Buying guides by country · 8 October 2026 · 4 min read

South African dress sizes 30 to 44 in UK sizes

A South African size 34 is usually a UK 10. A lookup for SA dress sizes 30 to 44 in UK sizes, with reference bust, waist and hips, and where brands drift.

Inspiration

The short answer

A South African size 34 is usually a UK 10. The usual pairing is simple: take 24 off the South African number to get the UK size, so a 36 is a UK 12, a 38 a UK 14 and a 40 a UK 16. Treat it as a starting point only, because individual brands cut differently, and for anything made to measure your own measurements decide the size, not the label.

South Africa has its own scale for women’s clothing, running in even numbers from about 30 to 44 and beyond. Some shops print a UK-style number or S, M and L instead, and if a garment you own shows two numbers on the label, trust that pairing over any general table.

The lookup, with our reference measurements

The figures below are the reference body measurements on our size guide for each UK size, with inches rounded to the nearest half. They describe a body, not a garment, so a kameez made to them still has ease added.

SA 30 = UK 6: bust 76 cm (30 in), waist 60 cm (23.5 in), hips 84 cm (33 in).
SA 32 = UK 8: bust 81 cm (32 in), waist 64 cm (25 in), hips 89 cm (35 in).
SA 34 = UK 10: bust 86 cm (34 in), waist 69 cm (27 in), hips 94 cm (37 in).
SA 36 = UK 12: bust 91 cm (36 in), waist 74 cm (29 in), hips 99 cm (39 in).
SA 38 = UK 14: bust 96 cm (38 in), waist 79 cm (31 in), hips 104 cm (41 in).
SA 40 = UK 16: bust 101 cm (40 in), waist 84 cm (33 in), hips 109 cm (43 in).
SA 42 = UK 18: bust 106 cm (41.5 in), waist 89 cm (35 in), hips 114 cm (45 in).
SA 44 = UK 20: bust 111 cm (43.5 in), waist 94 cm (37 in), hips 119 cm (47 in).

Is a size 36 the same as 36 inches?

For the middle of the range the South African number lands close to the bust in inches, which is a handy memory aid: an SA 36 matches a reference bust of about 36 inches. It drifts at both ends, though, and the waist and hips have nothing to do with the number, so do not read the size as a measurement. Measure instead, in either unit.

Where local brands drift

A size label is a promise about one brand’s pattern, not a national standard you can hold it to. Several things move the numbers around.

Different ranges in one shop: a fitted workwear line and a relaxed weekend line can both say 36 and fit quite differently.
Stretch: a knit or stretch-cotton 36 forgives a bigger body than a woven 36, and most kameez fabrics, such as lawn and cambric, do not stretch at all.
European numbers: a European 36 is usually a UK 8 or 10, not a UK 12, so an EU 36 and an SA 36 are different sizes. Our article on UK, EU and US sizes for a kameez compares them.
Bust and hips in different sizes: very common, and the reason a single number so often disappoints.

Choosing on our form

Where our form offers standard sizes, they are UK sizes. Pick the one whose reference bust, waist and hips sit closest to yours, choosing by bust for a fitted top half and by hips if your kameez or trousers are close at the seat. Better still, skip the size and give your own measurements, which is what made to measure is for: we cut to your numbers, so a 36 bust with 41 inch hips is no problem at all.

Our South Africa page covers currency and delivery, and Fabric + Stitching in South Africa explains what we supply. When you are ready, request a quote with your measurements.

Common questions

Is a South African 34 the same as a European 34?

No. A South African 34 usually matches a UK 10, while a European 34 is closer to a UK 6 or 8. The numbers look alike but come from different scales.

My bust is one size and my hips another. Which do I pick?

If you must choose a standard size, choose by the part that has to fit closest in your design. If you send your own measurements instead, we cut to each of them, so you do not have to choose.

Do I measure in inches or centimetres?

Either works on our form. Pick one unit and use it for every measurement, and write a half as .5 rather than rounding up.

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