Youth Basketball League Jersey Sizing by Age

Youth basketball jersey sizes are labeled by age (Youth XS = 4-5, Youth XL = 18-20) but every brand cuts differently and most kids fall between sizes. The most accurate way to pick the right youth basketball jersey size is to measure the chest. This guide maps chest measurement to age and grade level across the Sport-Tek, Bella+Canvas, and Bear Grips youth cuts we stock.

Sport-Tek Youth Performance Tee Size Chart

Size	Chest (in)	Length (in)	Typical Age	Typical Grade
Youth XS	24-26	20	4-5	K-1
Youth S	26-28	21.5	6-8	1-3
Youth M	28-30	23	9-10	3-5
Youth L	30-32	24.5	11-12	5-7
Youth XL	32-34	26	13-14	7-9

Bella+Canvas Youth Tee Size Chart

Bella+Canvas youth cuts run slightly slimmer than Sport-Tek through the chest and shorter through the torso. Use the same age-to-grade mapping above, but for a child near the upper end of a chest range, size up one. The cotton-feel fabric also shrinks slightly in the first wash, so leaning a half-size larger at order is common.

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Bear Grips Youth Cuts

The Bear Grips Youth Airlume Cotton Athletic Tee is cut close to Bella+Canvas in dimensions but with a slightly more relaxed shoulder for athletic activity. Same chest measurements work as the guide. The Bear Grips Comfort Soft Hoodie in youth sizes runs true to size at the chest but slightly longer through the body, which most families consider a positive at this age.

How to Measure a Child for a Jersey

1. Chest: Wrap a soft tape around the fullest part of the chest, under the armpits, level all the way around. Take the measurement with the child relaxed (not flexing or holding breath).
2. Body length: From the highest point of the shoulder (where the seam sits) down to where the hem should fall (mid-hip or top of the thigh).
3. Compare to the chart: If the chest is between two sizes, size up. Performance fabric does not stretch as much as cotton.

Common Sizing Mistakes

• Sizing by age, not by chest. A 9-year-old might wear Youth S or Youth L depending on body shape.
• Sizing up too much. A jersey two sizes too large drags down to the thigh, catches on the shorts, and trips the kid up.
• Ignoring brand differences. A Youth M in Sport-Tek is not the same as a Youth M in Bella+Canvas.
• Not factoring growth. A kid grows 2 to 3 inches in a typical youth basketball season. Pick the size that fits at the start, not the size that fits at the end.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I am between Sport-Tek youth and Sport-Tek adult sizing?

Sport-Tek Youth XL ends at chest 34 inches. Sport-Tek Adult XS starts at chest 31 inches. For a kid with a 31-34 chest, Adult XS is often the better fit because the body length is longer and the cut is more athletic.

Do jerseys come in half sizes?

No. All youth sizes are whole sizes (XS, S, M, L, XL). For a kid between sizes, sizing up is the safer call.

How much does the jersey shrink after washing?

Performance polyester (Sport-Tek) shrinks less than 3%. Cotton (Bella+Canvas, Bear Grips Airlume) shrinks 3-5%. For cotton jerseys, washing in cold and tumble drying low keeps shrinkage at the low end.