Clothing Sizes In The UK Vs. US: How To Find Your Size

Let's face it, buying clothes is hard. It doesn't seem like it would be, but a bevy of factors make it a complicated process. Nevertheless, it's a fun one if you don't stress yourself out too much. You can create your own lane with your fashion, and you can choose whether or not you stick to what's on trend this year. Some companies are even making it exceptionally easy to try new clothes by renting them out, including plus size options, which is important as plus sized fashion is often left out of mainstream marketing and production.

Purchasing clothes can also be hard because of sizing. This factor is huge, as you can be one size in clothes from a certain brand then a completely different size in another brand's style. This gets even more complicated if you're buying clothes on the international market. Countries size their clothes differently, so you have to research size conversions before you buy. Luckily, we've done the research for you. This is exactly how to buy U.K. sizes in the U.S.

Converting clothing sizes whether you're in the United States or the United Kingdom isn't as hard as you might think it would be. There's a little bit of math, but it isn't anything too complicated. In fact, according to Shop It To Me, it comes down to one simple equation. ​​"[T]he US size is 2 sizes smaller than the UK size." If we consider this formula, we see that a size 10 in the U.S. is simply a size 14 in the U.K.

When it comes to dual sizes — the lettered sizes like "M" for medium and "XL" for extra large — there is a one size difference between the two countries. Where a shirt would be sized as a "S" for small in the U.S., it would be sized as an "M" for medium in the U.K. (via Ask Numbers). Now, you may be wondering about jeans. Since these are measured by your waist, they're actually the same measurements in both the U.S. and the U.K., per Shop It To Me.

The two size rule is the general rule for women, though it's different for men and children. Children's clothes are roughly the same between the two countries, and men's clothes have little discrepancy, too (via Laughing Hens). Be sure, as always, to check the brand you're buying from. Some brands will explicitly label their sizes in a way that allows you to double check the sizing before you buy it, such as in measurable units like inches. Moreover, always shop bigger sizes when purchasing from luxury brands, as their clothes fairly always run small (via Shop It To Me).