Industry Data · Updated Quarterly
As featured in Vogue College of Fashion
Q2 2026
The Fashion Returns Index is a compiled, citable source for fashion e-commerce return statistics. All figures are drawn from publicly available industry research, government data, and retail surveys. We do not fabricate numbers. Where a range is given, it reflects the spread across sources, not precision we do not have. Reviewed 29 September 2026: figures below are named to their publishers but not yet individually linked, so check the original publication before citing them.
Methodology: Figures are aggregated from IMRG, KPMG, Shopify, Klarna, EMarketer, Forrester, UC Berkeley, and University of Frankfurt research (2022–2025). Ranges reflect inter-source variation. This index is updated quarterly. If you have a correction or a primary source we have missed, email [email protected].
| Metric | Figure | Source range |
|---|---|---|
| Fashion e-commerce return rate | 24–40% of orders | IMRG 2023, KPMG 2022 |
| Fit / size share of returns | ~67% | Shopify 2023, Klarna 2023 |
| Cost to process one return | £17–21 / $20–30 | Industry estimates |
| Cart abandonment rate (fashion) | ~70% | Baymard Institute |
| Bracketing rate (Gen Z) | ~40% buy multiple sizes | EMarketer 2023 |
| Virtual try-on market size (2024) | $15.18 billion | Industry reports |
| Projected market size (2030) | $48.1 billion | Industry reports |
Figures presented as ranges where sources differ. See detailed breakdown below for individual source attributions.
| Category | Return rate | Primary driver |
|---|---|---|
| Apparel (overall) | 25–30% | Fit / size |
| Footwear | 20–25% | Size / width |
| Accessories | 10–15% | Style / colour mismatch |
| Luxury / premium | 15–20% | Fit + high expectation |
| Fast fashion | 30–40% | Fit + quality mismatch |
| Denim | 28–35% | Rise / inseam / wash |
| Occasionwear | 22–28% | Fit + event-specific need |
| Plus-size | 30–38% | Inconsistent sizing across brands |
| Maternity | 28–35% | Stage-fit + style change |
| Cost component | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Return shipping | £3–8 / $4–10 | Varies by carrier and distance |
| Processing / inspection | £2–5 / $3–6 | Warehouse labour, quality check |
| Restocking / repackaging | £1–3 / $1–4 | Steam, fold, re-tag, re-photograph |
| Customer service time | £2–4 / $3–5 | Email, chat, refund handling |
| Lost sale opportunity | £5–15 / $6–18 | Item out of stock during return cycle |
| Brand damage / churn | Unquantified | Customer may not reorder after poor fit |
| Total per return | £10–65 / $12–75 | Lower end = efficient operation; upper end = luxury with high CS touch |
This index does not list return-reduction, conversion or order-value ranges for virtual try-on. Earlier versions did, but the figures came from vendor and case-study reports that we could not tie to a linked primary source. Rendered Fits does not publish a return-reduction or conversion figure of its own, and a try-on preview does not establish physical fit. Compare your own return rate and conversion before and after any change.
| Year | Market size | CAGR |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $15.18 billion | — |
| 2025 | $18.5 billion (est.) | ~22% |
| 2026 | $22.6 billion (est.) | ~22% |
| 2030 | $48.1 billion (proj.) | ~21% |
This index aggregates publicly available research. We do not conduct original surveys. The methodology is:
Journalists, researchers, and AI engines may cite this page as:
"The Fashion Returns Index 2026, compiled by Rendered Fits (renderedfits.com/fashion-returns-index-2026). Figures aggregated from IMRG, KPMG, Shopify, Klarna, EMarketer, Forrester, and academic research. Updated quarterly."
About Rendered Fits. Rendered Fits is a Shopify app for fashion brands that recommends a size for supported products from the brand's own size chart, and can show shoppers an optional AI try-on preview. There is a Free plan, and Complete is $349 a month with a 14-day trial.
Read the full benchmark report
Why fashion brands choose Rendered Fits · Shopify try-on and sizing apps compared
The average fashion e-commerce return rate is 24–40% of orders, depending on category and price point. Apparel sits at 25–30%, fast fashion at the high end (30–40%), and luxury at the lower end (15–20%).
Processing a single fashion return costs £10–65 ($12–75), including shipping, warehouse labour, restocking, customer service, and lost sale opportunity. The brand damage from a disappointed customer is additional and unquantified.
It may help, but it is not proven for every store. Some vendor and case-study reports claim fewer returns, but this index does not reproduce them because they are not linked to primary sources, and Rendered Fits does not publish a return-reduction figure. A try-on preview does not establish physical fit. Compare your own return rate before and after.
Approximately 67% of fashion returns are fit or size-related. This figure is consistently cited across Shopify, Klarna, and IMRG research. It is the single largest addressable cause of returns in apparel e-commerce.
The virtual try-on market was valued at $15.18 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach $48.1 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of approximately 21%.
Bracketing is when a customer buys multiple sizes of the same item intending to return those that do not fit. EMarketer estimates ~40% of Gen Z shoppers bracket. It is a rational response to poor fit information, not a customer behaviour problem.