Finding XXL, big sizes and XS in a KakoBuy spreadsheet: chest maths, seller remarks and what a heavy parcel costs

Why the letter on a plus-size row tells you almost nothing

A size letter is a promise made by the seller, and sellers on Taobao, Weidian and 1688 use different patterns. One shop's XXL is another's XL. Chinese-market garments are frequently cut slimmer than US or EU sizing, and listings may also use number labels such as 175/96A, where the first number is height in cm and the second is chest in cm. For big sizes and for XS, the safe move is to treat the letter as a rough hint and rely on centimetres.

That is why a KakoBuy spreadsheet row with only "S–5XL" is incomplete. A complete row gives a garment chart: chest, length, shoulder and sleeve for each size. If it is missing, look in the seller's photos for a chart image, and ask for one in the order remarks. A single wrong size costs you a return fee, a delay and a second shipping bill, which is much more than the time spent measuring.

Replace the size letter with a chest number in centimetres, every time.

Measuring a garment you already own

The most accurate size tool is something already in your wardrobe. Choose a hoodie, tee or pair of trousers that fits the way you want the new item to fit, lay it flat on a bed, and record five numbers. Our KakoBuy size sheet CSV has a ready table with a column for your garment, a column for the seller's chart value and a difference column.

1. Chest (pit to pit): measure straight across from one armpit seam to the other, flat. Double it for the circumference.
2. Body length: highest shoulder point down to the hem.
3. Shoulder width: from seam to seam across the back.
4. Sleeve: shoulder seam to cuff.
5. Trousers: waistband width doubled, inseam, thigh and leg opening.

Then compare with the seller's chart. A difference of 2 cm in chest is noticeable; 4 cm is a different size. If you are between two sizes on a stretch-free fabric such as heavy cotton twill, take the larger one. If you are between two sizes on a stretchy rib or jersey, either can work. Remember that a hoodie fits looser on purpose, so do not match a hoodie's chest to a tight tee's.

Match your own garment's flat chest to the seller's chart; a 4 cm gap means choose another size.

Chest-to-label table (approximate)

The table maps a body chest measurement to the label sizes you are likely to meet, and shows the flat chest width a regular-fit top would need. We calculated flat widths by adding assumed ease (10 cm for regular fit, 14 cm for a relaxed hoodie fit) to body chest and halving it. Labels vary by seller, so use the table for orientation only, not for ordering.

Use it backwards too. If the seller's XXL chart says 57 cm flat and your measured pit-to-pit is 58 cm on a hoodie you love, that XXL will fit closer than you want; the 3XL, at 59 cm or more, is the safer pick. For XS, the first rows of the table show how small the numbers get, and why a body under about 88 cm chest should check body length as well, because shorter people sometimes find length, not chest, is the problem.

When your measurements span a range, do not choose the smaller size because the larger one "looks too big" on the label. The shipping weight difference between neighbouring sizes is small, so the larger size costs little extra to send.

Treat the table as a starting range and confirm with the seller's centimetre chart.

Asking the seller through order remarks

You cannot message most Taobao or Weidian sellers directly from a spreadsheet row, but KakoBuy has a remarks box on orders. Its help pages show remarks used for service requests such as packing and photo instructions, so it is the logical place for a size question. Keep it short, in plain English, and ask one thing at a time.

• Chart request: "Please confirm flat chest width in cm for size XXL, colour black."
• Stock check: "Is 3XL in stock? If not, please do not substitute."
• Fit note: "I need a relaxed fit; please choose the size with 59 cm flat chest or larger."

Sellers are not required to answer, and a remark that contradicts the listing can slow the order down. The decision should not rest on an answer you may not get. If the row has no chart at all, consider whether another row, such as those on the women's finds page, has the same item with a chart. You can also request extra photos once the item reaches the warehouse; KakoBuy prices personalised photos at ¥2 each, within 24 hours, and a tape measure laid across the chest is a fair request.

Ask for one number, flat chest in centimetres, and plan for a no-reply.

