Women's Jeans Size Chart: US, UK, EU Sizes in Inches and cm

Women's jeans size chart (W23 to W36)

This is the main chart. The waist and hip figures are the body measurements Levi's cuts each size for. The UK, EU and Australian columns compare that waist with the UK size guide from Marks & Spencer, so they tell you which UK size a body of that waist usually wears. Where a waist falls between two UK sizes, you'll see both.

Sizes 35 and 36 aren't in Levi's numbered chart; Levi's lists them only as an XXL range with a waist of 96.5 to 101.6 cm, so treat those rows as approximate. If you need larger sizes, check the brand's plus or curve range, which is often labelled 14W, 16W and up rather than with a waist number.

How to read W28, W30 and W32

The W stands for waist. On women's jeans it usually appears as a plain number (28) or with the W (W28), and sometimes with a length too (W28 L30). Three things to know:

1. It's a label, not a measurement. A W28 isn't promised to measure 28 inches. Levi's cuts its 28 for a 29¼ in waist, and other brands have their own figures.
2. Each number is one waist step. Going from 28 to 29 adds roughly an inch at the waist, which is why one US numbered size (6 to 8) covers one W step.
3. The L is the leg. If there's a second number, it's the inseam in inches. More on that below.

W sizes in centimetres

Searches like "W27 in cm" usually mean one of two things: what's 27 inches in centimetres, or what waist does a W27 actually fit. Here are both:

The gap between those two columns is the most useful thing on this page. If you measure 28 inches and buy a W28, it will usually feel roomy at Levi's. If you measure 29 inches, the W28 is probably your size.

What size are 25, 26, 27, 28 and 29 in women's jeans?

These are the sizes people search for most. Each answer uses the same data as the chart and the converter.

What size is 25 in women's jeans?

A size 25 (W25) is a US 0 in women's jeans. Levi's cuts it for a body waist of about 26.25 inches (66 cm) and hips of about 35 inches. By waist measurement that's a UK 8, an EU 36 and an AU 8. If a 25 is loose, Levi's numbered chart goes down to 24 and 23, cut for waists of about 25¼ and 24¼ inches.

What size is 26 in women's jeans?

A size 26 (W26) is a US 2 in women's jeans. Levi's cuts it for a body waist of about 27.25 inches (69 cm) and hips of about 36 inches. By waist measurement that's a UK 10, an EU 38 and an AU 10. So when someone asks "is size 26 jeans a 4?", the usual answer is no: a 26 is a US 2, and a 27 is the US 4.

What size is 27 in women's jeans?

A size 27 (W27) is a US 4 in women's jeans. Levi's cuts it for a body waist of about 28.25 inches (72 cm) and hips of about 37 inches. By waist measurement that's a UK 10 to 12, an EU 38 to 40 and an AU 10 to 12. A 27 sits between two UK sizes by measurement, so if you're a UK 10 with a slim waist it may be right, and if you're a UK 12 it will probably be snug.

What size is 28 in women's jeans?

A size 28 (W28) is a US 6 in women's jeans. Levi's cuts it for a body waist of about 29.25 inches (74 cm) and hips of about 38 inches. By waist measurement that's a UK 12, an EU 40 and an AU 12. Many conversion charts list W28 as a UK 10, but by Levi's waist measurement it's nearer a UK 12. If you wear a UK 10 at Marks & Spencer (a 70 cm waist), try a 26 or 27 first.

What size is 29 in women's jeans?

A size 29 (W29) is a US 8 in women's jeans. Levi's cuts it for a body waist of about 30.25 inches (77 cm) and hips of about 39 inches. By waist measurement that's a UK 12 to 14, an EU 40 to 42 and an AU 12 to 14. If a 29 fits your waist but feels tight across the hips, try a curvy fit in the same size before going up to a 30.

What size are 30, 31, 32, 33, 34 and 36 in women's jeans?

What size is 30 in women's jeans?

A size 30 (W30) is a US 10 in women's jeans. Levi's cuts it for a body waist of about 31.25 inches (79 cm) and hips of about 40 inches. By waist measurement that's a UK 14, an EU 42 and an AU 14. This is the one UK shoppers ask about most ("W30 size UK"). The quick charts online often say UK 12; by measurement, a 30 is cut for a UK 14 waist.

What size is 31 in women's jeans?

A size 31 (W31) is a US 12 in women's jeans. Levi's cuts it for a body waist of about 32.75 inches (83 cm) and hips of about 41.5 inches. By waist measurement that's a UK 14 to 16, an EU 42 to 44 and an AU 14 to 16.

