Online shopping returns cost the fashion industry billions. Most are because of wrong size — and most wrong sizes happen because people guess instead of measure. Here's exactly how to do it right.
What you need
- A soft fabric tape measure (£1–2 from any haberdashery or Amazon)
- A mirror, or a friend to help
- Form-fitting underwear or minimal clothing
- 5 minutes
The 5 essential measurements
1. Bust / Chest (most important for tops)
Wrap the tape around the fullest part of your chest, parallel to the floor. Keep the tape snug but not tight — you should be able to breathe normally. For women, measure across the fullest part of the bust. For men, measure across the widest point of the chest.
Record in: inches and cm
2. Waist (most important for bottoms)
Find your natural waist — it's the narrowest part of your torso, typically 1–2 inches above your belly button. Bend to one side and the fold that appears is your natural waist. Measure there, keeping the tape parallel to the floor. Don't suck in.
Record in: inches and cm
3. Hips (most important for dresses, skirts, jeans)
Measure around the widest part of your hips and bottom — typically 7–9 inches below your natural waist. Stand with feet together and measure the fullest part.
Record in: inches and cm
4. Inseam (most important for trousers)
Stand straight with feet slightly apart. Measure from the crotch seam (where your inner legs meet) down to your ankle bone. This is easiest with someone else helping, or by measuring a well-fitting pair of trousers along the inside leg seam.
Record in: inches
5. Foot length (for shoes)
Stand on a piece of paper, trace around your foot, then measure the distance from the back of the heel to the tip of the longest toe. Measure both feet and use the larger measurement.
Record in: cm
| Measurement | Where to measure | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Bust/Chest | Fullest part of chest | Keep tape parallel to floor |
| Waist | Narrowest point, above belly button | Don't suck in |
| Hips | Widest point of hips/bottom | Feet together |
| Inseam | Crotch to ankle bone, inner leg | Measure old trousers if easier |
| Foot | Heel to longest toe on paper trace | Measure both feet, use larger |
How to use your measurements
Once you have your measurements, you can convert them to any sizing system:
- Bust 32–33" → UK 8 / US 4 / EU 36
- Bust 34–35" → UK 10 / US 6 / EU 38
- Bust 36–37" → UK 12 / US 8 / EU 40
- Bust 38–39" → UK 14 / US 10 / EU 42
- Waist 27" → jeans W27
- Waist 30" → jeans W30
- Foot 24.5cm → UK 5 / US 7.5 / EU 38
Use your measurements now
Enter your bust, waist and height and our AI predicts your exact size across 500+ brands — including brand-specific adjustments.
✦ What size am I? →Common mistakes
- Measuring over thick clothing — always measure in underwear or thin clothing
- Holding the tape too tight — snug, not squeezing
- Measuring the wrong waist — the natural waist is much higher than where most people wear their trousers
- Only measuring one foot — feet are often different sizes
- Not re-measuring — measurements change. Measure at least once a year.