Buying guides by country · 8 October 2026 · 3 min read

Australian sizes vs UK sizes: is an AU 12 a UK 12?

Yes, an Australian 12 is broadly a UK 12, and New Zealand labels follow the same scale, about two numbers above US sizes. Reference measurements and how to choose.

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The short answer

Yes, an Australian size 12 is broadly a UK 12. Australian and New Zealand women’s sizes use the same numbers as the UK scale, 8, 10, 12, 14 and so on, and both sit about two numbers above American sizes, so an AU 12 is roughly a US 8. Individual brands still vary, so treat the match as a starting point; for anything made to measure, your own measurements decide.

That makes our form easy for customers in Australia and New Zealand. Where it offers standard sizes, they are UK sizes, so your usual AU or NZ number carries straight across as the place to start.

Reference measurements for each size

These are the body measurements behind each UK size on our size guide, with inches rounded to the nearest half. If you searched for an Australian size 14 in inches, the answer is about a 38 inch bust, 31 inch waist and 41 inch hips.

AU 8: bust 81 cm (32 in), waist 64 cm (25 in), hips 89 cm (35 in).
AU 10: bust 86 cm (34 in), waist 69 cm (27 in), hips 94 cm (37 in).
AU 12: bust 91 cm (36 in), waist 74 cm (29 in), hips 99 cm (39 in).
AU 14: bust 96 cm (38 in), waist 79 cm (31 in), hips 104 cm (41 in).
AU 16: bust 101 cm (40 in), waist 84 cm (33 in), hips 109 cm (43 in).
AU 18: bust 106 cm (41.5 in), waist 89 cm (35 in), hips 114 cm (45 in).
AU 20: bust 111 cm (43.5 in), waist 94 cm (37 in), hips 119 cm (47 in).

Where the match slips

The scales line up, but labels are set brand by brand, and a few things move them about. Some Australian brands cut a little more generously than British high-street shops, and some a little slimmer; a stretch fabric forgives a size that a woven lawn kameez will not; and relaxed shapes are often sized more loosely than fitted ones. If a swing tag lists several countries’ sizes, the AU and UK numbers are usually printed side by side, which is a handy check.

European numbers are a different scale entirely. An AU 12 is roughly a European 40, not a 12 of anything, and our article on UK, EU and US sizes for a kameez compares the three.

New Zealand labels

New Zealand uses the same numbers as Australia, and many labels simply say AU/NZ. Everything above applies, and the New Zealand page covers currency and delivery there, alongside our guide to Pakistani clothes in New Zealand.

Choosing on our form

Pick the size whose bust, waist and hips sit closest to yours. If they fall in different sizes, which is very common, choose by the part your design has to fit most closely, or better, give us your measurements and skip the size altogether, since that is what made to measure is for. Southern Hemisphere seasons matter for fabric too; our guide to Eid outfits in Australia and New Zealand covers that.

The Australia page explains delivery and quote currency, Fabric + Stitching explains what we supply, and you can request a quote from Australia with your size or your measurements.

Common questions

What is an Australian size 12 in US sizes?

Roughly a US 8. American numbers usually run about two below Australian and UK numbers, though brands vary in both countries.

Is an Australian size 10 small?

It is towards the smaller end of the usual range, with a reference bust of about 86 cm on our chart. Whether it is your size depends on your measurements, not on the label.

Should I measure in centimetres in Australia?

Centimetres are the natural choice there, and our form accepts them. Inches work just as well, as long as every measurement uses the same unit.

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