Size Guide
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Getting the size right matters even more with a gift, and most of our customers are buying for someone else. This Size Guide explains how to choose a size for every Proud Vet Tee garment: how to measure a shirt the wearer already owns, how our size labels map to fits, how unisex, women’s and youth cuts differ, how to decide between two sizes, and what to do if a size does not work out. Each product page shows the exact sizes available for that design and, where the garment supplier provides them, its measurement chart; when a product page chart is shown, it takes priority over the general advice on this page.
Sizing in short
- Best method: lay a garment that fits well flat, measure it, and compare it with the chart on the product page.
- Adult sizes: S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL, 4XL and 5XL, depending on the garment and design.
- Unisex fit: a classic, straight fit; most people choose their usual size.
- Between sizes: size up for comfort and layering, keep your usual size for a neater look.
- Wrong size? Exchange it within 60 days of delivery; see Returns & Exchanges.
1. How to measure a garment you already own
Measuring a garment is more reliable than measuring a body, especially when you are buying a gift and cannot ask the wearer to stand still with a tape measure. Pick a shirt, polo or hoodie of the same type that fits the wearer the way they like, and measure it like this:
- Lay it flat on a table, front facing up, smoothing out wrinkles without stretching the fabric.
- Chest width: measure straight across the garment from one side seam to the other, about 1 inch (2.5 cm) below the armpits. This is a flat measurement, half the circumference.
- Body length: measure from the highest point of the shoulder, where the collar meets the shoulder seam, straight down to the bottom hem.
- Sleeve length (for long sleeves, hoodies and jackets): measure from the shoulder seam to the end of the cuff.
- Write the numbers down in inches or centimetres, and compare them with the size chart on the product page you are ordering from.
Pick the size whose chest width is closest to your measurement without being smaller. If the length matters more to the wearer, for example a tall person who hates short shirts, give the length measurement priority.
2. How to measure a person
If you can measure the wearer directly, use a soft tape measure over a thin shirt:
- Chest: around the fullest part of the chest, under the arms, keeping the tape level and snug but not tight.
- Waist: around the natural waist, above the hips.
- Height: useful for judging whether a regular length will suit them.
Body measurements are not the same as garment measurements: a garment is always cut bigger than the body so it can be worn comfortably. If a product page gives body measurements, compare them with body measurements; if it gives garment measurements, compare them with a garment you have measured.
3. Our size labels and how they usually fit
| Size label | Usually chosen by people who wear | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| S | Small in most US brands | Smallest adult size offered |
| M | Medium in most US brands | Many women choose M in a unisex tee |
| L | Large in most US brands | Middle of the adult range |
| XL | Extra large in most US brands | Middle of the adult range |
| 2XL | XXL or 2X | Extended size |
| 3XL | XXXL or 3X | Extended size |
| 4XL | 4X | Extended size; check the product page |
| 5XL | 5X | Extended size; check the product page |
Not every size is available for every garment and design. The product page only lets you choose sizes that can actually be printed for that item.
4. Fit by garment type
T-shirts (unisex)
Our unisex tees have a classic, straight cut: not slim, not oversized. Most men choose their usual size. Women who like a relaxed look usually choose their usual size or one smaller; women who prefer a fitted look may prefer a women’s cut where it is offered.
Women’s cut tees
Women’s cuts are narrower through the body, slightly shaped at the waist and shorter in the sleeve. If the wearer is between sizes or likes room to move, choose one size up from their usual women’s size.
Polo shirts
Polos are cut to be worn tucked or untucked at events. If the wearer will tuck the shirt in, length matters more; if they wear it loose over trousers, compare chest width first.
Hoodies and sweatshirts
These are cut roomier than tees to allow layering. Most people choose their usual size. If they want a slimmer look, or have narrow shoulders, consider one size down; if they plan to wear a thick layer underneath, keep their usual size or go up.
Jackets
Jackets are sized to fit over a shirt or a light sweater. Measure a jacket the wearer already owns, including the sleeve, and compare it with the chart on the jacket’s product page.
Youth sizes
Youth sizes follow a separate chart on the product page and are labelled differently from adult sizes. Children grow quickly; if a child is between sizes, the larger size usually lasts longer.
Caps
Most caps have an adjustable strap or snap closure and fit most adults. The product page lists the closure type and profile.
