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Dress Size Converter

Enter your measurements to find a ready-to-wear size, or convert between major women’s dress-size charts. Brands still vary — treat results as a starting point.

Calculate

Measurements convert when you switch units

Measure bust, waist, and hips with a tape around the body 1 BUST fullest 2 WAIST narrowest 3 HIPS fullest
How to measure for dresses →
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Updates as you type

Result

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The formula

Measurement mode maps bust/waist/hips to a US-based chart using the largest of the three. Convert mode applies common regional offsets (UK/AU +4, EU/FR +32, IT +36).

Size ≈ max(bust, waist, hips) on chart · US+4≈UK/AU · US+32≈EU/FR · US+36≈IT

How to measure for dresses

Use a soft tape on bare skin or thin clothing. Stand relaxed. Enter the three numbers in the calculator.

Measure bust, waist, and hips with a tape around the body 1 BUST fullest 2 WAIST narrowest 3 HIPS fullest
  1. Bust — Measure around the fullest part of the bust, tape level and snug but not tight.
  2. Waist — Measure the narrowest part of the torso, usually above the navel.
  3. Hips — Measure the fullest part of the hips and seat.
  • The calculator uses the largest of the three so the dress can fit all points.
  • Vanity sizing means the same “US 4” can differ by brand — check the brand chart too.

Worked example

  1. Bust 86 cm, waist 68 cm, hips 94 cm (metric)
  2. Hips drive the suggestion on a typical chart → around US 8
  3. Offsets: UK/AU 12 · EU/FR 40 · IT 44

Result: Suggested multi-chart sizes in the result grid

How dress sizes are estimated

Ready-to-wear numbers are labels on graded patterns, not universal body truths. We use a simplified industry-average chart and common letterbox offsets between regions.

From measurements

Bust, waist, and hips (cm or inches via the unit toggle) are compared to a size table. The suggested size is driven by the largest requirement so the garment can clear all three points.

Chart conversion

Entering a labelled size converts through a US even-number base: UK/AU ≈ US+4, EU/FR ≈ US+32, IT ≈ US+36. Values are rounded to even dress numbers in the usual retail range.

Vanity sizing

The same “US 4” can differ by brand and decade. Always prefer the brand’s centimetre chart when ordering online.

What we do not model

No petite/tall/plus-specific blocks, cup shaping, or stretch fabrics. Between-size bodies may need alterations or different cuts.

Interesting facts

EU vs IT

Italian dress sizes are often four numbers higher than EU (EU 36 ≈ IT 40).

UK vs US

UK dress sizes are typically US + 4 (US 4 ≈ UK 8).

FR often matches EU

French dress numbers commonly align with EU (FR 36 ≈ EU 36), not US sizes.

AU mirrors UK

Australian women’s dress sizes usually track UK numbering (AU 8 ≈ UK 8).

Vanity sizing

The same “US 4” can differ by brand — compare bust/waist/hip cm to the brand chart.

Frequently asked questions

Measure bust, waist, and hips, enter them in measurement mode, and read the suggested size across charts. We size to the largest of the three measurements.

We suggest the larger size so the dress fits. Look for petite/tall cuts, stretch fabrics, or brand-specific fits when proportions differ a lot.

As a rule of thumb, EU ≈ US + 32 (US 4 ≈ EU 36). Use convert mode to see UK, IT, FR, and AU together.

No — industry averages. Brand charts win for online orders.

For non-stretch woven dresses, many people size up. For stretch knits, true-to-size or the closer match to your largest measurement often works — check reviews.

References

  1. ISO 8559 — Size designation of clothes — International Organization for Standardization International framework for garment sizing vocabulary and body measurements.
  2. NIST — length units — National Institute of Standards and Technology Exact cm/inch conversions for measurement mode.
  3. FTC — Clothing and textiles — U.S. Federal Trade Commission Consumer context on textile labelling and advertising claims.