What Size Is Youth Medium? Age, Measurements and Size Chart
By Darrin DeTorres, DTF Database founder, print industry professional with 10+ years of production experience · Last updated
What is a youth medium size?
Youth medium (M) is the middle youth size, labeled 10–12 on most spec sheets. Averaged across 10 youth tees from Gildan, Port & Company, Bella+Canvas, Next Level and District, a youth medium measures about 17 inches across the chest laid flat and 22.75 inches long, and fits a body chest of roughly 28 to 30 inches.
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 size is the same across brands, but the shirt is not: a youth medium is 16.25 inches wide in one style and 18 inches in another. Age is a rough guide only. Nike's boys' chart puts its medium at ages 10 to 11, while the "10–12" on most blank tee labels is a kids' size number, not a promise about age.
Youth size chart: XS, S, M, L, XL
Shirt width and length are averages of the 10 youth styles listed below, measured flat (chest width is taken 1 inch below the armholes; length runs from the high point of the shoulder to the hem). The range in brackets is the smallest and largest style. Body chest is the range most brand fit charts give for the wearer. Height is from Nike's boys' chart.
| Size | Kids' size | Shirt width (in) | Shirt length (in) | Width × length (cm) | Body chest | Height |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Youth XS | 4–5 | 14.5" (13.5–16) | 19.25" (18–20.5) | 37 × 49 | 22–25" | 48–50" |
| Youth S | 6–8 | 16" (15–17) | 21" (20.5–22) | 41 × 54 | 25–27" | 50–54" |
| Youth M | 10–12 | 17" (16.25–18) | 22.75" (22–23.5) | 43 × 58 | 28–30" | 54–58" |
| Youth L | 14–16 | 18" (17.25–19) | 24.5" (23.375–25.5) | 46 × 62 | 30–32" | 58–62" |
| Youth XL | 18–20 | 19.25" (18.25–20) | 26" (24.375–27) | 49 × 66 | 32–35" | 62–67" |
Shirt widths are half the garment's circumference. Double a flat width to compare it with a body chest measurement, then allow 4 to 6 inches of ease for a classic fit. For the size below, see the youth small size guide. Next Level labels its 3310 medium as kids' size 8 and its large as 10/12; the other brands label medium 10–12.
Is youth medium the same as adult small?
No. An adult small from Gildan or Port & Company is 18 inches wide and 28 inches long, about 1 inch wider and 5 inches longer than the average youth medium. A youth XL comes closer in width, but it is still about 2 inches shorter than an adult small, because adult tees are cut for a longer torso.
| Size | Width (in) | Length (in) |
|---|---|---|
| Youth M (average of 10 styles) | 17" | 22.75" |
| 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" |
For a teen between sizes, the adult small or the Bella+Canvas adult XS is the usual next step after a youth XL. Full adult charts by brand are in the Gildan size chart, Bella+Canvas size chart and Next Level size chart.
How to measure a child for a youth medium
- Chest. Wrap a soft tape under the arms around the fullest part of the chest, arms down, tape level. This is the method printed on the Gildan, Port & Company and Bella+Canvas spec sheets. A chest of about 28 to 30 inches points to a youth medium.
- Height. Measure standing without shoes. Height mainly decides whether the shirt is long enough; Nike sizes its medium for 54 to 58 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. This is the most reliable check, because it accounts for how the child likes a shirt to fit.
Size by measurements over age. When the chest and the length point to different sizes, go with the chest and size up for growth if the shirt has to last a school year.
Youth medium measurements by brand
Youth medium flat measurements from each manufacturer's spec sheet. Classic heavyweight tees (Gildan 5000B, 2000B) are the widest; side-seamed retail-fit tees (Bella+Canvas 3001Y, District DT6000Y, Next Level 3310) are the narrowest.
| Style | Chest width | Body length |
|---|---|---|
| Gildan 5000B Heavy Cotton | 18" | 23.5" |
| Gildan 2000B Ultra Cotton | 18" | 23.5" |
| Gildan 8000B DryBlend | 17" | 22" |
| Gildan 64000B Softstyle | 17" | 22" |
| Port & Company PC54Y Core Cotton | 17" | 23" |
| Port & Company PC61Y Essential | 17" | 23" |
| Port & Company PC450Y Fan Favorite | 17" | 23" |
| Bella+Canvas 3001Y Jersey | 16.25" | 22.125" |
| Next Level 3310 Youth Cotton | 16.75" | 22" |
| District DT6000Y Very Important Tee | 16.5" | 23.5" |
Gildan's own youth line is not uniform: the DryBlend 8000B and Softstyle 64000B medium are 1 inch narrower and 1.5 inches shorter than the Heavy Cotton 5000B. Switching styles on a reorder can change the fit even when the size letter stays the same.
Print size and placement for youth medium (DTF)
DTF Database's placement chart publishes one youth range that covers youth XS to XL. On a youth medium the full-front maximum of 10 inches leaves about 3.25 inches each side on the narrowest style (16.25 inches wide), so the top of the range works across 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, which draws the transfer to scale on the shirt. See the design size master chart for hoodies and sweatpants, and the DTF temperature and time chart for press settings by fabric.
Ordering youth sizes for a team or school
- Pick the blank first, then the sizes. The same letter size differs by up to 1.75 inches in width between styles, so collect sizes against the chart for the exact style being ordered.
- Order a size run, or measure a sample. Have families try on a sample set or measure a shirt that fits, rather than guessing from age.
- Allow for growth. For a season or school-year shirt, children near the top of a range usually move up one size.
- Size the transfer for the youth range. Youth and adult front prints use different widths, so order youth transfers separately when the run is large. Need transfers? Browse DTF transfer suppliers.
FAQ
What is a youth medium size?
Youth medium (M) is the middle youth size, labeled 10–12 on most spec sheets. Averaged across 10 youth tees from Gildan, Port & Company, Bella+Canvas, Next Level and District, a youth medium measures about 17 inches across the chest laid flat and 22.75 inches long, and fits a body chest of roughly 28 to 30 inches.
Does a youth medium fit a 10-year-old?
Usually. Youth medium carries the 10–12 kids' size label, and Nike's boys' chart lists its medium for ages 10 to 11 and a height of 54 to 58 inches. A tall or broad 10-year-old may need a youth large, so measure the child's chest before ordering.
Is youth medium the same as adult small?
No. A youth medium averages 17 inches wide and 22.75 inches long laid flat, while an adult small from Gildan or Port & Company is 18 inches wide and 28 inches long. The adult small is about 1 inch wider and 5 inches longer.
Is youth medium bigger than kids medium?
It depends on the brand. Some retail brands use "kids" for the same 10–12 range, while others use kids sizing for younger children. Compare the chest width and body length on each chart rather than the letter.
Do youth sizes run small?
They vary by brand more than adult sizes do. Youth medium widths range from 16.25 inches (Bella+Canvas 3001Y) to 18 inches (Gildan 5000B), so fitted retail-style tees wear smaller than classic heavyweight tees in the same letter size.
What size DTF transfer fits a youth medium 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.