Buying guides by country · 4 October 2026 · 4 min read
UK sizes vs Pakistani sizes: inches, cm and your numbers
Why a UK size 12 does not translate into a Pakistani S, M or L, how to read a brand chart in inches, and how to give measurements in inches or cm safely.
InspirationThe short answer
There is no reliable conversion from a UK dress size to a Pakistani size. A UK 12 describes a high-street block, Pakistani brands label their own S, M and L charts, and the two are drawn on different shapes, often with different amounts of ease. That is why a made-to-measure order asks for your body measurements instead. You can give them in inches or centimetres, as long as you keep to one unit.
British shoppers have an extra puzzle: we already juggle several systems at once. Here is how to cut through it.
A country of mixed units
Ask someone in the UK their height and you will usually hear feet and inches. Their weight might be in stone, their dress size is a UK number, and the tape measure in the kitchen drawer shows centimetres on one side and inches on the other. Pakistani brand charts are commonly given in inches, while many UK sewing patterns use centimetres.
None of this is a problem if you are consistent. Pick the side of the tape you find easiest to read and use it for every measurement. Our guide to measuring in inches or centimetres covers reading the tape itself.
Why your UK size is a poor guide
A UK size tells you roughly where you fall on one shop’s scale, and shops do not all use the same scale. It also says nothing about your height, arm length, shoulder width or how you carry your weight, which are exactly the things that make a kameez sit well. Our article on UK, EU and US dress sizes explains the differences between countries in more detail.
Pakistani sizes vary just as much between brands. A brand’s M may be generous across the bust and narrow at the hip, and its sleeve length may suit someone several inches shorter than you.
Reading a Pakistani size chart from the UK
If you are comparing a ready-made suit with your own numbers, check three things first.
- Body or garment? Many charts list the finished garment, which includes ease, not the body it is meant for. The guide to body vs garment measurements explains the difference.
- Half or full? Some charts give the chest across the front only. Double it before you compare it with your full bust.
- Unit: most charts are in inches; if your numbers are in centimetres, divide by 2.54 to compare, but send your original numbers when you order.
Giving your measurements in either unit
The quote form accepts centimetres or inches. Choose one and keep to it for every line, including your height, even though you might normally say it in feet. If you write 5 foot 4, convert it to 64 inches or note it clearly; mixing feet with centimetres is a common source of confusion.
Round sensibly. Half an inch or half a centimetre is plenty of precision; anything finer is more than a tape held by hand can deliver. Trouser measurements have their own page in the trouser size guide, and the full size guide shows where each one is taken.
When a size is still useful
Some of our designs are offered in S to XL as well as made to measure. If your measurements sit comfortably within one size, that may suit you; if you are between sizes, tall, petite or simply particular about fit, made to measure removes the guesswork. Either way, the measurements an outfit is made to are written into your quote for you to check.
If you are sending a brand pack to be stitched, the same applies: ignore the size on the label and give us your numbers. The UK Stitching Only page explains the rest, the UK page covers delivery, and you can request a UK quote whenever you are ready.
Common questions
What Pakistani size is a UK size 12?
There is no fixed equivalent. Pakistani brands each use their own S, M and L charts, often in inches and sometimes as garment rather than body measurements. Compare your own measurements with the brand’s chart, or order made to measure.
Should I measure in inches or centimetres?
Either is fine. Use whichever side of the tape you find easier to read and keep to it for every measurement, including your height.
How do I convert centimetres to inches?
Divide centimetres by 2.54 to get inches, or multiply inches by 2.54 to get centimetres. When you order, it is safer to send the numbers in the unit you measured in.
Can I send a kameez that fits instead of measuring myself?
Yes. Choose the option to send a garment that fits, and we take the measurements from it. Add notes about anything you would like changed, such as a longer sleeve or more room at the hip, and we confirm how to send it before you post anything.
