How to Choose Your Size by Height and Weight (and Why It's Often Wrong)
🔑 Key Takeaways
- Height and weight give you a starting size, not a final answer. Use them to shortlist two neighboring sizes, then confirm with one real measurement.
- Charts can't see body shape. Two people with the same height and weight can have very different chest, shoulder and torso measurements, because weight doesn't show where it sits or how much of it is muscle.
- The same size label fits differently from brand to brand. Cut, fabric weight and whether a style is unisex or women's all change what "Medium" means.
- Body measurements and garment measurements are not the same thing. A good fit is your body chest plus ease, which is the extra room built into the garment.
- The fastest fix: lay your best-fitting sweatshirt flat, measure across the chest from armpit to armpit, and compare that number to the size chart.
How do you choose a size by height and weight? Use both numbers to find a likely size, then check it against your chest measurement and the fit you want. A height and weight chart is a good shortlist tool and a poor decision-maker. It works for average builds in a regular fit and gets less reliable the further you move from that.
We make custom embroidery apparel for a living: sweatshirts, hoodies, tees, caps and bags stitched from your own photo, name or date. Because every piece is made to order, a wrong size is more than an inconvenience, so we have spent a lot of time on why sizing goes wrong. This guide gives you a method that works on any brand, a rough chart to start from, and a plain explanation of why height and weight alone so often miss.
The 4-Step Method for Picking Your Size
Do the steps in this order. Each one narrows the answer, and the whole thing takes about five minutes.
01Find your starting size from height and weight
Use the table below as a first pass for a unisex sweatshirt or tee in a regular fit. Read down for your weight, across for your height, and note the size or the two sizes shown. Treat it as a shortlist, because brands differ and so do bodies.
| Weight | Under 5'4" (163 cm) | 5'4"–5'9" (163–175 cm) | Over 5'9" (175 cm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 110–130 lb (50–59 kg) | S | S | S–M |
| 131–150 lb (60–68 kg) | S–M | M | M |
| 151–170 lb (69–77 kg) | M | M | M–L |
| 171–190 lb (78–86 kg) | M–L | L | L |
| 191–215 lb (87–98 kg) | L–XL | XL | XL |
| 216 lb+ (98 kg+) | XL–2XL | 2XL | 2XL |
An illustrative guide for a regular-fit unisex top, not a size chart for any specific product. Always check the chart on the product page you are buying from.
Take one real measurement
The number that decides most tops is your chest. Wrap a soft tape measure around the fullest part of your chest, under your arms and across your shoulder blades, keeping it level and snug without squeezing. Write the number down. If you don't own a tape measure, use the garment method in the measuring section below.
03Decide how you want it to fit
The chart assumes a regular fit. If you want something looser, you add ease, which is the difference between your body measurement and the garment measurement.
| Fit you want | Extra room over your body chest | What it looks like | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular | About 2–4 in (5–10 cm) | Neat through the body, comfortable over a tee | Choose the size the chart gives you |
| Relaxed | About 4–7 in (10–18 cm) | Easy and slightly slouchy, still tidy | Take the larger of your two shortlisted sizes |
| Oversized | About 7–11 in (18–28 cm) | Dropped shoulders, long sleeves, boxy drape | Size up one to two sizes, or pick a style cut oversized |
Worked example. Your body chest is 38 in and you want a relaxed fit. Add 4–7 in of ease and you want a garment chest of 42–45 in around. Size charts usually list the flat width, which is half that, so look for 21–22.5 in across the chest from armpit to armpit.
Check shoulders and length, then choose
Chest gets you close. Shoulders and length finish the job. The shoulder seam should sit at or just past the edge of your shoulder for a regular fit, and slightly lower for a drop-shoulder style. The hem should land around your hip bone for a classic sweatshirt. If the chest matches but the length or sleeve doesn't, that tells you which direction to adjust.
7 Reasons Height and Weight Charts Are Inaccurate
If you have ordered by the chart and still ended up with a sweatshirt that was too tight in the shoulders or swimming at the hem, the chart was not necessarily wrong. It was answering a simpler question than the one you were asking. Here is where it falls short.
| What the chart assumes | What really happens | How to correct for it |
|---|---|---|
| Weight predicts width | Weight doesn't show where it sits or whether it is muscle or fat. A broad-shouldered build and a narrow-shouldered build can weigh the same. | Size by chest and shoulder width, not weight alone |
| Height predicts body length | Torso, arm and leg proportions vary a lot between people of the same height. | Compare sleeve and body length with a top you already own |
| You have an average build | Charts are built around an average fit model. The further your proportions are from average, the less the chart helps. | When you are between sizes, size for your widest area |
| Your numbers are exact | Weight is often estimated from memory, changes through the year, and gets mixed up between lb and kg. | Trust a tape measure over memory |
| One size label means one cut | Unisex, women's, boxy and slim cuts all use the same letters for different dimensions. | Read the garment measurements, not just S, M or L |
| Fabric doesn't matter | Heavyweight cloth holds its shape and sits boxier than lightweight jersey. Washed finishes feel softer and can look more relaxed. | Check the fabric weight and fit notes on the product page |
| Everyone wants a regular fit | Many people buy sweatshirts to be roomy, but the chart is calibrated to a standard fit. | Decide your fit first, then add ease |
Notice that none of these are mistakes on your part. They are limits of using two numbers to describe a three-dimensional body. That is why we treat height and weight as step one, never the only step.
How to Measure Yourself (or a Favorite Sweatshirt)
There are two reliable ways to get a number a size chart can use. The second one is the easier of the two and the one we recommend if you are buying a gift.
