Clothing Return Rates by Category and Country (2026 Data)
The latest published return rates for clothes bought online, by category and by country. Every figure shows its source and year.
Last updated 22 October 2026 · First published 24 January 2025
Key takeaways
- Roughly one in four clothes bought online in the US and UK comes back: 23.4% and 23.6%. Coresight Research, 2026 ZigZag / Retail Economics, 2025
- Germany returns the most 59% on fashion marketplaces, against 14.7% in Italy. Germany is 30–45 points higher in every category. Yocabe, 2026
- Dresses come back most 62.9% on European marketplaces and 46.1% in the US before Black Friday. Skirts and swimwear follow. Yocabe, 2026 Returnalyze, 2026
- Size and fit drive it Nearly 70% of US shoppers who returned clothes bought online blamed size and fit. Coresight Research, 2026
- The trend is up European fashion return rates rose from about 34% in 2022 to 42% in 2025, with 9 of 11 markets higher. Yocabe, 2026
Listen: Silicon & Silk, Ep. 14, on clothing return-rate benchmarks (recorded January 2025; the figures on this page have since been updated).
Return rates by category
The six categories from our original table, with the latest published figure for each, plus three categories we added. Dresses come back most in every dataset.
| Category | Return rate | Market and measure | Top issue | Fuente | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dresses | 62.9% | Europe, fashion marketplaces (highest category) | Fit varies by brand, country and size | Yocabe, 2026 | 2026 |
| Dresses | 46.1% | US, 4 weeks before Black Friday 2025 | No requiere traducción. | Returnalyze, 2026 | 2026 |
| Dresses | 54% | Europe, 2022 data | No requiere traducción. | Yocabe 2022 guide, 2023 | 2023 |
| Skirts | 2nd-highest category (rate not published) | Europe, fashion marketplaces | Fit varies by brand, country and size | Yocabe, 2026 | 2026 |
| Skirts | 47% | Europe, 2022 data | No requiere traducción. | Yocabe 2022 guide, 2023 | 2023 |
| Zapatos | Women’s 28–33%, men’s 26–30% | US, February–May 2026 | Fit and construction | Returnalyze, 2026 | 2026 |
| Zapatos | 27% | Spain, online footwear | No requiere traducción. | ZigZag / Retail Economics, 2025 | 2025 |
| Zapatos | 15.9% | Shopify brands on Loop, Jan–Oct 2024 | No requiere traducción. | Loop, 2024 | 2024 |
| Zapatos | 29% | Europe, 2022 data | No requiere traducción. | Yocabe 2022 guide, 2023 | 2023 |
| Tops & T-Shirts | No recent published figure | Closest: pullovers and cardigans, just over 10% (Italy, 2022 data) | No requiere traducción. | Yocabe 2022 guide, 2023 | 2023 |
| Outerwear | 37% (41.7% a year earlier) | US, 4 weeks before Black Friday 2025 | No requiere traducción. | Returnalyze, 2026 | 2026 |
| Outerwear | 6th by rate, 2nd by volume | Europe, fashion marketplaces | Higher price, so each return costs more | Yocabe, 2026 | 2026 |
| Lingerie & Intimates | 13.4% | Shopify intimates brands on Loop, Jan–Oct 2024 | Poor fit; tried-on items often can’t be restocked | Loop, 2024 | 2024 |
| Lingerie & Intimates | 15.1% | Japan, underwear (highest category), return requests | Bra size | Recustomer, 2023 | 2023 |
| Swimwear | 21.6% (highest vertical) | Shopify brands on Loop, Jan–Oct 2024 | Shoppers try several before choosing | Loop, 2024 | 2024 |
| Denim | Above 51% (above 45% at its lowest) | US, holiday peak 2025 | No requiere traducción. | Returnalyze, 2026 | 2026 |
| Women’s clothing | 37–39% | US, February–May 2026 (men’s: 26–27%) | No requiere traducción. | Returnalyze, 2026 | 2026 |
Rows marked + were added in 2026. Top issues are shown only where the source names them.
