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