Sizing on Chinese platforms like Taobao, 1688 and Weidian differs from Western sizing. This guide converts CN sizes to US, EU and UK for shoes, tops and bottoms — so you order the right size the first time.
Last reviewed 2026-09-18.
Chinese domestic clothing is cut for the average build of the domestic market, which is narrower through the chest and shoulders than the Western average at the same letter size. A Chinese L is closer to a Western M on most tops, and the gap widens on fitted cuts and outerwear. Sellers also size to their own last or pattern rather than to a national standard, which is why two “XL” hoodies from two Weidian stores can differ by four centimetres across the chest.
The tables below are the conversion baseline. They are not a substitute for the seller's own measurement chart, which almost every Taobao and Weidian listing includes as an image near the bottom of the page. Where the two disagree, the seller's chart wins, because it describes the garment that will actually be shipped.
Measure yourself once in centimetres — chest at the widest point, waist at the natural waist, hips at the widest point, and foot length from heel to longest toe while standing — and write the numbers down. Every listing you look at afterwards becomes a two-second decision instead of a guess. For shoes, foot length in centimetres is the only measurement that transfers reliably between brands, because CN shoe sizing is the same scale as EU but individual lasts vary.
CN shoe sizes match EU sizes — simply look up your foot length in centimetres for the most accurate fit.
| CN Size | US Men | US Women | EU | UK | Foot Length (cm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35 | 4 | 5 | 35 | 2.5 | 22.5 cm |
| 36 | 4.5 | 5.5 | 36 | 3 | 23 cm |
| 37 | 5 | 6 | 37 | 4 | 23.5 cm |
| 38 | 6 | 7 | 38 | 5 | 24 cm |
| 39 | 6.5 | 7.5 | 39 | 5.5 | 24.5 cm |
| 40 | 7 | 8 | 40 | 6 | 25 cm |
| 41 | 8 | 9 | 41 | 7 | 25.5 cm |
| 42 | 8.5 | — | 42 | 7.5 | 26 cm |
| 43 | 9.5 | — | 43 | 8.5 | 27 cm |
| 44 | 10 | — | 44 | 9 | 27.5 cm |
| 45 | 11 | — | 45 | 10 | 28 cm |
| 46 | 12 | — | 46 | 11 | 28.5 cm |
| 47 | 12.5 | — | 47 | 11.5 | 29 cm |
| Measurement | XS | S | M | L | XL | XXL | XXXL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chest (cm) | 80 | 84 | 88 | 92 | 96 | 100 | 104 |
| US Size | XS | S | M | L | XL | 2XL | 3XL |
| EU Size | 44 | 46 | 48 | 50 | 52 | 54 | 56 |
| Measurement | XS | S | M | L | XL | XXL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bust (cm) | 76 | 80 | 84 | 88 | 92 | 96 |
| US Size | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 |
| EU Size | 32 | 34 | 36 | 38 | 40 | 42 |
| UK Size | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 16 |
Chinese sizing runs smaller — when in doubt, size up
Always check the seller's own size chart in the listing
Measure yourself (chest, waist, hips, foot length) before ordering
For sneakers, CN sizing is the same as EU sizing
Weidian and Taobao sellers often post their own detailed size charts — always check these
Use the free QC photos ZentBuy takes on arrival to catch a sizing mistake before the parcel ships
Pro tip: When ordering from Weidian or Taobao, always screenshot the seller's size chart from the listing. Sizing can vary significantly between different manufacturers even at the same numeric size.
The reason sizing matters less with an agent than it does ordering direct is the inspection step. After you order, ZentBuy receives the item at its warehouse and photographs it before anything is packed for the international leg. Ask for a photo of the size label and, on shoes, of the insole or box label — those two images settle almost every sizing dispute. A wrong size rejected at that point costs you nothing but time; the same mistake discovered at home costs an international return.
For the checkpoints experienced buyers use when reading those photos, see how to spot quality in QC photos.
Browse the curated index of Taobao, 1688 and Weidian listings. Check the seller's own measurements on the listing, then use the QC photos ZentBuy takes after you order to catch a sizing mistake while the parcel is still in China.
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