Return rates by country
Germany and its neighbours return the most fashion in Europe; Italy and Japan the least. Several markets have two figures because two sources measure them differently.
| Country or region | Return rate | What it measures | Fuente | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alemania | 59% | Fashion on marketplaces, highest of 13 markets | Yocabe, 2026 | 2026 |
| Alemania | 53% | Clothing, online fashion shops | Univ. of St. Gallen / elaboratum, 2024 | 2024 |
| Alemania | 35.9% | Fashion companies’ online channel (wholesale 16.3%, own stores 19.2%) | GermanFashion Modeverband, 2025 | 2025 |
| Alemania | 24.1% | All online parcels (about 550m returned in 2025) | Univ. of Bamberg, 2025 | 2025 |
| Alemania | 11% | All online purchases, shopper survey (women 14%, men 9%) | Bitkom, 2024 | 2024 |
| Reino Unido | 23.6% | Clothing, share of ecommerce orders | ZigZag / Retail Economics, 2025 | 2025 |
| Reino Unido | 26% | Clothing, online fashion shops | Univ. of St. Gallen / elaboratum, 2024 | 2024 |
| Francia | 24% | Fashion on marketplaces, 2022 data (no newer fashion figure published) | Yocabe 2022 guide, 2023 | 2023 |
| Francia | About 12% | All online purchases, 2024 (industry estimates relayed by FEVAD) | FEVAD, 2026 | 2026 |
| Estados Unidos | 23.4% | Online apparel | Coresight Research, 2026 | 2026 |
| Estados Unidos | 24.52% | All online sales, 2024 (all retail 13.21%) | Appriss Retail / Deloitte, 2024 | 2024 |
| Italia | 14.7% | Fashion on marketplaces, lowest of 13 markets | Yocabe, 2026 | 2026 |
| Italia | 7.4% | Clothing, sport and accessories parcels, Poste Italiane network, Jan–Sep 2025 (all parcels 5.7%) | Netcomm / Poste Italiane, 2025 | 2025 |
| India | 30–35% | Fashion and footwear online | Return Prime, 2024 | 2024 |
| China | 50–60% | Women’s apparel online (80%+ via livestream) | People’s Daily / CCTV, 2025 | 2025 |
| China | 61.5% | All e-commerce, Double 11 2025 | CCTV News via Sina, 2026 | 2026 |
| Southeast Asia | No recent published figure | No official or multi-source figure found | No requiere traducción. | No requiere traducción. |
| Japón | 6.61% | All e-commerce return requests (apparel not published) | Recustomer, 2023 | 2023 |
| Austria | 50% | Clothing, online fashion shops | Univ. of St. Gallen / elaboratum, 2024 | 2024 |
| Switzerland | 49% | Clothing, online fashion shops | Univ. of St. Gallen / elaboratum, 2024 | 2024 |
| Netherlands | Women 49.2%, men 35.6% | Fashion on marketplaces | Yocabe, 2026 | 2026 |
| Netherlands | About 35% | Online clothing items, model estimate in a government-commissioned study (large webshops about 40%) | Dutch government study, 2025 | 2025 |
| Netherlands | 11.4% | All B2C parcels, full-year 2025 (11.7% in 2024) | Thuiswinkel.org, n.d. | n.d. |
| Belgium | Women 45.0%, men 36.1% | Fashion on marketplaces | Yocabe, 2026 | 2026 |
| Poland | 44.9% unisex, 44.5% women’s | Fashion on marketplaces, unisex vs women’s products | Yocabe, 2026 | 2026 |
| Poland, Czechia, Sweden | 34% | Clothing, online fashion shops | Univ. of St. Gallen / elaboratum, 2024 | 2024 |
| Spain | 31% clothing, 27% footwear | Online orders | ZigZag / Retail Economics, 2025 | 2025 |
| Spain | 38% clothing | Online clothing purchases | REVER, 2025 | 2025 |
Rows marked + were added in 2026.
