How to Find Your Size in Maxi Dresses (and Actually Get the Length Right)

By Ella Blake, Tellar Stylist  |  Tellar Fashion Hub

To find your size in a maxi dress, size primarily for your bust or hips — whichever is larger — and always cross-check the garment length against your height before you buy, because a dress that's meant to skim the floor on a 5'8" model will hit mid-calf on a 5'3" frame and look nothing like the picture. I've made this mistake more times than I care to admit. There was one particularly optimistic order from Monsoon that arrived looking like a perfectly respectable midi. Great dress, wrong expectation. Here's how to avoid that, and how to get the fit right across every part of a maxi.

Why Maxi Dresses Are Trickier to Size Than They Look

Maxis look relaxed and forgiving — and in many ways they are — but they come with their own very specific fit challenges. Unlike a shift dress or a mini where length is fairly consistent, a maxi dress has to work across a much bigger range of the body: bust, waist, hips, and full length from shoulder to hem. Get one of those wrong and the whole silhouette falls apart.

There's also the question of style. A fitted, bodycon maxi needs to be sized very differently to a floaty, smocked-bust style. A wrap maxi is more adjustable. A slip-style maxi with no stretch requires precision. Each construction has its own rules, and I'll walk you through them.

The Measurements That Actually Matter for Maxis

Before you even look at a size chart, have these three numbers ready:

• Bust: Measure around the fullest part of your chest, keeping the tape parallel to the floor. For any fitted or structured maxi, this is often your limiting measurement.

• Hips: Measure around the fullest part of your hips, usually 8–10 inches below your natural waist. For a flowing maxi with a defined skirt, the hip measurement matters most for comfort and movement.

• Height: This one is non-negotiable for maxis. Most brands design their maxi length for a height of around 5'7"–5'9". If you're significantly shorter or taller than this, you need to look at the actual garment length in centimetres or inches — not just trust the word "maxi" on the label.

A general guide: if the garment length (shoulder to hem) is under 140cm, it will likely fall at mid-calf or above on anyone 5'7" and under. If it's 145cm or more, it should graze the ankle on most heights. Petite ranges are usually cut to around 130cm; tall ranges to 150cm or beyond.

How to Size for Different Maxi Styles

Smocked or elasticated-bust maxis — these are the most forgiving. The elasticated top means you don't need to match your bust precisely; most smocked styles accommodate a range of two to three sizes. Size for your hips instead, and the top will adjust. Anthropologie and Mint Velvet both do brilliant smocked maxi styles that are genuinely flattering across a wide range of body shapes.

Wrap maxis — size for your hips. The wrap construction gives you some adjustment at the waist, but the skirt needs to close comfortably without pulling. Jigsaw does a consistently excellent wrap maxi; their fabric quality means it drapes rather than clings.

Fitted or bodycon maxis — size for whichever measurement is larger: bust or hips. These styles have no give in the construction, so if you're typically a size 12 in the waist but a 14 in the hip, go with the 14 and have the waist taken in if needed. Coast and Reiss both cut beautifully fitted maxis that are worth the investment if this is your style.

Slip-style maxis — bias-cut or satin slip maxis are the least forgiving. They show everything, including size inconsistencies. Size up if you're between sizes; a slightly looser slip maxi looks intentional, a tight one doesn't. Hush does gorgeous slip maxis in washed satin that photograph brilliantly, and their sizing advice on individual listings is reliable.

Tiered or boho maxis — here you only really need to size for your waist or the elasticated waistband. The tiers add their own volume. White Stuff and Seasalt Cornwall are my go-tos for tiered maxis that look effortlessly thrown-on — ideal for a summer holiday or a coastal wedding.

The Height Problem — and How to Solve It

This is genuinely the biggest issue with buying maxis online, and it's where the most returns happen. Here's my approach:

• Always find the garment length measurement in the product description. If it's not listed, contact customer service or look at reviewer photos sorted by height.

• If you're petite (under 5'4"): shop the petite range wherever it exists. Next, M&S, and ASOS all have dedicated petite maxi options that are proportioned properly rather than just chopped off at the hem. Boden's petite range is particularly good — their maxis hit the right length and aren't scaled down in the bodice, which is a common petite pitfall.

• If you're tall (5'9" and above): most standard maxis will read as midi on you. Look specifically for tall ranges. New Look Tall is excellent value, and ASOS Tall has a wide selection. Phase Eight tends to cut their maxis on the longer side even in standard sizing, which makes them a reliable option for taller frames.

• If you're average height (5'5"–5'7"): standard sizing usually works for you, but it's still worth checking the garment length. Anything below 140cm will likely hit above the ankle.

High Street, Premium, and Designer — My Picks

Not all maxis are created equal. Here's where I'd point you depending on your budget:

High street: Zara consistently produces trend-led maxi styles each season — their linen and cotton maxis in particular are excellent quality for the price. Mango is another strong performer; their Mediterranean-inflected aesthetic suits the maxi silhouette perfectly and their sizing is fairly consistent. Oliver Bonas is brilliant for more distinctive prints and relaxed fits if you want something a bit less high-street-looking.

Premium: Whistles for clean, understated maxis that look expensive and last for seasons. Me&Em for beautifully proportioned jersey maxis that genuinely work for real body shapes — their fit guide is some of the best on the UK market. Hobbs for occasion maxi dresses that look polished without trying too hard.

Luxury/designer: Claudie Pierlot for Parisian-inflected floral and printed maxis that are investment pieces in the best sense. If you're shopping at the very top end, Zimmermann — the Australian label beloved of every fashion editor — and Ulla Johnson are the names worth knowing for truly special occasion maxis.

For two brands worth discovering outside the usual suspects: Aspiga is a British sustainable brand making genuinely gorgeous linen maxis with excellent sizing consistency and a commitment to ethical production. And Dressarte Paris offers made-to-measure maxis at accessible prices — genuinely brilliant if standard sizing has never worked for your proportions.

The Fastest Way to Nail Your Maxi Dress Size? Use Tellar.

Given how much maxi dress sizing varies between brands — and how much height affects the whole look — this is exactly the kind of purchase where Tellar is worth its weight in gold. Tellar is the UK's leading free clothing sizing tool, matching your exact measurements to 1,500+ brands instantly. No more size guide arithmetic. No more hopeful guessing.

• Measure once — bust, waist, and hips — and you're done.

• Use the Store Size Lookup tool to get your precise size in any brand, from Reiss to Anthropologie to ASOS.

• Always free, no downloads, works in-browser.

Want more dress guidance? The Tellar Fashion Hub has a brilliant Ultimate Guide to Dresses — covering every style, body shape, and where to shop in the UK and USA. And if you want to nail sizing across every category, start with the Ultimate Clothing Sizing Guide. For layering over your maxi, don't miss the Ultimate Guide to Jackets either. All honest, all independent, all free.

The maxi dress is one of those styles that, when it fits properly, genuinely does the work for you. Get the length right for your height, size for your biggest measurement, and know your style construction — do those three things and you'll stop returning them and start actually wearing them. Which is, after all, the whole point.