The Gildan youth size chart for the 5000B Heavy Cotton tee runs from XS (size 4) at 16 inches wide and 20 1/2 inches long to XL (size 18 to 20) at 20 inches wide and 26 1/2 inches long. Each step adds 1 inch of chest width and 1 1/2 inches of body length. Softstyle youth runs narrower, and the youth fleece is shorter in the body. All figures below come from Gildan spec data published by S&S Activewear and are garment measurements laid flat, in inches.
- Sizes
- XS, S, M, L, XL
- Numeric sizes
- XS 4, S 6 to 8, M 10 to 12, L 14 to 16, XL 18 to 20
- Tolerance
- Plus or minus 1 inch
- Youth XL vs adult S
- 20 in wide vs 18 in wide
Gildan 5000B youth Heavy Cotton size chart
The 5000B is the youth version of the 5000 and the most common youth tee in school and team orders. It is 5.3 oz per square yard, 100% U.S. cotton in most colors, 20 singles, with a classic fit, rib collar and taped neck and shoulders. Ash Grey is 99/1 cotton/poly, Sport Grey and Antique Jade Dome are 90/10, and Dark Heather, Graphite Heather, Heather colors, Neons and Safety colors are 50/50. Safety Green meets the ANSI/ISEA 107 high visibility standard.
| Youth size | Numeric size | Chest width (in) | Body length (in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| XS | 4 | 16 | 20 1/2 |
| S | 6 to 8 | 17 | 22 |
| M | 10 to 12 | 18 | 23 1/2 |
| L | 14 to 16 | 19 | 25 |
| XL | 18 to 20 | 20 | 26 1/2 |
Custom Ink's sizing chart for the Gildan Ultra Cotton youth tee lists the same widths and lengths, so you can swap between the two without changing your size breakdown. The Ultra Cotton is the heavier 6 oz fabric.
Current 5000B colors
S&S Activewear currently lists 59 colors for the 5000B, fewer than the 83 on the adult 5000. That gap is the main thing that trips up team orders: a color that exists in adult sizes may not exist in youth. The youth colors are:
White, Black, Antique Jade Dome, Aquatic, Ash, Azalea, Blue Dusk, Cardinal, Carolina Blue, Charcoal, Cobalt, Coral Silk, Daisy, Dark Chocolate, Dark Heather, Dusty Rose, Electric Green, Forest Green, Garnet, Gold, Graphite Heather, Gravel, Heather Military Green, Heather Navy, Heather Neon Coral, Heather Red, Heather Sapphire, Heliconia, Ice Grey, Indigo Blue, Irish Green, Kiwi, Light Blue, Light Pink, Lime, Maroon, Military Green, Mint Green, Natural, Navy, Neon Blue, Neon Green, Off White, Orange, Purple, Red, Royal, Safety Green, Safety Orange, Safety Pink, Sand, Sapphire, Sky, Sport Grey, Tennessee Orange, Texas Orange, Tropical Blue, Violet, Yellow Haze.
Check the adult options in our Gildan color chart before you promise a parent group a matching color for kids and adults.
Gildan 64000B youth Softstyle size chart
The 64000B is 4.5 oz, 30 singles ring-spun cotton, with heathers at 65/35 poly/cotton and Graphite Heather at 50/50. It is cut narrower than the 5000B at every size, by 1 to 2 inches, and shorter by 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 inches. If a kid wears a snug 5000B, go up a size in Softstyle.
| Youth size | Numeric size | Chest width (in) | Body length (in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| XS | 4 | 14 | 18 |
| S | 6 to 8 | 16 | 20 1/2 |
| M | 10 to 12 | 17 | 22 |
| L | 14 to 16 | 18 | 23 1/2 |
| XL | 18 to 20 | 19 | 25 |
Gildan 18500B and 18000B youth fleece size chart
The youth hoodie (18500B) and youth crewneck (18000B) share one chart. Both are 8 oz, 50/50 cotton/poly with spandex in the 1x1 rib. Widths match the 5000B tee, but the bodies are about an inch shorter because the waistband sits at the hip.
| Youth size | Numeric size | Chest width (in) | Body length (in) | Sleeve, center back (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| XS | 4 | 16 | 19 3/4 | 23 1/2 |
| S | 6 to 8 | 17 | 21 1/4 | 26 1/2 |
| M | 10 to 12 | 18 | 22 1/2 | 27 3/4 |
| L | 14 to 16 | 19 | 24 | 30 1/4 |
| XL | 18 to 20 | 20 | 25 1/2 | 33 |
For hoodie pressing tips, including how to deal with the pocket seam on small sizes, see pressing DTF on hoodies.
Youth vs adult: where the sizes overlap
A youth XL 5000B is 20 inches wide and 26 1/2 inches long. An adult Small 5000 is 18 inches wide and 28 inches long. So the youth XL is actually wider than the adult Small, but shorter. Older kids and smaller adults often fit both. Use length to decide: if the wearer is tall, the adult Small covers more of the torso.
| Garment | Chest width (in) | Body length (in) |
|---|---|---|
| 5000B youth L | 19 | 25 |
| 5000B youth XL | 20 | 26 1/2 |
| 5000 adult S | 18 | 28 |
| 5000 adult M | 20 | 29 |
Age labels are a starting point, not a rule. Gildan's numeric sizes map to typical kids' clothing sizes, but kids grow unevenly. For school orders, collect sizes from parents rather than guessing from grade level. Adult measurements are in our Gildan adult size chart.
Picking DTF transfer sizes for youth shirts
Youth shirts are where oversized prints go wrong. A design that looks right on an adult Large will wrap into the armpits of a youth Small. Use the chest width as your limit and leave room on both sides.
- Youth XS and S (16 to 17 in wide): 7 to 8 inch wide front designs read well.
- Youth M and L (18 to 19 in wide): 8 to 9 inches is a safe range.
- Youth XL (20 in wide): 9 to 10 inches, about what many people use on adult Smalls.
- Left chest on any youth size: 2 1/2 to 3 inches wide.
These are rules of thumb. Taller, narrow art can run a bit wider. If you are doing a mixed adult and youth run, put an adult size and a youth size of the same design on one gang sheet so they come in together. Our DTF transfer size chart covers placement heights, and spirit wear ideas has design directions for school orders.
Press youth shirts at the same settings as adult: 300°F, high pressure, 10 seconds, hot peel, 5 second post-press. On small sizes, use a pressing pillow or a smaller platen so the collar and side seams do not hold the platen off the print.
FAQ
What age is a Gildan youth medium?
Gildan's numeric size for youth Medium is 10 to 12. On the 5000B that shirt is 18 inches wide and 23 1/2 inches long laid flat.
Is youth XL the same as adult small?
Not exactly. A 5000B youth XL is 20 inches wide and 26 1/2 inches long. A 5000 adult Small is 18 inches wide and 28 inches long. The youth XL is wider but shorter.
Does the youth Softstyle run smaller than Heavy Cotton?
Yes. The 64000B is 1 to 2 inches narrower than the 5000B in every size and shorter in the body. Size up if you are switching a kid from Heavy Cotton to Softstyle.
Why are some adult Gildan colors missing in youth?
Gildan makes fewer colors in youth. S&S lists 59 colors for the 5000B versus 83 for the adult 5000, so check both lists before quoting a matching color.
Run adult and youth sizes together
Put a youth-sized and adult-sized version of your design on the same gang sheet so every shirt in the order gets a print that fits. No minimums, and orders in before 1PM PT ship the same business day. Running school or league orders all season? Look at the wholesale program.