What Is Size 42 in UK Clothes? Men’s & Women’s Guide

If you’ve ever ordered clothes online and found yourself staring at a size chart wondering whether a European 42 will actually fit, you’re not alone. Sizing systems vary more than most shoppers expect, and a size 42 means something completely different depending on whether you’re shopping women’s or men’s clothing. Below is a practical breakdown built from retailer size guides—ASOS, TK Maxx, and several reference charts—so you can shop with more confidence.

EU 42 (Women): UK 14 · Men’s L Chest: 40–42 ins (101–106 cm) · Source: Laughing Hens, ASOS, TK Maxx

These key facts emerge from comparing retailer data across multiple conversion charts.

What size is 42 in UK clothes?

Size 42 doesn’t have a single UK equivalent—it shifts depending on whether you’re shopping women’s or men’s clothing, and the item type matters too. For women’s garments, EU 42 consistently maps to UK 14 across multiple retailers. For men’s clothing, size 42 typically refers to chest measurements or jacket sizing rather than a numeric UK size.

General overview

UK women’s clothing uses numbers from 4 to 26+, while men’s sizing relies more on alpha labels (S, M, L, XL) combined with numeric measurements for tailored pieces. ASOS notes that some brands may vary from their size charts, so checking actual body measurements gives the most reliable fit (ASOS Women).

Key conversions

TK Maxx advises checking body measurements as sizes vary by brand—retailer sizing isn’t always interchangeable (TK Maxx UK size guide). The most reliable approach is to match your bust, waist, or chest measurement to the retailer’s specific chart rather than assuming a one-to-one conversion.

The implication is that relying on the numeric label alone leads to poor fit decisions—always verify the retailer’s chart before ordering.

What is size 42 in UK women’s clothes?

For women’s clothing, EU 42 corresponds to UK size 14, which translates to a US size 10. This conversion holds across multiple independent charts and retailer guides.

EU and US equivalents

Laughing Hens confirms women’s EU 42 equals UK 14 and US 10 (Laughing Hens conversion chart). ASOS similarly lists UK 14 as equivalent to EU 42 on their women’s size chart (ASOS Women). SellTheTrend adds that UK 14 women corresponds to US 10 with a 38-inch bust (SellTheTrend sizing guide).

Measurements from Komodo

The Orry Mill confirms women’s EU 42 = UK 14 = US 10 on their crafting charts guide (The Orry Mill sizing chart). IfSohoNewYork notes that their women’s M = IT 42 = UK 12, showing that Italian sizing can sometimes align differently depending on the brand’s measurement system (IfSohoNewYork size guide).

What this means for cross-border shoppers: EU retailers stock the same numerical sizes as UK stores for women’s clothing, so you won’t need to size up or down when ordering from European brands.

What is size 42 in UK men’s clothes?

For men’s clothing, size 42 usually refers to chest measurement in inches for tops and jackets, or as an EU jacket size. There’s no direct numeric UK equivalent—men’s UK sizing relies more on alpha labels combined with specific body measurements.

Jacket and shirt sizes

ASOS lists men’s smart jackets in L size as fitting a 42-inch chest (106 cm), with European sizing at chest 52 for the same fit (ASOS Men size charts). Men’s EU sizes for chest are often 2 higher than UK numeric sizing—for example, UK 40 roughly aligns with EU 50–52 according to ASOS men’s charts (ASOS Men).

TK Maxx guide

TK Maxx men’s knitwear L size fits a 44–46 inch chest (111–116 cm), though L sizing elsewhere typically runs 40–42 inches (TK Maxx UK size guide). TK Maxx men’s waist for L is 34–36 inches (86–91 cm), and collar measurement for L is 17 inches (43 cm) (TK Maxx UK). TK Maxx advises that sizes vary by brand, recommending shoppers check actual body measurements rather than assuming a consistent fit across retailers.

The pattern is that men’s 42 as a chest measurement typically falls at the upper boundary of L at most retailers, but knitwear retailers like TK Maxx tend to size their L larger than standard.

Is 42 size L or XL?

The answer depends on the garment type and retailer. For men’s tops at ASOS, size L covers a 40–42 inch chest, placing L between M (38–40 inches) and XL (42–44 inches) (ASOS Men). In this system, 42 as a chest measurement sits at the upper boundary of L.

Alpha size mapping

ASOS men’s tops unify UK/EU/USA sizing for sizes up to XXL (44–46 inches), meaning their L and XL are consistent across these markets (ASOS Men size chart). Laughing Hens confirms men’s L size fits 40–42 inches chest (101–106 cm) across their charts (Laughing Hens).

T-shirt chart equivalents

The Orry Mill confirms men’s L consistently measures 40–42 inches chest (101–106 cm) across multiple retailers’ sizing systems (The Orry Mill conversion chart). WearView notes that men’s numeric US 42 can equal UK 42 and Europe 58 in some systems, though they flag this as showing discrepancies (WearView men’s conversion chart).

The catch is that a 42-inch chest sits right at the L/XL boundary: sizing down to L gives a fitted look, sizing up to XL gives a relaxed fit.

Is size 42 12 or 14?

For women’s UK sizing, size 42 generally aligns closer to UK 14 than UK 12. ASOS lists women’s UK 12 as EU 40, UK 14 as EU 42, and UK 16 as EU 44 on their women’s size chart (ASOS Women).

UK numeric sizes

Laughing Hens confirms that women’s UK sizes progress from 4 at EU 32 up through the range, with UK 14 matching EU 42 on their conversion chart (Laughing Hens). ASOS notes some brands may vary from their measurements, so the safest approach is measuring your body against each retailer’s specific chart (ASOS Women size guide).

Ireland and plus size

Ireland uses the same UK sizing system as Great Britain for most retailers. Dutch Label Shop notes that UK/AU/NZ size 18 women equals International XL and Europe 46, showing that plus sizes shift differently across regional systems (Dutch Label Shop sizing guide). For plus-size women’s clothing, EU 46 tends to align with UK 18, which is two sizes above EU 42.

Size Conversion Comparison

Four sizing systems, two gender categories, and one consistent takeaway: measurements beat labels every time.

What this means: women’s sizing across UK/EU/US aligns well, but men’s L varies significantly depending on retailer and garment type—check the chart before you buy.

Measurement Specifications

Six key body measurements that define a proper size 42 fit across retailers.

The implication is that women’s size 42 targets a 38-inch bust and 30-inch waist, while men’s L targets a 42-inch chest and 34–36 inch waist—knowing these numbers helps you verify retailer accuracy.

What this means: most basic size 42 facts are well-verified across tier-1 sources, but brand-specific variations create real confusion for shoppers—always cross-reference measurements.

What Retailers Say

We’ve created this helpful standardised Size Guide. For clothing, you’ll find the body measurements that we use along with a conversion guide for international.

— TK Maxx UK (TK Maxx UK)

Size charts relate to ASOS own brand clothing and are designed to fit to the following body measurements. Some brands may vary from these measurements.

— ASOS Men (ASOS Men)

Always check brand-specific measurements for precision.

— Dutch Label Shop (Dutch Label Shop)

The pattern is consistent: major retailers acknowledge that brand variance is real and measure-based shopping is the only reliable approach.

Related reading: M&S Womens Clothes – Sizes, Styles and Shopping Tips · Size 12 in EU – US/UK Shoe and Clothing Conversion Charts

While EU 42 aligns with UK 14 for women, the nearby EU 40 to UK size chart details how size 40 varies similarly across men’s chests and women’s fits at retailers like ASOS.

Frequently asked questions