Jeans waist to EU sizes
28 W = 38 EU. Type your own value in W below.
That is a waist of about 71.12 cm (28 in). Labels run from W27 to W29 between brands.
Convert the other way: EU to W
What it means
Where does that waist sit?
The math
How to convert W to EU
Women: EU = 2 × W − 18, US = EU − 32, UK = EU − 28, Italian = EU + 4. Men: EU = W + 16, French = W + 8, US and UK = W.
Example: 28 W = 38 EU.
The table below uses Women’s sizes. Switch above and the EU, French, US and UK columns shift.
In practice
When you’d convert jeans waist to EU sizes
Your label says W27, W29 or W32 and the shop sells in European sizes. Women: double the W and subtract 18, so W27 is EU 36 and W29 is EU 40. Men: add 16, so W32 is EU 48 and W34 is EU 50.
Common mistake: Adding 16 to a woman’s waist or doubling a man’s. Women count two EU sizes per inch, men one: W30 is EU 42 for her and EU 46 for him.
Quick check: for women W26 is EU 34, W28 is EU 38, W30 is EU 42 and W32 is EU 46. For men W30 is EU 46, W32 is EU 48, W34 is EU 50 and W36 is EU 52. The same EU 46 is a women’s W32 and a men’s W30, which is why the switch above matters.
Every unit
That size in every system
Tables
W to EU conversion table
| W | EU |
|---|---|
| 21 W | 24 EU |
| 22 W | 26 EU |
| 23 W | 28 EU |
| 24 W | 30 EU |
| 25 W | 32 EU |
| 26 W | 34 EU |
| 27 W | 36 EU |
| 28 W | 38 EU |
| 29 W | 40 EU |
| 31 W | 44 EU |
EU to W conversion table
| EU | W |
|---|---|
| 24 EU | 21 W |
| 26 EU | 22 W |
| 28 EU | 23 W |
| 30 EU | 24 W |
| 32 EU | 25 W |
| 34 EU | 26 W |
| 36 EU | 27 W |
| 38 EU | 28 W |
| 40 EU | 29 W |
| 44 EU | 31 W |
Quick answers
Quick answers
- How many EU is 1 W?
- 1 W is -16 EU.
- How many EU is 10 W?
- 10 W is 2 EU.
- How many EU is 28 W?
- 28 W is 38 EU.
The units
About these units
Jeans waist (W)
The waist in inches printed after the W on a Levi’s, Wrangler or Lee label.
EU sizes (EU)
Continental European size: two numbers per inch of waist for women, the waist plus 16 for men.
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What people use next
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