How to Read Taobao & Weidian Size Charts (Asian vs. EU/US Sizes)

Why Taobao and Weidian Sizes Confuse So Many Buyers

Three things make size charts from Chinese sellers tricky, even if you have bought clothing online many times.

• Different cuts. Many items are designed for slimmer frames and shorter heights than typical European or US cuts, so an L can fit like a European S or M.
• No common standard. Every seller measures and labels in its own way. An M from one shop can be a different size than an M from the next.
• Different measurement types. Some charts list the body measurements a size is made for, others list the finished garment laid flat, and a few do both.

The good news: once you know how to read the numbers, you can pick the right size from any chart, no matter which label it uses.

The 3-Step Method That Works for Any Size Chart

Step 1: Measure a Garment That Fits You Well

Take a similar item from your wardrobe that fits the way you like, lay it flat and measure it with a tape measure:

• Chest: straight across from armpit to armpit (this is the flat width).
• Length: from the highest point of the shoulder to the hem.
• Shoulder: from one shoulder seam to the other.
• Sleeve: from the shoulder seam to the cuff.

Write the values down in centimeters. You will compare them with the seller's chart.

Step 2: Find Out Which Type of Measurement the Chart Uses

Look at the note above or below the table. If it says the measurements are of the garment laid flat, the numbers are directly comparable with the values from Step 1. If the chart shows your body measurements, you compare them with your own body measurements instead.

Step 3: Compare and Allow for Tolerance

Pick the size whose numbers are closest to your garment, and keep two things in mind:

• Sellers measure by hand and often state a tolerance of 1 to 3 cm. If you are right between two sizes, decide by how you want the item to fit.
• For fitted items such as shirts, choose the larger size when in doubt. For oversized streetwear, check shoulder width and length as well as the chest, because the intended fit is loose.

Size Chart Words Translated

Many charts are only in Chinese. These are the terms you will meet most often:

Two units cause the most confusion. Jin (斤) is used for weight, and 1 jin is 0.5 kg. Chi (尺) is used for lengths, and 1 chi is one third of a meter, about 33.3 cm.

Asian vs. EU/US Clothing Sizes: A Rough Guide

Use this table only as a first orientation. It shows how Asian labels often compare with EU and US sizes for tops, but the exact fit depends on the seller and the item.

What Does a Label Like 170/92A Mean?

Some sellers use the Chinese standard notation. In 170/92A, 170 is the height in centimeters the size is made for, 92 is the chest circumference in centimeters, and the letter is the body type (A is the standard build). It gives you the numbers directly, so compare them like any other measurement.

Shoe Sizes: Use Your Foot Length

Many Chinese sellers list shoe sizes as EU-style numbers (for example 36 to 46) and often add the foot length in centimeters or millimeters. Because brands and shoe types fit differently, the foot length is the safest starting point.

How to measure your foot: Stand on a sheet of paper, mark the back of your heel and the tip of your longest toe, and measure the distance. Do it in the evening, when feet are slightly larger.

Approximate conversion: EU size ≈ (foot length in cm + 1.5) × 1.5. The table below applies this formula. The US men's size follows from the EU size. UK sizes are usually about 1 lower than the US men's number, and women's US sizes are roughly 1.5 higher than the men's number.

These values are approximate, because brands and shoe types differ. If your foot is wide, if you like room for thick socks, or if you are between two sizes, go for the larger size. Check the seller's size chart for the exact foot length of each size.

Pants and Waist: Chi, Centimeters and Inches

Waist sizes are sometimes given in chi. Convert them with 1 chi = 33.3 cm, then divide by 2.54 for inches.

Also check whether the waist value is a flat width or a full circumference. A waist of 36 cm is a flat width, and the real circumference is 72 cm.

If a chart gives a recommended body weight in jin, convert it as well:

Measure First or Trust the Label?

Checklist Before You Order

• Measure a garment that fits you and write down chest, length, shoulder and sleeve.
• Find the size chart on the product page and check whether it is flat or body measurements.
• Convert chi, jin and inches so all values are in centimeters.
• Allow a tolerance of 1 to 3 cm and decide which side you prefer.
• For shoes, use your foot length and choose the larger size when in doubt.
• Read the reviews with photos: buyers often mention whether an item runs small.
• Use the QC photos: some agents can photograph the item next to a tape measure, and you can check the size before it ships. Ask your agent whether this service is offered and what it costs.

Once you have chosen your size, plan the rest of the order with our step-by-step guide to buying with a shopping agent, and once you're ready to ship, keep the cost down with our guide to volumetric weight.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ready to Choose Your Size?

You now know how to read a size chart: measure a garment that fits, check whether the values are flat, convert the units and allow for tolerance. Browse our selected products, compare prices at different sellers and use the free tools to plan your order. Not sold on your usual agent? See how it stacks up in our Pandabuy alternatives guide.