Acquiring any product from the internet has always been a great challenge, since there is a possibility that you will not like it when you have it in your hands, or that it will get lost along the way. When it comes to buying clothes, shoes or other accessories from China, these insecurities increase, because you face one of the most common and persistent fears: the fact that the products purchased are not the required size, that therefore the money is lost and with it, the illusions of using that nice outfit in an outing or special occasion.
It is important to be accurate when choosing your size because the issue of returns, for any mistake made on your part, would make the dispute more complicated and you would not have the right to ask for a refund.
That’s why today we are going to present you a guide of reference sizes for AliExpress, based on the experience and comments of other buyers, in order to help you make the right choice and avoid making mistakes.
To see AliExpress’ own size approximations explanation, you can click on the link we left for you.
Clothing
When it comes to buying clothes through online platforms such as AliExpress, we refer to one of the biggest shopping challenges, as the issue of sizing often brings multiple difficulties. Many sellers use American sizing (sizes 0 to 18 for the top or 26 to 38 for the bottom), some use European sizes (32 to 48) and others use standard or Asian sizing (S / M / L / XL).
But how do you know which size is really the most appropriate?
Option 1: You can be guided by the size equivalence table below.
Option 2: Many sellers on the AliExpress platform, leave a conversion of sizes to centimeters in the product description box, which you can use to compare with your body measurements.
To find out how much the clothes measure in centimeters, just click on the item you want to buy and then click on “Size information” to see more calmly the varieties of sizes available.
How to take your body measurements?
According to our criteria, the best way to get your clothes right is to use a tape measure to get your measurements.
- Shoulder: size of the circumference of the shoulders, with the arms closed.
- Chest: pass the tape under the armpits and measure the contour in the widest area of the chest.
- Length: refers to the vertical length of the garment, whether it is a shirt, dress or pants. It is used to compare with a similar garment.
- Sleeve: in this case it is the measurement of the sleeve, important if it is long sleeve. A similar garment is worth looking at.
- Waist: Measure around the height where you normally wear pants. Don’t pull the tape too tight. It is recommended to put a finger between the tape measure and your body.
- Hip: Measure around the widest part of the hip.
- Thigh: Measure around the fullest part of the thigh.
Measures for men
Measures for women
Underwear
To find the correct underwear size, you should use the same system for measuring clothing. Many times the product description will show exactly how much the garment measures in a specific area. Just compare your measurements with the product.
Bras
If you are a woman, the general measurements you should take into account are: the bust area and under the bust.
Pantyhose and panties
The standard measurements that you should take into consideration are the waist and the widest part of the hip, as shown in the photo.
Shoes and socks
As in other cases, most AliExpress sellers put the equivalent in centimeters in the item description or in the “More information about sizes” box. You will need to measure your foot and compare your proportions with the centimeters of the shoes or socks and check which size fits you best.
How to measure the foot?
- Place your foot on a sheet of paper and mark the outline of your foot.
- Once marked, measure the length between the heel and the tip of the big toe (or the longest toe).
- And voila!
Follow the instructions and be guided by the image.
Also, with a sheet of paper under your foot you can lean your heel against the wall and mark (making only one mark). Then, you will go to the seller’s table and choose your size. If you are in between two sizes, choose the larger one.
Children
If buying clothes for adults can sometimes be difficult, for children it is even more difficult. And if you only make a gift without knowing the exact dimensions of the child, it can be a real headache. But don’t worry, we are here to help you. Here we bring you a series of recommendations to help you make the right purchase.
Children and baby clothing
Do not buy a garment relying only on equivalences. In the product description you will find instructions from the seller to measure your child and make sure you get the size right. Also, as in the case of shoes, a good solution would be to add one more centimeter to the size you decide to buy, because, remember that children grow very fast, so you can be sure that it will not be too small.
Shoes for children and babies
In the case of shoes for children and babies, the system is the same as in the adult shoes that we have explained above, that is to say, the sizing can come in different formats – American, European or Chinese. But our recommendation is that, if possible, you should measure your child’s foot. Likewise, from the heel to the long toe add another centimeter, as we know that babies and children grow very fast. This way you can make sure that the shoes will not be too small, and if they are a little big, there is no problem because very soon they will fit exactly.
Here you have the equivalences with the sizes:
Accessories: other sizes
The AliExpress product catalog is quite extensive, and surely more than once you have wanted to buy accessories that complement your daily outfits and you do not know what size would work for you. We will show you a way to choose the sizes of your accessories more accurately.
Rings
In the AliExpress jewelry section you will find a wide variety of fine items, delicate jewelry sets, elegant earrings and beautiful rings for casual and engagement wear, but the best of all is that you will get all this and much more at very low prices.
