How to Add a Shopify Size Chart in 2026 (5 Easy Ways)

A Shopify size chart is a table that matches your product sizes to body or garment measurements, and adding one to your product pages reduces returns and wins hesitant shoppers. This guide covers what a size chart is, why it matters, the five ways to add one in Shopify, how to build a chart that actually cuts returns, and real examples to copy. I’m Charlie Ngo, Marketing Manager at BOGOS, and I’ve spent years helping Shopify merchants turn clear product-page detail into more sales.

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TL;DR

• A Shopify size chart matches each size to body or garment measurements, so shoppers pick the right fit the first time.
• Sizing problems cost you twice: returns eat margin, and unclear sizing makes uncertain shoppers leave without buying.
• You can add a size chart in five ways: a page plus a metafield, a pop-up, a theme with built-in support, an app, or custom code.
• The page-plus-metafield method needs no app and works on Dawn and most Shopify 2.0 themes.
• A chart only reduces returns when it is accurate, product-specific, and placed next to the size selector.

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1. What a Shopify size chart is

A Shopify size chart is a table that lists your product’s sizes next to the measurements each size is built to fit. Shoppers compare their own numbers to the chart and choose the right size before they buy.

Size charts come in two types, and many brands show both.

#1 Body measurement charts

Body measurement charts match each size to body dimensions like bust, waist, hip, and shoulder. This type helps first-time buyers who want to compare the numbers to their own body.

#2 Garment measurement charts

Garment measurement charts list the finished dimensions of the item itself, such as chest width flat, inseam, and leg opening. This type helps for styles where drape or ease matters, like oversized sweaters or denim, because shoppers can decide how much room they want.

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2. Why a size chart matters for your Shopify store

A size chart matters because sizing problems cost your store twice: through returns and through lost sales. Fixing sizing information solves both at once.

#1 Returns are a major cost for online stores

Returns are expensive and widespread. Total U.S. retail returns reached $890 billion in 2024, and retailers estimated 16.9% of annual sales would be returned, according to the National Retail Federation. The rate eases slightly in 2025, with NRF projecting 15.8%, but the cost stays high.

Apparel runs hotter than the average. Coresight Research put the online apparel return rate at 24.4%, and estimated $38 billion in apparel returns with $25 billion in processing costs. Every one of those returns is margin you already paid to acquire, which is why cutting returns sits at the center of any plan to increase sales on Shopify.

#2 Wrong size is the top reason apparel gets returned

Size and fit drive most apparel returns. McKinsey surveyed apparel companies and found 70% of returns were caused by poor fit or style. Note the exact wording: fit or style, not sizing alone.

Coresight adds a second data point from the merchant side. Size and fit were named the top reason for 53% of returns in its survey of U.S. apparel decision-makers. Consumer surveys agree, with a 2025 study of 6,000 shoppers reporting 61% had returned apparel because it did not fit, per Rithum.

#3 Poor sizing information also loses you sales

Unclear sizing does not only cause returns. It stops the sale before it happens. Baymard Institute found that 82% of apparel sites fail to provide sufficient sizing information, and 90% fail to let shoppers properly assess appearance, size, or fit. Baymard’s testing shows uncertain shoppers hesitate, and some leave the product page entirely to find sizing details, risking that they never come back.

This is where a size chart connects to your wider conversion rate work. A shopper who is confident in the size both buys and keeps the order. Once that confidence is in place, you can raise the value of the same cart with offer mechanics, such as the free gift with purchase automation and the spend-threshold cart progress bar in BOGOS, which reward shoppers for adding a little more.

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3. How to add a size chart in Shopify

There are five ways to add a size chart in Shopify: a page plus a metafield, a pop-up, a theme with built-in support, a size chart app, and custom code. Each has clear trade-offs, and the right one depends on your theme, your budget, and how many different charts you need.

Method 1: Use a page and a metafield (no app)

The page-plus-metafield method needs no app and works on Dawn and most Shopify 2.0 themes. It is the best free option for most stores.

