Size Guide
Youth sizes are not the same from one shirt to the next. Our uniform and spirit wear sit on four different garments, and a “Large” on one is up to two inches narrower than a “Large” on another. Find your garment below, and go by the numeric size or the chest measurement rather than the letter.
Buying for a Seaside student?
Seaside Neighborhood School is grades 5 through 8, so most students land in Youth Large, Youth XL, or Adult Small. That hand-off from youth to adult is where most sizing mistakes happen.
Youth XL and Adult S are close in the chest, but Adult S is roughly 2″ longer in the body. If your student is tall for their age, go Adult S. If they are still growing into their height, stay Youth XL.
Quick answer
If you already know the numeric size your child wears in everyday clothes:
| They wear a… | Order youth size | Roughly grade |
|---|---|---|
| 4 / 5 | XS (not on every item) | Pre-K – K |
| 6 / 7 / 8 | S | 1st – 3rd |
| 10 / 12 | M | 3rd – 6th |
| 14 / 16 | L | 6th – 8th |
| 18 / 20 | XL | 8th – 9th |
Ages and grades are a starting point only. Kids the same age can be three sizes apart. When in doubt, measure — see the bottom of this page.
By garment
| Size | Numeric size | Approx. age | Chest (flat) | Body length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| XS | 4 | 4–5 | 16" | 19¾" |
| S | 6–8 | 6–7 | 17" | 21¼" |
| M | 10–12 | 8–10 | 18" | 22½" |
| L | 14–16 | 11–12 | 19" | 24" |
| XL | 18–20 | 13–14 | 20" | 25½" |
Applies to: Youth Seaside Uniform Hoodie (embroidered), Youth Seaside Uniform Crewneck Sweatshirt (embroidered), Youth Seaside Crest Hoodie, Youth Seaside Spirit Hoodie, Youth Seaside Track & Field Hoodie.
| Size | Numeric size | Approx. age | Chest (flat) | Body length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| XS | 2–4 | 3–5 | 14" | 18" |
| S | 6–8 | 6–7 | 16" | 20½" |
| M | 10–12 | 8–10 | 17" | 22" |
| L | 14–16 | 11–12 | 18" | 23½" |
| XL | 18–20 | 13–14 | 19" | 25" |
Applies to: Youth Seaside Uniform T-Shirt (Gildan). Note the XS on this shirt runs a full size smaller than the XS on the hoodies above.
| Size | Numeric size | Approx. age | Chest (flat) | Body length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S | 6–8 | 6–7 | 15¼" | 20⅞" |
| M | 10–12 | 8–10 | 16¼" | 22⅛" |
| L | 14–16 | 11–12 | 17¼" | 23⅜" |
| XL | 18–20 | 13–14 | 18¼" | 24⅜" |
Applies to: Premium Youth Seaside Uniform T-Shirt, Youth Seaside Crest T-Shirt, Youth Seaside School T-Shirt. These three run slim — every size is 1″ to 2″ narrower in the chest than the Gildan equivalent. If your student is between sizes, or prefers a roomier fit, size up. There is no XS on this shirt.
| Size | Numeric size | Approx. age | Chest (flat) | Body length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YXS | 4 | 4–5 | 15" | 21" |
| YS | 6–8 | 6–7 | 16" | 22½" |
| YM | 10–12 | 8–10 | 17" | 23½" |
| YL | 14–16 | 11–12 | 18" | 25" |
| YXL | 18–20 | 13–14 | 19" | 26" |
Applies to: Youth Seaside Short Sleeve Dri-Fit Tee. A performance fit — cut closer to the body than a cotton tee by design.
How to measure
The most reliable way to size a shirt for a child is to measure one they already wear and like, not the child.
- Lay the shirt flat on a table and smooth out the wrinkles.
- Chest: measure straight across, one inch below the armholes, seam to seam. Do not double it — that is the number in our tables.
- Body length: measure from the highest point of the shoulder straight down to the bottom hem.
- Match those two numbers to the table for the garment you are buying. If they fall between sizes, size up — kids grow, and every one of these shirts is pre-shrunk.
All measurements are the manufacturer’s published specs and carry a tolerance of about ±1″.
Still not sure?
Email us at info@bestlife-outfitters.com with your student’s grade and the size they wear now, and we will tell you what to order. If a size does not work out, we will exchange it.