As far as measurements are concerned, AliExpress jewelry uses American sizes.
Furthermore, if you can’t find the correct size, you can choose to measure the circumference of your finger with a tape measure.
And to know then what size exactly corresponds to the centimeters of your finger, we will leave you the following reference image with the equivalence. You can find out more in our article dedicated specifically to ring sizes.
Watches
In the case of watches, they do not come in sizes (S, M, L, XL), however, the important thing is that you look at the size. This information usually appears on the box: it can be on the back or within the specifications found inside the box.
You should also take into account the size of the strap, as sometimes the case of the watch can be of a suitable size and the strap too short or vice versa. In many watches there are versions for men and women with different case diameters and strap lengths.
Gloves
If you want to buy a pair of gloves, everything will depend on the use you are going to give them, because if you want to use them for cycling, tactical exercises, or other activities, the fabric or material they are made of greatly influences the size and final functionality. Even if they are made of elastic fabric and fit your hand, if you buy them too big, they will not give you the necessary motor skills for training. Conversely, if they are too small, your hand may simply not fit, or they may fit but impede the normal flow of circulation, which would be too counterproductive.
On the other hand, if you need them to protect your hands from the cold because they look nice or just to show them off on a special night, it wouldn’t matter if they were a little baggy.
To know the size of your hands, and based on that make a more accurate purchase, you will need a tape measure.
- With the help of this, you will get the measurements of your wrist circumference.
- Next, measure the distance from your wrist to your middle finger.
- Then, from the knuckle of your middle finger to the end of it.
Glasses or sunglasses
On AliExpress, all products have a product description section. Our recommendation is that, before buying your glasses, you check the dimensions of all its parts (you will surely find them in the aforementioned section). If it does not appear, in this case, the most prudent thing would be for you to contact the seller and request all the necessary information.
Bags and briefcases
As in the previous case, here the most prudent thing would be that in the “description” section of the product you consult the exact measurements of the handles or handles of the accessory you want to buy and that it adapts well to your height and needs. In this feature, depth also enters, because you should see if it is big enough to carry your laptop or if it has enough pockets and compartments to help you organize your makeup kit.
Frequently asked questions and tips
Next, we will present some aspects that you should take into account when buying, so you will avoid any inconvenience and future headaches.
- Chinese sizing is smaller than Western sizing.
- Sizes are not always in Chinese format: remember that although most sellers in the platform are Chinese, they can use other types of size formats, such as American or European, often more the former, since they are focused on the international market.
- Sizing varies depending on the seller: as there is no uniform sizing system on AliExpress, you should always make sure the size will fit you by measuring your body as specified above.
- Look at the product sheet: cas we showed you in previous sections, in the information box of sizes or description of the product you will find the measurements of the piece in centimeters, so you will know exactly its diameter.
If you log in through the app, the product size information box looks like this:
And, finally, you will be able to appreciate the measurements in centimeters of the sizes.
Do you still have doubts about the size?
If after reading this extensive and detailed information guide you still have too many doubts about the size, you can opt for contact the seller.
Keep in mind that the supplier wants you to get the size right the first time to avoid returns or bad ratings, so he will surely be quite helpful in helping you choose the right size.
You can also look at consumer reviews, as they will usually give an indication of whether the sizes actually run a bit larger or smaller than what is listed on the charts (this also applies to clothing sizes), as well as give you more realistic notions about the physical appearance of the product (through the photos that some place). You’ll also get an idea of how compliant and responsible the seller is.
Is it possible to change the size of the garment once purchased?
As we have mentioned in most of our informative articles, it is convenient that before completing any transaction, we are in agreement on ALL the specifications of the product that we are going to acquire: size, color , dimensions, etc This is to avoid opening a dispute, because in addition to having a hard time with the buyer, if the mistake regarding the size was yours, you will not be able to do anything and you will not win the dispute.
However, for some time now, sellers can be found offering free returns on AliExpress for their products. If this is your case, you can return your purchase without problems.
A very different situation is that you have taken the measurements, made the comparison and the diameter of the garment that came into your hands is very different from those announced by the seller. If the problem is this, we recommend you open a dispute on AliExpress, claiming that shipping it is very expensive and it’s not your fault.
Finally, add photos of the garment being measured to your dispute and a screenshot of the seller’s measurement chart.
Normally, there are many concerns that can arise when making purchases online. Luckily, we are here to help you! We invite you, if you like, to visit our other informative articles, where you will clear all your doubts so that you learn to navigate AliExpress like an expert.