Plus Size Clothing Guide: US, UK & EU Size Charts

Updated: May 27, 2026

What Is Plus Size?

In US women’s fashion, plus sizes typically start at US size 14W, 16, or 1X depending on the brand. The defining characteristic is that plus-size garments are cut with more room in the hips, thighs, and bust relative to the waist — the proportions are different from straight sizes, not just larger.

Straight sizes: 0–14 (may extend to 18 in some brands)
Plus sizes: 14W/16–24/26 and beyond (also labeled 1X–5X)

Women’s Plus Size Chart

US Plus	US Letter	UK	EU	Bust (in)	Waist (in)	Hips (in)
14W / 16	L	18	46	37.5–38.5	30–31	40.5–41.5
18 / 1X	XL	22	50	40–41	32–34	43–45
20 / 2X	XXL	24	52	42–43	35–36	45–46
22 / 2X–3X	3XL	26	54	44–45	37–38	47–48
24 / 3X	3XL	28	56	46–47	39–41	49–50
26 / 4X	4XL	30	58	48–50	42–44	51–53
28 / 5X	5XL	32	60	51–53	45–47	54–56

Bold = most common plus size sold online.

1X vs 2X vs 3X: What’s the Difference?

Letter-based plus sizing (1X/2X/3X) and numeric plus sizing (16/18/20) overlap but are not exactly the same:

Plus Letter	Approximate US Numeric	Approximate Measurements
1X	14W–16	Bust 38–40”, Waist 30–33”
2X	18–20	Bust 42–44”, Waist 34–37”
3X	22–24	Bust 44–47”, Waist 37–42”
4X	24–26	Bust 48–50”, Waist 43–46”
5X	28+	Bust 51–53”+, Waist 46”+

Brands vary significantly in how they map X-sizes to numeric sizes. Always check the specific brand’s measurement chart.

Why “W” Sizes Exist

A “W” designation (14W, 16W, 18W) signals that the garment was cut with plus-size proportions. A size 16 (without W) from a brand that runs straight sizes may have the same numerical size as 16W but different proportions — less room in the hips and thighs.

When shopping plus sizes:

14W ≠ 14 — the W means different cut proportions
Look for “plus fit” or “plus-size cut” if a brand offers both regular and plus

Men’s Big and Tall

Men’s plus sizing uses “Big” (extra width) and “Tall” (extra length):

Size	Chest (in)	Waist (in)
XLT / 1X	46–49	40–43
2XL / 2X	50–53	44–47
3XL / 3X	54–57	48–51
4XL / 4X	58–61	52–55
5XL / 5X	62–65	56–59
6XL / 6X	66–69	60–63

Tall sizing adds 2–4 inches of extra length in the torso, sleeves, and inseam vs regular sizing. Standard “tall” is for men over 6’2” (188 cm). For full men’s shirt, trouser, and suit sizing charts, see the Men’s Clothing Size Guide.

Plus Size: UK and EU

UK plus sizing follows the same +4 rule as regular UK sizing:

US 18 = UK 22 = EU 50
US 22 = UK 26 = EU 54
US 26 = UK 30 = EU 58

EU plus sizes use chest circumference in centimeters, same formula as standard EU sizing. For the full international comparison, see US vs UK vs EU Clothing Sizes.

Vanity Sizing in Plus Sizes

Vanity sizing (making sizes run large to flatter shoppers) is even more common in plus sizing than in straight sizes. A size 1X from one major retailer may measure the same as 2X from another.

How to avoid sizing surprises:

Always look at the actual inch measurements on the brand’s chart
Compare those measurements to your own body measurements
Read customer reviews specifically mentioning “sizing” or “runs large/small”

Brand-level inconsistency is the same problem affecting all clothing sizes — documented in detail in Why Clothing Sizes Vary by Brand.

Use the Clothing Size Calculator — the size results cover sizes up to 3XL+. For larger sizes, compare your measurements directly to the brand’s chart.