Youth Small Shirt Size Chart: Measurements, Age and Adult Comparison
By Darrin DeTorres, DTF Database founder, print industry professional with 10+ years of production experience · Last updated
This youth small shirt size chart gives the flat measurements of a youth small from 10 blank tees in inches and centimeters, the age and height it usually fits, how it compares with adult XS and S and the other youth sizes, and what print size works on it.
What size is a youth small shirt?
A youth small shirt is the kids' 6–8 size. Averaged across 10 youth tees from Gildan, Port & Company, Bella+Canvas, Next Level and District, it measures 16 inches (41 cm) across the chest laid flat and 21 inches (54 cm) long, and fits a body chest of about 25 to 27 inches (64 to 69 cm).
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 small shirt size chart by brand
Youth small flat measurements from each manufacturer's spec sheet, checked October 3, 2026. 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 17 inches; District DT6000Y is the narrowest at 15 inches.
| Style | Chest width | Body length | Width × length (cm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gildan 5000B Heavy Cotton | 17" | 22" | 43 × 56 |
| Gildan 2000B Ultra Cotton | 17" | 22" | 43 × 56 |
| Gildan 8000B DryBlend | 16" | 20.5" | 41 × 52 |
| Gildan 64000B Softstyle | 16" | 20.5" | 41 × 52 |
| Port & Company PC54Y Core Cotton | 16" | 21" | 41 × 53 |
| Port & Company PC61Y Essential | 16" | 21" | 41 × 53 |
| Port & Company PC450Y Fan Favorite | 16" | 21" | 41 × 53 |
| Bella+Canvas 3001Y Jersey | 15.25" | 20.875" | 39 × 53 |
| Next Level 3310 Youth Cotton | 15.25" | 20.5" | 39 × 52 |
| District DT6000Y Very Important Tee | 15" | 21.5" | 38 × 55 |
The Gildan 5000B Heavy Cotton and 2000B Ultra Cotton youth small are the same size (17 by 22 inches); the 2000B is the heavier fabric. Gildan's youth line is otherwise not uniform: the DryBlend 8000B and Softstyle 64000B small are 1 inch narrower and 1.5 inches shorter than the 5000B, so 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. Brand pages: the Gildan size chart, Bella+Canvas size chart, Next Level size chart and District size chart.
Youth size chart: where small sits from XS to XL
Shirt width and length are flat-garment measurements, averaged across the 10 youth styles listed above (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. The full youth t-shirt size chart gives every style's measurements for each size, sizes by age, and the youth XS and youth large answers.
| 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.
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. Adult sizes S to 5XL for the same brands are in the unisex shirt size chart.
What age and height is a youth small?
About ages 6 to 9 and a height of 50 to 54 inches (127 to 137 cm), but size by measurement. 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.
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.
Youth small size in inches and cm
A youth small shirt measures 16 inches (41 cm) across the chest and 21 inches (54 cm) long laid flat, averaged across the styles listed on this page. It fits a body chest of 25 to 27 inches (64 to 69 cm) and a height of 50 to 54 inches, and carries the 6–8 kids' size label. Measure the child's chest and height first, then pick the size, because age alone is a poor guide.
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.
Using the youth small size chart for team and school orders
- Pick the blank first, then collect sizes. A youth small is 15 inches wide in one style and 17 in another, so a size form only means something once the style is fixed. Put that style's youth small width and length on the order form.
- Keep one style for the whole order. Mixing Gildan Heavy Cotton and Softstyle youth smalls in one run gives two different shirts under the same label: the Softstyle small matches the Heavy Cotton XS.
- Ask for sizes, not ages. Ages on brand charts disagree (the 6–8 label versus Nike's 8 to 9), so have parents or coaches send a size or a chest measurement.
- Size the artwork for the smallest shirt in the run. If one transfer size goes on every youth shirt, check it against the youth small width in the chart above, or print a separate smaller version for XS and S.
Frequently asked questions
What are the measurements on a youth small size chart?
Across 10 popular youth tees, a youth small averages 16 inches wide (41 cm) and 21 inches long (54 cm) laid flat. Widths run from 15 inches (District DT6000Y) to 17 inches (Gildan 5000B and 2000B), so check the chart for the exact style you are ordering.
What is the youth small size in inches and cm?
A youth small averages 16 inches (41 cm) wide and 21 inches (54 cm) long laid flat, and fits a body chest of 25 to 27 inches.
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.
Are the Gildan 5000B and 2000B youth small the same size?
Yes. On their spec sheets the Heavy Cotton 5000B and Ultra Cotton 2000B youth small both measure 17 by 22 inches; the 2000B is the heavier 6 oz fabric. Gildan's DryBlend 8000B and Softstyle 64000B youth small are smaller, at 16 by 20.5 inches.
What size is a youth small t-shirt compared with a youth medium?
A youth small t-shirt averages 16 by 21 inches laid flat and a youth medium 17 by 22.75 inches, so the medium is about 1 inch wider and 1.75 inches longer. Youth small carries the 6–8 label and youth medium the 10–12 label.
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.