How to Measure Your Shirt Size and Read a Size Chart

The fastest way to pick the right size online is not to measure yourself. Measure a shirt you already like the fit of, then match it to the size chart. Here is how.

What you need

A tape measure (or a ruler and a piece of string), a flat surface, and your favorite tee or hoodie.

Lay it flat

Lay the shirt face up on a table or the floor. Smooth it out without stretching it. Size charts like ours list garment measurements laid flat, so measure the same way.

The four measurements

• Chest: straight across, armpit seam to armpit seam, about an inch below the armpits. This is a flat measurement, so it is half the way around. Double it if a chart lists the full chest.
• Length: from the highest point of the shoulder, next to the collar, straight down to the bottom hem.
• Shoulder: from one shoulder seam to the other, across the back of the neck.
• Sleeve length: from the shoulder seam to the end of the sleeve.

Drop shoulder pieces measure differently

On a drop shoulder tee or hoodie, the shoulder seam sits down on the upper arm instead of on top of the shoulder. That makes the shoulder number wider and the sleeve number shorter than on a classic fit, even when the shirt fits the same. Compare chest and length first, and use shoulder and sleeve as a tiebreaker.

Reading the chart

1. Find the size whose chest is closest to your shirt's chest.
2. Check the length in that size. If it is longer than you like, look one size down.
3. Remember the cut. Oversized pieces are meant to measure bigger than a classic tee. If you want the oversized look, do not size down.

Inches or centimeters

Our charts list both. One inch is 2.54 cm, so a 22 inch chest is about 56 cm.

Where to find our charts

Every product page has its own size chart right next to the size picker, taken from the maker's measurements laid flat. Most of the line is cut loose or oversized with drop shoulders, like the Spec Sheet Tee and the Cold Start Hoodie. Not sure after measuring? Ask us through the contact page.

More fit and fabric answers in the FAQ.