UK Size to EU Clothes: Full Conversion Chart & Guide

Ordering clothes from European retailers can feel like solving a puzzle when you’re used to UK sizing. A UK 12 isn’t always an EU 40, and the numbers don’t always line up the way you’d expect. This guide cuts through the confusion with conversion charts drawn directly from retailer size guides—so you spend less time guessing and more time wearing the right fit.

UK 10: Often EU 38 ·
UK 12: Often EU 40 ·
EU 46: Often UK 14-16 ·
Top Sources: ASOS, Primark

The following table shows the core women’s conversion based on primary retailer data.

ASOS publishes dual-size charts showing UK and EU sizes align numerically from UK 8 = EU 36 through UK 18 = EU 46. The retailer notes its sizing follows UK standards closely.

— ASOS size charts documentation

What are EU sizes in UK clothes?

European clothing sizes run on a different numeric scale than UK sizes. While UK sizing counts from 4 upward, EU sizes start lower—a UK 8 is an EU 36, not a simple subtraction. This offset exists because the two systems evolved from separate measurement traditions, with EU sizes originally based on chest or hip circumference in centimetres.

Women’s sizes

The standard women’s UK-to-EU conversion follows a consistent +28 offset across the numeric range. Laughing Hens (a specialist equestrian retailer with detailed size charts) confirms: UK 8 = EU 36, UK 10 = EU 38, UK 12 = EU 40, UK 14 = EU 42. This pattern holds through UK 26 = EU 54.

ASOS, one of the largest UK-based online fashion retailers, publishes its own dual-size alignment chart showing the same conversions: UK 8 = EU 36 through UK 18 = EU 46. The retailer notes that its sizing follows UK standards closely, making it a reliable reference point for UK shoppers converting to EU sizing.

Men’s sizes

Men’s clothing uses chest measurements rather than dress sizes. English Brands (a specialist in British sizing for international customers) provides the men’s conversion: UK chest 36 = EU 46, UK chest 38 = EU 48, UK chest 40 = EU 50, UK chest 42 = EU 52. For men buying European suits or shirts, the chest measurement in inches converts directly to EU sizing with a +10 offset.

English Brands’ conversion data shows men’s chest measurements map directly to EU sizes with a consistent +10 offset. This makes it straightforward for men buying European suits or shirts to find their correct size.

— English Brands sizing guide

Alpha vs numeric

Alpha sizes (XS, S, M, L, XL) align directly between UK and EU systems. According to ASOS size charts, a UK S is an EU S. This consistency makes alpha sizes the most reliable shorthand when numeric conversions get confusing.

What size is UK 10 in EU?

A UK size 10 converts to an EU size 38 across all major retailers that publish conversion charts. Laughing Hens, ASOS, and Primark all confirm this equivalence.

Women’s clothes specifics

In women’s clothing, UK 10 / EU 38 typically corresponds to a Small (S) in alpha sizing. Primark’s women’s size chart places UK 10–12 in the S range alongside EU 38–40 and US 6–8. This alpha alignment holds across most UK and European retailers, though fit varies by brand.

Common equivalents

For shoppers navigating international retailers, the UK 10 / EU 38 equivalence is the most consistently documented conversion in size charts. If you’re shopping at a retailer that only displays EU sizing, look for 38. If the retailer uses US sizing, expect size 6 or 8.

What is size 12 in EU?

A UK size 12 converts to an EU size 40 according to the standard conversion charts from Laughing Hens and ASOS. In alpha sizing, UK 12 / EU 40 corresponds to a Medium (M).

UK 12 to EU mapping

The standard numeric conversion is clear: UK 12 = EU 40. However, some search queries suggest confusion about whether UK 12 might correspond to EU 46 or 47. This likely stems from confusion with the EU sizing used for larger sizes or from specific brand charts that use different base measurements.

Variations by retailer

While the standard conversion holds at UK 12 = EU 40, J&P Hats notes that retailer fit varies significantly. Marks & Spencer and COS run large, Next runs true to size, and New Look runs slightly fitted but UK-aligned. When converting from UK to EU, you may need to size down at retailers that cut small or size up at those with generous cuts.

