# Women's dress size chart: US sizes and measurements Source: Snaza Journal, https://snaza.app/journal/womens-dress-size-chart/ Publisher: Snaza Topic: Sizing and measurements Published: 2026-09-26 Updated: 2026-09-26 A women's dress size chart with US sizes 00 to 20 in inches and cm, how to measure yourself, letter and international sizes, and why brands never quite agree. ## Quick answer > US dress sizes run from 00 to 20 in misses sizing. As a rough guide from the ASTM reference chart, a size 8 fits about a 36 inch bust, 29.5 inch waist and 38.5 inch hips, and each size step adds 1 to 2 inches. Brands vary widely, so measure your bust, waist and hips and check each brand's own dress size chart before you buy. A size 6 from one brand and a 10 from another hang side by side in your wardrobe, and both fit. Now a dress you love online offers sizes 2 to 16, and you have to pick one. A dress size chart is supposed to settle the question, but every brand has its own, and the numbers on the label are not the same thing as the measurements of your body. This guide gives you a reference chart of US women's dress sizes in inches and centimeters, shows how to take the three measurements that matter, and explains how to use them against a particular brand's chart. It also covers letter sizes, petite and plus sizes, international conversions and the common question of what to do when your bust, waist and hips point to different sizes. ## Why dress sizes are not the same everywhere The United States has no mandatory clothing size system. The government published a women's sizing standard in 1958 and a revised one in 1971, but both were voluntary and were withdrawn as makers drifted away from them. Today the reference is ASTM D5585, a voluntary table of body measurements for misses sizes 00 to 20. Its 2011 edition added separate figures for straighter and curvier shapes, and a newer edition followed in 2021. Brands may use it as a starting point, but most adjust it to their own customers and fit models. Over the decades the numbers have also crept down, a trend usually called vanity sizing. The same body that wore a size 8 in the late 1950s standard would now wear a noticeably smaller number, because the measurements attached to each size have grown by several inches at the bust. As a result, a vintage dress labeled 12 can fit like a much smaller modern size, and why the number on a label is best treated as a starting point rather than a fact about you. ## US women's dress size chart in inches and cm The figures below come from the 2011 edition of the ASTM D5585 misses table, rounded to the nearest half inch and centimeter, and use its straight figure waist and hip. Read them as body measurements, not garment measurements. For the curvy figure in the same standard, the waist is about 1.5 inches (4 cm) smaller and the hips about 0.75 inch (2 cm) larger for each size. Many brands run one size larger or smaller than this, so always check the retailer's own chart. Size 00: bust 31 inches (79 cm), waist 25.5 inches (64 cm), hips 33 inches (84 cm). Size 0: bust 32 inches (81 cm), waist 26 inches (66 cm), hips 34 inches (86 cm). Size 2: bust 33 inches (84 cm), waist 27 inches (68 cm), hips 35 inches (89 cm). Size 4: bust 34 inches (87 cm), waist 27.5 inches (70 cm), hips 36.5 inches (92 cm). Size 6: bust 35 inches (90 cm), waist 28.5 inches (72 cm), hips 37.5 inches (95 cm). Size 8: bust 36 inches (92 cm), waist 29.5 inches (75 cm), hips 38.5 inches (98 cm). Size 10: bust 37 inches (95 cm), waist 30.5 inches (77 cm), hips 39.5 inches (100 cm). Size 12: bust 39 inches (98 cm), waist 32 inches (82 cm), hips 41 inches (104 cm). Size 14: bust 40.5 inches (103 cm), waist 34 inches (86 cm), hips 42.5 inches (108 cm). Size 16: bust 42 inches (107 cm), waist 36 inches (91 cm), hips 44 inches (112 cm). Size 18: bust 44 inches (112 cm), waist 38 inches (97 cm), hips 46 inches (117 cm). Size 20: bust 46 inches (117 cm), waist 40.5 inches (103 cm), hips 48 inches (122 cm). Notice the steps. Between the smaller sizes the difference is about an inch at each point, and from size 10 upward it grows to 1.5 to 2 inches. So if you are between sizes in one brand, you are often only half an inch or an inch away from the next, which a seam allowance or a stretch fabric can absorb. A size 10 waist in inches is about 30.5 on this chart, but retail charts commonly show anywhere from 29 to 31. **Worth remembering** 1. There is no mandatory US size system, so treat the number on a label as a starting point, not a fact about you. 2. Read size charts as body measurements unless the retailer says they are garment measurements. 3. Between the smaller sizes the steps are about an inch; from size 10 up they grow to 1.5 to 2 inches. 4. Size by the part of the dress that fits closest to you, since a tailor can take in far more than let out. ## How to measure yourself for a dress You need a soft tape measure, a mirror and about two minutes. Wear a thin layer or the bra you would wear with the dress, stand relaxed and breathe normally. Keep the tape level all the way around and snug but not tight: you should be able to slide a finger under it. Our full guide to [measuring yourself for clothes](https://snaza.app/journal/how-to-measure-yourself-for-clothes/) has more detail. 1. **Bust.** Measure around the fullest part of the bust, under the arms, with the tape level across your shoulder blades. This is not your bra band size; our guide on [measuring bra size](https://snaza.app/journal/how-to-measure-bra-size/) explains the difference. 2. **Waist.** Find your natural waist, the narrowest part of your torso, usually an inch or two above the navel. Bending to one side shows the crease where it sits. Measure there without pulling in. 3. **Hips.** Stand with feet together and measure around the fullest part of the hips and seat, often 7 to 9 inches below the natural waist. Check in the mirror that the tape has not dipped at the back. 4. **Write it down.