Shirtaki size guide — chest, length & sleeve in cm for every garment we print
Below are the real flat measurements taken from current production stock at our Nicosia studio — nothing copied from a catalogue. Compare to a t-shirt or hoodie you already own and love. If you're between sizes, the 60-second rule at the bottom of this page picks the right one in >90 % of cases.
The short answer: our regular Essential Tee is true-to-size in EU sizing. Our Acid-Washed Heavy Oversize Tee and Oversize Tee Heavy run boxier and 4 cm wider in the chest — size down for a fitted look, take your normal size for the intended drop-shoulder fit. Hoodies are unisex and follow the regular tee chart.
In this guide
Why we publish raw cm — not S/M/L
Every brand defines S, M, L differently. Our Cyprus-based pattern team measures every blank we print on, flat, with a steel ruler, and publishes the numbers verbatim. That's the only way you can confidently compare to a t-shirt already in your wardrobe.
Tolerance per piece is ±1 cm on chest and length, ±0.5 cm on sleeves — standard for woven garment manufacturing. If you ever receive an item more than 2 cm out of spec, email a photo to info@shirtaki.io and we replace it free.
Unisex regular tee — 180–240 GSM
Our staple cut. Used on the Essential Tee, Custom Front Print Tee, Custom Front + Back Tee, Dolce Banana Shirt and Hugge Co-working Tee. Set-in sleeves, ribbed crewneck, side-seamed body. True to EU sizing.
| Size | Chest (cm, flat) | Body length (cm) | Sleeve (cm) | Fits EU | Fits US |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XS | 46 | 66 | 19 | 32–34 | XXS |
| S | 49 | 69 | 20 | 36 | XS |
| M | 52 | 72 | 21 | 38–40 | S |
| L | 55 | 74 | 22 | 42 | M |
| XL | 58 | 76 | 23 | 44–46 | L |
| XXL | 61 | 78 | 24 | 48 | XL |
| 3XL | 64 | 80 | 25 | 50–52 | XXL |
Pre-shrunk, ring-spun cotton. Expect <3 % shrinkage at 30 °C. Available up to 3XL on most styles, up to 5XL on the Front + Back Custom Tee.
Oversize / heavy tee — 240 GSM
Drop-shoulder, boxy modern fit on the Acid-Washed Heavy Oversize Tee (€26.99–€29.99) and Oversize Tee Heavy (€39). Wider through the chest, longer dropped sleeve, structured body that holds its shape after dozens of washes.
| Size | Chest (cm) | Body length (cm) | Sleeve length (cm) | Fit feel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S | 54 | 72 | 22 | Slim oversized |
| M | 57 | 74 | 23 | Regular oversized |
| L | 60 | 76 | 24 | Generous oversized |
| XL | 63 | 78 | 25 | Very loose |
| XXL | 66 | 80 | 26 | Streetwear-tall |
| 3XL | 69 | 82 | 27 | Maximum drop-shoulder |
Sizing rule: if you want the "intended" oversized look, take your normal tee size. If you usually wear M and want a fitted oversized look, size down to S. Add roughly +4 cm of chest room vs. our regular tee at the same letter size.
Hoodie & crewneck — 280–400 GSM
The Custom Hoodie (Front + Back) and Custom Hoodie (Front) ship in four colours (Black, Sport Grey, Maroon, Off White) up to 2XL. Our Heavy Blend Crewneck uses the same base body. Brushed-back fleece interior, ribbed cuff & hem, double-needle stitching at stress points.
| Size | Chest (cm) | Body length (cm) | Sleeve from CB (cm) | Hood depth (cm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S | 54 | 68 | 62 | 34 |
| M | 57 | 70 | 63 | 35 |
| L | 60 | 72 | 64 | 36 |
| XL | 63 | 74 | 65 | 37 |
| XXL | 66 | 76 | 66 | 38 |
Hoodies use a neutral unisex block. If you intend to layer over a midweight tee, take your usual tee size. If you want the hoodie to layer under a jacket, size down one. Sleeve length is measured from centre-back along the raglan — typical for athletic blocks.
Women's fit — Essential Tee
The Essential Tee — Heather Grey (women's cut) uses a softer set-in sleeve, narrower shoulder and slight side-shaping. It's not a baby-tee — think classic relaxed feminine fit.
| Size | Bust (cm) | Length (cm) | Shoulder (cm) | Equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S | 44 | 62 | 37 | EU 36 / UK 8 |
| M | 47 | 64 | 38 | EU 38 / UK 10 |
| L | 50 | 66 | 39 | EU 40 / UK 12 |
| XL | 53 | 68 | 40 | EU 42 / UK 14 |
| XXL | 56 | 70 | 41 | EU 44 / UK 16 |
Kids tee — ages 3–13
Used on the Kids Heavy Cotton Tee, Kids Puppy Tee, Kids Custom Front-Print Tee and Kids Front-Print Tee (PFL). All €21. 100 % combed ringspun cotton, taped neck, side-seamed.
| Tag size | Age | Height (cm) | Chest (cm) | Length (cm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3–4 | 3–4 yrs | 98–104 | 35 | 46 |
| 5–6 | 5–6 yrs | 110–116 | 38 | 51 |
| 7–8 | 7–8 yrs | 122–128 | 41 | 56 |
| 9–11 | 9–11 yrs | 134–146 | 44 | 61 |
| 12–13 | 12–13 yrs | 152–158 | 47 | 66 |
Kids cotton shrinks slightly more than adult ringspun (allow ~4 %). If a child is between sizes or growing fast, size up — washing tightens the shoulders before the body.
