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UK vs US scrub sizes: how to compare charts across brands

Scrubs use letter sizes, but a medium differs across brands and markets. How to compare UK, US and EU scrub charts in inches and cm, with examples.

Short answer

  • Scrubs are usually sold in letter sizes (XS to 5XL), so UK and US dress-size conversions don't apply directly.
  • The same letter can mean different measurements: M is chest 38–40 in on a Cherokee UK chart, about 36–38 in on a Grey's chart.
  • Labels can shift between markets: an Australian retailer says a Healing Hands US 5XL is an AU 6XL.
  • Compare your measurements with each brand's chart, ideally in the unit the chart was written in.
  • Check whether a chart is for women's, men's or unisex fits, and whether it gives body or garment measurements.
In this guide (9 sections)
  1. Are scrub sizes different in the UK and US?
  2. Comparing two real charts: Cherokee UK vs Grey's Anatomy Kim
  3. Worked example: one person, two brands
  4. Should I use inches or centimeters?
  5. Body measurements vs garment measurements
  6. Pants: inseams and lengths
  7. What about NHS-issued uniforms?
  8. Buying from another country: practical points
  9. What to check before you act

Most scrubs, whether bought in the UK or the US, use letter sizes from XS upward, not numbered dress sizes. The catch is that each brand defines its own letters: on the two charts we compared, a medium covered a chest of 38–40 in on one and roughly 36–38 in on the other. The reliable way to buy across borders is to measure yourself and check each brand's own chart.

This guide shows how to do that, with a side-by-side example in inches and centimeters. It is for UK staff buying US brands, US buyers ordering from European retailers, and anyone whose usual size suddenly doesn't fit.

Are scrub sizes different in the UK and US?

The letters are mostly the same. What differs is the measurement behind each letter, and that is set by the brand and its fit type rather than by the country.

Some patterns we saw on 23 October 2026:

  • Letter ranges vary by brand. A FIGS men's top was listed in XS–2XL. A Healing Hands Purple Label top runs XXS–5XL. A Jaanuu top runs XXS–XL.
  • Fit types change the chart. Cherokee sizes by fit type (for women: Contemporary, Modern Classic, Traditional and Maternity), and says tops from the same collection can fit differently.
  • Labels can change by market. An Australian retailer notes that a Healing Hands US 5XL is sold as an AU 6XL.

So "I'm a UK 12" or "I'm a US 8" doesn't translate into a scrub size. Your chest, waist and hip measurements do. We have not given a dress-size conversion table, because the scrub charts we read don't use dress sizes.

Comparing two real charts: Cherokee UK vs Grey's Anatomy Kim

Here are two charts we could read as text. The Cherokee chart is hosted by the University of Liverpool for its students and gives inches and centimeters. The Grey's Anatomy by Barco Kim chart comes from a Greek retailer and is in centimeters only; we converted it to inches (1 in = 2.54 cm) and rounded to one decimal place.

Chest

Size Cherokee UK chart (in) Grey's Anatomy Kim (cm) Grey's Anatomy Kim (in, converted)
XS 30–32 79–81 31.1–31.9
S 34–36 84–89 33.1–35.0
M 38–40 91–97 35.8–38.2
L 42–44 99–104 39.0–40.9
XL 46–48 107–112 42.1–44.1

Waist

Size Cherokee UK chart (in) Grey's Anatomy Kim (cm) Grey's Anatomy Kim (in, converted)
XS 26–28 60–65 23.6–25.6
S 30–32 65–70 25.6–27.6
M 34–36 72–78 28.3–30.7
L 38–40 80–84 31.5–33.1
XL 42–44 88–93 34.6–36.6

From M upward, the Cherokee chart's ranges sit roughly one size above the Kim chart's. The Cherokee chart also says its sizes are approximate and "very generously sized".

An important caveat: this is not a like-for-like comparison. The Kim chart is for a women's top and pants. The Cherokee UK chart does not say which fit type or gender it covers, and its waist ranges are much larger than the Kim chart's, which may mean it is a unisex or men's chart. The comparison shows how far apart two charts can be, not which brand "runs small".

Worked example: one person, two brands

Suppose you measure a 96 cm chest and a 76 cm waist.

  1. Convert once. 96 ÷ 2.54 = 37.8 in; 76 ÷ 2.54 = 29.9 in.
  2. Grey's Anatomy Kim (cm chart): chest 96 cm is in M (91–97); waist 76 cm is in M (72–78). Both measurements point to M.
  3. Cherokee UK chart (in): chest 37.8 in sits just below M (38–40) and above S (34–36); waist 29.9 in sits just below S (30–32).
  4. Read the notes. The Cherokee chart calls itself generously sized, which suggests the smaller size could be worth trying, but the chart alone can't confirm that.