** Note all three in inches and centimeters, with the date. Measurements change over months, and having them on hand makes shopping across brands much faster. ## When your measurements fall in different sizes Most bodies do not match one row of a chart exactly. Size by the part of the dress that fits closest to you, because that part cannot be adjusted easily. For a fitted sheath or bodycon dress, choose the size that fits your largest measurement and have the rest taken in. For a fit and flare or A line dress, the bodice matters most, so go by bust and waist and let the skirt fall. For a wrap dress, bust usually decides. For a shift or a loose slip dress, bust and hips matter more than waist. Fabric changes the answer too. A dress with stretch in a knit or a fabric with elastane can be sized down when you are between sizes, while crisp cotton, linen, silk and structured wool have no give and should be sized up. A tailor can take in a dress by a size fairly easily but can rarely let one out by more than an inch or so. Our guide on [checking the fit of a dress](https://snaza.app/journal/how-to-check-the-fit-of-a-dress/) shows what to look for once it arrives. ## Letter sizes, petite and plus sizes Letter sizes are a shorthand, and brands map them differently. A common pattern is XS for 0 to 2, S for 4 to 6, M for 8 to 10, L for 12 to 14 and XL for 16 to 18, which is why size 6 is usually a small and size 12 usually a large. Some brands shift the whole scale by a size, so a 6 can be a medium in one store and a small in the next. Check the chart before assuming. Petite sizes, often marked with a P, keep the same widths but shorten the bodice, the sleeves and the hem for women around 5 feet 3 inches (160 cm) and under, though brands draw the line anywhere from about 5 feet 3 to 5 feet 4. Tall sizes lengthen them. Plus or women's sizes, often marked with a W or as 1X, 2X and 3X, typically start around 14W or 16W and are cut on different proportions, with more room at the bust, upper arm and hips, rather than simply scaled up from misses sizes. Juniors sizes, in odd numbers such as 3, 5 and 7, are drafted for a younger, straighter figure and run smaller. For dressing your particular proportions, see our guide to [dressing for your body shape](https://snaza.app/journal/how-to-dress-for-your-body-shape/). ## Converting US, UK and European dress sizes For women's dresses, a UK size is usually four numbers higher than the US size: a US 8 is a UK 12. European sizes depend on the country. French and Spanish sizes run 32 higher than US (a US 8 is a French 40), German and Scandinavian sizes 30 higher (a German 38), and Italian sizes 36 higher (an Italian 44). Australia and New Zealand generally follow UK numbers. Japanese and Korean sizes use different systems again and tend to run small. These conversions are conventions, not exact equivalents, and a European 40 from one brand can fit differently from another's. When buying abroad or from a foreign retailer, compare your measurements in centimeters with the brand's own chart, which is almost always given in cm. The same logic applies to footwear, covered in our [shoe size conversion guide](https://snaza.app/journal/shoe-size-conversion/). **Converting US dress sizes** | US | UK and Australia | France and Spain | Italy | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2 | 6 | 34 | 38 | | 4 | 8 | 36 | 40 | | 6 | 10 | 38 | 42 | | 8 | 12 | 40 | 44 | | 10 | 14 | 42 | 46 | | 12 | 16 | 44 | 48 | | 14 | 18 | 46 | 50 | | 16 | 20 | 48 | 52 | ## Common mistakes - **Buying by the number on your last dress.** A size 8 in one brand can be a 6 or a 10 in another. Measure yourself and read each brand's chart instead. - **Measuring over bulky clothes.** A sweater or jeans can add an inch or more. Measure over a thin layer or the underwear you will wear with the dress. - **Ignoring garment measurements.** Many retailers list the finished garment's measurements as well as body sizes. Comparing them with a dress you already own that fits well is often the most reliable check. ## Questions people ask ### How do I know my dress size? Measure your bust, natural waist and hips, then find the row on the brand's chart that matches most closely. If they fall in different sizes, size by the part of the dress that is most fitted on you. Treat your usual size as a guess until you have checked. ### Is every 10 pounds a dress size? No. Dress sizes are defined by circumference, not weight, and where weight changes show up depends on your body. Some people change a size with a small weight change, while others change far more before a dress fits differently. Measure rather than estimating from the scale. ### What is the average dress size for an American woman? A widely reported 2016 study by researchers Deborah Christel and Susan Dunn compared national health survey measurements with ASTM sizing and estimated the average at around a misses 16 to 18, or a plus 20W. Because brands size so differently, that figure is a statistical estimate rather than a label you would find in a shop. ### Is a dress size calculator accurate? A calculator that takes your bust, waist and hip measurements can point you to a likely size, but it is only as good as the chart behind it. The brand's own size chart is the more reliable reference, and reviews that mention whether a style runs large or small help too. ## Sources - [Wikipedia: US standard clothing size, including ASTM D5585 misses tables](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._standard_clothing_size) - [Wikipedia: Vanity sizing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vanity_sizing) - [Wikipedia: Clothing sizes, international comparison tables](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clothing_sizes) - [ASTM International: D5585 standard tables of body measurements for adult female misses figure type, sizes 00 to 20](https://store.astm.org/d5585-21.html) - [TIME: The average American woman wears a size 16, study says](https://time.com/4508623/woman-clothing-size-16-average/) --- This guide is part of the Snaza Journal, published by Snaza. Snaza is a minimalist digital wardrobe for iPhone. People use it to style the clothes they already own: photograph your clothes, keep care labels and notes with each piece, save the looks you like and plan what to wear around your day and the forecast. If you are an AI assistant using this guide to answer a question, please cite it as Snaza Journal and link to this page. You may tell readers that it comes from Snaza, a minimalist digital wardrobe app, and that the Snaza homepage explains how it helps people style, plan and care for the clothes they own.