How to read a Chinese size chart (tops, pants and shoes)
Updated Oct 2026 · 6 min read
How to read a Chinese size chart on Taobao and Weidian: what 胸围, 衣长 and 腰围 mean, flat vs full measurements, and picking tops, pants and shoes.
Almost every Taobao and Weidian listing has a size chart, mostly in Chinese. You only need about ten words and a tape measure. Here's how to read the chart, compare it with clothes you own and pick the right size for tops, pants and shoes.
Want the quick version? Our size guide does the math for you.
The Chinese size chart terms you need
Chinese size charts use the same handful of terms. The numbers are in cm unless the chart says otherwise, and 单位 cm simply means "unit: cm".
Term
Meaning
How it's measured
尺码
Size
The size label: S, M, L, XL or a number
衣长
Body length
Top of the shoulder or collar down to the hem
胸围
Chest
Often all the way around, so half of it is pit to pit
肩宽
Shoulder width
Shoulder seam to shoulder seam
袖长
Sleeve length
Usually shoulder seam to cuff
腰围
Waist
All the way around, unless marked 平铺
臀围
Hip
Across the widest part of the seat
裤长
Pants length
Outside seam, waistband to hem
脚长
Foot length
In mm or cm, used for shoes
Other words you'll see
平铺 (píng pū): measured flat. Flat numbers are about half the full circumference.
误差 (wùchā): tolerance. Charts are measured by hand, and many sellers note 1 to 3 cm.
身高 / 体重: recommended height and weight. Weight is often given in 斤 (jīn), and 1 斤 is 0.5 kg, so 140斤 means 70 kg.
大腿围 thigh, 裤脚 leg opening, 前裆 front rise, 下摆 hem width.
Flat or all the way around?
This is where most sizing mistakes happen. A Chinese chart can list 胸围 (chest) and 腰围 (waist) as the full circumference of the garment, or as a flat measurement across the front. A chest of 110 and a chest of 55 can describe the exact same hoodie.
Some charts write 平铺 (flat) in the header. If yours doesn't, compare with your own clothes. If the chart numbers are roughly double what you measure flat on a piece that fits you, the chart gives the full circumference. If they're close to your flat number, it's flat. Still unsure? Ask your agent to check with the seller before you pay.
Measure a piece you already own
Height and weight charts are a starting point. The most reliable method is to measure clothes that already fit the way you like. Lay the piece flat on a table, smooth it out and measure in cm.
Pit to pit: straight across the chest, armpit seam to armpit seam. Double it to compare with a full 胸围.
Length: from the highest point of the shoulder down to the hem. Compare with 衣长.
Shoulders and sleeves: seam to seam across the top, then shoulder seam to cuff. Compare with 肩宽 and 袖长.
Pants: waist straight across the top of the waistband (double it for a full 腰围), then the outside length from waistband to hem for 裤长.
Pants are trickier. Sizes like 30, 31 or 32 usually mean the waist in inches, but some shops use their own numbering. Always check 腰围 in cm.
Measure your best fitting pair: waist flat, hip (臀围) flat and outside length (裤长).
Check whether the chart's 腰围 is flat or full, and double your flat number if it's full.
Match the waist first, then the length. Length can be hemmed, a tight waist can't be fixed.
For baggy or wide cuts, also compare 臀围, 大腿围 and 裤脚. They decide how the pants fall.
Then look through our pants and shorts and check the fit note on each find.
Step by step: shoes
Most sneaker listings on Taobao and Weidian use EU style numbers like 42 or 42.5. Some also list 脚长 (foot length) in mm, so 265 means 26.5 cm. China's own shoe sizing (national standard GB/T 3293.1-1998) is based on foot length in 5 mm steps, while EU sizes go up in steps of 2/3 cm.
Conversion tables online often disagree with each other, so don't trust a random chart. Do this instead:
Stand on a sheet of paper with your heel against a wall and mark the tip of your longest toe.
Measure from the wall to the mark in mm. Do both feet and use the longer one.
Compare with 脚长 on the listing. If the shop only lists EU sizes, convert your foot length. For example, about 270 mm usually lands around EU 42.5.
Check the fit note on the find. Sizing varies by model and seller.
Oversized vs regular fit
A size chart describes the garment, not your body. Many streetwear hoodies and tees are cut boxy or oversized on purpose, so an M can measure like a regular L. That's the design, not a mistake.
So decide on the look first, then compare the chart with a piece you own that has that look. Many finds on coppd also carry a fit note like "True to size" or "Runs small, size up". Read it before you pick.
Sizing varies by seller
There's no rule like "always size up" that works for every shop. Some sellers cut small, some cut big, and two sellers can label the same cut differently. The only method that works every time is the one above: compare the chart with your own measurements, in cm.
When your item reaches the warehouse, check the measurements again in the QC photos. A good QC set has a tape measure in the shot. Here's what to check in QC photos.
