What Size Is a Youth Large? Size Chart, Age and Adult Comparison
By Darrin DeTorres, DTF Database founder, print industry professional with 10+ years of production experience · Last updated
This youth large size chart gives the flat measurements of a large youth tee from 10 blank styles in inches and centimeters, what the size is in numbers, the age and height it usually fits, how it compares with youth medium, youth XL and adult small, and what print size works on it.
What size is a youth large?
A youth large is the kids' 14–16 size, one step below youth XL. Averaged across 10 youth tees from Gildan, Port & Company, Bella+Canvas, Next Level and District, it measures 18 inches (46 cm) across the chest laid flat and 24.5 inches (62 cm) long, and fits a body chest of about 30 to 32 inches (76 to 81 cm).
Those averages are DTF Database's own, calculated from the manufacturers' spec sheets for the blank tees most often decorated for schools, teams and events. The letter is the same across brands, but the shirt is not: a youth large is 17.25 inches wide in one style and 19 inches in another, and 23.375 to 25.5 inches long. Age is a rough guide only. Nike's boys' chart puts its large at ages 12 to 13, while the "14–16" on most blank tee labels is a kids' size number, not an age.
Youth large is what size in numbers?
On Gildan, Port & Company, Bella+Canvas and District youth tees, a youth large is kids' size 14–16. Next Level numbers its 3310 youth tee differently and labels the large 10/12, so a "10/12" order can mean a youth medium on one brand and a youth large on another. The DTF Database guide to what size a 10/12 is in youth covers that overlap.
In body terms, the youth large label covers a chest of about 30 to 32 inches (76 to 81 cm) and a height of about 58 to 62 inches (147 to 157 cm). When a child's chest and height fall in different sizes, size by the chest.
Youth large size chart by brand
Youth large flat measurements from each manufacturer's spec sheet. Chest width is taken 1 inch below the armholes and body length from the high point of the shoulder to the hem. Classic heavyweight tees (Gildan 5000B, 2000B) are the widest at 19 inches; the Bella+Canvas 3001Y is the narrowest at 17.25 inches and also the shortest at 23.375 inches.
| Style | Chest width | Body length | Width × length (cm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gildan 5000B Heavy Cotton | 19" | 25" | 48 × 64 |
| Gildan 2000B Ultra Cotton | 19" | 25" | 48 × 64 |
| Gildan 8000B DryBlend | 18" | 23.5" | 46 × 60 |
| Gildan 64000B Softstyle | 18" | 23.5" | 46 × 60 |
| Port & Company PC54Y Core Cotton | 18" | 25" | 46 × 64 |
| Port & Company PC61Y Essential | 18" | 25" | 46 × 64 |
| Port & Company PC450Y Fan Favorite | 18" | 25" | 46 × 64 |
| Bella+Canvas 3001Y Jersey | 17.25" | 23.375" | 44 × 59 |
| Next Level 3310 Youth Cotton | 18.25" | 23.5" | 46 × 60 |
| District DT6000Y Very Important Tee | 17.5" | 25.5" | 44 × 65 |
District cuts the longest youth large at 25.5 inches, and Port & Company and Gildan's Heavy Cotton and Ultra Cotton are 25 inches, up to 2 inches longer than the Bella+Canvas 3001Y. Inside Gildan's own line, the DryBlend 8000B and Softstyle 64000B large are 1 inch narrower and 1.5 inches shorter than the Heavy Cotton 5000B, so keep the style number the same on a reorder. Brand pages: the Gildan size chart, Bella+Canvas size chart, Next Level size chart and District size chart.
Youth large vs adult small
A youth large and an adult small are almost the same width, which is why they get confused. An adult small from Gildan or Port & Company is 18 inches wide, and the average youth large is 18 inches. The difference is length: the adult small is 28 inches long, about 3.5 inches longer than the average youth large, and adult tees have longer sleeves and wider shoulders.
| Size | Width (in) | Length (in) |
|---|---|---|
| Youth L (average of 10 styles) | 18" | 24.5" |
| Youth XL (average of 10 styles) | 19.25" | 26" |
| Bella+Canvas 3001 adult XS | 16.5" | 27" |
| Gildan 5000 / Port & Company PC54 adult S | 18" | 28" |
| Next Level 3600 / District DT6000 adult S | 19" | 28" |
| Gildan 5000 / Port & Company PC54 adult M | 20" | 29" |
A child who has outgrown a youth large in length but not in width usually fits a youth XL, which adds about 1.5 inches of length. A teen who wants an adult-length shirt can step to the Bella+Canvas adult XS (16.5 by 27 inches) or an adult small. Adult sizes S to 5XL are in the unisex shirt size chart.
