Quick answer: measure chest (widest point), total height, and neck opening clearance - in centimetres - then match against this chart. Height alone lies: two 15cm bodies can have different chest widths, and chest is what actually decides fit.
The most-searched sizing question in this hobby is "what size is my doll for clothes", and the answer is always measurements, not labels. This chart covers every common scale with typical ranges; always compare against the product's own flat measurements.
Size chart (typical ranges)
| Scale / type | Height | Chest |
|---|---|---|
| 1/3 (SD) | 55-70cm | 20-24cm |
| 1/4 (MSD) | 40-45cm | 15-18cm |
| 1/6 (YOSD) | 25-30cm | 11-13cm |
| 1/8 (Tiny) | 15-20cm | 9-11cm |
| 1/12 / OB11 | 10-12cm | 7-9cm |
| 15cm cotton | 15cm | 10-11cm |
| 20cm cotton | 20cm | 13-15cm |
How to measure correctly
- Chest: tape around the fullest point, snug but not compressed
- Height: sole to top of head, upright posture
- Neck: measure the head's widest point - that is your garment opening floor
Reading product listings
Compare the seller's flat garment measurement (laid flat, doubled for chest) to your doll's chest +2cm ease. Ignore "fits 15cm dolls" alone - the label is an approximation, the flat measurement is the truth.
The universal measurement set
Five numbers describe almost any doll for clothing purposes. Record them once per body and reuse: (1) height (crown to toe, no ears), (2) chest (widest circumference), (3) waist, (4) shoulder width (seam to seam), (5) neck (circumference - it decides the neckline). Add inseam only if buying pants. Technique: soft tape, doll relaxed, snug without compressing stuffing or resin.
Size translation table
| Stated size | Typical chest | Fits |
|---|---|---|
| 1/6 BJD (30cm) | about 13cm | Small resin dolls |
| Cotton 20cm | about 22cm | 20cm plush dolls |
| Cotton 25cm | about 26cm | 25cm plush, larger bellies |
| Labubu-type 30cm | 27-30cm | Apple-belly bodies |
| OB11 (11cm) | about 5.5cm | 11cm articulated bodies |
Typical values only - brands deviate 1-2cm, which at this scale decides fitted versus tight. Prefer the seller's chart when both exist; use this table to sanity-check listings with no chart. Stock: doll clothes.
Reading a seller's chart (three checks)
- Same measurement points? - some measure chest flat, others round; flat times two must land near yours
- Garment or body measurements? - garment charts include ease; garment chest should be body chest plus 1-3cm
- Ruler photos - the tiebreaker when numbers conflict; ask for one if none exists
The measurement card habit
Write your doll's five numbers on an index card and keep it in the storage box - you will not remember whether the 20cm doll's chest was 22 or 24 by the third purchase. The card also travels to meets; showing it replaces the awkward in-person tape measure. For kids new to the hobby it doubles as the teaching tool: measure before shopping, every time.
Frequently asked questions
My doll is between sizes?
Smaller size for knits (stretch helps), larger for wovens (no give), or ask the maker for custom.
Why do two 20cm dolls fit differently?
Stuffing density and proportions differ; height is the least reliable predictor - chest and shoulder decide.
Shrinkage allowance?
Hand-washed cotton shrinks about 2% - pre-wash fabric if sewing, buy 5% ease if buying.
BJD-specific ranges?
Standard SD / MSD / Yo charts live with BJD clothing.
Measuring techniques that actually produce consistent numbers
Garment sizing fails when measurements are taken inconsistently - the same doll measured twice can differ 1-2cm, which at this scale is the entire margin. Four technique rules: (1) always measure the same way the seller measures (flat vs round - the check from earlier); (2) soft tape only - rigid rulers curve wrong around bodies; (3) snug, not tight - compressing plush gives false small numbers; (4) measure in the pose the garment will be worn in (standing for coats, sitting for dresses that ride). Record with date: stuffed bodies settle over time and lose a half-centimeter. Re-measure quarterly if the doll is handled often. The full five-number set and translation table are earlier in this guide; this section is about the hands producing them.
Unit confusion: cm versus "size numbers"
- Centimeters: unambiguous, always preferred - a 20cm doll is 20cm
- BJD size codes (SD, MSD, Yo, Mini): maker-specific ranges - SD spans 40-45cm across brands, so a chart beats a code
- S/M/L in listings: meaningless without a chart - some sellers' M is another's L
- "Fits 1/6": fraction of real human scale - a 1/6 doll is about 30cm; verify against the stated cm anyway
Rule of thumb: trust centimeters first, size codes second, letters never. When a listing has only letters, the seller owes you a chart before you owe them an order.
Printable card template (copy this)
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Doll name / body | ____________ |
| Height | ____ cm |
| Chest (round) | ____ cm |
| Waist | ____ cm |
| Shoulder seam-to-seam | ____ cm |
| Neck | ____ cm |
| Measured on | ____/____/____ |
Photograph the filled card once - the phone photo survives lost paper, and showing it to sellers in messages answers "what size is your doll?" in zero extra words.
Frequently asked questions
Multiple dolls, multiple cards?
One card per body type, updated per doll - bodies within a type vary less than types vary from each other.
Seller chart conflicts with mine?
Buy based on theirs (they cut to it) but expect adjustment; flag the discrepancy in your order note.
Fabric stretch noted on cards?
Worth a column: knit pieces can run 1cm small, woven cannot.
Kids measuring themselves?
Same five fields on the card makes it a teaching worksheet - measurement literacy young, returns rare.
The card's final purpose is confidence: a measured doll is a solved doll. Listings become quick, returns become rare, and the question that stalls new collectors ("will this fit?") shrinks to a ten-second comparison. Keep the card photographed, updated when the doll changes, and shown to sellers unprompted - it signals a buyer who knows exactly what they need, which is also the buyer who receives the best service. Measurement is unglamorous and completely worth it.
And keep the card honest: update it whenever the doll changes (new stuffing, new body, weight shifts) rather than trusting an old number out of habit. A stale card produces confident wrong purchases, which are worse than no card at all because they skip the second-guessing that would have caught the error. Measure, write, date - three actions, one index card, and every subsequent buying decision starts from solid ground.
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FAQ
Between two sizes?
Buy the larger; cinch with the closure. Too-small clothes stretch seams permanently.
Why do 15cm bodies vary?
Different manufacturers sculpt different chest ratios - cotton doll "15cm" spans about 1.5cm of chest width.