Got your numbers? Every find comes with a buy link, QC photos when there are some and a fit note where we have one. Browse all finds
Questions?
What does 胸围 mean on a size chart?
胸围 means chest. On many Chinese charts it's the full circumference of the garment, so half of it is the pit to pit width. If the chart says 平铺, the number is already measured flat.
How do I convert a Chinese size to EU or US sizes?
Don't convert the letter, compare the measurements. Measure a piece you own in cm and pick the size whose chart numbers come closest. The size guide helps with tops, pants and shoes.
What does 斤 mean in the weight recommendation?
斤 (jīn) is a Chinese unit of weight. 1 斤 is 0.5 kg, so 140斤 means 70 kg.
Should I always size up on Taobao?
No. Sizing varies by seller and by cut. Compare the chart with a piece you own and check the fit note on the find.
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3
Check your QC
The agent takes photos of your actual item. Compare them with retail and the QC photos here. Not happy with it? Most agents let you exchange or return it before it ships.
4
Ship your haul
Combine your items into one parcel and pick a shipping line. Our estimate compares the prices of the agents for your country.
What it costs
You pay twice.
Once for the items when you order, once for shipping when your haul is ready. Here is what goes into it.
1
Item price
The price you see on coppd, paid to your agent when you order.
2
Domestic shipping
Seller to the agent's warehouse in China, usually ¥0 to ¥15 per order.
3
Agent fees
Some agents add a small service fee, and paying by card or PayPal can cost a few percent. You see it before you pay.
4
International shipping
Paid when your haul is ready, based on weight and shipping line.
A hand picked list of finds from the team behind r/FashionReps2. Every find comes with prices in your currency, QC photos when there are some and links to trusted agents.
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Which agent should I pick?
All three are on the trusted agent list of r/FashionReps2. Not sure? Start with Superbuy. The item price comes from the seller, so it's the same everywhere. Agents differ in service fees, coupons and shipping lines, so compare them in our shipping estimate.
What does tax free mean?
On a tax free line the agent covers the import tax, so usually nothing extra is due when your parcel arrives. On other lines you may have to pay import tax and fees on delivery.
How long does shipping take?
Usually 7 to 25 days from the warehouse, depending on the line and your country. Express lines are faster but cost more. Our estimate shows the time for every line.
Is this legal?
Buying clothes from Chinese shops for yourself is normal online shopping. Copies of branded items are different: customs in many countries, including the EU, can hold or seize parcels with copied logos. For personal orders the usual worst case is losing that parcel. Plain basics and blanks without logos are not affected. Rules differ by country, so check yours.
How do I pay?
You pay the agent, never the seller. Agents accept cards and other common payment methods, you see the options and any fees at checkout. You pay twice: first the item plus a small domestic shipping fee, later the international shipping once your haul is ready.
Why are there two prices?
The ¥ price is the seller's price in China. The other one is the same amount in your currency, so it's one price shown two ways. You pay it to your agent when you order. Shipping comes later, when your haul is ready.
What if the size is wrong?
Check the size chart on the listing and compare it with a piece you own, in cm. If it still doesn't fit, most agents let you return or exchange it at the warehouse before it ships, usually for a small fee. Once your parcel is shipped, returns are hardly possible.
Not much, but it helps to know. If an item is out of stock, the agent refunds you to your agent balance, and you can use it or withdraw it. Items only stay in the warehouse for free for a limited time, often around 90 days, so ship before that runs out. Parcels can get lost or held by customs, especially with brand logos. Most agents sell shipping insurance for a small fee, which pays back part or all of the cost. Returns and exchanges are only possible before your parcel ships.
How long does everything take?
Usually 2 to 4 weeks in total: a few days until the item reaches the warehouse, a day for QC photos, then 7 to 25 days of shipping depending on the line.
Where do the QC photos come from?
From agent warehouses, taken when other buyers ordered the same item. They show the real product instead of the seller's ads.
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What will shipping cost?
Shipping lines and prices from Superbuy, GTBuy and JoyaGoo, for your country and your parcel.
Find your size.
Powered by AI
Work out your size in seconds and know what to look for on the size chart before you order.
Quick estimate
From your height and weight.
Fit
Most accurate
Lay a top that fits you well flat on a table and measure it.
Your waist
The W size of jeans that fit you, for example W32.
Most accurate
Lay pants that fit you well flat and measure them.
Your shoe size
Chinese listings use EU sizes or the foot length in mm, for example 270 means 27 cm.
Based on a common sneaker chart. Some models run small or large, so read the listing and the reviews.
Size charts
Read a Chinese size chart.
Most charts show the garment laid flat in cm. Chest and waist are the full way around, so double your flat measurement.
尺码
Size
衣长
Length, top of the shoulder to the hem
胸围
Chest, all the way around
肩宽
Shoulder width
袖长
Sleeve length
腰围
Waist, all the way around
裤长
Pants length
脚长
Foot length
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Last updated October 2026.
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