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A UK men's jacket size is the chest measurement in inches: a size 40 jacket fits a 40 inch chest and a size 44 fits a 44 inch chest. Measure round the fullest part of your chest, under the arms, with the tape level, and choose the size that matches. Women's jackets follow dress sizes instead.
This guide explains what the numbers mean, how to take the measurements a jacket depends on, how UK sizes convert to EU and US sizes, and how sizing works when you order jackets for a team, a workforce or a brand, where every wearer can have a different size inside one order.
What does a UK jacket size mean?
For men's tailoring and most men's outerwear, the size number is the chest measurement of the person the jacket is cut for, in inches. It is not the measurement of the jacket itself, which is always larger to give room to move. A jacket labelled 42 is made for a 42 inch chest. Sizes usually run in steps of two inches, and many makers also give a length (short, regular, long) for the body and sleeves.
| UK size | Chest (inches) | Chest (cm, approx.) | EU size (usual convention) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36 | 36 | 91 | 46 |
| 38 | 38 | 97 | 48 |
| 40 | 40 | 102 | 50 |
| 42 | 42 | 107 | 52 |
| 44 | 44 | 112 | 54 |
| 46 | 46 | 117 | 56 |
| 48 | 48 | 122 | 58 |
| 50 | 50 | 127 | 60 |
The centimetre column is simple conversion (one inch is 2.54 cm). The EU column follows the common convention of adding ten to the UK number, which most European makers use, though a few cut differently, so check the maker's own chart where there is one.
What size is a 40, 44 or 48 jacket in the UK?
A size 40 jacket in the UK is made for a 40 inch (about 102 cm) chest, a size 44 for a 44 inch (about 112 cm) chest, a size 46 for 46 inches and a size 48 for 48 inches. On many charts a 40 sits around a medium to large and a 44 around an extra large, but letter sizes are not standardised and vary from maker to maker, so the chest figure is the reliable one.
How do you measure for a jacket?
Wear a thin top, stand relaxed and ask someone else to hold the tape if you can. These are the measurements that decide whether a jacket fits:
- 1Chest: round the fullest part of the chest, under the armpits and across the shoulder blades, with the tape level and snug but not tight. This gives your size.
- 2Shoulders: across the back from the tip of one shoulder bone to the other. This is where a jacket that fits sits its shoulder seams.
- 3Sleeve: from the shoulder seam point down the outside of a slightly bent arm to the wrist bone.
- 4Back length: from the base of the collar down the spine to where you want the hem to sit.
- 5Waist: round the natural waist, for fitted styles and for women's sizing.
No tape to hand? Lay a jacket that fits you well flat, zipped, and measure straight across from one armpit seam to the other. Double that figure for the jacket's chest, then allow a few inches less for your body chest, which is roughly what the maker allowed for movement.
How do women's jacket sizes work in the UK?
Women's jackets in the UK are usually sized like dresses, in even numbers from about 6 or 8 upwards, with the bust, waist and hip all playing a part. Because the cut differs so much between styles, take all three measurements and compare them with the chart for that exact jacket. In the US, women's sizes usually run four below the UK number (a UK 12 is a US 8), and EU sizes usually run 28 above it (a UK 12 is an EU 40).
How do UK jacket sizes convert to US and EU sizes?
- Men's US sizes use the same chest figure in inches, so a UK 42 is a US 42.
- Men's EU sizes usually add ten: a UK 42 is an EU 52.
- Women's US sizes usually subtract four: a UK 14 is a US 10.
- Women's EU sizes usually add 28: a UK 14 is an EU 42.
These are conventions rather than rules. When the jacket comes with its own size chart in centimetres or inches, trust the chart over the conversion.
Should you size up in a jacket?
It depends on the jacket. Outerwear such as a softshell, fleece or puffer is worn over other layers, so many people choose their usual size and check it has room over a hoodie, and some lean one size up. Leather is different: a leather jacket should be snug through the shoulders from the start, because the leather relaxes with wear. Our leather jacket buying guide covers how a leather jacket should fit.
How does sizing work on a custom jacket order?
When you order jackets for a team, a workforce or a brand, each wearer can have their own size inside one order. Sizes are mixed freely inside the minimum, which is 50 jackets per design for the textile constructions on our custom jackets page and, for custom leather jackets, 20 per design as standard and 10 per design for a limited time. Each colourway counts as its own design.
The size range and measurements for the exact garment are confirmed in your quote, so collect chest measurements from your wearers before you place the order rather than guessing from letter sizes. For a group you cannot measure, our guide to size splits for a bulk jackets order explains how to spread a run across sizes so it clears, and size charts and fit for clothing brands covers publishing a chart of your own.
Send the style, the quantity and the size split with your logo, and the quote comes back within 1 hour on a working day. Production takes 10 to 15 working days after you approve the proof.
