Sportswear Size Chart Guide

How sportswear size charts work

A size chart maps letter sizes (XS-5XL) to measurements in centimetres — and the first thing to check on any chart is whether it lists body measurements or garment measurements. Body measurements describe the wearer; garment measurements describe the finished clothing, which differs from the body by the ease designed into the fit. A regular-fit jersey carries positive ease (the garment is larger than the body); compression wear carries negative ease (the garment is smaller than the body and stretches on).

The charts below are typical adult unisex charts in body measurements, using the roughly 5-6 cm grading between sizes that is standard across sportswear. Individual brands deviate from these on purpose — which is exactly why custom size charts exist, covered at the end of this guide. Production garments are cut to a tolerance, normally plus or minus 1-2 cm per measurement.

Size charts also matter commercially. Returns and remakes in team orders are nearly always sizing errors rather than production errors, and a chart used properly at order time is the cheapest quality control available to a buyer.

Jersey size chart (adult XS-5XL)

For jerseys and tops the controlling measurement is the chest, taken around the fullest part with the tape level under the arms. Garment length runs from the highest point of the shoulder to the hem.

If a chest measurement falls between two bands, take the larger size for a regular fit or the smaller for an athletic fit. Youth and children's charts follow the same structure with their own measurement sets.

Shorts size chart (adult XS-5XL)

Shorts are sized on the natural waist, measured at the narrowest point of the torso. Outseam length runs from the top edge of the waistband to the hem.

Elasticated drawcord waistbands cover the full waist band within each size, so waist is rarely the failure point on sports shorts. Outseam is a style decision as much as a size: football and gym shorts commonly run shorter, basketball and boxing shorts longer — the chart above shows a mid-length cut. Waist figures are for the relaxed band; sports shorts stretch several centimetres beyond the listed range.

Leggings size chart (adult XS-5XL)

Leggings are sized on waist and hip together, and hip is the more important of the two — a legging that clears the hip can be adjusted at the waist, but not the reverse. Inseam runs from the crotch seam to the hem on a full-length legging.

These are body measurements. Compression leggings — typically 240-300 GSM four-way-stretch fabric with 12-20% elastane — are deliberately cut smaller than the body and stretch to fit, so do not size down for a tighter feel: the negative ease is already engineered in. Women's-specific cuts typically run XS-4XL.

Regular, athletic and compression fit

The same body measurement produces three different garments depending on the intended fit, which is why an "M" from two brands rarely matches.

A size chart only means something alongside the intended fit, which is why ZipaSports confirms the fit type before pattern-making rather than inferring it from the letter sizes alone. State the intended fit in your order or tech pack — "athletic-fit match jersey", "compression legging" — so the factory patterns for it deliberately.

Custom size charts: how brands control fit

A custom size chart is a brand's own measurement specification, and any competent manufacturer will cut to it — this is how brands keep a consistent fit across products and reorders. ZipaSports, manufacturing in Sialkot, Pakistan, produces to fully custom size charts and cuts — men's, women's and youth — across adult XS-5XL, women's XS-4XL and children's sizes, for everything from football kits to gym leggings and compression wear.

Building one is straightforward: start from a standard chart like those above, order a sample set, adjust the points of measure that do not suit your customer, and lock the final chart into your tech pack with tolerances. From then on the chart, not the letter size, defines your fit — and it applies automatically to every reorder.

How to measure

• Chest: around the fullest part of the chest, tape level, arms relaxed at the sides.
• Waist: around the natural waistline — the narrowest point of the torso, above the hip bones.
• Hip: around the fullest part of the hips and seat, feet together.
• Inseam: from the crotch seam straight down to the ankle bone.
• Garment length: on a finished garment laid flat, from the highest point of the shoulder to the hem.

Measure over base layers rather than bulky clothing, and keep the tape snug without compressing. For team orders, collect each player's chest, waist and hip once and order against the chart — it is faster and more accurate than asking everyone for their usual letter size.