“Youth Large” doesn’t actually tell you much — it’s a label, not a measurement, and different brands cut it differently. Here’s exactly what our sizes measure, straight from the manufacturer spec sheet, so you can compare real numbers instead of guessing from a size name.
The measurements
| Size | Chest (flat, armpit to armpit, doubled for full circumference) | Full chest circumference | Body length (from shoulder seam to hem) |
|---|---|---|---|
| S | 15.25″ (38.7cm) | 30.5″ (77.5cm) | 20.875″ (53cm) |
| M | 16.25″ (41.3cm) | 32.5″ (82.6cm) | 22.125″ (56.2cm) |
| L | 17.25″ (43.8cm) | 34.5″ (87.6cm) | 23.375″ (59.4cm) |
| XL | 18.25″ (46.4cm) | 36.5″ (92.7cm) | 24.375″ (61.9cm) |
These are the manufacturer’s official specifications for the blank we print on, not estimates.
How to actually use these numbers
A size label alone doesn’t tell you whether a shirt will fit — but a real measurement compared against something that already fits does. Lay a tee she already owns and likes the fit of flat, measure straight across from armpit seam to armpit seam (that’s the chest number, before doubling), and measure from the top of the collar down to the hem (that’s the length). Compare those two numbers directly to the table above.
If her measurements land between two sizes, chest fit is usually the harder constraint to compromise on — a little extra length is easier to live with than a tight chest. Our Size & Fit Guide has an interactive version of this same comparison if you’d rather not do the math by hand.
What this doesn’t tell you
We haven’t published a sleeve length — it isn’t listed on the manufacturer’s spec sheet, and we won’t publish a measurement we haven’t verified ourselves. We’ll add it once we can measure a real, finished garment.
We also don’t have a verified comparison to any adult or “junior” size from another brand. Sizing isn’t standardized across brands or categories, so a claimed equivalency (like “our XL equals a women’s XS”) would be a guess dressed up as a fact. If you’re comparing to a size from somewhere else, the more reliable move is checking that brand’s own published measurements and comparing both sets of numbers directly — same principle either way: real measurements, not size labels.
Why we publish this at all
Most youth size charts stop at “age 9–10, age 11–12” with no actual numbers attached. Ours doesn’t, on purpose.
Common questions
For our Bella + Canvas 3001Y blank, a youth Large measures 17.25″ flat chest (34.5″ full circumference) and 23.375″ body length from the shoulder seam to the hem. Other brands may cut a “youth large” differently — always check the specific garment’s measurements, not just the size name.
There’s no reliable universal answer, because sizing isn’t standardized across brands or between youth and adult lines. Our youth XL measures 18.25″ flat chest (36.5″ full circumference) and 24.375″ length. If you’re comparing to a specific adult small from another brand, check that brand’s own published measurements rather than assuming an equivalency.
For our blank, a youth Medium measures 16.25″ flat chest (32.5″ full circumference) and 22.125″ body length. As with every size above, this is specific to this manufacturer’s spec — treat any general “youth medium” figure you find elsewhere as an estimate until you check the actual garment.
Not yet. It isn’t included in the manufacturer’s spec sheet, and we don’t publish a measurement we haven’t verified ourselves. We’ll add it once we can measure a real, finished garment.
Read why in Our Approach, or use the Size & Fit Guide calculator to compare your own measurements directly.
Related reading: How to Measure a Tee She Already Owns · The Size 14 Cliff: Why Sizing Breaks Down After Girls’ 14/16