend from an old convention of taking roughly half the bust in centimeters, so treat them as a ladder, not a measurement. Chinese labels encode the body directly: 165/88A means 165 cm height, 88 cm chest/bust, and body type A (standard build; B and C fuller, Y slimmer). Each rung adds 5 cm of height and 4 cm of girth, from 155/80A at XS to 180/100A at XXL.
Vanity sizing: the same letter is not the same body
A size M in one brand can fit like an S or an L in another, and the drift runs across decades too. As average bodies grew, many labels quietly re-graded their base blocks so customers could keep buying smaller numbers — this is vanity sizing — which is why a modern US 8 is cut larger than a 1970s US 8. Ease also varies by market and audience: the EU 40–42 of one house may run roomier than another's. In practice, letter-to-letter conversion is only a statistical approximation. Use this chart to bracket your range, then confirm with the garment's actual measurements or reviews saying it runs large or small.
How to measure chest, waist, and hips
Use a soft tape measure over thin clothing; keep the tape level and snug without digging in. Chest: around the fullest part, under the arms and across the shoulder blades, breathing normally. Waist: at the narrowest point, usually just above the navel, without sucking in. Hips: around the widest point across the seat. Compare against the CN column first, since it is the only one in centimeters: an 88 cm bust matches 165/88A, and every 4 cm moves you one row. If you fall between rows, size by the larger girth, then adjust for the brand's cut — athletic fits hug the body, fashion cuts add ease.
Men's shirts and pants: measured, not lettered
Men's dress shirts are sized by neck circumference in inches on US and UK labels: this chart lists 15 in and 16 in, which correspond to 38 cm and 41 cm in the EU system (multiply inches by 2.54). Formal shirts usually pair the neck size with sleeve length, so check both. Trousers follow the waist: a US/UK 32-inch waist corresponds to EU 42–44 and to the Chinese men's code 165/84A. Because a single letter on the rack can span two numeric sizes, measuring the neck and waist and converting directly is more reliable than any XS-to-XXL cross-reference.
Frequently asked questions
- What size is US M in UK and EU?
- In this chart, M corresponds to US 8–10, UK 12–14, EU 40–42, and CN 165/88A.
- What does 165/88A mean on Chinese clothing?
- It encodes height in cm (165), bust in cm (88), and body type A; these labels aren’t universal across manufacturers.
- Is US size 6 the same as UK 10?
- Roughly, yes: US 4–6 maps to UK 8–10 in this chart, though brands vary.