The same body is an M in one chart and somewhere between XS and M in the other. That is why your measurements, not your usual letter, should drive the choice.

Should I use inches or centimeters?

Use the unit the chart was written in if you can tell. Dual-unit charts are often rounded. On the Cherokee UK chart, for example, a 34–36 in chest is listed as 85–90 cm, while the exact conversion is about 86.4–91.4 cm. A measurement right at the edge of a range can fall in different sizes depending on which column you read.

Measure in both units, and if you are near a boundary, check the brand's fit notes or try both sizes.

Body measurements vs garment measurements

Not every chart measures you. Some measure the garment.

  • The Cherokee UK and Grey's Anatomy Kim charts give body ranges: the chest or waist the size is meant to fit.
  • A reseller page for the Jaanuu W30003 top gives garment measurements: body length and chest width laid flat. A size M is 19 3/4 in across the chest laid flat, which is about 39.5 in all the way round.

Garment measurements include ease, so they will be bigger than your body. The easiest way to use them is to lay a top you like flat and measure it the same way. Stretch also affects how much ease you need; see scrub fabric blends for what spandex adds.

Pants: inseams and lengths

Pant length is where cross-brand differences bite hardest, and few brands publish inseams in text. The figures we could read, and their inconsistencies, are in our scrub size charts guide. The Cherokee UK chart gives an outside-leg length rather than an inseam (for example, 43.5 in for M), which is measured differently, so don't compare it directly with an inseam figure.

What about NHS-issued uniforms?

If your trust supplies the NHS national uniform, sizing comes through your employer, not a retail chart. We did not find a published size chart for the national uniform this session. Derbyshire Community Health Services said in June 2026 that it was working with NHS Supply Chain on concerns about fabric quality, fit and colourways, so if your issued uniform doesn't fit, raise it locally. For which color your role wears, see our NHS uniform colours guide.

Buying from another country: practical points

Check Why it matters
Which market the chart is for Retailers may relabel sizes (US 5XL as AU 6XL)
Fit type or gender Women's, men's and unisex charts differ
Body or garment measurements Garment figures include ease
Chart units and rounding Edge cases can change size
Price, currency and tax Listings we saw quoted euros with tax included, Australian dollars ex GST, or US dollars
Returns across borders Sending back a wrong size may cost more from abroad

What to check before you act

  • Measure chest, waist and hips in both inches and centimeters.
  • Find the brand's own chart for the exact fit type and gender.
  • Check whether the chart describes your body or the garment.
  • Check the retailer's market and whether sizes are relabelled.
  • Read the returns policy before ordering from another country.
  • If your employer issues uniforms, ask how they handle sizing and exchanges first.

Questions people ask

Are scrub sizes the same in the UK and US?

Scrubs mostly use the same letter sizes in both countries, but the measurements behind each letter depend on the brand and fit, not the country. Always compare your measurements with the specific brand's chart.

Do I convert my UK dress size to a US size for scrubs?

Usually not. Most scrub charts we read use letter sizes tied to chest, waist or hip measurements, so measuring yourself is more reliable than converting a dress size.

Why does my scrubs label say a different size in Australia?

Some retailers relabel sizes for their market. An Australian retailer notes that a Healing Hands US 5XL is sold as an AU 6XL, so the letter on the tag may not match the US listing.

Should I measure in inches or centimeters for scrubs?

Use the unit the brand wrote its chart in where you can. Dual-unit charts are often rounded, so the inch and cm columns may not match exactly.

Do US scrubs run big for UK buyers?

We can't say that in general. One Cherokee UK chart describes its sizes as very generous, but other brands differ, and charts vary by fit type.

General information only, not medical, legal or employment advice. Your employer's uniform and laundry policy comes first, and brand specs and prices change. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.

Sources

  1. Cherokee size chart, University of Liverpool School of Medicine welcome documents (PDF)checked October 23, 2026
  2. Cherokee brand size charts (All Custom Wear help center)checked October 23, 2026
  3. Barco Grey's Anatomy Kim GRSP500 women's scrub pants (Medi-shop)checked October 23, 2026
  4. Barco Grey's Anatomy Kim GRST001 women's scrub top (Medi-shop)checked October 23, 2026
  5. Healing Hands Purple Label 2167 Jane top (Medshop Australia)checked October 23, 2026
  6. Men's Stratton henley short-sleeve scrub top (FIGS, France site)checked October 23, 2026
  7. Jaanuu W30003 (Ninja Transfers)checked October 23, 2026
  8. National uniform rollout: further update, 3 June 2026 (Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS FT)checked October 23, 2026

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