Chinese vs Western clothing sizes: a men's fit guide
If you usually wear a Small, buying a jacket with an L on the label can feel wrong. With some Chinese clothing brands, it may be the right choice.
Chinese clothing sizes can run one or two sizes smaller than the US, Australian or UK sizes you are used to. But the difference varies by garment. Some need no adjustment, and the jump from one size to the next can be different too. The examples here cover men's shirts and jackets.
At Hidden Stitch Supply, we standardise our website sizes to average US sizing. If you consistently wear the same US size, chances are that size will be a good fit here too. Check the fit notes for each product, as a slim shirt will feel different from a roomy jacket.
For the best result, measure a similar garment you already own that fits you well, then compare it with the dimensions in the size guide on the product page.
We also show the original garment label alongside the website size where they differ. Here are three examples from the store.
How we convert Chinese clothing sizes to US sizes
These examples show what you receive when you select S (US) on our website:
| Product | Website size | Label inside the garment |
|---|---|---|
| Maden Grey Cotton Flannel Shirt | S (US) | M |
| Maden 13 oz Canvas Chore Coat | S (US) | L |
| Maden 13.5 oz Natural Cotton Chore Coat | S (US) | S |
The grey flannel uses a one-size adjustment. The canvas chore coat uses two. The natural chore coat keeps the same size.
All three are from Maden. Even within one brand, you cannot assume that the same letter means the same fit.
These are the size mappings for these particular products. They are not a conversion chart for every Chinese garment. The flannel is also a slim fit: if you want a regular fit, its product page advises going up one website size, then checking the measurements.
When shopping with us, use the website size and its size guide. Do not add another one or two sizes just because the garment is Chinese. Any label adjustment shown in the guide has already been made.
Why the gap between Chinese and US sizes can grow
Moving from M to L does not always add the same amount of room. Clothing makers call this grading: how the measurements change between sizes.
Our Maden Grey Cotton Flannel size guide shows a 4 cm increase around the chest with each size. That adds just 2 cm to the width when the shirt is laid flat.
For a Western comparison, Taylor Stitch's Utility Shirt adds about 5.1 cm around the chest from S to M and M to L. From L to XL and XL to XXL, it adds about 7.6 cm per size. The figures below use its published Utility Shirt garment size chart, converted from inches.
| Original shirt label | Maden Grey Flannel chest, cm (in) | Taylor Stitch Utility Shirt chest, cm (in) |
|---|---|---|
| S | 99 (39.0) | 106.7 (42) |
| M | 103 (40.6) | 111.8 (44) |
| L | 107 (42.1) | 116.8 (46) |
| XL | 111 (43.7) | 124.5 (49) |
| 2XL / XXL | 115 (45.3) | 132.1 (52) |
These are full measurements around the garment, not the wearer's chest. The Maden column uses the original sewn labels, not our website sizes.
The difference grows from 7.7 cm at S to 17.1 cm at XXL. These shirts have different cuts, so this is a comparison of their measurements and size steps, not a direct fit conversion or a rule for all Western brands.
This is why “always go up two sizes” can fail. A conversion that gets you close at the smaller end may leave you short of room at the larger end.
Our canvas chore coat also increases by 4 cm around the chest per size. Check its jacket measurements separately, allowing for the layers you want underneath.
Why “Asian sizing” is not a reliable conversion
Chinese and other Asian clothing sizes can be inconsistent between brands and between products. “Asian sizing” is too broad to tell you how a particular shirt or jacket will fit. Western labels vary too.
Even international brands can use different sizing between markets. UNIQLO Australia advises checking product measurements when buying after an overseas purchase, because fits and sizes can differ by country.
A slim shirt, a boxy chore coat and a roomy overshirt can all carry an M label while having quite different measurements. The country where a garment is made does not tell you which fit or size system the brand uses.
If you are converting Chinese sizes to Australian, UK or US sizes, treat any general conversion chart as a starting point. Use the chart for the actual product before ordering.
What is a Chinese XL in US sizing?
There is no single answer. On our Maden canvas chore coat, a sewn XL corresponds to M (US). On the natural chore coat, a sewn XL stays XL (US). Both are jackets from the same brand. Check the product's own mapping rather than assuming that Chinese XL always means US Medium or Large.
What does 175/96A mean on a Chinese size label?
China has a national sizing standard for men's clothing. You may see a code such as 175/96A alongside a letter size. For a men's top:
- 175 refers to an intended wearer around 175 cm tall.
- 96 refers to a body chest measurement around 96 cm.
- A is a body-shape category based on the difference between chest and waist measurements.
These codes describe the intended wearer, not the finished garment. The Suzhou market regulator's guide to clothing labels explains the height, body-size and shape system.
Our grey flannel's L label includes 175/96A, but the shirt itself measures 107 cm around the chest. The extra room allows the garment to sit around the body. This is why a body-size label and a garment size chart can show different numbers without either being wrong.
How to choose your size
Start with your usual US size, then compare a similar garment you already enjoy wearing with the measurements on the product page.
- Lay it flat and fasten it. Smooth the fabric without stretching it.
- Measure across the chest. Follow the size guide's measuring method. If the chart gives the full chest circumference, double your flat chest measurement. Use the same units on both sides of the comparison: centimetres or inches.
- Check the other measurements. Compare shoulders, sleeve length and body length too. A shirt can fit around your chest and still be too short. Check where each measurement starts: a sleeve measured from the centre of the neck is different from one measured from the shoulder seam.
- Compare like with like. Use a shirt to check a shirt, and a jacket to check a jacket. For outerwear, choose one that already fits over your usual layers.
- Read the fit notes. Slim cuts, dropped shoulders and shorter bodies affect how a garment wears.
For example, a shirt measuring 56 cm across the chest has a full garment chest of about 112 cm. Compare that with a garment chart, rather than treating it as a 112 cm body-chest measurement. Clothing needs room for movement.
If you fall between sizes, compare both rows rather than automatically choosing the larger one. Extra chest room may suit you, but check what it adds to the sleeves and body length too.
Our size guides allow 1–2 cm for manual measurement variation. You can find more instructions in our clothing measurement guide.
If you are unsure between two sizes, contact me with the product name and the measurements of a similar garment that fits you well. Tell me whether you want a close fit or more room, and I can help you compare.