Clothing Sizes and Size Conversions in Europe

Planning on shopping for clothes in Europe? Find the difference in size between the U.S. (or Canada) and European sizes.

Size conversion isn't an exact science. The numbers below are general, and come from a variety of sources. Note that there is no real standard for sizing women's clothing in the US; more expensive vendors are more generous in sizing so customers will feel thinner. You'll have to try clothes on in the store.

Most stores in Europe will have salespeople who can speak enough english to provide assistance about sizing. The more expensive the store, the greater likelyhood of English fluency. On the other hand, hand signals work fine when shopping for clothes.For sizes that depend on measurements, remember that one inch = 2.54 centemeters (although 2 1/2 is probably close enough to start).