▶ Asian Size Chart to UK Sizes: China, Japan, Korea

Asian fashion offers an intriguing blend of modesty and flair, minimalism and grandeur – a style many Brits wish to incorporate into their wardrobe. Yet, the distinct size standards can pose a challenge. Fear not. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of Asian size to UK conversions to simplify your shopping experience.

How does Asian Size to UK conversion work?

You might assume that being familiar with UK sizing makes global shopping straightforward. But, beware, size standards can differ vastly, particularly in Asia.

Shopping on Asian platforms can leave you puzzled, or worse, with ill-fitting garments. It’s essential to understand these nuances when buying from various Asian retailers.

Here’s a snapshot of some country-specific sizing methodologies. Asian sizes tend to run smaller compared to UK sizes. They tend to vary per country, but the most common sizes are from China, Japan, and Korea. If a clothing item runs in “free size” or “one size,” do not buy it if you are a size 14 or above in the UK.

Chinese Clothing Sizes

Amazon Bestseller - Buy at Amazon



M17 Womens Ladies Ripped Denim Jeans Skinny Fit Classic Casual Cotton Stretchy Trousers Pants with Pockets (34W, Dark Blue Wash), 5056242842248

Shop at Amazon [AD]

In China, they use two different systems. This is because they measure two different parts of the body. You may see, for example, that if you want to convert a china size to UK, a size medium in the UK is a size 88 – 90 or 165 – 170 in China.

Japanese Clothing Sizes

Japan uses the lettered system (XS-XL). However, you have to be cautious because these sizes tend to run smaller compared to UK sizes. A medium in Asian size would perhaps be small in UK stores.  Japan also uses two different numbered systems in sizing. So you might see, if you want to convert Japan size to UK, that sizes 9 or 38 equivalent to a UK small.

Korean Clothing Sizes

This country uses a very simple numbered system. You will see that if you want to convert Korean size to UK, a size 55 for small in the UK size, for example.

Asian Size Charts

Asian Clothing Size to UK Conversion Chart – Women

A more detailed discussion on women’s clothing sizes is available here.

Asian Clothing Size to UK Conversion Chart – Men

This article on men’s clothing sizes might interest you as well.

Asian Shoe Size to UK

With this Asian Shoe Size chart you can easily convert different Asian shoe sizes (China, Japan, Korea, etc) into UK shoe sizes.

Understanding Asian Sizes and Conversions

Many find retail therapy relaxing, until they grapple with size discrepancies and varying measurement standards. Regrettably, clothing sizes aren’t universal.

Understanding size conversion becomes an essential, albeit tedious, task. For instance, Asian clothing typically runs smaller than European, UK, and American sizes. Due to Asia’s naturally smaller build, some larger sizes might be unavailable in their stores. Thus, familiarising yourself with size conversions is crucial to avoid mistakes and waste of money when shopping.

FAQ