The single biggest thing that goes wrong on group orders is sizing. Custom printed garments can't be resold or swapped, so a wrong size is a wasted garment. Ten minutes spent collecting sizes properly is the best-value time you'll spend on the whole order.
How to measure — the only reliable method
Don't ask people what size they wear. People are wrong about their own size, and sizing differs between brands. Instead:
- Find a garment the person already owns and likes the fit of.
- Lay it flat on a table. Smooth it out, don't stretch it.
- Measure across the chest, from armpit seam to armpit seam, in centimetres.
- Match that number to the chest (flat) column below.
If someone falls between two sizes, go up. Nobody has ever complained that a hoodie was slightly too roomy.
T-shirt — 180gsm cotton, unisex fit
| Size | Chest, flat (cm) | Body length (cm) | Roughly fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| S | 48 | 69 | Chest 86–91 cm |
| M | 51 | 72 | Chest 91–97 cm |
| L | 54 | 74 | Chest 97–102 cm |
| XL | 57 | 77 | Chest 102–107 cm |
| 2XL | 60 | 79 | Chest 107–112 cm |
| 3XL | 63 | 81 | Chest 112–117 cm |
| 4XL | 66 | 83 | Chest 117–122 cm |
| 5XL | 69 | 85 | Chest 122–127 cm |
Kids sizes
| Size | Chest, flat (cm) | Body length (cm) |
|---|---|---|
| 3–4 years | 32 | 40 |
| 5–6 years | 35 | 44 |
| 7–8 years | 38 | 48 |
| 9–10 years | 41 | 52 |
| 11–12 years | 44 | 56 |
| 13–14 years | 47 | 60 |
Grade 7 note: most Grade 7 learners fall between 13–14 years and adult S. If in doubt, order adult S — they'll grow into it and it photographs better on the day.
Hooded sweatshirt — 300gsm fleece, unisex
| Size | Chest, flat (cm) | Body length (cm) | Roughly fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| S | 54 | 68 | Chest 86–91 cm |
| M | 57 | 71 | Chest 91–97 cm |
| L | 60 | 73 | Chest 97–102 cm |
| XL | 63 | 76 | Chest 102–107 cm |
| 2XL | 66 | 78 | Chest 107–112 cm |
| 3XL | 69 | 80 | Chest 112–117 cm |
| 4XL | 72 | 82 | Chest 117–122 cm |
| 5XL | 75 | 84 | Chest 122–127 cm |
Hoodies are cut generously and most people wear them oversized. Matric hoodies in particular — learners almost always want them a size up from their t-shirt size.
Golf shirt — piqué, collared
| Size | Chest, flat (cm) | Body length (cm) |
|---|---|---|
| S | 50 | 70 |
| M | 53 | 73 |
| L | 56 | 75 |
| XL | 59 | 78 |
| 2XL | 62 | 80 |
| 3XL | 65 | 82 |
Golf shirts run closer to the body than t-shirts. For staff or corporate orders where fit matters, order a sample set first.
Tolerance. Garment measurements vary by up to 2cm between production batches. This is normal in apparel manufacturing worldwide and is not a defect. If exact consistency matters, order everything in one batch — which is what a single group order does anyway.
Collecting sizes from a group — the shortcut
Chasing 80 people for sizes is the worst part of organising kit. Two things make it painless:
1. Send this message
2. Use the free Kit List Builder
Paste your class or team list into our Kit List Builder, set the sizes, and it exports a clean list in exactly the format we need — with a size breakdown and a flag on anyone still missing. It runs entirely in your browser; no names are uploaded anywhere. Free, and you don't have to be a customer to use it.
3. Order a size set
For orders over 60 units we can send you a size set — one blank garment in each of S, M, L, XL, 2XL — so people can physically try them on before you finalise. Ask us about it when you order. It costs a little and saves far more.
Ordering spares
We recommend adding 3–5% spare units, weighted to M and L, on any order over 50. Someone always joins late, someone always gives the wrong size, and someone always spills something on theirs the week before the event. Reprinting five garments later costs far more per unit than including them now.
Sizes still stressing you out? Send us your list and we'll sanity-check it before printing. That's included, not an extra. hello@kitroom.co.za · 062 786 5555