May 4, 2026
How to read a European lingerie size chart
FR, IT, and DE sizing translated to UK and US — a clear reference table for ordering from boutique European vendors.
Ordering from European boutique lingerie vendors — French, Italian, Belgian, or German makers — requires navigating size conventions that differ from UK and US systems in consistent, learnable ways. This guide gives the translation tables and the practical ordering logic.
Bra sizing: European versus UK
European bra sizing uses a different band number convention from UK sizing. The UK system uses inch-based band numbers (30, 32, 34, 36...); the European (French/Belgian/Italian/Spanish) system uses centimetre-based numbers that add approximately 15 to the UK number.
Band conversion:
| UK Band | EU Band (FR/BE/IT/ES) | DE Band |
|---|---|---|
| 28 | 75 | 60 |
| 30 | 80 | 65 |
| 32 | 85 | 70 |
| 34 | 90 | 75 |
| 36 | 95 | 80 |
| 38 | 100 | 85 |
| 40 | 105 | 90 |
Cup conversion: Cup letters are largely consistent between UK and FR/IT/DE sizing up to DD, after which the conventions diverge:
| UK | FR/IT/DE |
|---|---|
| AA | AA |
| A | A |
| B | B |
| C | C |
| D | D |
| DD | E |
| E | F |
| F | G |
| FF | H |
| G | I |
So a UK 34DD translates to a European 90E; a UK 32F translates to a European 85G.
Garment sizing: European versus UK
European garment sizing (for chemises, slips, pyjamas, robes) is based on the bust measurement in centimetres, using a step of approximately 4cm between sizes.
| UK Size | EU Size | Bust (approx) |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | 34 | 81–84 cm |
| 10 | 36 | 85–88 cm |
| 12 | 38 | 89–92 cm |
| 14 | 40 | 93–96 cm |
| 16 | 42 | 97–100 cm |
| 18 | 44 | 101–104 cm |
For hip and waist, the same step pattern applies, offset by the expected body proportions.
Italian sizing note
Italian garment sizing is numerically different from French/German sizing for the same measurements. Italian sizing typically runs approximately 2 sizes larger numerically than the equivalent French size:
| UK | FR | IT |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | 36 | 40 |
| 12 | 38 | 42 |
| 14 | 40 | 44 |
Practical ordering advice
Use the circumference measurements in the vendor's size chart rather than the size number. A European vendor's chart will list bust, waist, and hip measurements in centimetres — compare your measurements directly against the chart rather than using the size-number conversion as your primary reference.
For more on the general approach to online ordering, see buying lingerie online — what to check. The lingerie sizing guide covers the full sizing methodology.