Youth large vs youth medium and youth XL
Youth sizes step up by about 1 inch in width and 1.5 to 2 inches in length. A youth large is 1 inch wider and 1.75 inches longer than a youth medium on average, and 1.25 inch narrower and 1.5 inches shorter than a youth XL.
| Size (kids' label) | Shirt width | Shirt length | Body chest | Height |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Youth M (10–12) | 17" (43 cm) | 22.75" (58 cm) | 28–30" | 54–58" |
| Youth L (14–16) | 18" (46 cm) | 24.5" (62 cm) | 30–32" | 58–62" |
| Youth XL (18–20) | 19.25" (49 cm) | 26" (66 cm) | 32–35" | 62–67" |
The neighboring sizes have their own pages: the youth medium size chart and what size a youth XL is. Every size from XS to XL is in the youth t-shirt size chart.
How to measure a child for a youth large
- Chest. Wrap a soft tape under the arms around the fullest part of the chest, arms down, tape level. A chest of about 30 to 32 inches points to a youth large.
- Height. Measure standing without shoes. Height mainly decides whether the shirt is long enough; Nike sizes its large for 58 to 62 inches.
- A shirt that fits now. Lay it flat and measure across the chest 1 inch below the armholes, then from the high point of the shoulder to the hem. Compare those two numbers with the brand chart above.
Youth large is the size where children start to outgrow the youth range in length first. If the chest fits a large but the shirt rides up, a youth XL or an adult XS gives more length without much extra width.
Print size and placement for youth large (DTF)
DTF Database's placement chart publishes one youth range that covers youth XS to XL. On a youth large the full-front maximum of 10 inches leaves about 3.75 inches each side on the narrowest style (17.25 inches wide), so the top of the range fits all 10 styles above.
| Placement | Transfer width | Placement |
|---|---|---|
| Full front | 8–10" | 2–3" from the collar seam |
| Left chest | 2.5–3.5" | 4–6" from the left shoulder seam |
| Full back | 9–11" | 2–3" from the collar seam |
| Sleeve | 1.5–2.5" | 1–1.5" from the sleeve hem |
The ranges come from the t-shirt design placement size chart. They are layout guidelines, not results of a youth-specific press test. To check a specific transfer against a specific size, use the placement calculator. Press settings by fabric are in the DTF temperature and time chart.
FAQ
What size is a youth large?
A youth large is the kids' 14–16 size, one step below youth XL. Averaged across 10 youth tees from Gildan, Port & Company, Bella+Canvas, Next Level and District, it measures 18 inches (46 cm) across the chest laid flat and 24.5 inches (62 cm) long, and fits a body chest of about 30 to 32 inches (76 to 81 cm).
Youth large is what size in numbers?
Youth large is kids' size 14–16 on Gildan, Port & Company, Bella+Canvas and District youth tees. Next Level is the exception: its 3310 youth tee labels the large as 10/12. Check the number on the specific brand's chart, because the letter alone does not settle it.
Is a youth large the same as an adult small?
No. A youth large averages 18 inches wide and 24.5 inches long laid flat. An adult small from Gildan or Port & Company is 18 inches wide and 28 inches long, so the width is about the same but the adult small is about 3.5 inches longer, with longer sleeves.
What age is a youth large?
Youth large usually fits ages 12 to 13. Nike's boys' tops chart lists its large for ages 12 to 13 and a height of 58 to 62 inches, while blank tee brands label it 14–16, which is a kids' size number rather than an age. Measure the child's chest before ordering.
What is a youth large shirt size in inches and cm?
A youth large shirt averages 18 inches (46 cm) wide and 24.5 inches (62 cm) long laid flat, and fits a body chest of 30 to 32 inches (76 to 81 cm).
Is youth large bigger than youth medium?
Yes, by about 1 inch in width and 1.75 inches in length on average. A youth medium averages 17 by 22.75 inches laid flat and fits a 28 to 30 inch chest; a youth large averages 18 by 24.5 inches and fits 30 to 32 inches.
Can an adult wear a youth large?
A small adult can, but it fits short. The youth large is about as wide as an adult small, 17.25 to 19 inches depending on the style, but about 3.5 inches shorter in the body. Some adults buy youth large on purpose for a cropped fit.
What size DTF transfer fits a youth large shirt?
DTF Database's placement chart gives a full-front width of 8 to 10 inches for youth shirts, placed 2 to 3 inches below the collar seam. A left-chest logo runs 2.5 to 3.5 inches wide.