• Step 1: Create the size chart page. In your Shopify admin, go to “Online Store”, then Pages, then Add page. Title it “Size chart” and add your chart as either a text table or an image. A text table is better, because Google can read it and it stays sharp on mobile.

• Step 2: Create a metafield. Go to Settings, then “Custom data”, then “Metafiels & Metaobjects“, then “Products” and “Add Definition”. Name it “Size chart” and set the type to Page. Save it.

• Step 3: Assign the chart to a product. Open the product, scroll to the Metafields section, and select the size chart page you created.

• Step 4: Show it on the product template. Go to “Online Store”, “Themes”, “Edit Theme”, and open your product template. Add a Collapsible row block under Product information, place it near the Buy buttons, and connect its content to the size chart metafield. Save.

This method lets you assign a different chart to each product, which matters when your sizes vary across product types.

Method 2: Show the chart in a pop-up

A pop-up shows the chart in an overlay when a shopper clicks a link, so they never leave the product page. Dawn and many Shopify 2.0 themes include a pop-up block for this. You still need a size chart page and metafield behind it, so complete steps 1 to 3 of Method 1 first.

• Step 1: Open the product template. Go to “Online Store”, “Themes”, “Edit Theme”, and select your product template.

• Step 2: Add the pop-up block. Under Product information, click “Add block” and choose “Pop-up”.

• Step 3: Connect the chart. Edit the block, set the heading to “Size chart,” then use “Select page” to choose the size chart page you created.

• Step 4: Position the trigger. Drag the block so the “Size chart” link sits right next to the size selector and the Add to cart button, where shoppers look for it.

• Step 5: Save and test. Save, then open a product page on both desktop and mobile to confirm the pop-up opens and the chart is easy to read.

Method 3: Use a theme with built-in size chart support

Some themes include a size chart feature you can set up from the theme editor with no code and no separate app. This keeps your product page fast and reduces the number of apps you run. Choose this route if your theme already supports it, or if you are picking a new theme anyway.

The table below compares a free option against paid themes that include a built-in size chart. Paid themes are one-time purchases with no monthly fee, and each lets you set a global chart plus a different chart per product from the theme editor.

Theme	One-time price	Built-in size chart	Best for
Dawn	Free	No; uses the Method 1 metafield approach	Stores that want to spend nothing
Eurus	~$350	Yes; global and per-product	Conversion-focused beauty and DTC stores
Expanse	~$360	Yes; global and per-product	Large catalogs with many product types
Prestige	~$400	Yes; global and per-product	Premium, high-end brands
Impulse	~$400	Yes; global and per-product	Fashion stores that run frequent promotions

Prices are set by each theme developer and can change, so confirm the current figure on the Theme Store listing. Note that “Try theme” in the Theme Store is a free preview, not a free plan, so a paid theme is a one-time purchase before you publish.

Method 4: Use a size chart app

A size chart app is the fastest route when you have many products with different charts, or when you want extra features like AI fit recommendations. Apps handle the placement, styling, and per-product assignment for you.

• When it helps: large catalogs, frequent chart updates, bulk import by CSV, and fit-recommender tools that suggest a size from a shopper’s inputs.
• Trade-offs: apps add a recurring cost, add another dependency, and can slow your page if you run too many.

Several strong apps cover this, and each offers a free plan. The table below compares the popular options.

App	Developer	Free plan	Standout feature	Best for
Kiwi Size Chart & Recommender	Staytuned	Yes	AI size recommender with automatic unit conversion	Stores wanting a fit recommender, not just a chart
Smart Size Chart & Size Guide	SmartSize	Yes	Modular editor plus fit quizzes built in minutes	Quick setup with an interactive fit finder
Size Charts & Size Guide (ESC)	Eastside Co	Yes	Charts that auto-match your store theme	Clean charts that look native with little effort
MP Size Chart & Size Guide	Mageplaza	Yes	30+ templates with images, videos, and CSV import	Template variety and bulk-creating many charts

Paid tiers scale up from each free plan as you add more charts or features, and prices change often and differ across sources. Confirm the current price on each app’s Shopify App Store listing before you choose.