Country by category
Our original nine country tables, row by row. Only a few country-and-category figures have been published since 2022, so most cells are empty rather than estimated.
Tap a country to open its table.
Reino Unido23.6%clothing orders · ZigZag / Retail Economics, 2025
| Dresses | No recent published figure |
| Skirts | No recent published figure |
| Zapatos | 19%Median online footwear return rate, BFA members · British Footwear Association, 2022 |
| Tops & T-Shirts | No recent published figure |
| Outerwear | No recent published figure |
| Lingerie & Intimates | No recent published figure |
Alemania59%fashion marketplaces · Yocabe, 2026
| Dresses | No recent published figure |
| Skirts | No recent published figure |
| Zapatos | No recent published figure |
| Tops & T-Shirts | No recent published figure |
| Outerwear | No recent published figure |
| Lingerie & Intimates | No recent published figure |
In every category, Germany’s return rate is 30–45 points above Italy’s. Yocabe, 2026
Francia24%fashion marketplaces, 2022 data · Yocabe 2022 guide, 2023
| Dresses | No recent published figure |
| Skirts | No recent published figure |
| Zapatos | No recent published figure |
| Tops & T-Shirts | No recent published figure |
| Outerwear | No recent published figure |
| Lingerie & Intimates | No recent published figure |
Italia14.7%fashion marketplaces · Yocabe, 2026
| Dresses | 36%2022 data · Yocabe 2022 guide, 2023 |
| Skirts | 29%2022 data · Yocabe 2022 guide, 2023 |
| Zapatos | 15%2022 data (sneakers just over 10%) · Yocabe 2022 guide, 2023 |
| Tops & T-Shirts | Just over 10%Pullovers and cardigans, 2022 data · Yocabe 2022 guide, 2023 |
| Outerwear | No recent published figure |
| Lingerie & Intimates | No recent published figure |
Estados Unidos23.4%online apparel · Coresight Research, 2026
| Dresses | 46.1%4 weeks before Black Friday 2025 · Returnalyze, 2026 |
| Skirts | No recent published figure |
| Zapatos | Women’s 28–33%, men’s 26–30%February–May 2026 · Returnalyze, 2026 |
| Tops & T-Shirts | No recent published figure |
| Outerwear | 37%4 weeks before Black Friday 2025 · Returnalyze, 2026 |
| Lingerie & Intimates | No recent published figure |
China50–60%women’s apparel online · People’s Daily / CCTV, 2025
| Dresses | No recent published figure |
| Skirts | No recent published figure |
| Zapatos | No recent published figure |
| Tops & T-Shirts | No recent published figure |
| Outerwear | No recent published figure |
| Lingerie & Intimates | No recent published figure |
India30–35%fashion and footwear · Return Prime, 2024
| Dresses | No recent published figure |
| Skirts | No recent published figure |
| Zapatos | No recent published figure |
| Tops & T-Shirts | No recent published figure |
| Outerwear | No recent published figure |
| Lingerie & Intimates | No recent published figure |
Southeast AsiaNo recent published figureNo official or multi-source figure found
| Dresses | No recent published figure |
| Skirts | No recent published figure |
| Zapatos | No recent published figure |
| Tops & T-Shirts | No recent published figure |
| Outerwear | No recent published figure |
| Lingerie & Intimates | No recent published figure |
Japón6.61%all e-commerce · Recustomer, 2023
| Dresses | No recent published figure |
| Skirts | No recent published figure |
| Zapatos | 11.1%Shoes and sneakers, return requests · Recustomer, 2023 |
| Tops & T-Shirts | No recent published figure |
| Outerwear | No recent published figure |
| Lingerie & Intimates | 15.1%Underwear, highest category · Recustomer, 2023 |
Why clothes come back
Of returns with a stated reason, 27.1% say “don’t like it” and 14.7% name size: 8.1% too small and 6.6% too big. Yocabe, 2026
Bracketing: what shoppers say vs what they do
| Measure | Figure | Fuente | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shoppers who say they overbuy to return | 36% (50% of under-35s) | Rithum, 2025 | 2025 |
| German online shoppers who deliberately order several sizes or colours | 46.2% | KPMG / EHI, 2025 | 2025 |
| US Gen Z vs Baby Boomers who bracket | 51% vs 24% | NRF / Happy Returns, 2025 | 2025 |
| Spanish online shoppers who bracket | 1 in 4 (35% of Gen Z) | ZigZag / Retail Economics, 2025 | 2025 |
| US units actually bought in 2+ sizes on the same day | 5–9% | Returnalyze, 2026 | 2026 |
| European marketplace orders: same item in several colours / sizes | 9% / 5.8% | Yocabe, 2026 | 2026 |
Many shoppers say they bracket, but in transaction data it is under one unit or order in ten. Most returns come from single orders that don’t fit.