What size is 32 in women's jeans?

A size 32 (W32) is a US 14 in women's jeans. Levi's cuts it for a body waist of about 34.25 inches (87 cm) and hips of about 43 inches. By waist measurement that's a UK 16, an EU 44 and an AU 16. If you're searching for "W32 in EU size", many European brands also use W numbers, so a W32 is often just a W32. Where they use numbered sizes, look for EU 44.

What size is 33 in women's jeans?

A size 33 (W33) is a US 16 in women's jeans. Levi's cuts it for a body waist of about 35.75 inches (90 cm) and hips of about 44.5 inches. By waist measurement that's a UK 16 to 18, an EU 44 to 46 and an AU 16 to 18.

What size is 34 in women's jeans?

A size 34 (W34) is a US 18 in women's jeans. Levi's cuts it for a body waist of about 37.75 inches (96 cm) and hips of about 46.5 inches. By waist measurement that's a UK 18 to 20, an EU 46 to 48 and an AU 18 to 20.

What size is 36 in women's jeans?

A size 36 (W36) is beyond Levi's numbered chart. Levi's lists it in its XXL range, for a waist of about 96.5 to 101.6 cm (38 to 40 inches). By measurement that's around a UK 20 to 22, EU 48 to 50 and AU 20 to 22. At this size, a brand's plus range, often labelled 16W, 18W and so on, may fit better, because plus sizes are cut with more room through the hips and thighs.

Women's jeans sizes by US size

If you know your US numbered size and want to know the waist in inches (the "size 4 jeans in inches" question), this is the table. The figures are Levi's.

What is a size 4 in women's jeans in inches?

A US size 4 in women's jeans is usually a jeans size 27, cut for a body waist of about 28.25 inches (72 cm) and hips of about 37 inches. The label says 27, but the waist it fits is closer to 28.

What is a size 4 in European jeans?

On a standard conversion chart a US 4 is an EU 36 (and a UK 8). If the European brand labels jeans with W numbers instead, look for a W27. By measurement a Levi's US 4 is a little bigger than an EU 36, so if you're between sizes, compare your waist with the brand's chart.

Sizes 8, 10, 12, 14 and 16 in inches

A US 8 is usually a 29 (about 30.25 in waist), a US 10 a 30 (31.25 in), a US 12 a 31 (32.75 in), a US 14 a 32 (34.25 in) and a US 16 a 33 (35.75 in). The steps get bigger towards the top of the range, which is normal: brands grade larger sizes in bigger jumps.

Women's jeans size conversion: US, UK, EU and Australia

There are two ways to convert a jeans size, and they don't always agree. It helps to know which one you're looking at.

1. The standard label conversion

This is the conversion clothing retailers publish for numbered sizes. It's the one in Marks & Spencer's size guide: UK = US + 4, EU = UK + 28, and Australian sizes match the UK.

Use this table when you're converting one numbered size to another, such as US 8 to UK 12. Our guide to US to UK sizes for clothes covers the same rule for dresses, tops and other clothing.

2. Conversion by measurement

The standard table matches labels, not bodies. US denim brands tend to cut their numbered sizes more generously: a Levi's US 6 (size 28) is made for a 74 cm waist, while a UK 10, the "standard" equivalent of a US 6, is made for a 70 cm waist at M&S. That's why the main chart above puts a 28 at UK 12.

When the two methods disagree, trust the measurement. Measure your waist, then pick the size whose waist is closest on the brand's own chart. That's exactly what the converter above does when you choose "My waist".

UK jeans sizes

UK shops sell women's jeans in two ways: by UK dress size (8, 10, 12) with a leg length such as short, regular or long, or by W and L in inches. If a UK shop gives you both, the W and L figures are usually the more precise, but check the waist measurement on its chart.

EU jeans sizes

European brands use either W numbers (W28 is W28) or EU numbered sizes (36, 38, 40). For the numbered ones, EU is UK + 28: a UK 10 is an EU 38, and a UK 12 an EU 40. For more on European W labels, see our guide to what W30 L32 means.

Australian jeans sizes

Australian women's sizes follow UK numbers, so a UK 10 is an AU 10. By measurement, a jeans size 26 is about an AU 10 and a 28 about an AU 12. Our Australian size converter covers other clothing.

Length: what W28 L32 means

When a jeans label has two numbers, the second is the inseam, the length from the crotch seam to the hem, in inches. W28 L32 is a size 28 waist with a 32-inch inside leg. Many women's styles skip the L and sell lengths as short, regular and long instead:

These are typical, and the right inseam depends on the cut and the shoes you'll wear. To get your own number, see how to measure your inseam. If you're petite or tall, our guides to petite sizing and tall sizing explain the ranges.

