Measuring an Item Before You List It

A size on a label is a rough guide at best. A medium from one brand fits like a small from another, and a buyer who has been caught out before will either ask you or quietly move on. A few real measurements in the listing answer the question for them and make your item feel like a safer choice.

Measure flat, with a tape

Lay the item flat on a table, smooth it out and use a soft tape measure. You do not need many numbers. For tops and bras, the width across the chest. For bottoms and underwear, the waist across and the length. For shoes, the size on the label and the length of the insole. Two or three numbers are plenty.

Say how you measured

Write whether a measurement is across the item lying flat or all the way round. A buyer reading thirty five centimetres needs to know which it is, and saying so takes a few words. Use the units your buyers expect, and if you sell abroad, it does no harm to give both.

Mention stretch and wear

If the fabric has a lot of give, say so. If an item has been worn often and has softened or stretched, say that too. Honest detail is what makes a buyer trust the rest of your listing.

Keep a note for next time

If you sell the same style again and again, keep the measurements in a note and copy them across. It saves time and keeps your listings consistent.

Why it is worth the minute

Every question you answer in the listing is one less message to reply to, and every buyer who knows what will arrive is one less disappointed customer. Measurements are a small thing that quietly makes a shop look careful.