The 5-day exchange window and the first free exchange

Size mistakes are the most common reason for an exchange, so the rules deserve a precise reading. According to KakoBuy's help centre (read 12 October 2026), a return or exchange request has to be filed inside 5 days (120 hours) of stock-in, and only if the seller offers returns and the item is resalable. One help article mentions a 14-day window for items in warehouse status; we treat 5 days as the main rule and do not rely on the longer one.

The first return and first exchange each calendar month are free for non-Prime users. After that, the help centre lists tiered fees for returns (¥5 for the second to fifth, ¥10 for the sixth to ninth, ¥20 from the tenth) and higher fees for exchanges (¥10, ¥20, ¥40). Shipping to and from the seller applies in general, but if the seller made the mistake or the item has a quality fault, the customer does not pay. Tags removed, underwear, socks and custom-made items are excluded.

The practical plan is to measure the garment the moment the warehouse photos arrive, not at the end of your 100-day free storage. Day one matters because the 5-day clock starts at stock-in, not at parcel dispatch. The refunds and returns page has the full tier table.

Check size on day one of stock-in; waiting a week ends the exchange option.

Heavy-garment shipping example: two XXL hoodies and cargo pants

Big sizes weigh more, and heavier fabric adds again. Take a hypothetical order: two XXL hoodies at ¥300 each (750 g each) and one pair of XXL cargo pants at ¥240 (500 g), a total of 2,000 g and ¥840 of goods, about $117.60 at ¥1 ≈ $0.14. The ¥8 declaration adds $1.12. The official estimator gave these 2,000 g figures on 12 October 2026, with no dimensions entered:

Numbers aside, there are two points. First, a US buyer pays about $30 more than a German one for the same weight, so route choice is bigger than item choice. Second, a parcel over 10 kg is more likely to be treated as commercial, which is not an issue here; for heavier hauls see our shipping guide and the calculator. Hoodies are bulky, so check whether your chosen line bills volumetric weight, by multiplying the three outer dimensions in cm and dividing by the carrier's divisor, a figure between 5000 and 8000; the larger of that and the real weight is billed.

Pay per order: settle each item order at checkout and each parcel at submission, rather than leaving money in an agent account. A WhatsApp route exists if you prefer not to register: the QR is on the contact page.

Heavy plus-size hauls cost far more to ship than to buy per gram, so combine pieces into one parcel and pick the line first.

Questions buyers ask

Which measurement matters most for an XXL top?

Chest width, taken flat from armpit seam to armpit seam, and doubled. A listing that gives only S to 5XL letters is a guess. Measure a hoodie you already own that fits, subtract nothing, and compare with the seller's chart value in centimetres. If the seller's flat chest is under your own garment's, size up. Our size sheet CSV has a column for that comparison.

Do Chinese size labels run small for big frames?

Often, yes. Many Chinese-market garments are cut slimmer than US or EU ones, so an XL can match a US medium or large. The only reliable fix is measuring. Our table below maps body chest to likely labels, but it is approximate and every seller cuts differently. When a row has no centimetre chart, ask the seller through your order remarks before paying.

Can I ask the seller to check a size before KakoBuy buys it?

You can write a note in the order remarks, and KakoBuy's help pages show remarks being used for packing and service requests. Whether a given seller answers is up to them. Keep the question specific, such as chest flat width of the XXL in centimetres, and leave a spare day or two in your plan for a reply.

What if the XXL arrives too small?

Ask for an exchange inside KakoBuy's stated window of 5 days (120 hours) from stock-in, provided the seller accepts exchanges and the garment is resalable. The first exchange each calendar month is free; later ones follow a tiered fee starting at ¥10. Tags must stay on, so measure the garment without cutting labels.

Are plus-size rows more expensive to ship?

Yes, because heavier fabric and larger cuts add grams. Two XXL hoodies and one pair of cargo pants at 2,000 g quote $39.30 to Germany but $69.83 on KakoBuy's USPS Tax-Free Line, per its estimator on 12 October 2026. Shipping three items together is cheaper per piece than three small parcels.

How do XS rows differ from plus-size rows?

XS is the opposite risk: the garment can be smaller than the label suggests. Compare the flat chest and body length with your own piece, and expect ranges of about 49 to 51 cm flat chest for the smallest tops in our table. XS rows are light, so they usually fit the 500 g price bracket, which quotes $9.84 to the UK.