Italian to US Clothing Size Conversion

There is no single official Italian to US clothing size conversion, and brand charts can disagree by a full US size. An Italian women's size 42 is a US 6 on one brand's chart and a US 8 on another's, so use the brand's own chart and your body measurements, not a general rule.

This guide shows two published charts side by side, then gives a method for choosing safely. Stores can remove the guesswork with AI size recommendation for fashion stores, which matches a shopper's measurements to the store's own sizes.

What are Italian clothing sizes?

Italian women's sizes are usually even numbers in a range such as 38, 40, 42 and 44. The number is a label, not a measurement in centimeters or inches.

Because the label is not a standard measurement, each brand decides what a 42 means. That is why conversions vary. The same is true of US sizes, which differ between brands too.

What does Italian size 42 equal in the US?

It depends on whose chart you use. Here are two published examples. Both are brand charts, not an official standard.

Italian size	Peserico US chart	Sisley chart
38	US 2	US 4
40	US 4	US 6
42	US 6	US 8
44	US 8	US 10

Sources: Peserico's US size chart and Sisley's size guide, both found November 2026. Sisley's page is a UK store, so confirm the US column before you rely on it.

Some third-party conversion sites use a mapping that runs higher still, so the same Italian label can appear under several US sizes depending on the source. A lone conversion table can mislead you.

Other regions have the same problem. See the guides to Asian to US size conversion and Australian to US size conversion.

Which chart should you trust?

Trust the chart from the brand you are buying. A brand's own guide is tied to its patterns, while a generic table averages many brands.

Use this order:

1. The brand's size guide, if it lists body measurements.
2. Your own measurements, compared with that guide.
3. A general conversion, only as a last resort.

If the brand shows only labels, not measurements, look for reviews that mention whether items run small or large.

What about Italian suit and menswear sizes?

Do not apply the women's table above to suits or jackets. There is no verified official conversion to quote here, so check the brand's own chart for chest, waist and length.

For menswear, chest and waist matter most. The guide to size recommendation for menswear stores explains how stores can match these to their own sizes.

How do you choose your size with measurements?

Measure yourself and compare with the brand's chart.

1. Measure your bust or chest at the fullest point, with the tape level.
2. Measure your waist at the narrowest point.
3. Measure your hips at the fullest point.
4. Compare each number with the brand's ranges.
5. If you fall between sizes, choose the larger one for a fitted item, or read the fit notes.

Wear light clothing when you measure and keep the tape snug, not tight.

What should you do before you order from an Italian brand?

Run through this checklist to avoid a wrong-size parcel:

• Open the brand's own size guide, not a general table.
• Check whether the chart lists body measurements or garment measurements.
• Read the fit notes and reviews for comments like "runs small" or "relaxed fit".
• Compare with a garment you already own that fits well.
• Check the return policy and who pays for return shipping.
• If you are between sizes, ask the brand's customer service which they recommend.

Spending five minutes on this list costs less than a return, and it works for every country's sizing, not just Italy's.

Is a conversion chart or a size recommendation better?

Charts are static and general. A size recommendation uses the shopper's own measurements and the store's own labels. The comparison in virtual try-on vs size charts goes deeper.

ZeDaq.ai does this with a 30-second body scan from one photo plus height. It matches the result to the store's own size chart, and falls back to a generic UK, US, EU and AU chart if the store has not added one.

If you run a store that sells Italian-made or Italian-sized items, add your own chart so shoppers do not need to convert at all. Write the body measurements for each label, and say whether the chart comes from the maker.

FAQs

Is Italian size 40 a US 4 or a US 6?

Peserico's chart gives US 4 and Sisley's gives US 6. Check the brand you are buying.

Do Italian sizes run small?

It varies by brand, and no standard says they do. Compare measurements, not labels.

Can I use the same table for shoes?

No. Shoe sizing uses a different system. Use the shoe brand's own guide.

What if I am between two sizes?

Pick the larger size for a close fit, or check whether the brand lists stretch or ease in the fit notes.