Staring at a clothing label that says 38 inches and wondering what that means in centimeters is a common puzzle for online shoppers, but the answer is straightforward: 38 inches equals exactly 96.52 cm when using the standard conversion factor of 2.54 cm per inch. This guide breaks down the conversion and maps it to real clothing sizes for both men and women.

4 related posts

38 inches in cm: 96.52 cm · Common conversion factor: 1 inch = 2.54 cm · 38 inches in feet: 3.167 feet · Men’s chest size M (ASOS): 38–40 inches · Women’s bust range (ASOS): 36–38 inches

Quick snapshot

1Conversion Basics
  • 1 inch = 2.54 cm
  • 38 inches = 96.52 cm
  • 38 inches = 3.167 feet
  • 40 inches = 101.6 cm
2Waist Size Guide
3Chest and Bust Sizing
  • Men’s 38-inch chest = 96 cm
  • Women’s 38-inch bust = 96–97 cm
  • Lucky Brand maps a 38-inch bust to bra size M (38A, 36B, 34C-D) (Lucky Brand women’s size guide)
4Men’s vs. Women’s Sizing
  • ASOS men’s S fits 36–38 chest, M fits 38–40 chest (ASOS men’s)
  • Women’s 38 bust is at the lower end of ASOS’s range (bust 40–43 inches is larger) (ASOS women’s size chart)

Common inch-to-cm conversions

Common inch-to-cm conversions, one table: the 2.54 factor stretches consistently across the board.

Inches Centimeters
1 2.54 cm
38 96.52 cm
40 101.6 cm

How many cm is a 38 inch waist?

Multiply inches by 2.54 to get centimeters.

Exactly 96.52 cm.

38 inches ÷ 12 = 3.167 feet.

The implication: a 38-inch waist is solidly in the “large” range for many brands, though the fit varies by cut and stretch.

TLDR: 38 inches equals 96.52 cm; in ASOS men’s sizing it falls between S and M for chests and waists.

What is 38 inches in cm bust?

38 inches bust is the same 96.52 cm as any other body part, but its meaning changes dramatically when you’re shopping for bras or fitted tops.

The same 38-inch bust measurement can mean a different bra size depending on band length.

What this means: a 38-inch bust is common for size Large or XL in women’s tops and for bra band sizes around 36–38, but brand and cut matter as much as the number.

What is 40 inch in cm?

  • 40 inches = 101.6 cm (using the 2.54 factor) (Size.ly)
  • ASOS men’s chart shows size M fits chest 38–40 inches, meaning 40 is the upper limit of medium (ASOS men’s)

Exactly 101.6 cm.

What is 40 inch chest in cm?

The catch: while 40 inches is technically the top of ASOS’s medium range, most men with a 40-inch chest report wearing L or XL in practice, due to cut and personal preference.

What size is 38 in men’s clothing?

  • Men’s chest: ASOS sizes S (36–38) and M (38–40) — 38 inches falls right on the line (ASOS men’s)
  • Women’s bust: ASOS women’s lists bust 36–38 inches as US 6–8 / UK 10–12, which many call “medium”

ASOS men’s shirt sizing puts 38 in the M range when it’s a chest measurement (ASOS men’s).

The pattern: 38 inches frequently lands at the transition point between sizes, making it the most likely measurement to require trying multiple sizes.

  • For men: ASOS lists 38 as a common size S/M — not considered large in the broader population (ASOS men’s)
  • For women: ASOS women’s places bust 36–38 as the smallest range; ASOS women’s chart shows bust 40–43 inches as the largest range in their regular sizing (ASOS women’s)

The trade-off: numbers only tell part of the story — height, muscle mass, and body fat percentage change how a 38-inch chest looks and feels.

Measurement and sizing tips

  • Bust: Same as chest, but for women — measure over the widest part of the bust.
  • ASOS men’s S fits 36–38 chest, M fits 38–40 chest

Size ranges at a glance

Brand / Chart Measurement Size context
ASOS women’s bust range 36–38 inches ASOS women’s
ASOS men’s chest S: 36–38; M: 38–40 ASOS men’s
Lucky Brand bust 38 M (38A, 36B, 34C-D)
Additional sources

modernconvert.com, asos.com, johnlewis.com, asos.com, sizemarker.com, regatta.com, size.ly, z-ecx.images-amazon.com, size-charts.com

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Frequently asked questions

What bra size corresponds to a 38-inch bust?

Lucky Brand maps a 38-inch bust to bra size M (38A, 36B, 34C-D) (Lucky Brand women’s size guide).

What size is 38 waist in men’s pants?

A 38-inch waist is typically size 38 in men’s pants, which corresponds to L or XL depending on the brand. ASOS lists 38 waist as 96 cm (size L in many lines) (ASOS men’s).

How does 38 inches compare to 40 inches in clothing sizes?

38 inches is 96.52 cm; 40 inches is 101.6 cm. In ASOS men’s sizing, M fits chest 38–40 inches, so 40 is the upper limit of medium.

What is the average chest size for a man?

Though no official average is published, ASOS’s size chart shows 38–40 inches as medium, suggesting that range is typical for many men.

Is a 38-inch chest big for a woman?

A 38-inch bust for a woman is above average compared to ASOS’s chart, which lists 36–38 as the smallest range.

For the online shopper with a 38-inch measurement, the conversion is the easy part. A 38-inch waist is above the 36-inch starting point in many men’s size charts, while a 38-inch bust falls into the lower end of plus-size ranges for women. In short, 38 inches equals 96.52 cm, and its clothing size depends on whether you’re shopping men’s, women’s, or brand-specific sizing.