What Size Is Youth Small? Youth Shirt Size Guide
By Darrin DeTorres, DTF Database founder, print industry professional with 10+ years of production experience · Last updated
A youth small is the kids' 6–8 size in most blank t-shirt lines. This guide covers its flat measurements by brand, the age and height ranges it usually fits, how it compares to adult XS and S, and what print size works on it.
What size is a youth small?
Youth small (S) is a kids' shirt size labeled 6–8 on most spec sheets. Averaged across 10 youth tees from Gildan, Port & Company, Bella+Canvas, Next Level and District, a youth small measures about 16 inches across the chest laid flat and 21 inches long, and fits a body chest of roughly 25 to 27 inches.
Those averages are DTF Database's own, calculated from the manufacturers' spec sheets for the youth blanks most often decorated for schools, teams and events. The letter is the same across brands, but the shirt is not: a youth small is 15 inches wide in one style and 17 inches in another. Body chest guidance also varies. District and Port & Company list 25 to 27 inches for a youth small, Gildan lists 23.75 to 27, and Bella+Canvas lists 28 to 30 for its 3001Y.
Youth size chart (XS to XL)
Shirt width and length are flat-garment measurements, averaged across the 10 youth styles listed below (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 wearer's measurement from the brand fit charts. Height and age are from Nike's boys' chart.
| Size | Kids' size | Shirt width (in) | Shirt length (in) | Width × length (cm) | Body chest | Height | Age (Nike) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Youth XS | 4–5 | 14.5" (13.5–16) | 19.25" (18–20.5) | 37 × 49 | 22–25" | 48–50" | 6–7 |
| Youth S | 6–8 | 16" (15–17) | 21" (20.5–22) | 41 × 54 | 25–27" | 50–54" | 8–9 |
| Youth M | 10–12 | 17" (16.25–18) | 22.75" (22–23.5) | 43 × 58 | 28–30" | 54–58" | 10–11 |
| Youth L | 14–16 | 18" (17.25–19) | 24.5" (23.375–25.5) | 46 × 62 | 30–32" | 58–62" | 12–13 |
| Youth XL | 18–20 | 19.25" (18.25–20) | 26" (24.375–27) | 49 × 66 | 32–35" | 62–67" | 14+ |
Shirt widths are half the garment's circumference. Double a flat width to compare it with a body chest measurement. The full XS to XL breakdown for the next size up is in what size is youth medium.
Youth small measurements by brand
Youth small flat measurements from each manufacturer's spec sheet, checked October 3, 2026. Classic heavyweight tees (Gildan 5000B, 2000B) are the widest at 17 inches; District DT6000Y is the narrowest at 15 inches.
| Style | Chest width | Body length |
|---|---|---|
| Gildan 5000B Heavy Cotton | 17" | 22" |
| Gildan 2000B Ultra Cotton | 17" | 22" |
| Gildan 8000B DryBlend | 16" | 20.5" |
| Gildan 64000B Softstyle | 16" | 20.5" |
| Port & Company PC54Y Core Cotton | 16" | 21" |
| Port & Company PC61Y Essential | 16" | 21" |
| Port & Company PC450Y Fan Favorite | 16" | 21" |
| Bella+Canvas 3001Y Jersey | 15.25" | 20.875" |
| Next Level 3310 Youth Cotton | 15.25" | 20.5" |
| District DT6000Y Very Important Tee | 15" | 21.5" |
Gildan's youth line is not uniform: the DryBlend 8000B and Softstyle 64000B small are 1 inch narrower and 1.5 inches shorter than the Heavy Cotton 5000B. A Softstyle youth small is the same size as a Heavy Cotton youth XS. Switching styles on a reorder can change the fit even when the size letter stays the same.
Is youth small the same as adult small?
No. An adult small from Gildan or Port & Company is 18 inches wide and 28 inches long, about 2 inches wider and 7 inches longer than the average youth small. The Bella+Canvas 3001 adult XS is only half an inch wider than an average youth small, but still 6 inches longer. It is the youth XL, not the youth small, that comes close to an adult small in width.
| Size | Width (in) | Length (in) |
|---|---|---|
| Youth S (average of 10 styles) | 16" | 21" |
| 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" |
For print area, the gap matters more than the label suggests. A youth small has roughly 2 inches less width than an adult small, so a front design sized for adults crowds the side seams on a child's shirt. Full adult charts by brand are in the Gildan size chart, Bella+Canvas size chart and Next Level size chart.
Youth small for DTF transfers: print size and placement
DTF Database's placement chart publishes one youth range that covers youth XS to XL. A youth small sits near the bottom of that range, so the width it can take depends on the blank. On the narrowest youth small (15 inches wide), a 10-inch front print leaves 2.5 inches each side, and an 8-inch print leaves 3.5 inches.
| 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 |
Do not scale adult artwork down by eye. The adult full-front range tops out at 12 inches, which would leave 1.5 inches each side on a 15-inch youth small. Size a separate youth version of the design instead. These ranges come from the t-shirt design placement size chart and are layout recommendations, 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. Press settings by fabric are in the DTF temperature and time chart.
How to measure a child for the right size
- 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, Next Level and Bella+Canvas spec sheets. A chest of about 25 to 27 inches points to a youth small on most brands.
- Height. Measure standing without shoes. Height mainly decides whether the shirt is long enough; Nike sizes its small for 50 to 54 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.
If the child is between sizes, size up, especially for a shirt that has to last a school year or a season.
Does youth small fit by age or by size?
By size. The "6–8" on a youth small label is a kids' size number, not an age guarantee, and the age charts brands publish do not agree: Nike puts its small at ages 8 to 9. Two children of the same age can be a full size apart, so the chest measurement and a shirt that fits now are more reliable than a birthday.
Frequently asked questions
Youth small is what size in kids’ sizes?
Most blank tee makers label youth small as kids' size 6–8 (Gildan, Port & Company, Bella+Canvas and District). Next Level is the exception: its 3310 youth small is labeled 6/7 and its medium is labeled 8.
What age is a youth small?
Roughly 6 to 9. The 6–8 on most labels is a kids' size number, while Nike's boys' chart lists its small for ages 8 to 9 and a height of 50 to 54 inches. A child's chest measurement is a better guide than age.
How much bigger is an adult small than a youth small?
About 2 inches wider and 7 inches longer. A youth small averages 16 inches wide and 21 inches long laid flat, while an adult small from Gildan or Port & Company is 18 inches wide and 28 inches long.
Is youth small bigger than kids small?
It depends on the brand. Some retail brands use "kids" for the same 6–8 range, while others start kids sizing at younger ages. Compare the chest width and body length on each chart rather than the letter.
What size DTF transfer fits a youth small 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. On the narrowest youth small (15 inches wide), the lower end of that range leaves more room at the sides. A left-chest logo runs 2.5 to 3.5 inches wide.