Method A: Measure your body
Stand relaxed with your arms down. Measure your chest at its fullest point. Measure your shoulder width from one shoulder edge to the other across your back. Measure from the high point of your shoulder down to where you want the hem to sit. Add the ease from the fit table above to the chest number.
Method B: Measure a sweatshirt that already fits well
Lay your favorite sweatshirt flat on a table and smooth it out. Measure straight across the chest from armpit to armpit. Measure from the high point of the shoulder to the hem. Measure the sleeve from the shoulder seam to the cuff. Now compare those three numbers to the garment measurements on the size chart and pick the size that lands closest.
One thing to check on every chart: find out whether it lists body measurements or garment measurements. If a chart says a Medium is 40 in around the chest and your body is 40 in, a body chart means a close fit. A garment chart means a close fit only if you want a garment with no ease at all, which is rarely comfortable in a sweatshirt.
What to Do If You're Between Sizes or Built Differently
Most sizing questions come down to a handful of situations. Find yours below.
| Your situation | Why the chart struggles | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Between two sizes | The chart rounds one way without knowing your fit goal | Go larger for relaxed or oversized, smaller for a neat regular fit if the shoulders still work |
| Broad shoulders or athletic upper body | Weight is spread differently, so chest and shoulders run bigger than the chart expects | Size by chest and shoulder width, and expect to go up a size |
| Tall and slim | Width suggests a smaller size, but height needs more length | Check body length and sleeve length first, and choose the size that covers them |
| Petite | Width fits but sleeves and hem run long | Embrace an oversized look on purpose, or size down and check the sleeve measurement |
| Fuller through the midsection | A chest-based size can run tight at the waist or hem | Size for your widest point and look for a relaxed fit |
| Buying a gift | You are guessing two numbers you may not know | Borrow a sweatshirt of theirs and measure it, or choose a relaxed fit one size up |
Same style, different sizes. Fit is a choice as much as a measurement.Sizing Custom Embroidered Pieces
Custom pieces add two things to the sizing question. First, the design is stitched onto the garment in a fixed place, so size changes where the design sits on your body. A centered chest portrait on an oversized sweatshirt sits lower on your torso than the same design on a regular fit. Second, because each piece is made to order, it pays to settle the size before you submit your photo.
Details can change, so confirm them on each product page.
Three sizing tips for custom orders
Choose size before design. Settle your size using the steps above, then upload your photo so the artist traces it for the garment you will actually receive.
Allow for washed finishes. Our washed and spray-dyed styles are dyed in small batches, so each one differs slightly and softens a little with wear. That soft, lived-in look reads as a relaxed fit, so if you want it crisp, stay with your regular size.
Read the product page chart. Each style lists its own measurements. For returns and exchanges on personalized items, check our Returns & Exchanges page before you order.
Where to start
- 360g Personalized CrewneckA heavyweight washed crewneck that holds its shape. Good if you want a clean regular fit or a deliberate size-up for a boxy look.
- Portrait & Music Player SweatshirtA photo-and-song keepsake. Because the design sits at the chest, pick your size first so it lands where you want it.
- Custom Embroidered Pet SweatshirtWear your pet on your chest. A popular gift, so borrow a sweatshirt measurement if you are not sure of their size.
- Custom Embroidered Wash TeeA lighter option if you are between sizes in sweatshirts. Layer it under a crewneck for a tonal look.
Find Your Fit, Then Make It Yours
Pick your size with the steps above, upload a favorite photo, and we will hand-trace and stitch it. Free US shipping on orders over $89, backed by our 90-day guarantee.
Shop Custom SweatshirtsChoosing a Size: Common Questions
How do I choose a size by height and weight?
Find your height and weight on a size chart to get a starting size or a pair of neighboring sizes. Then confirm with your chest measurement, add ease for the fit you want, and check shoulders and length. Height and weight alone are a shortlist, not a final answer.
Why are height and weight size charts not accurate?
They can't see body shape. Weight doesn't show where it sits or whether it is muscle, height doesn't show torso or arm length, and one size label can mean different cuts across brands. Fabric and fit goals matter too, so two people with identical numbers can need different sizes.
Should I size up or down if I'm between sizes?
Size up for a relaxed or oversized fit, since you want extra room. For a neat regular fit, take the smaller size only if the shoulders and chest still feel comfortable. When in doubt on a sweatshirt, the larger size is the more forgiving choice.
Does a size chart measure my body or the garment?
It depends on the chart, so check the heading. Body charts list the measurements of the person the size is made for. Garment charts list the measurements of the finished item. For garment charts, you want a number larger than your body measurement to leave room for ease.
How much bigger should an oversized sweatshirt be?
As a rough guide, an oversized sweatshirt has about 7–11 inches (18–28 cm) of extra room around the chest compared with your body, usually with dropped shoulders. In practice that is one to two sizes up from your regular fit, depending on the style.
How do I find the right size when buying a gift?
Borrow a sweatshirt they wear often, lay it flat and measure armpit to armpit and shoulder to hem, then match those numbers to the chart. If you can't, choose a relaxed fit in one size larger than you would guess, since a roomy sweatshirt is easier to wear than a tight one.
Does size change where a custom embroidered design sits?
Yes. Designs are stitched in a fixed position on the garment, so a larger size places the same design lower and wider on your body. Decide on your size first, then upload your photo or text for the garment you will receive.
What if my custom embroidered sweatshirt doesn't fit?
Personalized items can have specific return and exchange rules, so check our Returns & Exchanges page before ordering and measure carefully. If you are unsure about a size, contact our support team before you submit your design.
