What Size Is a Youth XS? Youth Extra Small Size Chart
By Darrin DeTorres, DTF Database founder, print industry professional with 10+ years of production experience · Last updated
This youth XS size chart gives the flat measurements of an extra-small youth tee from the 8 blank styles that make one, in inches and centimeters, what the size is in numbers, the age and height it usually fits, and how it compares with youth small and adult XS.
What size is a youth XS?
A youth XS, or youth extra small, is the kids' 4–5 size, the smallest in the youth range. Averaged across the 8 youth tees that make one, it measures 14.5 inches (37 cm) across the chest laid flat and 19.25 inches (49 cm) long, and fits a body chest of about 22 to 25 inches (56 to 64 cm).
Those averages are DTF Database's own, calculated from the manufacturers' spec sheets. Youth XS is the size where brands disagree most: the same letter is 13.5 inches wide in one style and 16 inches in another, and 18 to 20.5 inches long. Nike's boys' chart puts its XS at ages 6 to 7, while the "4–5" on blank tee labels is a kids' size number, not an age.
Youth extra small is what size in numbers?
Youth extra small is kids' size 4–5. Below it, most brands switch to toddler sizes (2T to 5T), which use a separate chart; above it is youth small, labeled 6–8. The number overlap does not mean the shirts match: Gildan's 5T toddler tee (5100P) is 14 by 18 inches, while its Heavy Cotton youth XS (5000B) is 16 by 20.5 inches. In body terms, youth XS covers a chest of about 22 to 25 inches (56 to 64 cm) and a height of about 48 to 50 inches (122 to 127 cm).
Not every youth tee is made in XS. Of the 10 styles DTF Database tracks, the Port & Company PC54Y Core Cotton and Bella+Canvas 3001Y Jersey start at youth small, so check the style before collecting sizes for a group with young children.
Youth XS size chart by brand
Youth XS 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. Gildan's Heavy Cotton 5000B and Ultra Cotton 2000B make the largest XS at 16 by 20.5 inches, the same size as a DryBlend 8000B or Softstyle 64000B youth small.
| Style | Chest width | Body length | Width × length (cm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gildan 5000B Heavy Cotton | 16" | 20.5" | 41 × 52 |
| Gildan 2000B Ultra Cotton | 16" | 20.5" | 41 × 52 |
| Gildan 8000B DryBlend | 14" | 18" | 36 × 46 |
| Gildan 64000B Softstyle | 14" | 18" | 36 × 46 |
| Port & Company PC61Y Essential | 14" | 19" | 36 × 48 |
| Port & Company PC450Y Fan Favorite | 14" | 19" | 36 × 48 |
| Next Level 3310 Youth Cotton | 13.75" | 19" | 35 × 48 |
| District DT6000Y Very Important Tee | 13.5" | 19.5" | 34 × 50 |
Because a Gildan 5000B XS is 2 inches wider than a Gildan 64000B XS, a child who wears XS in one Gildan style can need a small in another. Keep the style number the same when reordering. Brand pages: the Gildan size chart, Next Level size chart and District size chart.
Youth XS vs youth small and medium
A youth small is 1.5 inches wider and 2 inches longer than a youth XS on average, a bigger step than between the other youth sizes. A child at the top of the 22 to 25 inch chest range, or taller than about 50 inches, is usually better served by the small.
| Size (kids' label) | Shirt width | Shirt length | Body chest | Height |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Youth XS (4–5) | 14.5" (37 cm) | 19.25" (49 cm) | 22–25" | 48–50" |
| Youth S (6–8) | 16" (41 cm) | 21" (54 cm) | 25–27" | 50–54" |
| Youth M (10–12) | 17" (43 cm) | 22.75" (58 cm) | 28–30" | 54–58" |
The XS average covers the 8 styles that make an XS; the small and medium averages cover all 10. The next sizes up have their own pages: the youth small shirt size chart and the youth medium size chart. Every size is in the youth t-shirt size chart.
Is youth XS the same as adult XS?
No, and the gap is large. The Bella+Canvas 3001 adult XS is 16.5 inches wide and 27 inches long, about 2 inches wider and 7.75 inches longer than the average youth XS. An adult XS is closer to a youth medium in width, while a youth XS is sized for a young child. Adult sizes are in the unisex shirt size chart.
How to measure a child for a youth XS
- Chest. Wrap a soft tape under the arms around the fullest part of the chest, arms down, tape level. A chest of about 22 to 25 inches points to a youth XS.
- Height. Measure standing without shoes. Nike sizes its XS for 48 to 50 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, and compare with the brand chart above.
Young children grow quickly, so for a shirt that has to last a season, a child near the top of the XS range usually moves up to a youth small.
Print size and placement for youth XS (DTF)
DTF Database's placement chart publishes one youth range that covers youth XS to XL, and a separate toddler front width of 6 to 7 inches. On the narrowest youth XS (13.5 inches wide), a 10-inch front print leaves about 1.75 inches each side and an 8-inch print about 2.75 inches, so the low end of the youth range suits extra-small shirts.
| 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.
FAQ
What size is a youth XS?
A youth XS, or youth extra small, is the kids' 4–5 size, the smallest in the youth range. Averaged across the 8 youth tees that make one, it measures 14.5 inches (37 cm) across the chest laid flat and 19.25 inches (49 cm) long, and fits a body chest of about 22 to 25 inches (56 to 64 cm).
Youth extra small is what size in numbers?
Youth extra small is kids' size 4–5 on the manufacturer size charts DTF Database uses. It sits between toddler sizes (2T to 5T) and youth small (6–8). Brands label it XS, X-Small or XSmall; the size is the same.
What age is a youth XS?
Youth XS usually fits children around ages 4 to 7. Blank tee brands label it 4–5, which is a kids' size number, while Nike's boys' tops chart lists its XS for ages 6 to 7 and a height of 48 to 50 inches. Measure the child's chest rather than relying on age.
Is youth XS the same as adult XS?
No. A youth XS averages 14.5 inches wide and 19.25 inches long laid flat. A Bella+Canvas 3001 adult XS is 16.5 inches wide and 27 inches long, about 2 inches wider and 8 inches longer.
Is youth XS bigger than 5T?
Usually, yes. Youth XS is the first size above toddler sizing, even though its 4–5 label overlaps 4T and 5T in number. Gildan's spec sheets show the gap: its 5100P toddler tee in 5T is 14 inches wide and 18 inches long, while its 5000B youth XS is 16 by 20.5 inches. Compare the chest width of the two specific shirts before choosing.
What is a youth XS shirt size in inches and cm?
A youth XS shirt averages 14.5 inches (37 cm) wide and 19.25 inches (49 cm) long laid flat, and fits a body chest of 22 to 25 inches (56 to 64 cm).
Do all youth shirts come in XS?
No. Of the 10 youth tees in this chart, the Port & Company PC54Y Core Cotton and Bella+Canvas 3001Y Jersey start at youth small. A group order on those blanks needs a toddler size or a different style for the smallest children.
What size DTF transfer fits a youth XS 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 XS (13.5 inches wide) the low end of that range leaves more room at the sides. A left-chest logo runs 2.5 to 3.5 inches wide.