Many online shoppers focus on size above almost everything else when browsing apparel or footwear. If your product’s size isn’t clearly listed, buyers might dismiss it outright, leading to missed opportunities. The Size [size] attribute empowers merchants to accurately convey an item’s dimensions, making it easy for users to find the perfect fit in Google’s free listings.
What is Size [size] Product Attribute?
The Size [size] attribute is a dedicated field where you specify the standardized measurement of a product, such as “M,” “XL,” “8 N,” or “16/34.” This helps Google show your item to the right audience—people filtering search results for specific sizes, like “Medium T-Shirts” or “Size 9 Women’s Running Shoes.”
What are Free Listings? Google’s free listings allow your products to appear organically on Search, the Shopping tab, YouTube, and other Google surfaces at no direct advertising cost. Meeting certain criteria, including accurately specifying the size attribute, increases your chances of showing up for relevant user queries—especially when shoppers apply size filters.
When done correctly, a shopper who needs a “Size 7 hiking boot” or “Large men’s sweater” can see your product right away. This straightforward alignment between user needs and product details ultimately improves click-through rates and fosters trust.
Where Does Google Merchant Center Fit In?
Google Merchant Center is the platform you use to organize your product feed for both free and paid listings. Each detail—like Size [size], Color [color], and Material [material]—lives there. Staying consistent across your product feed and your landing pages is key. If your item is sold as “Large,” do not describe it as “Big” or “Oversized” on your product page; keep everything aligned for clarity and compliance.
Minimum Requirements for Size [size]
To ensure your products can appear in free listings, Google enforces specific baseline requirements. If these aren’t met, items risk being disapproved. Here’s what to keep in mind:
- Use Recognized, Standard Sizes for Your Target Country: For example, if you’re selling apparel in the U.S., make sure you use American sizing conventions (S, M, L, XL, numeric sizes like 6, 8, or 10, etc.).
- Submit One Size Attribute per Product: Submitting multiple size fields for a single product can lead to warnings. Stick to one correct size.
- Only Include the Size Value: Don’t add placeholders like “N/A” or “None” in the Size [size] field. And avoid extraneous words like “Multisize” or “See details.”
- Don’t Mix Non-Size Info: Attributes like Color [color], Material [material], or Pattern [pattern] have their own fields. Putting “Large Blue” in the size field is incorrect.
- Indicate Variants That Differ by Size: If you have T-shirts in “S,” “M,” and “L,” each variant needs its own feed entry with the same item group ID [item_group_id].
- Use Slashes Instead of Commas: For items with multiple dimensions—like “16/34” (neck/sleeve)—use a slash. Comma-separated values can lead to only the first dimension being recognized.
- Reflect Special Widths or Lengths: For shoes or pants, if you have extra details like “9 Wide” or “8 N,” include them in the same Size [size] field. Don’t split them up.
- Avoid Promotional Wording: Keep sale language or store branding out of your size attribute.
Following these guidelines helps ensure your items are visible when shoppers refine their searches by size. Any deviation may result in warnings or product disapproval.
Size [size] vs. Related Attributes
When dealing with apparel or shoes, it’s easy to confuse Size [size] with other size-related attributes. Here’s a quick breakdown to prevent overlap or mismatches:
A) Size [size]
This is your main attribute for specifying a product’s dimension—e.g., “M,” “32,” “XL Tall,” or “8 N” for footwear with width details.
B) Size Type [size_type]
Indicates the cut of the garment. Examples include “Petite,” “Maternity,” or “Plus.” If you’re selling a plus-size dress, you might submit “Size [size] = 18W” and “Size Type [size_type] = Plus.”
C) Size System [size_system]
Specifies the country’s sizing convention, such as “US,” “UK,” or “EU.” This allows Google to interpret the size correctly. For instance, “8” in the US might be different from “8” in the UK.
Providing accurate data across all three attributes (when relevant) ensures your product info is standardized, reducing confusion. For example, a pair of men’s jeans might be “Size [size] = 32/34,” “Size System [size_system] = US,” and “Size Type [size_type] = Regular.”
Best Practices
Going above the bare minimum can significantly increase your listings’ performance:
- Consistent Format: If you offer shirts in Small, Medium, and Large, keep the attribute uniform—e.g., “S,” “M,” “L.” Avoid mixing styles like “S,” “Medium,” and “Large.”
- Elaborate for Special Cases: If multiple components make up your size, don’t leave them out. For example, dress shirts with separate neck and sleeve measurements, or shoes with wide/narrow widths, should combine them into one field.
- Include Clear Sizing for Non-Apparel: Size is also relevant for products like prints (“12x16”), mobile phones (“128GB”), or certain accessories. Provide the dimension or capacity in a clear format that aligns with typical buyer expectations.
- Match Your Landing Page: If your website states “Men’s Large,” submit “Large” under size to maintain consistency. A mismatch can confuse shoppers or lead to bounces.
- Validate the Country Standard: If you’re targeting the UK, a shoe size “10” is different from US “10,” so specify size system [size_system]= “UK” to avoid user confusion.
- Combine Slashes for Multiple Sizes: For multipack apparel where each item is a different size, or for dimension-based sizing (like shirts measuring “16 neck/34 sleeve”), always use “16/34,” never “16, 34.”