Method 5: Add a size chart with custom code

Custom code gives you full control over how the chart looks and where it sits, with no monthly fee. It suits stores with development skills and a specific design in mind.

The trade-off is risk and time. Editing theme code can break other parts of your store, so hire a developer if you are not confident, and always test on a duplicate theme first.

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4. Which method should you choose?

The right method depends on your budget, your technical comfort, and how many charts you need. The table below compares all five.

Method	Best for	Pros	Cons
Page + metafield	Most stores wanting a free, flexible option	No app, per-product charts, editable from admin	Some setup steps to learn
Pop-up	Stores that want the chart over the page	Keeps shoppers on the product page	Still needs a page + metafield behind it
Built-in theme	Stores on a theme that supports it	No code, no extra app, fast pages	Only if your theme has it; many themes are paid
Size chart app	Large catalogs and fit-recommender needs	Quick setup, advanced features, bulk import	Recurring cost, another dependency, possible speed hit
Custom code	Developers wanting full control	Total design freedom, no monthly fee	Technical, time-consuming, risk of breakage

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5. How to create an accurate size chart

An accurate size chart starts with the right measurements, presented clearly. A chart is only as good as the numbers behind it and the guidance you give shoppers to use it.

#1 Pick the measurements that matter for each product type

List every body point that affects how the item fits. The key points differ by garment.

• Tops and t-shirts: chest or bust width, shoulder width, body length, sleeve length.
• Dresses: bust, waist, hip, garment length, sleeve length.
• Pants and jeans: waist, hip, front rise, thigh, inseam, leg opening.

If you make the products, you already hold these numbers. If you stock other brands, ask them for their charts so your figures are correct.

#2 Add a short “how to measure” guide

Most shoppers do not know their measurements and do not own a tape measure. Add a short guide that shows how to measure each point, and include fit notes like “runs small, size up if between sizes” so shoppers can decide without measuring.

#3 Include international conversions and a unit toggle

Shoppers buy from many countries, so map your core sizes to global standards. Cover the US, UK, EU, Australia, and Japan at minimum, and give a toggle between inches and centimeters. Match the default unit to your main market.

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6. Best practices to make your size chart reduce returns

A size chart only reduces returns when shoppers can find it, read it, and trust it. These practices turn a plain chart into one that cuts returns and lifts conversions.

• Keep each chart product-specific, not generic. Baymard found that a generic chart forcing shoppers to scroll for the relevant numbers makes them give up, and irrelevant sizing information damages how they see the product.
• Place the chart next to the size selector and Add to cart. A shopper who has to hunt for sizing may leave the page and not return.
• Reinforce sizing with fit feedback in reviews. Let buyers rate items as running small, large, or true to size, and allow fit photos so new shoppers see real bodies.
• Pair a clear chart with an easy return policy. A strong chart prevents most fit problems, and a simple return policy reassures the shopper who is still unsure, which helps them buy.

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7. Real examples of good Shopify size charts

Strong size charts share the same habits, and three brands show them well across different categories.

Columbia

Columbia embeds a step-by-step measuring guide inside its fit pop-up. Shoppers see how to measure chest, waist, and hip without leaving the product page, which removes the guesswork before they choose a size.

Farfetch

Farfetch uses a conversion pop-up that defaults to UK and US sizing, then lets shoppers switch to Italy, France, Japan, and more from one dropdown. This handles international buyers in a single click, so no one has to convert their size by hand.

Moon Magic

Moon Magic shows that sizing is not only an apparel problem. The jewelry brand gives a ring size chart with circumference, diameter, and regional conversions, plus a guide to measure ring size at home. The lesson holds across categories: give exact numbers, show how to measure, and offer conversions.

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Conclusion

A clear, accurate, well-placed size chart reduces returns and wins the hesitant shopper. Start with the free page-plus-metafield method, build the chart from real measurements, add a how-to-measure guide and international conversions, and place it next to the size selector. Once sizing confidence is handled, a spend-threshold cart progress bar like the one in BOGOS can lift average order value on those same confident carts. The goal is simple: help shoppers buy the right size the first time, so you sell more and refund less.

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