This site is not affiliated with Zara or Inditex. This guide explains how the brand's sizing works; for exact measurements, always check the size guide on the brand's own site for your region.
Zara is one of the most widely bought European brands in the US, UK, Canada and Australia, and one of the most asked-about when it comes to size. The question is nearly always the same: does Zara run small? The answer depends partly on the brand's European base sizing and partly on something a size chart cannot show — how much the cut varies from one dress to the next.
This guide gives the answer, explains how Zara's women's sizing works, and covers what to check on each individual dress. More in our Size Guides section.
Does Zara Run Small?
For most readers used to US or UK sizing, Zara feels smaller than expected, especially in fitted dresses, tailored trousers and structured jackets. The most common experience is taking one size up from a usual US or UK letter size in fitted pieces.
There are three reasons. The brand is sized to European conventions, which differ from American and British ones. Many of its styles are cut close to the body. And its ranges draw on many different cuts, so the same label can mean different measurements on different items.
Relaxed and oversized styles are the exception: these often fit true to size or even large, because the extra room is built into the design. That is why the answer to "does Zara run small" is really "it depends on the cut".
The converter's brand table shows how Zara compares with the other European brands it covers, and converts your measurements into a size.
How Zara Women's Sizing Works
Letter Sizes
Most Zara clothing uses letter sizes, XS to XXL. Each letter corresponds to a range of body measurements on the brand's own chart.
European Numeric Sizes
Many items also carry a European number. Zara generally pairs its letter sizes with European sizes as shown below. European sizes differ from US and UK numbers — a European 38 is not a US 8 or a UK 10 in every brand.
| Letter size | European size |
|---|---|
| XS | 34 |
| S | 36 |
| M | 38 |
| L | 40 |
| XL | 42 |
| XXL | 44 |
Why the Same Size Fits Differently Between Zara Dresses
Fast-fashion ranges draw on many cuts, factories and suppliers, so garment measurements vary by style far more than a single size chart suggests. Two Zara dresses labelled M can differ by several centimetres at the waist.
Stretch content changes the fit too: a jersey dress and a woven one in the same size will feel very different. And oversized and fitted cuts carry the same size label with completely different measurements, by design.
Choosing Your Size in a Zara Dress
- Measure your bust, waist and hips.
- Check them against the brand's size guide for your region.
- Decide which measurement matters most for this dress's cut.
- Check the product's own measurements if the listing gives them.
- If you are between sizes, choose by the measurement that is hardest to alter.
Enter all three measurements into the dress calculator; it tells you which one is deciding your size.
Read how to measure for a dress, which measurement decides your dress size and what to do between sizes. For how different dress shapes fit, see dress types and fit, and the body shape calculator if you want to know which cuts to try first. For another brand explained the same way, see the Levi's size chart explained.
Clothing Size Converter
Convert women's sizes between EU, US, UK, Italian and French.
Try this free calculator to find your exact match.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Zara run small?
What size is a Zara M?
Should I size up in Zara dresses?
Why does my Zara size change between items?
Is Zara sizing the same in every country?
For exact measurements, check the size guide on the official Zara website for your region. For how European sizes are defined, see EN 13402.
Brand and sizing data on this site is reviewed quarterly. If a figure here is wrong, email fashion@womensfashioneu.com and it will be checked and corrected.
