The Gildan youth size chart for the 5000B Heavy Cotton tee runs XS to XL, which Gildan's spec sheet pairs with kids' sizes 2-4 up to 18-20. Laid flat, the shirt measures 16 to 20 inches across the chest and 20.5 to 26.5 inches long at the back, and each size is 1 inch wider and 1.5 inches longer than the one below it. A 9 × 12 inch youth front print covers 56% of the width of an XS but only 45% of an XL, and an adult 12 × 16 file printed at full size on an XS would cover 75% of the width.
Gildan's youth sports tee, sweatshirt and hoodie measure differently; their numbers are further down.
Gildan youth size chart (5000B), in inches
| Size | Kids' size | Child's chest | Shirt width, flat | Body length | Sleeve from center back |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XS | 2-4 | 21 to 22.25 | 16 | 20.5 | 13.5 |
| S | 6-8 | 23.75 to 27 | 17 | 22 | 14.5 |
| M | 10-12 | 27.5 to 28.5 | 18 | 23.5 | 15.5 |
| L | 14-16 | 30.5 to 32 | 19 | 25 | 16.5 |
| XL | 18-20 | 33.5 to 35 | 20 | 26.5 | 17.5 |
Source: Gildan's 5000B spec sheet (product measurements and size chart pages), read on November 12, 2026. Printful's catalog lists the same width and length for its Gildan 5000B.
In centimeters, the flat width runs 40.6 (XS), 43.2 (S), 45.7 (M), 48.3 (L) and 50.8 (XL), and the body length 52.1, 55.9, 59.7, 63.5 and 67.3.
How to read the chart: shirt size vs child size
The table mixes two kinds of numbers. "Child's chest" is a body measurement: Gildan says to measure under the arms, around the fullest part of the chest, with the tape horizontal. The other three columns measure the shirt. Gildan takes the width across the chest one inch below the armhole with the shirt laid flat, the length from the high point of the shoulder to the hem at the back, and the sleeve from the center back of the neck to the sleeve hem.
To compare the two, double the flat width. A size S is 17 inches flat, so about 34 inches around, against a child's chest of 23.75 to 27 inches. That leaves about 7 to 10 inches of room.
Gildan's retail product page for the same shirt shows a different chart: a boys' t-shirt chart by chest and weight, printed next to an underwear chart, with slightly different ranges (S is 22 to 26 inches and 38 to 58 lb there). The spec sheet is the one specific to the 5000B. Printful adds that its measurements may vary by up to 2 inches (5 cm).
On fabric, the spec sheet lists 5.3 oz, 100% U.S. cotton (Ash, Sport Grey, the heathers and the safety colors are blends) and a classic fit, and Printful describes the fabric as pre-shrunk. Gildan's care instructions: machine wash warm, inside out, tumble dry medium, do not iron if decorated.
Print area on every youth size
Podezzy's free Design Size Calculator (checked November 12, 2026), which converts print sizes to pixels, uses 9 × 12 inches as the youth front print area, against 12 × 16 for an adult front. The calculator notes that print areas vary from one print partner to another, so check your partner's template before you export.
| Size | 9 × 12 youth print: share of width | Share of length | Blank shirt either side | 12 × 16 adult print: share of width |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| XS | 56% | 59% | 3.5 in | 75% |
| S | 53% | 55% | 4 in | 71% |
| M | 50% | 51% | 4.5 in | 67% |
| L | 47% | 48% | 5 in | 63% |
| XL | 45% | 45% | 5.5 in | 60% |
Method: print width divided by flat width, print height divided by body length, and (flat width minus 9) divided by 2 for the margin. These are shares of the front panel, which is what a buyer sees in a flat-lay photo.
One 9 × 12 file looks big on an XS and modest on an XL, because the print stays the same size while the shirt grows 4 inches wider and 6 inches longer. If your partner printed an adult 12 × 16 file at full size on a youth XS, it would cover three quarters of the width and 78% of the length, more of the shirt than it covers on any adult size of the Gildan 5000. On the adult S, which Printful lists at 18 × 28 inches, the same file covers 67% of the width and 57% of the length.
For the pixels, pick "T-shirt front (youth)" under Placement in the calculator and choose your DPI. At 150 DPI, which the calculator calls the direct-to-garment floor, 9 × 12 inches is 1,350 × 1,800 pixels; at 300 DPI it is 2,700 × 3,600.
