Apparel Returns Cost Calculator
See what returns are really costing your store — and how much of it is wrong-size returns you could actually prevent. Enter your numbers; everything updates instantly and stays in your browser.
Your store
What returns cost you
Based on your inputs, per year.
How the numbers work
- All returns = orders × return rate. Wrong-size returns = returns × the size/fit share.
- Handling cost is your per-return cost (return shipping, labour, repackaging) times the number of returns.
- Refunded revenue counts only returns that end in a refund (not exchanges), since exchanges keep the sale. That's what the refund-share input controls.
- Recoverable applies your expected reduction to wrong-size returns only — the category better sizing actually influences.
- These are directional estimates from your own inputs and industry averages, not a guarantee. Adjust the inputs to match your store.
Returns, answered
How much do returns cost apparel stores?
The National Retail Federation's 2025 Retail Returns Landscape estimates that 19.3% of online sales were returned in 2025, against 15.8% across retail overall — and apparel typically runs above that online average because clothes can't be tried on first. Each return carries real cost: return shipping, labour to inspect and repackage, and revenue lost when an item is refunded or can't be resold at full price. This calculator turns your own numbers into an annual figure.
Why are wrong-size returns so common?
Shoppers can't try clothes on before buying online, so they guess a size — or order two sizes intending to return one. Size and fit is consistently the number-one reason apparel gets returned. That's also the most preventable category of return, because clearer sizing information changes the decision at the point of purchase.
How can I reduce size-related returns?
Give shoppers the information to buy the right size the first time: accurate per-product size charts, real garment measurements, and a fit recommender that suggests a size from a few inputs. Reducing size guesswork cuts the wrong-size returns that drive most apparel return cost — which is exactly what Tailor Size Guide is built to do.
Is this returns calculator free?
Yes. It runs entirely in your browser, needs no signup, and none of your numbers are sent anywhere. Use it to estimate what returns cost your store and how much a sizing tool could recover.