Worried about overstocking the wrong sizes or missing key customer groups? You’re not alone. One of the most overlooked—but most critical—steps in launching a successful clothing line is choosing the right size range. Especially for startups, poor sizing decisions lead to dead inventory, frustrated customers, and missed revenue. This blog breaks down how to choose hoodie or T-shirt sizes based on your market, audience, and product strategy—so you launch with confidence, not guesswork.
Sizing Mistakes Can Sink Your Inventory
When we started working with small brands at Sheen, one pattern became clear: sizing issues were among the top reasons for slow sell-through and returns.
Startups either:
- Ordered too many XS and XXL that never moved,
- Misjudged male/female sizing balance,
- Or didn’t realize how differently US, UK, and EU customers define “M” and “L.”
Size mistakes don’t just cost money—they confuse customers, damage brand reputation, and limit growth. But the good news? With a smart size strategy, you can prevent all of that from day one.
What You Need to Know Before Choosing Sizes
Here’s what we always recommend our clients to ask before finalizing their hoodie or T-shirt size chart:
1. Who is your core customer?
Are you selling to:
- Gen Z urbanwear fans?
- Unisex streetwear lovers?
- Boutique women’s brands?
- Athleisure shoppers in colder regions?
Each audience has different fit expectations and body averages. For instance:
Women’s streetwear runs slightly oversized for style.
Men’s workwear often runs true-to-size or tighter at chest/shoulders.
Unisex cuts need to balance drop shoulders with average torso length.
2. Where is your main market?
Regional sizing is real. What qualifies as “Medium” in the US may be a “Large” in Europe, or an “XL” in Asia. If you’re targeting US and EU markets, you’ll want to standardize based on:
- Inches (for the US)
- Centimeters (for EU/Asia)
- And list both on your website or packaging.
Pro tip: We provide regionalized size chart templates at Sheen to help new brands get this right.
3. Are you producing gender-specific or unisex clothing?
Unisex sizing is great for simplifying your SKU count, but:
- It’s often based on men’s fit, which can feel oversized on women.
- You may need to add a size guide photo or model reference.
If you’re targeting both genders, a safe starting size spread is:
- XS, S, M, L, XL, 2XL for unisex styles.
- S–XL for women, M–2XL for men as a minimum.
Smart Size Planning That Actually Works
At Sheen, we help startup brands avoid sizing guesswork with real production data. After working with over 200 brands across Europe and North America, we’ve seen what sizes actually sell.
Here’s a common hoodie size breakdown for unisex winter styles in the US/EU:
| Size | % of Order |
| S | 15% |
| M | 30% |
| L | 30% |
| XL | 15% |
| 2XL | 10% |
For women’s T-shirts, it’s closer to:
- S – 30%
- M – 40%
- L – 20%
- XL – 10%
If your budget is limited, we recommend launching with 4 core sizes and offering extended sizes in restocks, once you’ve collected sales data.
Bonus: We offer low-MOQ trial orders for custom hoodies with your size split, so you can test what works before scaling.
Launch Smart with Sheen’s Sizing Support
If you’re ready to move from a hoodie idea to production, don’t leave sizing to chance. We offer:
- Regionalized size charts (US/EU/UK/AU)
- Custom grading based on your target market
- Fit samples before full production
- Tailored sizing for unisex, men’s, and women’s cuts
- Low MOQ hoodie production with full size range
Sample orders: 7–10 days EXW
Ready stock hoodies: 10–15 days EXW
Custom hoodie production: 25–35 days EXW
�� Send us your design idea or size range today—our team will help you finalize your hoodie or T-shirt specs for production.
Coming Up Next: From Idea to Hoodie
Sizing is just one step. If you already have a design in mind, you might be wondering:
“I have a design idea for a hoodie. How do I get it made?”
That’s exactly what I’ll cover in the next blog—how to turn sketches, moodboards, or samples into real, ready-to-sell products, even if you’re starting from scratch.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the right size range isn’t just a numbers game—it’s about understanding your customer, your market, and your positioning. By getting sizing right from the start, you’ll reduce inventory risk, improve sell-through, and create a product that feels made for your buyers.
At Sheen, we don’t just manufacture—we help startup clothing brands build intelligent sizing strategies that scale. So if you’re planning your first collection or expanding your product range, talk to us about sizing support, sampling, and production timelines.
Let’s size your brand for success—contact us now to start your hoodie or T-shirt line with the right fit.
[Insert Contact Link] | Fast sample delivery | Real-world sizing data | MOQ flexibility
