Youth Size Chart: Boys & Girls, XS-XL, Height & Chest 2026

Youth sizes run XS to XL, matching numeric sizes 5–18, for kids ages 5 to 18. Youth XS = size 5–6, youth S = 6–7, youth M = 8–10, youth L = 12–14, youth XL = 16–18.

This guide breaks down every Youth Size Chart by age, height, and chest, plus shirts, shoes, and the tricky youth-to-adult crossover. Use the charts below to size right the first time.

Youth Size Chart at a Glance

Youth Size	Numeric Size	Age Range	Height	Chest
XS	5–6	5–6 yrs	42–47 in (107–119 cm)	24–25 in (61–64 cm)
S	6–7	6–7 yrs	47–52 in (119–132 cm)	25–27 in (64–69 cm)
M	8–10	8–10 yrs	52–57 in (132–145 cm)	27–30 in (69–76 cm)
L	12–14	12–14 yrs	57–62 in (145–157 cm)	30–33 in (76–84 cm)
XL	16–18	16–18 yrs	62–67 in (157–170 cm)	33–36 in (84–91 cm)

How to Measure for Youth Sizes

A tape measure beats a guess every time. Measuring takes two minutes and removes almost all the risk of a wrong-size return.

Height: Stand barefoot against a wall. Measure floor to the top of the head.
Chest: Wrap the tape around the fullest part of the chest, kept level.
Waist: Measure the narrowest point, usually just above the belly button.
Hips: Measure around the fullest part, tape held flat.
Inseam: Measure inner thigh to ankle for pants.

Do this every few months. Kids in a growth spurt can jump a full size in under a year.

Youth Small Size Chart

Size	Numeric Size	Age	Height	Chest	Waist
Youth S	6–7	6–7 yrs	47–52 in (119–132 cm)	25–27 in (64–69 cm)	23–24 in (58–61 cm)

A youth small shirt size typically measures about 17 inches flat across the chest and 22 inches long, based on standard Gildan youth tee specs.

Youth Medium Size Chart

Size	Numeric Size	Age	Height	Chest	Waist
Youth M	8–10	8–10 yrs	52–57 in (132–145 cm)	27–30 in (69–76 cm)	24–26 in (61–66 cm)

Boys’ and girls’ medium charts diverge slightly here. Girls tend to run a touch narrower in the chest and fuller in the hip by this age.

Youth Large and Youth XL Size Chart

Size	Numeric Size	Age	Height	Chest	Waist
Youth L	12–14	12–14 yrs	57–62 in (145–157 cm)	30–33 in (76–84 cm)	26–28 in (66–71 cm)
Youth XL	16–18	16–18 yrs	62–67 in (157–170 cm)	33–36 in (84–91 cm)	28–30 in (71–76 cm)

Youth Shirt Size Chart

Size	Flat Chest Width	Body Length
XS	16 in (40.6 cm)	20.5 in (52.1 cm)
S	17 in (43.2 cm)	22 in (55.9 cm)
M	18 in (45.7 cm)	23.5 in (59.7 cm)
L	19 in (48.3 cm)	25 in (63.5 cm)
XL	20 in (50.8 cm)	26.5 in (67.3 cm)

These figures line up with Gildan’s 5000B and 2000B youth tee specs, two of the most common blanks used in custom and team printing.

Youth Size Chart by Weight

Weight is a useful secondary check when choosing a youth clothing size, especially when a brand does not provide chest measurements.

XS — Weight: 44–50 lbs
S — Weight: 51–65 lbs
M — Weight: 66–87 lbs
L — Weight: 88–115 lbs
XL — Weight: 116–140 lbs

Use weight as a secondary guide, since children can have similar weights but different heights and body proportions.

Boys vs Girls Youth Size Chart

Size	Boys Waist	Girls Waist	Boys Hip	Girls Hip
S	24–25.5 in	23–24 in	28–29.5 in	26–29 in
M	25.5–27 in	24–27 in	29.5–31.5 in	29–32 in
L	27–28.5 in	27–29 in	31.5–33.5 in	32–35 in

Below age ten, unisex sizing works fine for most kids. Past that point, gender-specific charts fit better.

Youth to Adult Size Conversion

The jump from youth XL to adult small trips up more shoppers than any other point on the chart. The two aren’t interchangeable.

Youth Size	Adult Equivalent	Chest Difference
Youth XL (20 in flat, tee)	Adult Small (18 in flat, tee)	Youth runs 2 in wider

Youth Plus, Tall and Husky Sizes

Standard youth size charts assume average proportions, which leaves out plenty of kids. Husky sizing adds width at the waist without changing the length, while tall sizing extends torso and inseam length for taller-than-average kids at the same chest size.

Not every brand carries these lines, so checking a specific brand’s chart matters more here than anywhere else on this page.

FAQs

What size are youth sizes?

Youth sizes run from XS to XL, matching numeric sizes 5 through 18, for kids roughly ages 5 to 18.

Is youth small, 5-6 or 6-7?

Youth small is numeric size 6–7, fitting most six- to seven-year-olds.

Is youth XS like a 5T?

No, youth XS starts right after 5T and runs slightly larger, fitting sizes 5–6.

Is youth large a 10’13”?

Youth large covers height 57–62 inches (about 4’9″ to 5’2″), not 10 or 13 feet.

Is a youth size 7 a women’s 9?

Close — a youth size 7 shoe typically matches a women’s 8 to 9.

Why do kids size 6-7?

Size 6-7 marks the point where toddler sizing (2T-5T) ends and standard youth sizing begins.

Henry Collins

I am the admin and author of SizesForm, researching, verifying, and explaining measurements, dimensions, weights, and sizes in simple terms to help readers understand everyday comparisons accurately and confidently.

Youth Size Chart for Boys & Girls: All Sizes XS Through XL