Size 38 in UK: Clothing, Shoes & Full Conversion Charts

Shopping across EU and UK retailers without a conversion chart is a quick way to end up with the wrong fit. EU size 38 is one of the most commonly searched European sizes, yet the conversion isn’t always straightforward across clothing, shoes, and jeans categories. Here’s a decoder built from official retailer charts to help you find your actual UK size.

EU 38 = UK Clothing Size: 10 · Women’s Size 38 Fit: Chest 88-92cm · EU 38 Shoes: UK 5 · Ireland Size 38: Matches UK 10 · US Equivalent EU 38 Clothing: 6

What is a 38 in UK clothing?

European size 38 converts to UK size 10 in women’s clothing, according to Foot Locker’s official conversion chart. This is confirmed across multiple retailers including ASOS, Laughing Hens, and TK Maxx. The key takeaway: EU 38 and UK 10 are equivalent sizes, though the two systems use different numbering scales.

Women’s clothing size 38 equivalents

Across six verified sources, EU 38 women’s clothing consistently maps to UK 10. The ASOS conversion chart lists EU 38 as UK 10, US 6. Laughing Hens confirms the same for US shoppers buying EU-labeled garments. One outlier, IfSoho New York, lists EU 38 clothing as UK 12 — likely reflecting a brand-specific fit rather than a standard conversion.

Measurements for size 38

Size 38 in women’s clothing corresponds to a waist of 69–72cm and a bust of 88–92cm, according to Dig For Victory. In imperial measurements, that translates to approximately a 27–28 inch waist and 35–36 inch bust. These measurements help explain why size 38 sits squarely in the mid-range for women’s sizing across European brands.

The implication: if you’re between sizes or fall outside these measurement ranges, consider sizing up or down accordingly. Retailers like ASOS and TK Maxx publish detailed measurement guides that supersede numerical labels when fit feels off.

Is a size 38 a UK 8?

No — EU size 38 typically corresponds to UK size 10 in clothing, not UK size 8. The confusion often arises because US women’s sizing runs differently: EU 38 equals US 6 in clothing, which is numerically smaller than the UK equivalent. So while EU 38 → UK 10, it → US 6 in women’s apparel.

Clothing size comparisons

The relationship between sizing systems is consistent once you account for the offset. Foot Locker clarifies that UK and European sizes “are not the same — they use different numbering systems.” This isn’t a simple subtraction problem; the scales diverged historically and developed independently.

Size 38 vs UK 8, 10, 12

For women’s clothing, the mapping is straightforward: EU 38 = UK 10. To find your UK 8 equivalent in EU sizing, you would typically look for EU 36. UK 12 maps to EU 40, and so on. If you’re currently a UK 8 in tops or dresses, your EU equivalent is likely EU 36, not EU 38.

What this means: don’t assume a direct numerical relationship between EU and UK sizes. The 2-size difference between UK 8 and UK 10 translates to EU 36 versus EU 38, but only if you’re confirming against the same garment type and retailer chart.

What size is 38 in UK shoes?

EU women’s shoe size 38 equals UK size 5, according to IfSoho New York’s size guide. This is the standard conversion used by most UK and European footwear retailers. However, the picture gets more complex when converting to US sizes.

EU 38 shoe conversions

For women’s shoes, EU 38 converts to US size 8 according to IfSoho New York, which aligns with several major footwear brands. However, Sell The Trend reports that some EU brands list EU 38 as US 7.5 while others list it as US 8 — a brand variance that creates a 0.5 size discrepancy depending on the manufacturer.

Women’s footwear charts

The EU 38 shoe size corresponds to a foot length of 247mm, as documented by English Brands. This measurement helps explain why some brands round up to US 8 and others round down to US 7.5 — the actual foot length falls between the two size notches on their respective charts.

The pattern: if you’re buying EU-labeled shoes online, UK 5 is your safest bet for a consistent fit. But when converting to US sizing for online searches, expect either US 7.5 or US 8 depending on the brand — and check the retailer’s specific chart before purchasing.

Because EU shoe sizes can vary by brand, it’s best to treat the number as an approximate match and check a full shoe size conversion chart when selling across UK, US, and EU regions.

— Sell The Trend (E-commerce size conversion guide)

What size is a 38 woman?

For women, size 38 generally refers to EU sizing, which translates to UK 10 in clothing and UK 5 in shoes. The body measurements associated with this size give a clearer picture of what “38” actually means in practice.

Ladies size 38 charts

According to Dig For Victory, EU 38 women’s clothing fits a waist of 69–72cm and a bust of 88–92cm. In imperial terms, that’s approximately 27–28 inches at the waist and 35–36 inches at the bust. These measurements place size 38 squarely in the standard mid-range for women’s ready-to-wear.

Jeans and specific fits

For jeans specifically, English Brands confirms that EU 38 in women’s jeans corresponds to UK size 10, with a waist of 68cm and hip measurement of 93.5cm. This is consistent with standard women’s jeans sizing across UK retailers.

The implication: if you’re shopping UK jeans labeled by waist inches rather than numerical sizes, you’ll be looking for a 28-inch waist (68cm) to match your EU 38 fit. ASOS, Next, and Marks & Spencer all publish women’s jeans charts that cross-reference EU sizes with waist measurements.

What is size 38 in Ireland?

Ireland uses UK sizing standards, meaning EU size 38 converts to the same UK 10 equivalent in Irish retail. There is no separate Irish sizing system for women’s clothing — the conversion is identical to the UK standard.

Ireland vs UK sizes

Irish clothing retailers, both physical stores and online shops, follow the same sizing standards as UK retailers. This makes sense given the historical proximity of the two markets. Whether you’re shopping in Dublin or London, EU size 38 should yield UK 10 in women’s clothing and UK 5 in women’s shoes.

EU conversions

The same EU-to-UK conversion logic applies in Ireland: EU 38 clothing = UK 10, EU 38 shoes = UK 5, and EU 38 jeans = UK 10. Irish consumers shopping on UK or EU websites will find the conversions consistent across major retailers.

What this means: Irish sizing is effectively UK sizing, so apply the same conversion charts you’d use for UK shopping. The main difference is that some EU-labeled items may reach Irish stores with original sizing intact, requiring the same conversion process.

UK and European sizes are not the same. They use different numbering systems.

— Foot Locker (International footwear and apparel retailer)

When selling across the UK, US, and EU markets, always check brand charts for the most accurate shoe size conversion, especially when listings show multiple shoe sizes.

— Sell The Trend (E-commerce size conversion guide)

Related reading: Size 40 in UK Shoes Conversion Chart

Size 38 aligns with UK women’s clothing 10 and shoes 5, much like the detailed EU 38 UK shoe equivalents from major retailers.

Frequently asked questions

Size 40 in UK Shoes Conversion Chart