Jacket Size Chart: How to Choose the Right Size for Casual and Outdoor Jackets
For casual and outdoor jackets: denim, leather, bomber, puffer, rain and ski shells. They are sized by chest like other tops, but they have to fit over whatever you wear underneath. Tailored jackets are covered in the blazer and suit guides.
Jackets are sized by chest measured over the layers you will wear underneath. A men's medium fits a 38 to 40 in (97 to 102 cm) chest, which is a numeric 38-40 or a European 48-50. A women's medium fits a 35 to 37 in (89 to 94 cm) bust, a US 8-10. If your chest measured over a sweater falls into the next range, take the next size.
- Men's M chest
- 38-40 in (97-102 cm)
- Women's M bust
- 35-37 in (89-94 cm)
- EU to US (men)
- Subtract 10
- Thick sweater adds
- About 2-4 in
On this page
Jacket size chart for men
Casual jackets come in letters or in chest numbers. The numbers are the body chest in inches in the US and UK, and roughly half the chest in centimeters in Europe and Italy. Sleeve figures are body measurements taken from the center back of the neck to the wrist.
| Letter | Body chest | US / UK | EU / IT | Sleeve (center back) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S | 34-36 in 86-91 cm | 36 | 46 | 32-33 in 81-84 cm |
| M | 38-40 in 97-102 cm | 38-40 | 48-50 | 33-34 in 84-86 cm |
| L | 42-44 in 107-112 cm | 42-44 | 52-54 | 34-35 in 86-89 cm |
| XL | 46-48 in 117-122 cm | 46-48 | 56-58 | 35-36 in 89-91 cm |
| XXL | 50-52 in 127-132 cm | 50-52 | 60-62 | 36-37 in 91-94 cm |
Many outdoor brands offer tall sizes (LT, XLT) that keep the chest and add about 2 in (5 cm) to the body and 1 to 2 in to the sleeve. They suit men over about 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) better than sizing up, which adds width they do not need.
Jacket size chart for women
| Letter | US | UK | Bust | Waist |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| XS | 0-2 | 4-6 | 31-33 in 79-84 cm | 24-26 in 61-66 cm |
| S | 4-6 | 8-10 | 33-35 in 84-89 cm | 26-28 in 66-71 cm |
| M | 8-10 | 12-14 | 35-37 in 89-94 cm | 28-30 in 71-76 cm |
| L | 12-14 | 16-18 | 38-40 in 97-102 cm | 31-33 in 79-84 cm |
| XL | 16-18 | 20-22 | 41-44 in 104-112 cm | 34-37 in 86-94 cm |
Women's jackets with a defined waist (belted trench-style jackets, fitted leather and moto jackets) must fit both bust and waist; boxy styles fit by bust alone. European numeric labels follow the women's dress-size conversions in the clothing size chart.
Sizing a jacket for the layers underneath
The single most useful step is to measure your chest while wearing what you will wear under the jacket. Each layer adds circumference:
| Under the jacket | Adds to chest, approx. |
|---|---|
| T-shirt | Under 1 in under 2.5 cm |
| Button-up shirt | About 1 in 2.5 cm |
| Fine-gauge sweater | 1-2 in 2.5-5 cm |
| Hoodie or fleece | 2-3 in 5-8 cm |
| Chunky knit sweater | 3-4 in 8-10 cm |
Example: a man with a 40 in (102 cm) chest who wears a hoodie under a winter jacket measures about 42 to 43 in over it, so a large fits better than his usual medium. Under a denim or leather jacket worn over a tee, the same man stays in medium.
When a brand publishes garment measurements, the jacket's chest circumference should be at least 4 in (10 cm) larger than your chest measured over your layers for a comfortable fit, and 6 in (15 cm) or more for active outdoor use with arms raised.
