When selling clothing online, one of the most frustrating experiences for customers is receiving an item that doesn’t fit as expected. Inconsistent sizing can lead to lost sales, returns, and unhappy customers. That’s why having an accurate size guide for your garments is essential. In this post, we’ll walk you through the steps to measure a garment correctly and create a precise size guide for your clothing line.

Step 1: Determine the Key Measurement Points 

To build trust with customers and reduce returns, your size guide must reflect accurate measurements. Incorrect size charts not only create customer dissatisfaction but can also cost you time and money. Properly measuring your garments ensures your customers make confident purchases and helps you streamline your process.

Step 2: Supplies You’ll Need 

 • Flexible measuring tape

 • Pen and paper (to record measurements)

 • A large, flat surface (such as a table or clean floor) to lay the garment flat

Step 3: Measuring Your Garments 

Different garments require different measurement points. Here are the key areas to focus on when measuring your clothing:

 • Bust: For tops, the bust measurement is critical. Measure around the fullest part of the chest, keeping the tape parallel to the ground.

 • Waist: This measurement is essential for pants, shorts, skirts, and dresses. Measure around the natural waistline, which is usually above the belly button.

 • Hip: For bottom garments like pants and skirts, measure around the fullest part of the hips, ensuring the tape is parallel to the floor.

 • Sleeve Length: For jackets, coats, and tops, measure from the center back of the neck to the wrist while placing your hand on your hip.

 • Shoulder Width: For jackets and tops, measure from one shoulder bone to the other, across the back of the neck.

 • Inseam: For pants, measure from the crotch to the bottom hem of the pant leg.

 • High Point Shoulder (HPS) to Hem: For shirts or tops, measure from the highest point of the shoulder to the hem.

Tips for Measuring Difficult Clothing Items 

Certain items may be trickier to measure, but these tips can help:

 • Underwear and Swimwear: Measure the bust, waist, hips, and length. Make sure these measurements are added to your spec sheet.

 • Pants: Lay them flat, smooth out wrinkles, measure the waist, and then measure the inseam by folding the pants and measuring from the crotch to the hem.

 • Skirts: Measure the waistband first, then measure the length from the waistband to the hem.

Provide Visual Aids 

To make the measuring process easier for customers, consider including images or videos showing the correct measurement points. This helps customers visualize the process and ensures they measure accurately.

Creating Your Size Chart 

Once you’ve measured your garments, it’s time to create a size chart. Your chart should include all the key measurement points for each size, clearly labeled to avoid confusion. Tailor the chart to your target audience and the specific type of clothing you sell.

Use a Technical Design Service 

If you’re struggling to create an accurate size chart, a technical design service can help. Many manufacturers offer technical design support, especially if you’ve provided top-of-production samples or production-ready patterns. These experts specialize in creating precise size charts that reflect your target market’s needs.

In Conclusion 

Accurate measurements are key to creating a size guide that works for both you and your customers. By understanding and measuring the right points for each garment and offering clear visual aids, you’ll provide customers with reliable sizing information and reduce returns. An accurate size chart leads to happier customers and fewer headaches, making it a critical part of running a successful online clothing business.