EU 48 to UKwomen's clothing size
An EU 48 women's clothing size is a UK 20, which is a size XL with a bust of 111 to 116 cm and a waist of 93 to 98 cm.
EU 48 in every system
| Size | US | UK | EU | Italy | France | Bust (cm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XL | 16 | 20 | 48 | 52 | 48 | 111 to 116 |
EU sizes near 48
| Size | EU size | UK size | Bust (cm) | Waist (cm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| L | 44 | 16 | 102 to 105 | 84 to 87 |
| L | 46 | 18 | 106 to 110 | 88 to 92 |
| XL | 48 | 20 | 111 to 116 | 93 to 98 |
| XL | 50 | 22 | 117 to 122 | 99 to 104 |
| XXL | 52 | 24 | 123 to 128 | 105 to 110 |
The reverse conversion
Going the other way, a UK 20 comes back to an EU 48. Both describe a body with a 111 to 116 cm bust and a 93 to 98 cm waist. See UK 20 to EU for that direction in full.
Why the numbers differ
US and UK women's dress sizes run on the same even-numbered scale offset by four, so a US 16 is a UK 20. Continental Europe counts differently again, which puts the same body at EU 48, and Italy adds a further four on top of the European number, giving 52. None of these describe the garment differently, they are four conventions for one set of measurements: a 111 to 116 cm bust and a 93 to 98 cm waist.
That is also why the measurement columns matter more than the label. Vanity sizing has moved US and UK numbers down over the decades while European numbers stayed closer to the underlying body measurements, so two garments both labelled EU 48 can differ by several centimetres in the bust. Measure across the fullest part of the bust and the narrowest part of the waist, then pick the row that matches, rather than trusting the size you usually buy.
This chart follows the widely published international women's clothing conversion tables and the body-measurement approach behind the EN 13402 European sizing standard. For chest-based men's sizing see the men's clothing size chart, for children the youth clothing size chart, and to take your own measurements correctly see how to measure clothing size.
Common questions
What is EU size 48 in UK?
An EU 48 women's clothing size is a UK 20, which is a size XL with a bust of 111 to 116 cm and a waist of 93 to 98 cm.
Is EU 48 a small, medium or large?
An EU 48 is a size XL on the letter scale. Letter sizes cover a wider band than numeric ones, so a XL spans more than one numeric size in most ranges.
What measurements does a EU 48 fit?
A bust of 111 to 116 cm and a waist of 93 to 98 cm. Measuring is the reliable check, because vanity sizing means the same label can be cut two sizes apart between brands.
What if I am between two sizes?
Size up for woven fabrics such as dresses, shirts and tailored jackets, where there is no give. For stretch knits the smaller size often fits better, since the fabric takes up the difference.
Last reviewed and updated on July 25, 2026. Conversion tables are checked against published international sizing standards.