British Standard 3666 : 1982, Size Designation of Women’s Wear

In the UK women’s clothing size is traditionally indicated by numbers. In 1982 the British Standards Institute produced a standard set of sizes from 8 to 32 quoted in centimetres.

Unfortunately, there is no requirement for manufacturers or stores to use the British Standard resulting in a range of size indications for the same size of garment from different sellers.  A new standard BS EN 13402 is intended to replace this system with one in which actual measurements are used, however this is not yet in common use.

This table shows the sizes as given by the British Standard.

Size	Hips from		To		Bust from		to
	cm	in	cm	in	cm	in	cm	in
8	83	32.7	87	34.3	78	30.7	82	32.3
10	87	34.3	91	35.8	82	32.3	86	33.9
12	91	35.8	95	37.4	86	33.9	90	35.4
14	95	37.4	99	39.0	90	35.4	94	37.0
16	100	39.4	104	40.9	95	37.4	99	39.0
18	105	41.3	109	42.9	100	39.4	104	40.9
20	110	43.3	114	44.9	105	41.3	109	42.9
22	115	45.3	119	46.9	110	43.3	114	44.9
24	120	47.2	124	48.8	115	45.3	119	46.9
26	125	49.2	129	50.8	120	47.2	124	48.8
28	130	51.2	134	52.8	125	49.2	129	50.8
30	135	53.1	139	54.7	130	51.2	134	52.8
32	140	55.1	144	56.7	135	53.1	139	54.7