1/8 and smaller, how to tell what you're getting

I'd go with the actual measurements of each doll since the 1/6, 1/8 (1/4, and 1/3 too, for that matter) designations are a bit arbitrary

Teddy

 

A tool that might help with visualizing the size of all parts of the doll is a measuring tape.

You can get the measurements for the doll off of the dollmaker/seller's website and then hold the tape to get height and hold it in a circle to get an idea of how big around the doll/head is.

Once I was looking at a doll that seemed small in photos and checked measurements and it was much bigger than I thought!

 

Luts also has the Zuzu26 body which would bring your Bichon closer in size to the average 1/6 doll, if the height makes them feel too out of scale.

Otherwise, I agree that measurements are the most helpful, but sometimes it's still hard to visualize off numbers alone since that doesn't account for things like the size of features on the face. I try to also look for comparison photos by looking up the dolls both here and on Instagram, but I think there is a certain level of not fully knowing until you are able to have both items physically present, honestly.

 

The Luts Zuzu would probably fit into the 1/7 category actually if you really wanna categorize them. Same scale as a Fairyland Realfee. But my couple Zuzu beans can wear a bit of 1/6 stuff due to their thickness so I see them as short 1/6.

Compare sizes beforehand. Like Teddy mentioned, rather than focusing on "scale", try to focus on measurements. Start with a height range. So say 15-19cm. Once you've found dolls in those heights you like, then start comparing other measurements. A big one would be head size. Like the 16cm Luts Tiny Delf for example have head sizes around 15cm on average. Meanwhile a 17cm Myou head is 12.5cm. So 1cm taller but also a 2.5cm smaller head size. Enough to mean that the Myou is in a different wig size category. (I have both of these two and when compared they don't look related. Not a problem for me tho as mine as all fairies or other tiny magical creatures.) On small scales like this, a centimeter or two difference can be more obvious once compared.

 

I agree with everyone. Look at messurements other than height, such as head circumference.

What I used to do is paste full body product images of the dolls next to eachother on an art program to measure their heights and compare the dolls asthetically. You can also do this with collage apps, though it will be less precise.

Zuzu delf frize is a bit of an oddball size. Would you be able to share what kind of style your looking for for his friends?

 

Unfortunately there has been very little standardization in size/shape when you get below the Yo scale, and even Yo scale has size variations now. You may want to take a look at this size chart, which I believe is the most up to date even though it is not completely current: Tiny Measurement List [ver. 16.4.18]