What returns cost
53.3%
of DACH online retailers put processing at up to €10 per returned item
How retailers cut clothing returns
01
Fix size choice before checkout
Size and fit cause most returns, so help each shopper pick the right size first time.
02
Show the real product
Accurate photos, fabric details and fit notes cut “not as pictured” returns.
03
Capture a reason for every return
More than half of marketplace returns give none. You can’t fix what you can’t see.
04
Focus on high-return categories
Dresses, skirts, swimwear, denim and outerwear need the most size guidance.
What Prime AI customers see
Buscador de tallas de sujetador
27%
Lower bra returns at Playful Promises over 12 months
+3.9% conversion · 15% higher AOV
Buscador de tallas
15%
Higher average order value
Min. +3% conversion · Nike: 26.2% fewer returns on recommended sizes
Each result belongs to the product named. Impact varies by catalogue, traffic and adoption.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average return rate for clothes bought online?
About one in four in the US and UK: 23.4% of US online apparel in 2025 (Coresight Research, 2026) and 23.6% of UK clothing orders (ZigZag, 2025). European fashion marketplaces average 33.3% (Yocabe, 2026).
Which clothing items are returned most?
Dresses, then skirts and swimwear, on European fashion marketplaces (Yocabe, 2026). In the US, denim and dresses lead, both above 45% before the holidays (Returnalyze, 2026).
Which country returns the most clothing?
Germany: 59% on fashion marketplaces (Yocabe, 2026) and 53% in online fashion shops (University of St. Gallen, 2024). Austria and Switzerland are close behind at 50% and 49%.
Which country returns the least?
In Europe, Italy: 14.7% on fashion marketplaces (Yocabe, 2026). Japan’s all-ecommerce return-request rate is 6.61% (Recustomer, 2023).
Why do people return clothes?
Mainly size and fit. Nearly 70% of US shoppers who returned clothes cited it (Coresight Research, 2026), and 72.6% of German online shoppers name wrong size (KPMG, 2025).
What is bracketing?
Ordering several sizes or colours of one item and returning the rest. 36% of shoppers say they do it (Rithum, 2025), but only 5–9% of US units are bought this way (Returnalyze, 2026).
How can retailers reduce clothing returns?
Help shoppers choose the right size before they buy, show accurate product details, record a reason for every return and focus on high-return categories. See the Buscador de tallas de ropa.
Sources and method
Figures were collected on 22 October 2026 from the latest public edition of each report. “Year” is the year the source was published. Return rates are measured in different ways (by order, item, parcel or survey), so compare figures within one source rather than across sources. Where only press coverage of a report is public, we link to that coverage. Where no figure has been published since 2022, the table says “No recent published figure”. We don’t estimate missing values.