What size is 46 in UK clothing?

EU size 46 in women’s clothing converts to approximately UK 18, though the exact equivalence varies by retailer. Laughing Hens places UK 18 at EU 46, which ASOS confirms in its women’s size chart.

EU 46 equivalents

Working backward from EU 46: if UK women’s sizes follow the +28 offset, then EU 46 − 28 = UK 18. In alpha sizing, EU 46 / UK 18 typically falls into the XL to XXL range depending on the retailer’s fit philosophy.

Letter size match

Common search queries ask whether EU 46 is “L or XL.” The answer depends on the brand, but EU 46 generally corresponds to UK 18, which most retailers classify as XL or XXL. Primark places EU 46–48 in its XL range (UK 18–20), while Primark’s women’s chart shows XL as EU 46/48, UK 18/20, US 14/16.

Is a UK size 12 a medium or large?

A UK size 12 is a Medium (M) in the standard UK alpha sizing system. Laughing Hens confirms UK 12 = M, which aligns with EU 40 and US 8.

Alpha size guide

The standard UK women’s alpha scale runs: UK 6–8 = XS, UK 8–10 = S, UK 10–12 = S/M, UK 12–14 = M, UK 14–16 = L, UK 16–18 = XL. Primark’s women’s size chart confirms: UK 12/14 corresponds to EU 40/42, US 8/10, IT 44/46, and is classified as M in Primark’s alpha system.

EU comparisons

In EU sizing, UK 12 = EU 40 = M. However, some EU retailers use a different alpha-to-numeric mapping. IfSoho New York (which publishes multi-country size equivalents) shows EU M as IT 42, UK 12, FR 38, US 6, confirming that the alpha designation is consistent across systems even when the underlying numbers differ.

UK vs EU sizing: a retailer’s perspective

Three retailers that ship internationally offer published size charts comparing UK and EU systems. ASOS, Primark, and J&P Hats all provide conversion data, though each approaches sizing from a different angle.

The retailer comparison below highlights how sizing philosophies differ across brands.

Clarity on confirmed facts and common confusions

Some aspects of UK-to-EU conversion are well-established; others generate ongoing search queries that suggest persistent confusion.

How retailers approach sizing differently

Size labels don’t tell the whole story. J&P Hats compiled fit data across UK retailers and found meaningful variation in how each brand interprets standard sizes.

• Marks & Spencer runs large with the most generous fit overall
• John Lewis runs large with a classic comfort fit
• COS runs large with a Scandinavian oversized aesthetic
• Next runs true to size and is reliable for workwear and casual wear
• ASOS runs true to size and is consistent with UK standards
• New Look runs true to size with a slightly fitted but UK-aligned cut

For online shoppers, Dutch Label Shop advises always checking brand-specific body measurements rather than relying on numeric conversions alone. Their conversion guide notes that even within the same country, retailers apply different ease allowances that can shift the actual fit by several centimetres.

The pattern shows that shoppers who rely solely on numeric conversions often end up returning items—checking actual measurements saves time and reduces frustration.

Summary

UK-to-EU clothing size conversion follows a consistent numeric offset in women’s sizing (UK +28 = EU), with alpha sizes aligning directly across both systems. UK 10 converts to EU 38, UK 12 to EU 40, and UK 18 to EU 46. Men’s sizes use chest measurements with a different offset. The key variable is retailer fit: the same numeric size can measure up to 4 cm differently between stores, meaning conversion charts give you the right starting point but not the final answer.

Savvy shoppers who measure their bodies and compare against each retailer’s specific chart avoid the most common sizing disappointment—receiving a garment that technically matches their converted size but fits nothing like they expected.

Related reading: Kids Shoe Size Chart UK EU CM · Kids Shoe Size Chart UK to EU

Charts from ASOS and Primark confirm UK 10 as EU 38, while UK size 8 in EU charts clarify common equivalents like size 8 for precise women’s fits.

Frequently asked questions