The Ultimate Jersey Sizing Guide: How to Layer Over Hoodies on Gameday
Start from your chest measurement, not your usual T-shirt size. A jersey is designed to sit over something, so add 5–8 cm (2–3 in) of chest room for a light hoodie and 8–10 cm (3–4 in) for heavy fleece, then match that number to the league chart.
- Over a tee: order your normal size for a relaxed fit.
- Over a light hoodie: size up one level, or check that the next size adds ~5 cm to the chest.
- Over heavy fleece: size up one level and keep the jersey loose — except for NHL, which already runs the loosest of the five leagues.
Free worldwide shipping over $57 · 30-day returns, first size swap free.
Every sizing complaint we see starts the same way: the buyer ordered the size on their T-shirt label. Jerseys are not T-shirts. They are cut as an outer layer, with more room in the chest and a longer body, and each league has its own traditional fit. Get your chest measurement right and pick a league cut deliberately, and the guesswork disappears.
Start with your chest, not your shirt size
- 1Measure your chest at its fullest point with a soft tape, keeping the tape level and snug — not tight. Write the number in centimetres and inches.
- 2Measure a jersey you already like the fit of, laid flat, armpit to armpit. Double it. That is your comfortable chest width.
- 3Compare the two numbers. If the flat measurement is smaller than your body measurement by less than 2.5 cm (1 in), that shirt is a close fit; if it is larger by 5 cm or more, it is genuinely relaxed.
- 4Decide what goes under the jersey. That single choice moves you a full size more often than height or weight do.
How much room a hoodie actually needs
A jersey has to slide over whatever is underneath without pulling across the chest, and it has to be long enough that a hoodie hem does not push it up. Light cotton hoodies eat about 2 cm of chest room. Mid-weight fleece eats 3–4 cm. Heavy winter fleece — the kind you actually want in a cold stadium — eats 5 cm or more.
| What you wear underneath | Extra chest room needed | Practical move |
|---|---|---|
| T-shirt or base layer | 2–3 cm (1 in) | Order your normal jersey size |
| Light cotton hoodie | 5 cm (2 in) | Normal size, or size up if you are between sizes |
| Mid-weight fleece hoodie | 6–8 cm (2.5–3 in) | Size up one level |
| Heavy winter fleece or a jacket under the jersey | 8–10 cm (3–4 in) | Size up one level; check sleeve length |
Numbers are additional chest room on top of your body measurement. Compare against the chart for your league in the TeamProKit size guide.
League by league: the same body, five sizes
Take a 102 cm (40 in) chest and ask five leagues what size to send. You will get four different answers, because the cuts are genuinely different: soccer is tailored, NBA is standard, NFL and MLB are relaxed, NHL is the loosest of all.
| League | Cut | A 102 cm (40 in) chest wears | Layering note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soccer | Slim, athletic | L (fan cut) or XL (player cut) | Player cuts need the size up for a hoodie |
| NBA | Standard athletic | M for a close fit, L for relaxed | True to size over a tee |
| NFL | Relaxed through the body | M | Already roomy enough for a light hoodie |
| MLB | Relaxed, similar to NFL | M or L depending on drape | True to size for an oversized look |
| NHL | Loosest of the five | S | Sizing up usually looks oversized, not layered |
Charts by league, plus international conversions (EU / UK / Italian / French), are on the TeamProKit Size Guide.
Three real bodies, three sizes
When to size up — and when not to
Do
- Size up if you layer over a mid-weight or heavy hoodie
- Size up in soccer player cuts if you want a relaxed drape
- Size up for a youth moving out of Youth XL (roughly above 168 cm / 5'6")
- Measure your chest rather than trusting a T-shirt label
Don't
- Do not size up in NHL — it is already the loosest cut
- Do not size up twice for a hoodie plus a jacket; the body gets too long
- Do not assume women's and men's sizes map one to one — women's is tapered through the waist
- Do not use shorts sizing as a guide; shorts are sized by waist, jerseys by chest
Manchester City2023-2024 Home Shirt (Foden 47)Fan edition · relaxed cut · layers over a hoodieView this shirt
Juventus2025-2026 Away Authentic Shirt (Nedved 11)Player version · slim cut · size up to layerView this shirt
Bayern Munich2025-2026 Away Shirt (Lahm 21)Fan edition · roomy body · Bundesliga awayView this shirt
England2026-2027 Away Shirt (Foden 9)National team cut · standard athletic fitView this shirtGet the measurement right the first time
The full chest, waist and length charts by league — plus international conversions.
OPEN THE SIZE GUIDEFAQ
What size jersey should I wear over a hoodie?
Start from your chest measurement and add 5–8 cm (2–3 in) for a light hoodie, or 8–10 cm (3–4 in) for heavy fleece. In most leagues that means going up one size; in NHL, stay at your true size.
Do soccer jerseys run smaller than NFL jerseys?
Yes. Soccer cuts are the slimmest of the leagues we stock, NFL and MLB are the most relaxed, NBA sits in the middle and NHL is the loosest. The same body can wear an L in one and an S in another.
Should I size up or down if I am between two sizes?
Size up, unless you are buying NHL. Jerseys are casual wear designed to drape; half a size of extra room looks better than a shirt that pulls across the chest.
What if the size still is not right?
Every order is covered by 30-day returns with zero restocking fees, and your first size swap is free. Email TeamProKitCare@outlook.com with your chest measurement and the item, and the desk will recommend a size before you order.