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Shopping7 min read

Shopping in Europe: Complete Clothing Size Guide for Americans

By ConvertMi Team••

Master European clothing and shoe sizes for hassle-free shopping abroad or online.

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Understanding European Sizing

European clothing sizes work differently than US sizes. The good news? Once you know your European size, it's more consistent across brands than US sizing. Here's everything you need to know before you shop.

Quick Rule of Thumb

  • • Women's clothing: Add 30 to your US size (US 8 = EU 38)
  • • Men's suits: Multiply US size by 2 and add 10 (US 40 = EU 50)
  • • Shoes: Women add 30-31, men add 33-34 (varies by brand)

Women's Clothing Conversion

US 4
→ EU 34
XS
US 6
→ EU 36
S
US 8
→ EU 38
M
US 10
→ EU 40
M
US 12
→ EU 42
L
US 14
→ EU 44
L

Jeans & Pants (Women)

For jeans, European sizes use waist measurements in centimeters or follow dress sizes:

  • • US 25-26 (size 0-2) → EU 34-36
  • • US 27-28 (size 4-6) → EU 36-38
  • • US 29-30 (size 8-10) → EU 38-40
  • • US 31-32 (size 12-14) → EU 42-44

Men's Clothing Conversion

Suits & Jackets

US 36
EU 46
US 38
EU 48
US 40
EU 50
US 42
EU 52
US 44
EU 54
US 46
EU 56
US 48
EU 58
US 50
EU 60

Shirts

European shirts use collar measurements in centimeters:

  • • US 14 → EU 36 (Small)
  • • US 15-15.5 → EU 38-39 (Medium)
  • • US 16-16.5 → EU 41-42 (Large)
  • • US 17-17.5 → EU 43-44 (XL)

Shoe Size Conversion

Women's Shoes

US 6→ EU 36-37
US 7→ EU 37.5-38
US 8→ EU 38.5-39
US 9→ EU 40
US 10→ EU 41

Men's Shoes

US 8→ EU 41
US 9→ EU 42-42.5
US 10→ EU 43-44
US 11→ EU 45
US 12→ EU 46-46.5

Shoe Shopping Tip

Shoe sizes vary more between brands than clothing. Italian shoes tend to run narrow and small, while German brands often run large. Always try before you buy if possible, or check brand-specific size charts online.

Pro Shopping Tips

Know Your Measurements

European sizing is more measurement-based. Know your bust, waist, hip, and inseam in both inches and centimeters before you shop.

Brands Vary

Italian and French brands often run smaller than German or Scandinavian brands. When in doubt, size up.

Check Return Policies

When shopping online from European retailers, understand international return policies and costs before purchasing.

Save Your Sizes

Once you find your size in a particular European brand, write it down! European sizes are more consistent within brands than US sizes.

Country-Specific Differences

While most of Europe uses similar sizing, some countries have their own systems:

  • Italy:Uses sizes 38-52 for clothing, tends to run small and narrow
  • France:Similar to Italy but slightly more generous in fit
  • UK:Uses own system, similar to US but 2-4 sizes different
  • Germany:Follows standard EU sizing, tends to run true to size or large