How each type of jacket fits
| Jacket | Fit tendency | Sizing advice |
|---|---|---|
| Denim (trucker) | Short, boxy; rigid denim does not stretch | Size by shoulders; if it fits over a tee only, size up for a hoodie underneath |
| Leather (biker, café racer) | Cut close; softens and gives slightly with wear | Snug but able to zip over a shirt; arms should reach forward without pulling |
| Bomber | Ribbed hem and cuffs gather the body | Usual size; the rib should sit at the waistband, not above it |
| Puffer / down | Insulation takes up interior space | Usual size if worn over a tee or thin knit; size up for heavy layers |
| Rain / shell | Cut roomy for layering | Usual size; check the sleeve covers the wrist with arms raised |
| Ski / snowboard | Longer back and sleeves, room for mid-layers | Usual size measured over a fleece; hood should fit over a helmet |
| Field / chore | Straight, relaxed | Usual size; often runs large, so check the garment chest |
Insulated vests follow the same logic without the sleeve constraint; see the vest size guide. Fleece layers worn underneath are sized in the hoodie size chart.
Jacket length
Back length is measured from the seam at the base of the collar to the hem. The figures below are typical for a men's medium; women's jackets run about 1 to 3 in (2.5 to 8 cm) shorter for the same style.
- Waist length (bomber, denim, moto): about 24-27 in (61-69 cm); ends at the belt.
- Hip length (field jacket, shell, most puffers): about 28-31 in (71-79 cm); covers the belt and the top of the seat.
- Thigh length (parka, long puffer): about 32-36 in (81-91 cm); covers the seat. Longer than this is a coat; see the coat size guide for coat lengths by height.
How to tell if a jacket fits
- Shoulders first. The shoulder seam should sit at the edge of your shoulder bone. Shoulders are the hardest part to alter.
- Zip it up over your intended layers. The front should close without pull lines radiating from the zip or buttons.
- Reach forward and cross your arms. The back should not feel tight across the shoulder blades, and the sleeves should not slide more than about 1 in (2.5 cm) up the forearm.
- Raise both arms overhead. For outdoor jackets the hem should not lift above your waistband, or wind and rain get in.
- Check sleeve length with arms relaxed: the cuff reaches the wrist bone or slightly past it.
Sport coats, blazers and suit jackets use chest numbers with length codes (38R, 40L) and are meant to fit over a shirt only. If you are buying one of those, use the blazer size chart or the suit size guide.
Packing and shipping a jacket
Folded in thirds lengthwise and then in half, a lightweight jacket packs to roughly 14 × 10 in (36 × 25 cm) and 2 to 3 in (5 to 8 cm) thick. A down puffer rolls and compresses into a much smaller bundle, but it should not be stored compressed for long, as the insulation loses loft. For box sizes and how carriers price bulky parcels, see the shipping box size guide and the dimensional weight guide.
Frequently asked questions
What size jacket fits a 42-inch chest?
A men's large (42-44 in, 107-112 cm) or a numeric 42, which is a European 52. If you plan to wear a thick sweater under it, measure over the sweater; you may land in XL.
What is a European size 50 jacket in US sizes?
A US and UK 40, which is a men's medium. European men's jacket sizes convert by subtracting 10: 48 is 38, 52 is 42 and 54 is 44.
Should I buy a jacket one size bigger?
Only if your chest measured over the layers you will wear is in the next size range. Buying bigger by habit makes the shoulders and sleeves too long, which looks sloppier than a slightly snug body. Outdoor jackets labeled for layering already include extra room.
How should a jacket sleeve fit?
With arms relaxed, the sleeve should reach the wrist bone or slightly past it, covering a shirt cuff. When you reach forward, the cuff should not pull more than about 1 in (2.5 cm) back up the forearm. Outdoor shells are cut longer so the cuff still covers a glove.
What size box do I need to ship a jacket?
A folded lightweight jacket fits a poly mailer around 14.5 × 19 in (37 × 48 cm) or a box about 14 × 10 × 4 in (36 × 25 × 10 cm). A puffer needs about 16 × 12 × 6 in (41 × 30 × 15 cm) unless compressed. Carriers charge by dimensional weight, so a compressed puffer in a smaller box often costs less.