Kakobuy Sizing Guide: How to Order the Right Size Every Time (2026)

The single most common Kakobuy mistake is not a bad seller or a lost parcel — it is ordering the wrong size. Chinese sizing runs small and inconsistent: an "XL" on one Taobao listing can fit like a Western M. This guide shows how spreadsheet buyers order the right size on the first try, then use Kakobuy QC to confirm it before paying international freight.

Rule #1: Ignore the Letters, Trust the Centimeters

S / M / L / XL mean almost nothing across Chinese sellers — each store sets its own standard. Every serious Taobao and Weidian listing includes a centimeter size chart (look for 尺码表), usually as an image at the bottom of the description. That chart is the truth; the letter is marketing.

Golden rule: match your cm measurements to the seller's cm chart — never letter to letter.

Rule #2: Measure a Garment You Already Own

The most reliable trick is not measuring your body — it is measuring a piece of clothing that already fits you well. Lay it flat and measure in centimeters:

Tops

• Chest (胸围): armpit to armpit, then ×2 for circumference
• Shoulder (肩宽): seam to seam across the back — the number that decides drape
• Length (衣长): top of shoulder to hem
• Sleeve (袖长): shoulder seam to cuff

Bottoms

• Waist (腰围): across the flat waistband ×2
• Hip (臀围): widest point ×2
• Length (裤长): waist to hem
• Thigh (大腿围): widest point ×2

Then compare those numbers directly to the listing chart. Two measurements matter most: chest + length for tops, waist + hip for bottoms.

Rule #3: Add the Right Ease

Listing measurements are usually the garment size, not your body. Leave room to move:

Fit you want	Add to your body chest
Slim fit	+4–6 cm
Regular fit	+8–12 cm
Oversized (intentional)	+15 cm or more

Cross-check the shoulder: if the chart shoulder is >2 cm wider than yours it looks slouchy; >4 cm reads oversized; narrower than yours will be tight.

When you are between sizes, size up. Chinese clothing runs tight — the larger option is almost always the safer bet.

Rule #4: Decode CN Tags (like 170/92A)

Garments often ship with a number-letter tag instead of S/M/L. It is height/chest based:

CN Tag	Rough US	Chest (cm)
155/80A	XS	78–82
160/84A	S	82–86
165/88A	M	86–90
170/92A	L	90–94
175/96A	XL	94–98
180/100A	XXL	98–102

Treat these as a starting point calibrated for Chinese body types — always confirm against the seller's actual cm chart.

Shoes: A Completely Different System

Do not trust the US/EU conversions printed on the page — they are often wrong. Chinese shoe sizing is based on foot length in centimeters:

1. Measure your bare foot heel-to-toe in cm (do it in the evening when feet are largest)
2. Match that cm value directly to the listing's foot-length column
3. If you are between, size up — reps and Chinese lasts often run narrow/short

Traditional Units You Might See

Some listings still use 尺 (chǐ) for waist:

• 1 尺 ≈ 33.3 cm
• 2.2 尺 ≈ 73 cm waist
• 2.3 尺 ≈ 76–77 cm waist

Rule #5: Let Kakobuy QC Confirm the Fit

This is the spreadsheet buyer's superpower. When the item lands in the warehouse, your 7 free QC photos show tags and garment measurements. Use them:

• Compare the QC tag/size against what you ordered
• If unsure, request extra photos (¥1 each) with a tape measure
• If it is wrong, exchange or reject while still in China — see the Returns & Exchanges Guide

Fixing a size in China is cheap. Fixing it after export almost never is. Review the full workflow in the QC Photos Guide.

Common Sizing Mistakes

• Reading letters instead of cm charts
• Reading cm as inches (always confirm the unit)
• Forgetting ease — ordering your exact body chest with zero room
• Trusting page US/EU shoe conversions instead of foot-length cm
• Approving QC without checking the size tag
• Ordering multiples of a store before a single test fit

How Sizing Fits the Spreadsheet Workflow

1. Find the item on the Kakobuy Spreadsheet
2. Open the cm size chart on the Taobao/Weidian listing
3. Measure a garment you own and add ease
4. Order the matched size (size up if between)
5. Check QC photos for the size tag and measurements
6. Exchange or reject if it is off — before consolidation and shipping

FAQ

Is Taobao sizing the same as US sizing?
No, and there is no fixed conversion. Always compare cm measurements to each seller's chart.

What does "均码 / Free Size" mean?
One size fits most — often a Western S–M. Only order it if the listed cm range matches you.

Should I size up or down for reps?
Size up when between sizes; Chinese cuts and rep lasts tend to run small.

Can Kakobuy measure the item for me?
Yes — request additional QC photos with a tape measure before you approve shipment.

Why did my "XL" arrive tiny?
Because letter sizes are meaningless across sellers. Trust the cm chart, not the letter.

Bottom Line

Sizing is where most Kakobuy Spreadsheet hauls go wrong — and it is completely avoidable. Ignore the letters, measure a garment you own, add the right ease, decode the cm chart and CN tag, and let your free QC photos confirm the fit before anything ships. Do that, and "wrong size" stops being the reason your haul disappoints.