5. Choosing between two sizes
- Size up if the wearer likes a relaxed fit, layers underneath, is tall, or has broad shoulders or a fuller middle.
- Keep the smaller size if they like a neat fit, have narrow shoulders, or plan to wear the garment tucked in.
- For older relatives, comfort usually matters most, and a slightly roomier shirt is easier to put on and take off; when in doubt between two sizes, the larger one is the safer gift.
- If in doubt, email us the measurements of a garment that fits well and we will suggest a size.
6. Shrinkage and care
Cotton and cotton-blend garments can shrink slightly, mainly in length, if washed hot or dried on high heat. To keep the fit and the print, wash inside out in cold water, avoid bleach and fabric softener, and tumble dry on low or hang to dry. Do not iron directly on the print. Following these steps keeps a shirt close to the size you chose.
7. Ordering sizes for a group
For matching family or reunion shirts, collect each person’s usual size and, where possible, a measurement of a garment they like. Enter each size as its own line in the cart. If you are mixing unisex, women’s and youth sizes, check each chart separately, since they are not interchangeable. If one person’s shirt does not fit, you can exchange just that piece within 60 days of delivery.
8. If the size is not right
Any item can be exchanged for a different size within 60 days of delivery, personalized items included. Send the unworn, unwashed item back at your cost, and we print and ship the new size to you free. If we sent the wrong size, we fix it at our cost and you usually do not need to send anything back. Full details are in our Returns & Exchanges Policy and our Refund Policy.
To change a size before your order is printed, contact us within 12 hours of ordering, as explained on Cancel or Change an Order.
9. Common sizing questions
He wears a Large in some brands and XL in others. Which should I choose?
Measure the shirt he wears most often, then compare it with the chart on our product page. If you cannot measure, choose XL for hoodies and sweatshirts and compare more carefully for tees.
Are your sizes US sizes?
Yes. Customers in Canada usually wear the same labels. Australian and New Zealand customers should compare measurements rather than labels, because local sizing conventions differ.
Can I get a size that is not listed?
No. The product page only offers sizes that can be printed for that garment. If you need a size that is missing, write to us and we will tell you if another garment style for the same design offers it.
9a. Sizing a gift without asking
If you want the gift to be a surprise, there are discreet ways to find a size. Check the label of a shirt in the wearer’s laundry or wardrobe, and note both the size and the brand. Ask a spouse or a sibling what size they usually buy for them. Look at recent photos: a shirt that looks loose on them in a photo is a useful hint about the fit they like. If you can borrow a shirt for a few minutes, measure it flat as described in section 1; that one measurement is worth more than any guess. And remember that any size can be exchanged within 60 days of delivery, so a near miss is easy to fix.
9b. Sizing notes for changing bodies
Bodies change over the decades after service, and it is easy to remember a parent as bigger or smaller than they are today. Size for the person as they are now, not as they were in an old photo. For people who have lost weight recently, or who have limited shoulder movement, a slightly roomier shirt or a zip-up layer is often more comfortable than a fitted crew neck. These are general suggestions; the chart on the product page is the reference.
9c. Converting inches and centimetres
Product charts may give measurements in inches. One inch is 2.54 centimetres, so a flat chest measurement of 22 inches is about 56 centimetres, and 30 inches of body length is about 76 centimetres. If you measure in centimetres, divide by 2.54 to compare with an inch chart, and round to the nearest half inch. Small differences of half an inch either way are normal between individual garments of the same size, because fabric is cut and sewn in batches and soft knit fabric is never perfectly uniform.
9d. A quick sizing checklist
- Which garment type are you buying: tee, women’s tee, polo, hoodie, jacket or youth?
- Do you have a flat measurement of a similar garment that fits well?
- Have you compared it with the chart on the product page, not just the size label?
- Does the wearer prefer a relaxed or a neat fit?
- Will they layer anything underneath?
Five quick answers, and the right size is usually obvious.
9e. What this guide does not promise
This guide gives general fit advice. Exact measurements depend on the garment supplier and are shown on each product page when available. We do not claim a size will fit any particular body perfectly, which is exactly why every size can be exchanged within 60 days of delivery.
10. Help choosing
Email support@proudvettee.com with the product you are looking at, the wearer’s usual size and, if possible, a measurement of a garment that fits them well. We reply within 1 business day. You can also browse the FAQs or start at the shop.