If you are ordering custom shirts for a team, the sizing is the part that costs you money when you get it wrong. Too many coaches and team managers guess on sizes, end up with shirts nobody can wear, and eat the cost on a reorder. Here is how to get it right the first time.
Standard Size Ranges by Brand
| Brand | Youth Sizes Available | Adult Sizes Available | Fit Style |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gildan | YXS, YS, YM, YL, YXL | S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL, 4XL, 5XL | Boxy, generous |
| Bella+Canvas | YXS, YS, YM, YL, YXL | XS, S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL | Slim, modern |
| Comfort Colors | YXS, YS, YM, YL, YXL | S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL | Relaxed, garment-dyed |
| Next Level | YXS, YS, YM, YL, YXL | XS, S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL | Slim, fashion-forward |
| Hanes | YXS, YS, YM, YL, YXL | S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL | Traditional, boxy |
How to Collect Sizes From Your Team
Do not ask people what size they want. People are wrong about their own size more than half the time. Instead, bring a set of sample shirts to a practice or meeting and have people try them on. Five minutes of trying on shirts saves hundreds of dollars in wrong sizes.
If you cannot do a try-on session, send a size chart with actual measurements and ask each person (or parent) to measure across the chest and report the number. Not the size they think they wear. The number.
A simple form that asks for name, chest measurement in inches, and preferred fit (fitted or relaxed) gives you everything you need to assign the right size.
Sizing for Youth Teams (Ages 5-12)
Youth teams are the hardest to size because kids grow fast and parents tend to order too big thinking the kid will grow into it. Here is the breakdown by age group:
Ages 5-7: Youth XS to Youth Small. Most of your order will be YS with a few YXS for the smaller kids. See our 6 year old sizing guide for the brand-by-brand breakdown.
Ages 8-10: Youth Small to Youth Medium. The bulk of the order is YM with a handful of YS for smaller players and maybe one YL for an early grower. See our 8 year old and 10 year old sizing guides.
Ages 10-12: Youth Medium to Youth Large. This is where the range starts to spread. Some kids are still solidly in YM while others have jumped to YL or even YXL. Our 12 year old sizing guide covers the transition.
Ages 13-15: Youth Large to Adult Small. This is the transition zone. Expect a mix of YL, YXL, and Adult S. For a detailed breakdown of how YXL and Adult S compare, read our Youth XL vs Adult Small guide.
Sizing for Mixed Age Groups
Events, family reunions, church groups, and fundraisers often span from kids to adults. Here is a standard size distribution that works for most mixed groups of 50 or more people:
Youth S: 5%. Youth M: 10%. Youth L: 10%. Youth XL: 5%. Adult S: 10%. Adult M: 25%. Adult L: 20%. Adult XL: 10%. Adult 2XL: 5%.
That distribution covers the bell curve for most American groups. Adjust based on what you know about your specific audience. A senior citizen event skews larger. A middle school event skews toward youth sizes.
Which Size to Order When Someone Is Between Sizes
Always go up. A slightly loose custom shirt gets worn. A too-tight custom shirt goes in a drawer. This is especially true for events where comfort matters more than a tailored look.
For athletic uniforms or performance wear where a close fit is important, stay true to size. Those shirts are designed to fit against the body and sizing up defeats the purpose.
The Youth-to-Adult Transition
The single biggest sizing mistake on team orders is jumping from youth large to adult small. That gap is too wide. Youth XL is the bridge size. It overlaps with adult small in chest width but is shorter in body length, which fits a kid's proportions better. See our What Size Is Youth Large guide and our Youth XL Size Chart for the exact measurements.
How do you size custom team shirts?
The best method is a try-on session with sample shirts at practice or a meeting. If that is not possible, send a size chart with actual chest measurements and have each person measure themselves. Assign sizes based on measurements, not based on what people think they wear.
What sizes should I order for a youth team?
It depends on the age range. Ages 5-7 need mostly YS. Ages 8-10 need mostly YM. Ages 10-12 split between YM and YL. Ages 13-15 need YL, YXL, and some Adult S. See the age breakdown in this guide for specific splits. Always order at least 2 extra shirts in the most common sizes.
How do I order shirts for mixed age groups?
Use this starting distribution for groups of 50+: YS 5%, YM 10%, YL 10%, YXL 5%, Adult S 10%, Adult M 25%, Adult L 20%, Adult XL 10%, Adult 2XL 5%. Adjust based on your audience. Always include the full range from youth to adult 2XL to cover everyone.
Related Sizing Guides
- How Many Shirts to Order for a Team
- How to Size Custom Shirts for Youth Sports Teams
- Custom T-Shirt Sizing for Schools
- What Size Shirt for a 10 Year Old?
- What Size Shirt for a 12 Year Old?
- Gildan Youth Sizing Guide
- Bella Canvas Youth Sizing Guide
- Youth vs Adult T-Shirt Sizing Guide
Ready to Order Custom Team Shirts?
We handle team orders from 24 pieces to 500+. Tell us your age range and team size, and we will recommend the right size split, the right blank, and the right print method for your budget. Start your order here and we will have a quote to you within one business day.