A size chart tells shoppers how big each size of your garment really is, so they can pick the right one before they buy. It is one of the simplest ways to cut returns, because wrong size and bad fit are among the most common reasons clothes get sent back.
This guide explains what to put in a size chart, how to get the numbers from your sample, and how to present them clearly. When you're ready, our free size chart maker turns it into an image or a Shopify table in a few minutes.
In this guide
Size chart vs tech pack: what's the difference?
Garment measurements or body measurements?
What to include for each garment
How to get your numbers
Centimetres, inches and rounding
Laid flat or all the way around?
Where to put your size chart
Common size chart mistakes
Make yours with the free size chart maker
Size chart vs tech pack: what's the difference?
Your tech pack is for the factory. It lists every point of measure (often 10 or more), how much each one changes per size, and how far the factory can be off (the tolerance).
Your size chart is for shoppers. It shows only the three to six measurements that help someone choose a size, in plain words, without codes or tolerances. The numbers should come from the same place: your approved sample and its grading.
Garment measurements or body measurements?
A garment size chart gives the measurements of the clothing itself. A body size chart gives the body measurements each size is meant to fit.
For streetwear, garment measurements are usually more useful. A boxy tee is meant to be much wider than the body, so a body chart hides the fit you designed. Shoppers can also lay a tee they already own on a table and compare. Whatever you choose, say it clearly at the top of the chart.
What to include for each garment
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T-shirts and sweatshirts: chest, body length, shoulder and sleeve length.
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Hoodies and zip hoodies: the same as tops. Add hem width if the rib pulls in a lot.
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Pants and sweatpants: waist, hip, front rise, inseam and leg opening. Thigh is useful for wide or slim legs.
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Shorts: waist, hip, inseam and leg opening.
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Skirts: waist, hip and length.
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Dresses: bust, waist, hip and length.
How to get your numbers
Step 1
Measure your approved sample
Lay the garment flat on a table and smooth it out without stretching. Measure each point with a soft tape and write down the numbers for your sample size (usually M).
Step 2
Use your grading for the other sizes
Your tech pack or factory tells you how much each measurement changes per size. Example from our free boxy tee: chest width is 60 cm laid flat at M and changes by 3 cm per size, so S is 57 cm and L is 63 cm.
Step 3
Check a finished piece in each size
When bulk production arrives, measure one piece of every size. If the numbers moved, update the chart before you sell. The chart should match what shoppers receive.
Centimetres, inches and rounding
One inch is 2.54 cm. If you sell to the US, show inches; most other countries use centimetres. Many brands show both, or let shoppers switch.
Round sensibly: whole or half centimetres, and the nearest quarter or half inch. Shoppers don't need 60.35 cm.
Laid flat or all the way around?
A width measured with the garment laid flat is half of the full measurement. A 60 cm chest laid flat is 120 cm all the way around.
Both are fine, but shoppers mix them up. Label the chart clearly, for example "Chest (laid flat)", and add one line explaining how you measured.
Where to put your size chart
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On the product page, right next to the size selector.
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As one of the product images, so it also shows up on marketplaces and when people share the link.
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On Instagram, as the last image in a product post.
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On Shopify, as a table in the product description or through a size chart app.
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Add a short fit note too, such as "Boxy fit. Size down for a closer fit", and the model's height and the size they wear.
Common size chart mistakes
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Copying another brand's numbers instead of measuring your own garment.
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Not saying whether widths are laid flat or all the way around.
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Mixing body and garment measurements in one chart.
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Forgetting to update the chart after the factory changes something.
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Hiding the chart in a page shoppers never find.
Make yours with the free size chart maker
Pick a garment, check the measurements, choose cm or inches, and export a PNG, a Shopify table or a CSV. It starts from the graded measurements in our templates, so you only need to change the numbers that differ on your sample.