US to UK Women's Top Size Conversion
| US | UK |
|---|---|
| XS | 6 |
| S | 8 |
| M | 10-12 |
| L | 14-16 |
| XL | 18-20 |
| XXL | 22 |
Sizing conventions vary by brand and by cut — this table shows the standard published conversion. Always check the garment's own size chart when one is available. See how these tables are compiled.
The same four-number gap as dresses, with its own drift
Women's tops follow the same broad US-to-UK even-number offset as dresses — a US 6 converting to roughly a UK 10 — but tops from a given brand are frequently cut with more ease through the body than that brand's dresses, since a top doesn't need to follow the waist as closely. That extra ease means the standard dress-size offset is a reasonable starting point for tops but not a guaranteed match, particularly for fitted knitwear or fitted blouses where body-following cut matters more than for a loose tee.
Vanity sizing has affected US tops sizing at least as much as US dress sizing over recent decades, and arguably more inconsistently, since tops sizing spans everything from fitted blouses to oversized tees within one brand's numbering — a size 8 fitted blouse and a size 8 oversized tee from the same US label aren't necessarily cut on comparable actual chest measurements.
Bust-only sizing versus full hourglass assumptions
Some tops, especially fitted knitwear, are sized primarily around bust circumference with less attention to waist shaping than a dress requires, while others (particularly fitted blouses meant to be tucked in) assume a fuller waist-to-hip taper similar to dress patterns. Converting the size number alone doesn't tell you which assumption a specific top style is built on, which matters more for tops than it does for jeans or dresses, where the intended shaping is more consistent within a category.
What actually helps for an unfamiliar UK brand
Check the specific top's own bust measurement in the brand's chart, and note whether it's described as fitted, relaxed, or oversized — those style descriptors affect how much slack the size-number conversion leaves you, more than they would for a dress or a pair of jeans of the equivalent converted size.
Knit gauge changes the effective size more than the label does
A chunky-knit sweater and a fine-gauge cotton top can carry the identical printed size but sit very differently on the body, since a thick knit adds its own bulk on top of the base body measurement in a way a thin woven top doesn't — this matters more when converting between US and UK sizing for knitwear specifically than for wovens, where the fabric itself contributes less to the finished silhouette.
Frequently asked questions
Does the US-to-UK dress size offset apply directly to tops?
Roughly, as a starting point, but tops from the same brand are often cut with more ease than dresses, so the standard four-number offset is less precise here than for dresses — check the specific top's bust measurement for anything fitted.
Why do a fitted blouse and an oversized tee in the 'same' US size feel so different?
Tops sizing spans a wider range of intended fits within one brand's numbering than dress sizing typically does, so the same size number doesn't guarantee comparable actual chest measurements across different top styles.
Is vanity sizing as much of a factor for tops as for dresses?
At least as much, and arguably more inconsistently, since tops sizing covers everything from fitted knitwear to relaxed oversized styles within a single brand's size run.
Should I trust the size-number conversion for a fitted UK blouse?
Treat it as a starting estimate — check the brand's own bust measurement directly, since fitted styles are less forgiving of the standard offset than relaxed or oversized tops are.
Does knit thickness affect how I should convert a top size?
Yes, to a degree — a chunky knit adds bulk on top of the base body measurement in a way a thin woven top doesn't, so a converted size that's correct on paper can still sit differently depending on how heavy the knit is.