As someone who has shopped for clothing in Asian countries, there’s a huge difference in the way their clothing fits versus how they’ll fit in the West. In this case, the United States.

I’ll convert clothing (pants, shirts, shoes, etc) you’ll typically see in Asian countries to US clothing sizes. When done reading, you should have an idea of how clothing that you source from Asia will fit folks in the US.

Before converting sizes, I have critical information to present.

Key Takeaways

• Always prioritize supplier-specific size charts, as Asian sizing lacks a single standard.
• Guide customers to take accurate body measurements for the best fit, as size numbers can vary between brands.
• Educate customers about fabric shrinkage to reduce returns and complaints.
• Clearly suggest sizing up for most Asian clothing items on your site.
• Encourage fit-focused reviews to provide real-world insights for other shoppers.

Not All Sizes Are the Same (Important)

Everything I’ll provide is a general guide. No official "Asian size" standard exists. Sizing can vary between China, Japan, Korea, and other Asian countries. Sizes even differ between individual brands within those countries.

Let’s use some Japanese clothing brands, Uniqlo and Muji, as examples.

Uniqlo items generally run smaller and shorter in length than comparable US brands. The cuts are often designed for a slimmer Asian physique.

Muji sizing tends to be on the smaller side. Some unisex items may appear oversized in Asian sizing but fit more true to size when converted to US sizing.

Always ask your manufacturer for clothing size charts and whether they can convert those values into US values.

Let’s dive into clothing styles.

Asian Shirt Size to US Size

The following sections will cover shirt size conversions in the following categories:

• Women
• Men
• Children

All measurements are in sizes from China, South Korea, and Japan.

It would take way too much room to write down all the measurements that go into these sizes (e.g., chest width). Here are links to separate guides that’ll help illustrate these points [1, 2].

1. Women’s Asian Shirt Size to US Size

2. Men’s Asian Shirt Size to US Size

3. Kid’s Asian Shirt Size to US Size

Asian Pants Size to US Size

The following sections will convert Asian pants sizes from Japan and China measurements to US measurements.

When it comes to Japanese women’s pants, they use alpha and numerical sizes. They adopted alpha sizing post World War II but have been transitioning toward focusing on numerical sizing due to better accuracy.

Let’s dive in.

1. Men’s Asian Pants Size to US Size

2. Women’s Asian Pants Size to US Size

Asian Bra Size to US Size

Important: Bra brands that I found in Asia said that when shopping for Asian-sized bras as an American, you’ll want to go up 2 cup sizes [3]. This rule applies to any cup size.

Asian Shoe Size to US Size

The following sections will convert Asian shoe sizes to US sizes in the following categories:

• Men’s
• Women’s 
• Babies, toddlers, and youth

All of these numbers are focused around size measurements in China, Japan, and South Korea. If you source shoes from Vietnam, for instance, their shoe sizes may differ from these numbers.

These numbers are also estimates. As there aren’t any size standards for shoes (internationally).

Here we go.

1. Men’s Asian Shoe Size to US Size

Here’s a chart to convert adult shoe sizes in Asia to the US:

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2. Women’s Asian Shoe Size to US Size

Here are women’s shoe sizes:

3. Kid’s Asian Shoe Size to US Size

The following are children shoe sizes—toddlers, children, and youth.

Many of these shoe sizes are sourced from Nordstrom [4]. Actual sizes based on the brand that you source may differ.

1. Baby Shoe Sizes (0–24 Months)

2. Toddler Shoe Sizes (2–4 Years)

3. Youth Shoe Sizes (4–12 Years)

Tips for Converting Asian Clothing Size to US Size in an Online Store

Here’s everything that you should consider when converting Asian clothing sizes to US sizes:

• Obtain accurate supplier size charts: Get size chart from manufacturer
• Create clear & accessible size charts: Create size charts all your customers will understand.
• Size up recommendations: Let customers know they should get a larger size.
• Include reviews: Provide reviews of others’ experiences with the fit of your clothing.
• Confirm with manufacturer when something seems off: Talk to your manufacturer when sizing seems off.
• Fabric shrinkage: Note that fabric could shrink.
• One-size-fits-all clothing vs. multiple-size clothing: One-size-fits-all clothing isn’t as “universal” as it seems.