- Coresight Research & Alvanon, Shifting the Size and Fit Paradigm (May 2026); summary in FashionUnited (30 Jun 2026): coresight.com
- ZigZag & Retail Economics, Annual Returns Report 2025/2026 (UK): zigzag.global
- Yocabe & Sapienza / UnitelmaSapienza University of Rome, Returns@Yocabe (Jul 2026), via Teleborsa (9 Jul 2026): teleborsa.it
- Yocabe, Resi sui marketplace del Fashion in Europa (Guida Resi 2026): yocabe.com
- Returnalyze, 2025 Holiday Peak-Season Performance Report (2026): returnalyze.com
- Yocabe, returns guide with 2022 data, via Il Sole 24 Ore (29 Mar 2023) and The Story Square (5 Apr 2023): ilsole24ore.com
- Returnalyze, 2026 Retail Spring Peak-Season Benchmark Report (2026): returnalyze.com
- ZigZag & Retail Economics, Benchmark Anual de Devoluciones España 2025, via Marketing4eCommerce (31 Oct 2025): marketing4ecommerce.net
- Loop Returns, Winter 2024 Benchmark Report (22m returns, 4,000+ Shopify brands, Jan–Oct 2024): info.loopreturns.com
- Recustomer, 2023 EC Returns & Exchanges Report (Nov 2023; data Nov 2022–Oct 2023): recustomer.co
- elaboratum, behamics & University of St. Gallen, Psychologie der Retoure (Nov 2024; 220,000 customers, 8 countries), via t3n (4 Feb 2025): t3n.de
- GermanFashion Modeverband, Branchenmonitor Logistik 2025 (fashion companies survey), via GCS Consulting: gcs-consulting.de
- Forschungsgruppe Retourenmanagement, University of Bamberg (25 Nov 2025): retourenforschung.de
- Bitkom Research, Online-Shopping: Jeder zehnte Kauf geht zurück (17 Apr 2024; survey Oct 2023): bitkom-research.de
- FEVAD (French e-commerce federation), Le focus du mois: l’IA va-t-elle transformer le back-office des retours ? (16 Apr 2026): fevad.com
- Appriss Retail & Deloitte, 2024 Consumer Returns in the Retail Industry: info.apprissretail.com
- Netcomm & Poste Italiane, Delivery Index Q3 2025 (17 Dec 2025): consorzionetcomm.it
- Return Prime report, via The Economic Times (30 Jul 2024): economictimes.indiatimes.com
- People’s Daily Overseas Edition via CCTV.cn (17 Jul 2025), citing 36Kr Research and 100EC.cn: news.cctv.cn
- CCTV News via Sina Tech (11 Jan 2026): finance.sina.com.cn
- Rebel & TAUW for the Dutch Ministries of Infrastructure and Water Management and of Economic Affairs, Onderzoek verplichte retourkosten op textiel (1 Sep 2025): open.overheid.nl
- Thuiswinkel.org (Dutch e-commerce association), How many parcels are returned to webshops in the Netherlands? (undated page, full-year 2025 data): thuiswinkel.org
- REVER study, via Enfoka-Trends, Basque Government (Sep 2025): euskadi.eus
- British Footwear Association, member survey (11 Aug 2022): britishfootwearassociation.co.uk
- KPMG in cooperation with EHI, Consumer Snapshot “Retourenverhalten in Deutschland: Eine Frage der Haltung?” (Dec 2025): kpmg.com
- Rithum, 2025 Global Returns & Profit Impact Report (May 2025): rithum.com
- Happy Returns & NRF, 2025 returns report: happyreturns.com
- NRF & Happy Returns, 2025 Retail Returns Landscape (15 Oct 2025): nrf.com
- Retail Economics, From blind spot to retail advantage: GNFR hidden costs in UK fashion (2025): retaileconomics.co.uk
- ZigZag, Serial returners drop as retailers reset the rules of returns (2025): zigzag.global
- EHI Retail Institute, Versand-, Verpackungs- und Retourenmanagement im E-Commerce 2025 (27 Nov 2025): ehi.org
- Prime AI customer results (Clothing, Bra and Shoe Size Finder), each labelled with its product.
Cut returns at the size choice
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