If you buy a UK 24 from one label and need a different size from another, the label alone cannot explain what happened. Published body-measurement charts can differ even before garment shape, fabric and personal preference enter the decision.
We compared three official UK charts on 3 November 2026. The figures below are useful for understanding the difference, not for declaring that one retailer always runs larger or smaller.
Three UK 24 charts, three sets of measurements
| Retailer and chart | Bust | Waist | Hips |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dorothy Perkins main range, UK 24 (Ad) | 129 | 111 | 137 |
| Yours Clothing, UK 24 | 125 | 110 | 134 |
| Next tops and dresses, UK 24 | 123 | 109 | 131 |
Across these three rows, the published bust measurement differs by 6cm and the hip measurement by 6cm. That is a meaningful difference when comparing a fitted dress or a non-adjustable waistband. It does not establish how any particular garment will feel on your body.
The scope of the chart matters too. Dorothy Perkins says its chart relates to its own-brand clothing and that other brands can vary. A label sold on a marketplace should be checked against that label’s guidance, rather than automatically inheriting the host website’s main chart.
Make a measurement note you can reuse
Measure your bust at its fullest part, your natural waist and the fullest part of your hips. Keep the tape level and record the unit alongside each number. Use a consistent measuring method when comparing charts; do not silently switch between inches and centimetres.
For a particular garment, add the dimensions that determine where it sits: inside leg for trousers, shoulder-to-hem length for a dress, or sleeve and upper-arm information for a close-fitting jacket. Where the retailer does not publish a needed dimension, ask for it.
Clothing you already enjoy wearing can be a useful reference. Compare its flat measurements with finished-garment measurements supplied by a seller, using the same measuring points. Do not compare a flat garment width directly with a full body circumference: they describe different things, and the garment’s intended room still matters.
What if bust, waist and hips point to different sizes?
Start with the part of the design that is least adjustable. A fitted bust with a loose skirt calls for a different judgement from wide trousers with an elasticated waist. Look for a product-specific fit note, fastening details and the material composition before making the choice.
Yours advises shoppers between sizes to consider the size matching their larger measurement, alongside product information and reviews. That is the brand’s guidance, not a universal instruction for every retailer. If the chart and the garment description appear to conflict, send the seller your measurements and ask which dimensions the garment is designed to accommodate.
For example, someone with bust, waist and hip measurements of 125cm, 110cm and 134cm matches the published Yours UK 24 row. Those same numbers do not exactly match either of the other two UK 24 rows. That comparison is a prompt to investigate the chosen item; it is not an automatic prescription to select a different size.
Keep body charts, garment measurements and size conversions separate
A body chart describes the intended wearer. A finished-garment measurement describes the clothing itself. An international conversion changes the label system. None of those alone tells you the complete fit.
A dual label needs attention as well. A size such as 22–24 is not automatically identical to a single 24 in another range. Read the dual-size row and the product notes. Likewise, an M or XL should not be translated into a UK number without that brand’s chart.
Use a size filter to narrow the search, then verify the option
Browse the finder filtered to UK 24. Before ordering, select the size and colour on the retailer’s page and confirm that the option is available. A catalogue size or a button in a listing does not guarantee current stock.
Keep a small note of the brand, range, size and garment type that worked for you. Over time that is more useful than trying to make every item conform to a single number.
Research and editorial responsibility: Plus Size Me. Charts checked 3 November 2026. These figures reproduce published sizing information, not our own fit tests. Source links are factual references and do not imply an affiliate partnership with every retailer named. We may earn a commission from retailer links in the finder.