I’ll expand upon all these points throughout the following sections.

Let’s dive in.

1. Obtain Accurate Supplier Size Charts

To get these accurate size charts, start by contacting your suppliers. Request detailed charts specific to each product and ensure they match your target market's sizing (like US sizes).

If they don’t, see if they have any information on what sizes their clothing is in US sizes.

Many suppliers also provide size charts on their websites. If you want to be extra cautious, consider measuring samples yourself to create your own customized size charts.

We don’t know how much effort the manufacturer put into measuring their clothing.

I recommend this option because it’ll lead to the fewest returns and the most accurate listings. But it’ll require the highest time and financial investment.

Summary: Contact your manufacturer or check their website for size charts.

2. Create Clear & Accessible Size Charts

Keep these tidbits in mind when creating your size charts:

• Consistency is key: Use the same format and style for all your size charts.
• Measurements matter: Include all relevant measurements (bust, waist, hips, inseam, etc.) and specify the measurement units (inches/centimeters).
• International conversions: If you have a global audience, include size conversions for major markets (e.g., US, UK, EU).
• "How to Measure" guide: Provide clear instructions (with visuals) on how customers should take their measurements.
• Visuals help: Use photos or videos to show how the clothes fit real body types.
• Accessibility: Ensure the charts are easy to read for those with visual impairments (good color contrast, alternative text descriptions).

Let’s talk about the “How to Measure” guide. Here’s an example of what Uniqlo, a Japanese fashion brand, does:

You could take this a step further. They also have a “Length Guide by Height.” The guide provides visuals on how different clothing looks on men and women of different heights.

You’ll need to ensure these pages are easy to find for your customers. For instance, on their product pages, you’ll see an enormous button under their size selection area for the guide.

Yes, you’ll need to put in more work to do this. But so long as you’re building a legitimate brand, a bit of effort will build trust with your customers and increase sales. And think about it this way, the easier something is to find, the less customers you’ll have filling your inbox asking questions.

As will having a website that’s easy to read. 

I highly recommend using black and white charts for simplicity. But if the chart must match your brand’s style, use a tool like WebAIM to see whether the foreground and background colors contrast well.

There’s a lot more to cover with all the information I’ve provided, but that would require a separate guide.

Forward.

Summary: Create detailed size charts that are easy to read. Consider complimenting them with “How to Measure.” guides.

3. Size Up Recommendations

To help American shoppers find their perfect fit in Asian sizes, offer size-up recommendations.

Here's how:

1. Use detailed size charts converting Asian sizes to familiar US sizes for each product.
2. Clearly list these charts on the product page.
3. Supplement this with size conversion tools that customers can input their measurements into and get a size recommendation immediately.
4. Offer personalized assistance with a live chat feature or "fit quiz" where customers answer questions about their body type and preferences to receive tailored size suggestions.

For instance, beneath your chart, you could put a disclaimer like, "Note: Asian sizes tend to run smaller than US sizes. We recommend sizing up for a comfortable fit."

Reviews may also help with telling customers when to size up.

Summary: Let your customers know they should get bigger-sized clothing to ensure what they buy fits.

4. Include Reviews (When Applicable)

Reduce your workload and let the customers do the fitting work for you. Try one of these methods to get customers to let you know how their clothing fit:

• Post-purchase emails: Send emails asking customers specifically about the fit of their purchase. Include questions like:some text
  • Did the item run true to size, smaller, or larger?
  • Would you recommend sizing up or down for others?
• Incentives: Offer small discounts or loyalty points for reviews that discuss fit.

From there, on the product pages, have a smart review display that allows customers to filter reviews by size or body type (e.g., "petite," "curvy," "tall"). Or you could do what Amazon does and have a search function that searches for reviews with those body types.

Such filtering will require apps—if you use Shopify—or hiring programmers.

Summary: Compile reviews from customers about their experiences with your clothing’s fit.

5. Confirm With Manufacturer When Something Seems Off

If something seems off, contact your manufacturer.

