UK 16 to EUwomen's clothing size
A UK 16 women's clothing size is an EU 44, which is a size L with a bust of 102 to 105 cm and a waist of 84 to 87 cm.
UK 16 in every system
| Size | US | UK | EU | Italy | France | Bust (cm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| L | 12 | 16 | 44 | 48 | 44 | 102 to 105 |
UK sizes near 16
| Size | UK size | EU size | Bust (cm) | Waist (cm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| M | 12 | 40 | 94 to 97 | 76 to 79 |
| M | 14 | 42 | 98 to 101 | 80 to 83 |
| L | 16 | 44 | 102 to 105 | 84 to 87 |
| L | 18 | 46 | 106 to 110 | 88 to 92 |
| XL | 20 | 48 | 111 to 116 | 93 to 98 |
The reverse conversion
Going the other way, an EU 44 comes back to a UK 16. Both describe a body with a 102 to 105 cm bust and a 84 to 87 cm waist. See EU 44 to UK 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 12 is a UK 16. Continental Europe counts differently again, which puts the same body at EU 44, and Italy adds a further four on top of the European number, giving 48. None of these describe the garment differently, they are four conventions for one set of measurements: a 102 to 105 cm bust and a 84 to 87 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 UK 16 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 UK size 16 in EU?
A UK 16 women's clothing size is an EU 44, which is a size L with a bust of 102 to 105 cm and a waist of 84 to 87 cm.
Is UK 16 a small, medium or large?
A UK 16 is a size L on the letter scale. Letter sizes cover a wider band than numeric ones, so a L spans more than one numeric size in most ranges.
What measurements does a UK 16 fit?
A bust of 102 to 105 cm and a waist of 84 to 87 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.