How to read a Taobao size chart

Format 1 — Letter sizes (S, M, L, XL)

Familiar letters, but calibrated for slimmer frames. Plan to read one to two sizes larger than you normally wear. See the women's converter for the exact mapping.

Format 2 — 160/84A national-standard codes

The Chinese national standard (GB/T 1335). Three parts:

• 160 — wearer's height in cm
• 84 — bust (women) or chest (men) in cm
• A — body type. Y = slim, A = standard, B = fuller, C = curvy

So 160/84A fits a 160 cm woman with an 84 cm bust, standard build. Full decode on the 160/84A page.

The biggest source of returns from Chinese stores: a listing says 胸围 96 cm and you read it as your bust measurement, when actually the seller is reporting the flat-laid garment width (half the circumference, doubled).

1. Measure your bust, waist and hip in centimetres.
2. Add 2–4 cm of ease for woven fabrics (cotton, denim, blazers).
3. Match to the 胸围 (bust) column on the listing. If you fall between sizes, size up.

Below every product, scroll past the studio shots to 买家秀 · mǎi jiā xiù (customer photos). Each post almost always lists the buyer's height and weight in cm/kg. Find a reviewer with your build and copy what they ordered.

Three Chinese review terms to look for:

• 偏小 · piān xiǎo — runs small → size up
• 偏大 · piān dà — runs large → size down
• 正码 · zhèng mǎ — true to size