Swim shorts & slides
Quick-dry swim shorts (€34.90) — elastic waist with internal drawcord, mesh liner. Take your trouser waist size.
| Size | Waist relaxed (cm) | Waist max (cm) | Inseam (cm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| S | 72 | 96 | 16 |
| M | 78 | 104 | 17 |
| L | 84 | 112 | 18 |
| XL | 90 | 120 | 19 |
| XXL | 96 | 128 | 20 |
Custom printed slides (€29.90) ship in EU sizes 36–43. We recommend taking your usual EU shoe size; if you're between, size up — the moulded footbed runs slightly snug on first wear.
How to measure correctly
- Pick a reference. Take a t-shirt or hoodie you already love wearing — same garment type, similar fabric weight.
- Lay flat, no stretch. Smooth out wrinkles on a hard surface. Don't pull the seams.
- Chest. Measure straight across, 2 cm below the armpit seam, edge-to-edge. Multiply by 2 only if you want body circumference.
- Body length. From the highest point of the shoulder seam straight down to the front hem.
- Sleeve. Shoulder seam to cuff edge. For raglan/hoodies, from centre-back-neck along the seam to cuff.
- Compare numbers on this page to your reference, pick the closest match. Don't overthink it.
Body-to-garment quick math
- Regular tee: body chest + 8 to 12 cm of ease → flat chest measurement we publish.
- Oversize tee: body chest + 16 to 22 cm of ease.
- Hoodie: body chest + 12 to 18 cm of ease for a comfortable layering fit.
- Example: a 96 cm chest takes M in regular (52 cm flat = 104 circumference), or S in oversize (54 cm flat) for fitted-oversize.
How our fit compares to other brands
- vs. Gildan 5000 / Heavy Cotton: our regular tee runs ~1 cm narrower in the chest at every letter size, body length is virtually identical. If you wear M in Gildan, take M in Shirtaki.
- vs. AS Colour Staple: very close at S–L, our XL/XXL run ~1.5 cm wider. Same letter size will work.
- vs. Stanley/Stella Creator 2.0: S/S Creator is slimmer and shorter. Our M ≈ Stanley/Stella L in shoulder width.
- vs. Hanes Beefy / Comfort Colors 1717: Hanes runs significantly boxier and shorter. Our oversize tee is the closest equivalent — take your normal Hanes letter size in our oversize cut.
Shrinkage by fabric weight
- 180 GSM lightweight cotton: 1–2 % chest, 2–3 % length at 30 °C. Negligible if line-dried.
- 200 GSM midweight (most popular): <3 % combined. Pre-shrunk twice at the mill.
- 240 GSM heavy / oversize: 2–4 % length, 1–2 % chest. The heavier the knit, the more vertical shrink.
- 280 GSM long-sleeve / 400 GSM hoodie fleece: 3–5 % on first wash, then stable. Hang-dry to keep the original length.
- Tip: if you're between sizes and plan to tumble-dry hot, size up.
Sizing FAQ
I'm between sizes — what should I do?
For our regular tee, hoodie and crewneck: size up if you prefer a relaxed fit, size your usual letter for true-to-size. For oversize tees: size down for a fitted-oversize look, or take your usual size for the intended drop-shoulder boxy fit.
Do you offer 4XL or 5XL?
Yes — the Custom Front + Back Tee ships up to 5XL in eight colourways. Hoodies are 2XL max. If you need a specific size in a specific style, email info@shirtaki.io — we can usually source it for orders of 12+.
Will the print stretch out the fabric?
No. We use water-based DTG and DTF inks that flex with the cotton. There's no thick plastisol ink layer. The print never adds stiffness in normal wear and won't deform the chest measurement.
Can I order one to try and exchange if it doesn't fit?
Blank garments — yes, return within 30 days unworn for a refund or size swap. Custom-printed garments are made-to-order, so we can't accept change-of-mind returns, but we will reprint at our cost if you ordered the size we recommended on this page and it's clearly out of spec. See returns for details.
My measurement is exactly between two sizes on the table — which?
Round up. Cotton tightens with washing; oversized cuts forgive a centimetre of slack; nobody ever returns a tee for being slightly roomier. For hoodies specifically: round up.
Is the fit on the women's tee actually different or just smaller?
It's a different block — narrower shoulder seam (37 cm at S vs. 43 cm on the unisex), slightly tapered side seams, shorter body. Not just unisex sizes downsized.
Do colours fit the same?
Yes — the same blank base body is used regardless of colour. Variation is <1 cm between colours of the same style.
Do you have a physical sample I can hold before ordering 50+ pieces?
For wholesale and team orders we ship one free sample on orders of 25+. Email info@shirtaki.io with the SKU you'd like to test.
My delivered tee measures 1 cm differently from this chart — is it defective?
No — that's within standard cut-and-sew tolerance (±1 cm chest/length, ±0.5 cm sleeve). Anything beyond that and we replace it free. Just send a photo with a measuring tape to info@shirtaki.io.
Does the size guide apply to the Acid-Washed tee even though it's washed?
Yes. Acid wash is applied after the garment is sewn and pre-shrunk, so the published measurements are the post-wash dimensions you actually receive.