Dress sizing is tricky because the number on the label is not a measurement. A size 8 means different things to different brands, so the most reliable method is to measure your body and compare it with the brand’s chart. This calculator takes your bust, waist and hips, compares each with a published chart, and recommends a size, with the UK and European equivalents.
How to use the dress size calculator
- Measure yourself. Use a soft tape, standing relaxed. Bust: around the fullest part, tape level. Waist: around the narrowest part of the natural waistline. Hips: around the fullest part of the hips and seat.
- Enter the three measurements in inches or centimetres.
- Choose the chart for the brand family you are shopping.
- Read the result: the size for each measurement and the recommended size, which is the largest of the three.
The sizing formula: how the size is chosen
recommended size = the largest of the bust, waist and hip sizes
UK = US + 4 · EU (German) = US + 30
A measurement that falls between two sizes belongs to the larger one, since clothes cannot be worn tighter than the body measures. If any measurement is bigger than the top of the chart, the calculator says so instead of guessing. The charts, retrieved 2026-10-15, are reproduced below; centimetres are calculated from inches × 2.54.
Who What Wear (Target) women’s chart
| Size | Bust (in) | Waist (in) | Hip (in) | Bust (cm) | Waist (cm) | Hip (cm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XXS 00 | 31.5 | 22.25 | 34 | 80.0 | 56.5 | 86.4 |
| XS 0 | 32.5 | 26 | 35 | 82.5 | 66.0 | 88.9 |
| XS 2 | 33.5 | 26.75 | 36 | 85.1 | 67.9 | 91.4 |
| S 4 | 34.5 | 27.5 | 37 | 87.6 | 69.8 | 94.0 |
| S 6 | 35.5 | 28.5 | 38 | 90.2 | 72.4 | 96.5 |
| M 8 | 36.5 | 29.5 | 39 | 92.7 | 74.9 | 99.1 |
| M 10 | 37.5 | 30.5 | 40 | 95.2 | 77.5 | 101.6 |
| L 12 | 39 | 32 | 41.5 | 99.1 | 81.3 | 105.4 |
| L 14 | 40.5 | 33.75 | 43 | 102.9 | 85.7 | 109.2 |
| XL 16 | 42.5 | 36 | 44.75 | 108.0 | 91.4 | 113.7 |
| XXL 18 | 44.5 | 38.5 | 46.5 | 113.0 | 97.8 | 118.1 |
Dress the Population (Nordstrom) women’s regular chart
| Size | Bust (in) | Waist (in) | Hip (in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| XXS (00–0) | 33 | 25 | 35.5 |
| XS (0–2) | 34 | 26 | 36.5 |
| S (4–6) | 35.5 | 27.5 | 38 |
| M (6–8) | 38 | 30 | 40.5 |
| L (8–10) | 40.5 | 32.5 | 43 |
| XL (10–12) | 42.5 | 34.5 | 45 |
| XXL (14–16) | 43.5 | 35.5 | 46 |
US to UK and EU, from the Wikipedia comparison table
| US | UK | EU (German) | French | Italian |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 4 | 30 | 32 | 36 |
| 2 | 6 | 32 | 34 | 38 |
| 4 | 8 | 34 | 36 | 40 |
| 6 | 10 | 36 | 38 | 42 |
| 8 | 12 | 38 | 40 | 44 |
| 10 | 14 | 40 | 42 | 46 |
| 12 | 16 | 42 | 44 | 48 |
| 14 | 18 | 44 | 46 | 50 |
| 16 | 20 | 46 | 48 | 52 |
| 18 | 22 | 48 | 50 | 54 |
| 20 | 24 | 50 | 52 | 56 |
| 22 | 26 | 52 | 54 | 58 |
| 24 | 28 | 54 | 56 | 60 |
Worked example
Bust 36 in, waist 29 in, hips 39 in, using the Who What Wear chart.
- Bust 36 is within 36.5 → M 8.
- Waist 29 is within 29.5 → M 8.
- Hips 39 are within 39 → M 8.
- All three agree: M 8, which is UK 12 and EU 38.
Tips for a good fit
- Know the style. A fitted sheath dress needs a precise size; a wrap or A-line dress is forgiving at the waist.
- Check the fabric. Stretch fabrics give a size of leeway; woven fabrics do not.
- Look at the brand’s own chart before buying. Vanity sizing, where labels run smaller than the measurements, is common.
- Different parts, different sizes: many people are one size at the bust and another at the hips; consider tailoring or separates.
To convert a size you already know, use the Dress Size Converter (US/UK/EU/AU). For trousers and denim see the Jeans Size Calculator and Pants / Trouser Size Calculator. The result is general information, not a guarantee of fit for a particular garment.
Sources
Every figure above comes from these pages, read directly on the dates shown.
- Target — Who What Wear women’s clothing size chart — checked 2026-10-15
- Nordstrom — Dress the Population women’s size guide (PDF) — checked 2026-10-15
- Wikipedia — Clothing sizes (US/UK/EU comparison for women’s dresses) — checked 2026-10-15
Frequently asked questions
How do I find my dress size?
Measure your bust at the fullest part, your waist at the natural waistline, and your hips at the fullest part. Look up each on a size chart; the dress size is the largest of the three results, because a dress must fit at its widest point.
Is a US size 8 the same everywhere?
No. In the United States there is no mandatory sizing standard, and brands size to their own taste. This page shows two published brand charts, and their numbers differ. A US 8 at one brand can be a 6 or a 10 at another.
How do US, UK and EU dress sizes compare?
On Wikipedia’s comparison table the UK size is the US size plus 4, and the German-style European size is the US size plus 30. French and Italian sizes use +32 and +36. Use these as a rough guide; brands often print their own conversion.
What if my measurements fall in different sizes?
Choose the larger and have the smaller part taken in, or use a style that is stretchy at the bust or waist. The result shows the size for each measurement so you can see which one is limiting.
Why does this page not use the ASTM standard?
The ASTM D5585 size table for US women is a paid standard that this site does not reproduce. Brand charts that are free to read are used instead. See also Dress Size Converter (US/UK/EU/AU).