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Original guide / reviewed June 2026

How to read a Taobao size chart

A Taobao chart can be useful once you know what it is measuring. The main task is not only translating the words, but also knowing whether the chart describes the buyer's body or the finished garment.

Marketplace sizing workflow Source methodology

Quick answer: translate the chart terms, identify body vs garment measurements, then compare centimeters against your own measurements before converting the label.

01 /The terms that matter most

Most Taobao clothing charts are built around a small group of measurements: bust or chest, waist, hip, shoulder width, sleeve length, garment length and sometimes recommended weight. The exact Chinese words vary by seller, but the layout usually tells you whether the row is for a top, pants, dress or outerwear.

The main Taobao size chart guide translates common chart terms. The key is to compare the right measurement. A jacket shoulder measurement is not the same kind of decision as a waist measurement for pants.

02 /Body measurement or garment measurement?

A body measurement means the size is intended for a person with that bust, waist or hip. A garment measurement means the item itself measures that number when laid flat or measured after sewing. Garment measurements need ease, especially for non-stretch woven fabric.

If a chart shows a bust value that is only equal to your actual bust, a fitted non-stretch item may be too tight. If the item is a loose sweatshirt, the same number may be fine. This is why converter pages show estimates and warnings instead of pretending that one label always maps perfectly.

Chest / busttop fit
Waist / hippants and skirts
Shouldershirts and jackets
Lengthcoverage check

03 /What to do before ordering

  1. Open the listing's own chart, not a general chart from another seller.
  2. Translate the measurement labels and identify the product category.
  3. Convert centimeters to inches if that is easier for you to judge.
  4. Check whether the chart uses body or garment measurements.
  5. Use the converter as a quick size estimate, then let the chart decide.

For shoes, use a shoe-specific chart and foot length. Clothing charts and shoe charts should not be mixed.

04 /Related tools