Custom football shirt sizing: how to get the right fit
September 12, 2026
Custom football shirt sizing is one of the first things people get wrong, and it is the anxiety that turns a great commission into a frustrating one. The fix is straightforward: take three measurements, tell us your preferred fit, and the shirt is built to those numbers rather than a generic size chart. No guessing. No sizing up or down.
Why standard size charts don't apply here
When you buy a replica shirt from a major brand, you are buying from a fixed template. The factory runs thousands of units at S, M, L, and XL. The measurements are averaged across a wide population. You fit the shirt; the shirt does not fit you.
A handmade commission works the other way. There is no template to conform to. The cut is adjusted to your measurements before anything is stitched. If your chest is a 42 and your waist sits narrow, that is what the pattern reflects. If you want a looser fit across the shoulders for a retro look, that note goes into the brief.
This also means that the question "should I size up or down?" does not apply. You are not picking from a rack. You are giving us the numbers and telling us how the shirt should sit on your body.
The three measurements you need
Take these with a soft tape measure. Wear a thin T-shirt or measure over bare skin.
- Chest. Wrap the tape around the fullest part of your chest, just under the armpits. Keep it level and snug without pulling. Write down this number in centimetres.
- Torso length. Measure from the base of your neck (where a collar would sit) down to where you want the hem to end. Most football shirts sit just below the hip. If you want a cropped or longer drop, say so in your brief.
- Shoulder width. Measure from the outer edge of one shoulder to the outer edge of the other, across the upper back. This one controls how the seams sit; too narrow and the shirt pulls at the arms.
That is it. Three numbers and a note on how you want the shirt to feel: close-fitting, relaxed, or somewhere between.
What 'fit preference' means in a commission
Generic sizing uses terms like athletic fit or relaxed fit as marketing labels. In a commission, fit preference is a specific instruction.
| Fit | What it means for your shirt |
|---|---|
| Close / slim | Chest measurement plus 4-6 cm ease. Clean lines, sits close to the body. |
| Standard | Chest measurement plus 8-10 cm ease. The classic football shirt silhouette. |
| Relaxed / retro | Chest measurement plus 12-16 cm ease. Wide-body look, longer drop, boxy shoulder. |
If you are not sure which to choose, look at a shirt you already own and wear often. Measure it flat across the chest, double the number, and compare it to your body measurement. The difference is your current ease preference.
How handmade sizing differs from off-the-shelf
According to Football Shirt Collective's size guide, second-tier European manufacturers often produce shirts that run a size or half a size smaller than UK equivalents, and for Japanese sizing going up at least two sizes is usually advised. That is the real-world chaos of buying across brands and regions from a rack.
None of that applies here. Own Kit shirts are cut to your measurements, not to a country's or brand's convention. You send your chest, torso length, and shoulder width. We cut the pattern to those numbers. Regional sizing conventions are irrelevant.
One thing that does matter: how you measure. A tape pulled too tight gives a chest measurement that produces a shirt that digs in. A tape held too loose gives you a shirt that billows. If you are unsure, measure twice and take the average.
What to include in your brief
Your measurements are the foundation. The brief is where you tell us everything else. A good brief includes:
- Chest, torso length, and shoulder width in centimetres
- Fit preference (close, standard, or relaxed)
- Colorway description (name a reference shirt or describe the colours directly)
- Badge or crest details (attach artwork or describe what you have in mind)
- Name and number (font preference if you have one)
- Collar style (crew neck, V-neck, or button-down polo)
- Your deadline
A paragraph is enough. We come back within two working days with questions if we need them, and a price confirmation before anything is cut.
Frequently asked questions
What size should I get for a custom football shirt? For an Own Kit commission, skip the size label. Send your chest measurement, torso length, and shoulder width in centimetres. Tell us whether you want a close, standard, or relaxed fit. We build the shirt to those numbers.
Should I size up or down for a football shirt? On a mass-produced shirt, yes, sizing up or down is often necessary because brands vary. On a handmade commission, you describe the fit you want and we cut to it. There is no rack to choose from.
Can I get a custom football shirt made to my exact measurements? Yes. Every shirt Own Kit makes starts with your measurements and your brief. The pattern is cut to your numbers, not to a factory's average.
How much does it cost to get a football shirt printed or made? Own Kit commissions start at 110 EUR for The Street and go up to 180 EUR for The Commission. Price varies by complexity: badge detail, fabric choice, and the number of personalisation elements all affect the final figure. See the full pricing breakdown on the blog.
Ready to start? Send your measurements and tell us what you want. The shirt goes from your brief to your door, made by hand, in three to four weeks.
Sources
- Football Shirt Collective, "Football shirts size guide 2026": footballshirtcollective.com
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