Other Gildan youth blanks: sports tee, sweatshirt, hoodie
Printful also carries Gildan's youth sports tee, crewneck sweatshirt and hoodie, with these garment measurements in inches.
| Blank | Width XS / S / M / L / XL | Length XS / S / M / L / XL |
|---|---|---|
| 8000B youth sports tee (50/50) | 14 / 16 / 17 / 18 / 19 | 18 / 20.5 / 22 / 23.5 / 25 |
| 18000B youth crewneck sweatshirt | 16.14 / 16.93 / 18.11 / 18.90 / 20.08 | 19.69 / 21.26 / 22.44 / 24.02 / 25.59 |
| 18500B youth hoodie | 16 / 17 / 18 / 19 / 20 | 19.75 / 21.25 / 22.5 / 24 / 25.5 |
The 8000B runs 2 inches narrower than the 5000B at XS and 1 inch narrower from S up, and 2.5 inches shorter at XS and 1.5 from S up. A shop that offers both tees under one size chart will be off by 1 to 2.5 inches on every size. The 18000B sweatshirt figures carry two decimals because they convert whole centimeters (16.14 inches is 41 cm). On Gildan's retail page, the 5000B's companion styles are the adult G5000, the G5000L and the G5100P, which Gildan's retail store sells as its Heavy Cotton Toddler T-shirt.
Kids' shirt keywords on Etsy, by listing sales
Listings matched to the blank's name barely sell. In Podezzy's Etsy data (snapshot November 11, 2026, estimated sales over the previous 30 days), listings matched to "gildan youth shirt" sold about 14 units across 299 listings, and three of its top ten were goods for sellers (a color chart and two mockup bundles). Listings matched to terms about the child or the occasion show far more sales activity. The counts cover every listing matched to the term, so "youth shirt" and "kids shirt" also catch some adult tees and sweatshirts.
| Keyword | Est. sales of matched listings, 30 days | Listings | Shops |
|---|---|---|---|
| toddler shirt | 9,964 | 80,445 | 14,216 |
| kids birthday shirt | 9,843 | 33,962 | 6,678 |
| kids shirt | 6,684 | 67,393 | 16,071 |
| youth shirt | 2,223 | 21,816 | 5,766 |
| gildan youth shirt | 14 | 299 | 110 |
"Kids birthday shirt" shows almost as many sales as "toddler shirt" from less than half the listings. Five of its ten best-selling listings in the same snapshot have "Family" in the title, two of them the same design from different shops. A family design has to work on a youth XS and on adult sizes at once, so the print-area table above applies to it directly. "Toddler shirt" overlaps the 5000B only at XS (2-4).
Put the child and the occasion in the title and tags, since those are the terms whose matched listings sell. Name the Gildan 5000B in the description so a buyer knows which shirt and fabric they get. The Etsy keyword research tool gives the same sales and listing estimates for any term you are weighing.
Mistakes to avoid on youth listings
- A letter alone does not tell a parent that S is kids' size 6-8 on a Gildan youth tee, so put the size number and the chest range next to every letter, in your variations and in the size chart image.
- An adult 12 × 16 file printed at full size on a youth XS would cover three quarters of its width. Make a youth version at 9 × 12, or check how your partner scales artwork across sizes before you rely on one file.
- An adult chart does not fit youth sizes: a youth XL is 2 inches wider and 1.5 inches shorter than an adult S on the Gildan 5000 (20 × 26.5 against 18 × 28 inches, per Printful).
- If some colors print on the 8000B and others on the 5000B, the sizes differ by 1 to 2.5 inches, so publish the chart for each blank.
For the adult sizes in a family order, the t-shirt print size guide covers every adult placement, and the Comfort Colors 1717 size chart does the same coverage maths for that blank.
Gildan youth size chart FAQ
What age is a Gildan youth XL?
Gildan does not give ages. Its spec sheet pairs youth XL with kids' size 18-20, for a child's chest of 33.5 to 35 inches, and the shirt is 20 inches wide laid flat and 26.5 inches long. Go by the chest measurement.
Is a Gildan youth XL the same as an adult small?
No. On the 5000 family, Printful lists the youth XL at 20 × 26.5 inches and the adult S at 18 × 28 inches, so the youth XL is wider and shorter.
Do Gildan youth shirts shrink?
Neither the 5000B spec sheet nor Printful's listing gives a shrinkage figure. Printful describes the fabric as pre-shrunk, and Gildan's care instructions say machine wash warm, inside out, tumble dry medium.
What size should a youth shirt design be?
Podezzy's Design Size Calculator uses a 9 × 12 inch youth front, which is 1,350 × 1,800 pixels at 150 DPI or 2,700 × 3,600 at 300 DPI. Check your print partner's template, since print areas vary.
Does Gildan make toddler sizes in the same shirt?
The 5000B's smallest size is XS (2-4). Gildan makes toddler sizes in a separate style, the G5100P Heavy Cotton Toddler T-shirt, listed as a companion to the 5000B.
What to do next
Before you export your next youth design, enter its width and height in the Design Size Calculator with the youth front placement and your partner's DPI, and check the drawing to see whether it fits inside 9 × 12 inches.