- Avoid Store Branding in the Size: Don’t label your sizes like “StoreName S” or “BrandName L.” Keep this field purely descriptive of the dimension.
Pro tip: Use an AI tool to optimize your product feed
Examples
Below is a table showing common size mistakes and the optimized approaches:
Pro tip: See two Google product feed examples (from 2 different online stores)
Why the Right Size Matters for Free Listings
A properly defined size value can be a direct line to the right buyer. It increases relevance when filters are applied or specific queries are made. If someone searches “Women’s size 8 pumps” and you haven’t specified “8” or “8N” in the Size [size] attribute, your listing may never appear in that curated set.
Accurate sizing also builds trust. If a shopper clicks through and the landing page aligns perfectly with the feed data, they’re more inclined to convert. Conversely, a mismatch—like seeing “Medium” in the listing and “One Size” on the landing page—might prompt users to abandon their cart.
In short, the clearer and more standardized your size info, the better your chance of standing out in a sea of similar listings.
Common Pitfalls & How to Avoid Them
Even merchants who understand the importance of size can accidentally fall into these traps:
- Forgetting Width Variants: Omitting essential details (like “Wide,” “Narrow,” or “Regular”) can confuse or mislead shoppers.
- Misusing Commas: Any commas in size data can get truncated. If you have multiple dimensions, a slash is mandatory.
- Assuming Free-Form Inputs Are Acceptable: Google standardizes size attributes, so random phrases (e.g., “SuperLarge” or “Mega Medium”) can cause disapprovals.
- Ignoring International Conversions: If you sell globally, ensure you specify Size System [size_system] to differentiate between US, UK, or EU sizes.
- Burying Details Elsewhere: Don’t assume your product description or shipping info will cover size. Google’s system primarily reads the Size [size] attribute for filtering and search matching.
Staying vigilant about these pitfalls helps maintain a compliant, user-friendly feed—improving the likelihood your product lands in front of the correct audience.
Related Attributes
Ensuring your sizing is accurate often goes hand in hand with other product attributes. Pay attention to details such as color, material, and pattern—especially if your items vary on multiple fronts. You can manage any feed notifications in the Merchant Center’s “Needs attention” tab. If you’re using structured data, refer to schema.org property mappings for each field. Below is a table of attributes—those marked Required are mandatory for free listings, while “recommended” ones can enhance clarity and visibility.
FAQs About Size [size]
Should I include both numeric and letter sizes if my product uses hybrid sizing?
If your item truly calls for it (for example, European brand sizing plus letter sizes), stick to one recognized convention for your target market or use a slash if they coexist. For instance, “M (EU 50)” might be acceptable, but keep your format consistent across variants.
Can I submit multiple sizes for a single product variation?
No. Each variant listing should only have one size value in the feed. If your product comes in multiple sizes, you should submit each size as a separate variant, each with its own Size [size] and the same item group ID [item_group_id]. Submitting “S/M/L” for a single variant can cause confusion.
How do I indicate a unisex item or universal sizing?
If the manufacturer truly labels it as “One-Size-Fits-All,” check Google’s guidelines to see if that’s accepted for your target country and product category. Some markets prefer “One Size” or a numeric standard. If unisex is relevant to the cut or style, consider listing it under size type [size_type] = “Regular” or “Unisex,” rather than conflating it with the size field.
Do I need to mention “inches” or “cm” in my size?
You can include units if that’s standard for the category (e.g., men’s shirt “16/34 in”). However, rely on typical industry norms—many letter or numeric sizes don’t include explicit units. If you do use units, place them consistently and avoid mixing “inches” in one variant and “cm” in another unless your market specifically demands it.
Are promotions or brand names ever allowed in the size field?
No. Google’s editorial policies forbid adding promotional text or brand references in the Size [size] field. That data belongs in your promotional feed fields or brand [brand] attribute. Keep the size attribute purely descriptive to avoid disapproval.
How often should I update my size data?
Any time your product’s measurements change (or if a manufacturer adjusts its sizing conventions), update the feed. This keeps your listing accurate and prevents buyer complaints. Also, periodically verify that your sizes still conform to recognized national or industry norms.
Can I create custom abbreviations for size?
It’s best to stick to widely recognized abbreviations: S, M, L, XL, etc. Overly creative abbreviations risk confusion or misinterpretation by Google’s systems. If you’re unsure, consult Google’s guidelines or test a short variant of your typical size name (e.g., “XS” instead of “ExtraSmall”) to see how it appears.
Conclusion
In the world of Google’s free listings, every detail counts—especially size, where a single measurement mismatch can prompt a shopper to pass on your product. By diligently applying the Size [size] attribute, you ensure your items surface for the most relevant queries. Shoppers looking for “Medium teal T-shirt” or “Size 10 cross-training shoes” will be far more likely to find (and click on) your listing.
Remember: standardize your format, avoid mixing in brand or promotional text, and ensure your website’s landing page matches your feed. The result? More accurate filtering, higher quality traffic, and a smoother path to purchase. A little extra effort in detailing sizes can significantly enhance your overall performance in Google’s free listings.
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