UK clothing sizes are not a standard. They are a convention, and every brand interprets it slightly differently. That is why you can be a medium in one shop and a large in the next without your body changing.
Rough conversions
For tops, UK sizes usually sit one below US and correspond to EU sizes roughly as follows: UK S ≈ EU 46–48, UK M ≈ EU 50, UK L ≈ EU 52–54, UK XL ≈ EU 56. These are approximations. Every conversion chart is an approximation.
Measure once, properly
Three measurements cover almost everything:
- Chest: around the fullest part, tape level, arms down, breathing normally.
- Shoulder: seam to seam across the back. This is the one that cannot be adjusted by styling.
- Length: from the point where your neck meets your shoulder, straight down to where you want the hem.
Write them down. You will use them for years.
Why the numbers differ anyway
Two reasons. First, "ease" — how much room a brand adds beyond the body measurement — is a design decision, not a rule. A fitted medium and a relaxed medium can differ by 8 cm across the chest. Second, vanity sizing: some brands quietly label garments smaller than they are.
This is why measuring a garment you already own beats measuring yourself, every time.
Between sizes
For layers worn over other clothes — hoodies, sweatshirts — size up. For a t-shirt worn on its own, size down. If the shoulder measurement fits and the chest is slightly loose, that is the right size; the reverse is not.
On our site
Each product page has a Dimensions section with the actual measurements for that garment. Because ranges are made by different manufacturers, the figures vary between products — worth checking rather than assuming.
Sizes run XS to 5XL. See unisex sizing, plus size streetwear, and hoodie sizing for the specific cases. Browse everything here.
Further reading: GOV.UK: Returns and refunds