Why outerwear has its own page
"dhgate hoodie spreadsheet", "dhgate jacket spreadsheet", "dhgate puffer jacket spreadsheet", "dhgate spreadsheet jackets" and "dhgate jackets spreadsheet" add up to over 100 searches a month, with UK buyers over-represented, unsurprisingly given the climate. Outerwear differs from t-shirts in two ways that change how you buy: quality is harder to judge from photos, and the items are bulky enough that shipping can cost as much as the garment.
Hoodies: the numbers that matter
| Feature | Good sign | Warning sign |
|---|---|---|
| Fabric weight | 350 gsm or more listed | No weight given, thin in buyer photos |
| Inside | Brushed fleece or loopback, visible in photos | Smooth thin jersey |
| Ribbing | Thick cuffs and hem that hold shape | Cuffs that look stretched in photos |
| Hood | Double-layer hood | Single thin layer |
| Size chart | Chest, length and sleeve in cm | S/M/L only |
A heavy, fleece-lined hoodie with a full size chart is the easiest outerwear win on DHgate.
Jackets and puffers
With jackets, look at zips (branded zip pullers like YKK are a good sign on unbranded jackets), seam taping on rain jackets, and how the collar sits in buyer photos. For puffers, the fill matters. Down jackets should list fill power or down-to-feather ratio; cheap listings often use polyester fill, which is warm enough for city wear but flattens faster. Buyer photos showing a puffer flat and thin usually mean low fill. Check whether the listing says the jacket is shipped compressed, which is normal; it should recover after a day or two.
Sizing outerwear
Outerwear needs room for layers. Measure a jacket you own that fits over a jumper, and compare chest and sleeve length with the seller's chart. Sleeve length is the most common complaint for tall buyers. If you are between sizes, size up for jackets and stay true for hoodies if you like a close fit.
Shipping timing and cost
Bulky items are priced by volume as well as weight on many international lines, so a puffer can cost more to ship than its weight suggests. Free-shipping listings absorb this into the price, which is why puffers with free shipping often look expensive compared with tees. Order before November if you want it for winter: economy lines slow down around the holiday peak and again around Chinese New Year, and our free shipping page explains why. Through an agent, you can ask for vacuum packing to reduce volume, one reason the agent route can win for outerwear hauls.
Brands and customs
Many outerwear listings in spreadsheets copy luxury or outdoor brands. Customs authorities treat these as infringing goods and can seize them, with no refund. Unbranded technical jackets, workwear and plain hoodies avoid the problem entirely.
Duty on outerwear
Coats and jackets can attract higher duty than t-shirts in some markets. In the UK, VAT is collected at checkout up to £135; above that, duty and VAT apply on import, and a good down jacket can cross that line. In the EU, outerwear counts as its own category for the €3 per-category duty. See the UK page for the detail.
Checking what arrives
When a hoodie or jacket arrives, check seams under the arms, the zip running smoothly, and the lining for loose threads. Wash a hoodie inside out on a cool cycle the first time and check for shrinkage against your measurements. If anything differs from the listing, open a dispute inside DHgate with photos, following the steps on the quality-check page.
Judge hoodies by weight and lining, puffers by fill, and order outerwear well before the winter rush.
Hoodie styles and how they are described
Sellers use a handful of terms that tell you more than the photos. "Heavyweight" usually means 350 gsm and up. "Oversized" or "drop shoulder" means the shoulder seam sits on the upper arm, so the chest measurement will be large and the sleeves shorter than they look; size by your usual chest measurement rather than going up. "French terry" or "loopback" has small loops inside rather than fleece, cooler and better for spring. "Boxy" means wide and short. "Washed" or "vintage wash" means pre-faded colour, which varies batch to batch, so expect some difference from the photo.
Jackets for different climates
For UK and Dutch weather, a shell jacket with taped seams and a hood is often more useful than a heavy puffer; look for a listed waterproof rating in millimetres and check buyer photos of the inside seams. For Canadian winters, a cheap puffer is rarely enough on its own, and a properly rated parka is not where DHgate is strongest. For Australian buyers, the relevant searches are lightweight windbreakers and fleece for cooler months. Matching the jacket to the climate matters more than any brand name.
Buying a set: hoodie plus joggers
Matching sets are popular in spreadsheets. Buy both pieces from the same seller in one order, so colours match and they ship together. Check that the size chart covers both pieces separately; some sets use one size label for a top and bottom with very different fits.
FAQ
What gsm should a good hoodie have?
Around 350 gsm or more feels substantial; many cheap hoodies are much lighter.
Are DHgate puffers warm?
Polyester-filled puffers are fine for city wear; check buyer photos for loft and listed fill.
Why is shipping a jacket expensive?
Bulky parcels can be priced by volume, not just weight.
When should I order winter outerwear?
Before November, to avoid holiday and Chinese New Year delays.
Will a jacket go over the UK £135 limit?
A more expensive coat can, in which case duty and VAT apply on import.
Can I wash a new DHgate hoodie straight away?
Yes, and it is a good idea: wash it inside out on a cool cycle and measure afterwards, so any shrinkage shows while you can still mention it in a review.
Is vacuum packing bad for a puffer?
No. Compressed puffers recover their loft within a day or two of unpacking; hang them up and shake them out.