Creating Easy-to-Read Size Charts
Jan 12, 2025
When selling clothing or shoes online, one of the most overlooked yet powerful tools for reducing returns is a clear, easy-to-read size chart. Buyers who know that an item will fit before purchasing are far less likely to send it back, which saves you time, money, and headaches. A thoughtfully constructed chart leads to higher customer satisfaction, fewer disputes, and better reviews for your store.
Why Size Charts Matter in Reselling
Returns are one of the biggest challenges online resellers face. According to multiple ecommerce studies, fit-related issues are the number one driver of returns in apparel and footwear. A size chart bridges the information gap between the buyer and the product. Instead of guessing whether a "Medium" runs large or small, buyers can compare their body or shoe measurements with your chart for accuracy.
Essential Elements of a Clothing Size Chart
When designing a size chart for clothing, consider including:
Chest/Bust: Measured at the fullest part of the chest.
Waist: Measured around the natural waistline.
Hip: Measured at the fullest part of the hips.
Inseam: For pants, the length from crotch to ankle.
Sleeve length: From shoulder seam to cuff.
Each row of your chart should outline a size (e.g., Small, Medium, Large) along with the range of body measurements that fit it. This encourages customers to match their actual sizes rather than gamble based on labels.
Essential Elements of a Shoe Size Chart
Shoe sizes are notoriously inconsistent across regions and brands. To improve accuracy, include:
US, UK, and EU Conversion: Many buyers shop internationally and want cross-references.
Foot length in centimeters or inches: Helps buyers measure at home for accuracy.
Width indicators: Marking narrow, regular, or wide widths where applicable.
Providing conversion details and measurement instructions eliminates confusion and builds buyer trust.
Design Tips for Easy-to-Read Charts
Keep it simple: Avoid clutter. Rows and columns should be clean and well aligned.
Use consistent units: Choose between inches or centimeters but don’t mix them.
Contrast matters: Use high-contrast fonts and background colors to ensure readability.
Mobile-friendly: Charts should shrink neatly for phone users, since most buyers shop on mobile.
Provide measurement guidance: A small diagram showing how to measure chest, waist, or foot length adds clarity.
Reducing Returns Through Standardization
Once you’ve created a set of reliable size charts, don’t reinvent the wheel every time you list a product. Instead, store your charts in a central location and reuse them across multiple listings. Standardization ensures consistency and lessens the chance of errors creeping into your descriptions. Consistency builds trust with repeat buyers because they begin to rely on your measurements rather than vague manufacturer sizing.
Tools and Methods for Storing & Reusing Size Charts
Maintaining organized size charts not only saves you time but also improves your listings significantly. Here are a few approaches resellers can use:
Spreadsheet Templates: Create charts in Google Sheets or Excel and copy them directly into listings when needed.
Image Uploads: Convert charts into clean JPGs or PNGs using design tools like Canva. This way, you can upload to any platform as a product image.
Centralized Catalog Tools: Platforms such as Gavelbase allow resellers to centralize their product listing details, which makes it easy to keep reusable size chart templates on hand across multiple listings.
Regardless of method, the key is accessibility. If you spend more than a couple of minutes hunting for a chart, your process isn’t streamlined enough.
Actionable Process to Build and Reuse Charts
Research measurements: Take actual product measurements (not just labeled size) and compare them with standard sizing tables.
Create master charts: Group by product type—shirts, pants, jackets, sneakers, boots—so you can reuse them as templates.
Format multiple versions: Have both text-based and image-based copies to fit different sales platforms.
Store in a central folder: Use a shared cloud folder so charts are instantly accessible wherever you work.
Update as needed: If buyers report consistent differences (like pants running long), adjust your master chart accordingly.
Final Thoughts
A smart reseller knows that strong listings are not just about description and photos—they’re also about clear and honest sizing. Every return you prevent through an easy-to-read size chart is money saved and customer goodwill earned. The time investment in creating a standardized set of size charts pays off rapidly through fewer returns, higher ratings, and repeat buyers who trust your accuracy.