The rule that replaces every size chart
Chinese apparel sizes are not standardised across sellers. One seller's XL is another seller's L, and both are smaller than a US L. The only reliable method is to compare measurements in centimetres against a garment you own and like. Everything else in this guide is a shortcut for when you cannot get measurements, and a list of the places where the shortcuts fail.
Measure your own clothes flat: chest width (armpit to armpit), body length (shoulder seam to hem), shoulder width (seam to seam), sleeve length, and for pants, waist flat, hip, thigh, inseam and total length. Keep those numbers in a note; you will use them on every order.
Rough conversions when you have nothing else
Use these to pick a starting size, then confirm with measurements. They are approximate and skew to the common case; oversized streetwear cuts break them in one direction and slim athletic cuts in the other.
| CN label | Typical US equivalent | Typical EU equivalent | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| M | XS–S | 44–46 | Often a US XS in chest |
| L | S | 46–48 | |
| XL | M | 48–50 | The most common mismatch: XL is not large |
| 2XL | L | 50–52 | |
| 3XL | XL | 52–54 | |
| 4XL | XXL | 54–56 | Rarely stocked on streetwear listings |
How to ask for measurements through USFans
On the USFans product page, use the message or question option to send a note to support for the seller. Keep it to one line and ask for specific numbers: "Please ask the seller for chest width, body length and shoulder width in cm for size XL." Replies come back through USFans, usually within a day in Chinese business hours. If the seller does not answer, that is information too; sellers who answer measurement questions tend to be the ones who handle exchanges.
Many listings have a size chart as one of the images. Those charts are often generic templates reused across products; treat them as a starting point. When the chart and the seller disagree, the seller is right.
Pitfalls by category
The spreadsheet covers eight apparel and footwear categories, and each has a characteristic sizing failure.
| Category | Where it goes wrong | What to ask for |
|---|---|---|
| Sneakers | CN length sizing; a 44 varies by seller by up to a full size | Foot length in cm for the size; or the EU size on the box label |
| T-shirts | Short body length on "oversized" cuts; narrow chest on regular cuts | Chest width and length in cm |
| Hoodies | Slim vs oversized under the same name; short sleeves | Chest, length, sleeve length |
| Jackets | Narrow shoulders; puffers sized for layering vs not | Shoulder width and chest; whether the size allows a hoodie underneath |
| Pants | CN 30 is not a US 30 waist; short inseams | Waist flat, hip, thigh, inseam, total length |
| Tracksuits | Sized to the top; pants come out short | Measurements for both pieces; give your height and weight |
| Jerseys | Player editions are slim and small; fan editions loose | Chest and length; whether it is player or fan edition |
| Belts and accessories | Belts sold by "size" not length | Belt length in cm from buckle to middle hole |
Sneakers in more detail
Sneaker listings on Weidian typically show a CN size range (like 36–46) and sometimes a US or EU equivalent. The mapping the seller uses is not always the brand's own, and the sheet cannot tell you which chart applies. Ask for the insole length or the foot length recommendation in centimetres for the size you are choosing, and compare with a pair you own of the same model. Wide feet: ask whether the seller offers half sizes; many do not, and rounding down on a slim last is a return waiting to happen.
When the size is wrong at QC
The QC photos include the size tag, and you can ask for a tape-measure shot of the chest or length. If the item is not the size you ordered, ask USFans to return it to the seller for an exchange; sellers accept this for their own error, sometimes with a domestic shipping deduction. If it is the size you ordered and simply small, the seller may still exchange, but the domestic shipping is usually on you. Either way it is a matter of days and a few yuan. After shipping, it is a matter of weeks and not worth it.
Every return that starts with "I went by the letter size" could have been avoided by one message asking for centimetres. Send the message.
Questions
Should I always size up on USFans?
As a default for tees, hoodies and pants, yes, by one label size. But confirm with measurements; oversized cuts can run true and sizing up gives you a tent.
Are CN sneaker sizes the same as EU?
Close but not the same, and sellers use different charts. Ask for foot length in cm for the size you want.
What if the seller does not answer a measurement question?
Pick another listing for the same item, or order the size the chart suggests plus one and accept the risk. A seller who ignores questions will also ignore an exchange request.
Do jerseys run small?
Player editions do, noticeably: a CN XL is close to a European M. Fan editions are looser. The listing usually says which; if not, ask.
Can I exchange for a different size after delivery?
Not realistically. International return shipping costs more than most items in the sheet. Exchanges are for the warehouse stage.
Sources
Use it with the finds
The 8,300+ finds on the USFans spreadsheet are where these steps get applied. Start with pants & shorts: 1,246 finds.