How to measure for jeans

You need a soft tape measure and a few minutes. Measure over underwear or thin leggings.

1. Waist. For mid- and high-rise jeans, measure around your natural waist, the narrowest part of your torso, about an inch above your belly button. For low-rise styles, measure where the waistband will actually sit. Keep the tape level and snug without pulling. Our waist measuring guide explains the three waist measurements.
2. Hips. Stand with feet together and measure around the fullest part of your hips and seat. For skinny and straight cuts, the hip often decides the size more than the waist. See how to measure your hips.
3. Inseam. Measure from the crotch to where you want the hem, or measure the inside leg of jeans that fit you well.
4. Thigh (for slim cuts). Measure around the fullest part of one thigh. Here's how to measure your thigh for jeans.

Measure a pair you already own

This is often more reliable than measuring yourself. Lay your best-fitting jeans flat and buttoned. Measure straight across the top of the waistband from edge to edge and double it for the waist. Measure across the hips just below the fly and double that too. Compare those numbers with a brand's garment measurements, if it lists them.

Why the same size fits differently

Two pairs of size 28 jeans can fit very differently. These are the usual reasons:

• Rise. High-rise jeans sit at or near your natural waist, mid-rise a little below, and low-rise on the hips. Because your body is wider lower down, the same waist label can feel tighter in a low rise.
• Cut. Skinny and slim jeans are tight through the hip and thigh; straight, bootcut, wide-leg and relaxed cuts give more room. Our guide to skinny, straight, bootcut and flare explains each.
• Stretch. Jeans with elastane stretch and recover; 100% cotton (rigid) denim doesn't stretch much, though it often relaxes slightly as you wear it. With rigid denim, choose the size that fits your measurements now rather than one that's snug.
• Curve. If your hips are much larger than your waist in proportion, a straight-cut size that fits your hips may gape at the back waist. "Curvy" fits are cut with more room at the hip for the same waist. See what curvy means in denim and the best jeans for pear-shaped bodies.
• Brand. Every brand has its own fit model and grading. That's why the waist figures in this guide are tied to one brand, and why you should always check the chart of the brand you're buying. Labels have also drifted smaller over time, a habit known as vanity sizing.

Between two sizes?

• If you're between sizes in stretch denim, the smaller size often works, because the fabric gives.
• If you're between sizes in rigid denim, take the larger one. It won't stretch much, and a slightly big waist is easier to alter than a tight one.
• If the waist fits one size and the hips another, size for the hips and have the waist taken in, or look for a curvy fit.
• If you're between sizes in a low-rise style, size up, as it sits on the wider part of your hips.

Are women's jeans sizes standard?

No. In the US, ASTM publishes voluntary tables of body measurements for women's sizes (ASTM D5585 covers the "misses" range from 00 to 20), but brands aren't required to follow them, and jeans waist labels sit outside that numbering altogether. In the UK and Europe, size labelling standards exist too, and they're also voluntary. In practice every brand publishes its own chart, and that chart is the final word. The figures in this guide are a reliable starting point, tied to named sources, not a rule every brand follows.

Try the jeans size calculator

If you'd rather enter your waist, hips and inseam and get a size for a particular cut, use the jeans size calculator. For men's sizing, see the men's jeans size chart.

For shops selling women's jeans

Most denim returns come down to the questions on this page: which number to pick, how it converts, and how a cut fits. A product-page size chart that shows the body waist each size is cut for, in inches and centimetres, answers them before the order. Our free jeans size chart generator builds one, and Tailor Size Guide for Shopify adds per-product size charts and a free size recommender. There's more in our guide to reducing denim returns.

Frequently asked questions

Sources and standards

1. Levi's UK size chart, women's jeansBody waist and hip in cm for jeans sizes 24 to 34, and the XXL range for 35 to 36. Reviewed Oct 27, 2026.
2. Levi's women's size guide (Below the Belt, a Levi's stockist)US size, jeans size, waist and hip in inches for sizes 000 to 18. Matches Levi's own cm figures. Reviewed Oct 27, 2026.
3. Marks & Spencer womenswear size guideUK sizes 6 to 24 with waist measurements and US, EU and AU/NZ equivalents. Reviewed Oct 27, 2026.
4. ASTM D5585-21, body measurements for adult female misses, sizes 00 to 20The voluntary US standard behind women's numbered sizes.