This step helps pinpoint if it's an issue with a particular batch, a misunderstanding of the size chart, or a pattern across the manufacturer's sizing. Addressing these discrepancies head-on prevents future confusion for customers, reduces returns, and builds a better relationship with the supplier.

Summary: Talk to your manufacturer if something seems off.

6. Fabric Shrinkage

Shrinkage can significantly alter the fit of a garment, leading to customer complaints and returns if shoppers aren't aware of the possibility.

Take these steps to reduce the chance of customer complaints and returns:

• Know your fabrics: Educate yourself on fabrics prone to shrinkage (cotton, linen, wool) and those less likely to shrink (polyester, synthetics).
• Clear product descriptions: Include fabric content and potential shrinkage in product descriptions.some text
  • Consider phrases like "may shrink slightly after washing" or "pre-shrunk for minimal shrinkage."
• Sizing recommendations: If exact shrinkage amounts are unknown, subtly suggest sizing up on your size chart for items made with high-shrinkage fabrics.some text
  • Phrase this as a general recommendation for comfort: "For a slightly looser fit in 100% cotton items, consider sizing up."
• Care instructions: Emphasize proper care instructions on product pages and with the shipped item to minimize customer-error related shrinkage.

You’ll likely still encounter complaints that stem from customer-inflicted shrinkage. But including this information reduces those chances and ensures that you did everything on your part.

We have one more tip.

7. One-Size-Fits-All Clothing vs. Multiple-Size Clothing

"One-size-fits-all" items often lead to higher return rates due to inconsistent fit across different body types. This translates to increased costs and customer dissatisfaction. That’s because they rely on stretchy fabrics, loose cuts, or adjustable elements for flexibility.

This may work well for some body types but not others.

Offering traditional sizing (S, M, L, etc.) provides a more precise fit, reducing the chance of returns and complaints related to the garment not fitting as expected.

That’s it for the tips. Let’s dive into taking clothing measurements.

How to Take Measurements for Clothing

Here’s how to take measurements for clothing if you’re doing it yourself:

• Bust: Measure around the fullest part of the chest.
• Waist: Measure at the narrowest part of the natural waist.
• Hips: Measure around the fullest part of the hips.
• Inseam: Measure from crotch to desired length.
• Other Considerations:some text
  • Shoulder width
  • Sleeve length
  • Garment length (top and bottom)

Here’s a great video that I found that illustrates taking measurements for clothing:

Now that you have your measurements, you’ll need to make clothing size charts. Shopify stores have access to apps, which’ll make this easier.

I’ll provide recommendations for good apps in the next section.

Best Paid & Free Shopify Apps to Convert Asian Size to US Size

Do you run a Shopify storefront? Consider these apps that’ll make the process much easier (and more beautiful):

• AVADA Size Chart - Size Guide: Create unlimited customizable size charts for different product categories.
• Size Matters: Simple setup for creating clean and customizable size charts quickly.
• Kiwi Size Chart & Recommender: Offers pop-up size charts and advanced size recommendation features for customers.
• BF - Size Charts & Size Guides: Focuses on beautiful, mobile-friendly size charts with handy image zoom feature.
• VDR Size Suggestion: Includes smart size recommendation algorithms and collects customer feedback to improve suggestions.

Like most apps, these have a free trial period, then require a subscription fee. These apps add up quickly and will cut into your profits. Moreover, I’d rather put in a bit of extra work to make my own size charts using tables.

Will they look ugly? Yeah. Later on, you could hire a coder to fix the appearance.

Or you could make your own size chart. Here’s a video I found on how to do this:

Otherwise, that’s it for this guide. Hope this helps.

FAQs for Asian Size to US Size

Read on to find frequently asked questions about converting Asian clothing sizes to US sizes.

Why Are Asian Clothing Sizes Smaller Than US Sizes?

Asian body types tend to be more petite with shorter limbs and torsos. Also, Asian fashion often favors a slimmer, more tailored silhouette compared to the looser fits often preferred in the US.

Conclusion

Clothing sizes in Asia are typically smaller than sizes found in the US because close-fitting clothing is popular in Asia. Moreover, those living in Asia typically have more petite builds. Thus, when selling to Americans, you will need to recommend sizing up the clothing you’re selling from Asia.

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