Vest Size Chart: Suit Vests, Puffer Vests, Safety Vests and More
"Vest" covers several garments: a suit waistcoat, an insulated or fleece vest, a sweater vest, a high-visibility safety vest and, in British English, a sleeveless undershirt. They share chest-based sizes but fit very differently, so each is covered here with its own rules.
Vests are sized by chest. A men's medium fits a 38 to 40 in (97 to 102 cm) chest and a women's medium a 35 to 37 in (89 to 94 cm) bust (US 8-10). A suit vest or waistcoat takes the same number as your suit jacket, such as 40, and should be long enough to cover the trouser waistband.
- Men's M chest
- 38-40 in (97-102 cm)
- Women's M bust
- 35-37 in (89-94 cm)
- Suit vest size
- Same as jacket
- Hi-vis vests
- Class 1 or 2 only
On this page
Vest size chart for men and women
Casual vests (puffer, fleece, sweater and utility vests) use the same letter sizes as other tops, based on chest or bust. Because there are no sleeves, the fit across the chest and the armholes is all that matters.
| Size | Chest | Numeric (suit vest) | EU / IT |
|---|---|---|---|
| S | 34-36 in 86-91 cm | 36 | 46 |
| M | 38-40 in 97-102 cm | 38-40 | 48-50 |
| L | 42-44 in 107-112 cm | 42-44 | 52-54 |
| XL | 46-48 in 117-122 cm | 46-48 | 56-58 |
| XXL | 50-52 in 127-132 cm | 50-52 | 60-62 |
| Size | US | UK | Bust |
|---|---|---|---|
| XS | 0-2 | 4-6 | 31-33 in 79-84 cm |
| S | 4-6 | 8-10 | 33-35 in 84-89 cm |
| M | 8-10 | 12-14 | 35-37 in 89-94 cm |
| L | 12-14 | 16-18 | 38-40 in 97-102 cm |
| XL | 16-18 | 20-22 | 41-44 in 104-112 cm |
| 1X | 14W-16W | 18-20 | 42-45 in 107-114 cm |
| 2X | 18W-20W | 22-24 | 46-49 in 117-124 cm |
| 3X | 22W-24W | 26-28 | 50-53 in 127-135 cm |
For a vest you will wear over a sweater, measure your chest over the sweater and choose by that figure. Converting European and Italian women's labels is covered in the clothing size chart.
Suit vests and waistcoats
A waistcoat bought as part of a three-piece suit is labeled with the jacket size: a 40R suit comes with a 40 waistcoat. Sold separately, waistcoats use the same chest numbers or S to XXL. The fit is close, because a waistcoat is worn over a shirt only and under a jacket.
- Chest: smooth over the shirt, with no horizontal pulls between the buttons and no gaps showing the shirt.
- Back: the adjuster strap at the back should sit near the middle of its range, leaving room to tighten or loosen.
- Length: the front points cover the trouser waistband by about 0.5 to 1 in (1 to 2.5 cm), so no shirt shows between vest and trousers when you stand. Low-rise trousers make this impossible with most waistcoats, which is why waistcoats are worn with mid- or high-rise trousers.
- Buttons: on a single-breasted waistcoat the bottom button is traditionally left undone, and many are cut on the assumption that it will be.
- Armholes: close enough that no shirt billows out of them, but not cutting into the armpit.
Suit drop, jacket length codes and alterations are explained in the suit size guide. A waistcoat worn with a sport coat or blazer instead of a matching suit follows the same rules.
How to measure vest length
Brands quote vest length in two ways, and the difference can be 1 to 2 in, so check which one a size chart uses.
- Back length: from the center back neckline seam straight down to the hem. Used for most casual and outdoor vests.
- Front length: from the high point of the shoulder, beside the neck, down the front to the lowest point of the hem. Used for waistcoats with pointed fronts.
To decide what length you need, measure on yourself from the base of the neck at the back to where you want the hem: the belt line for a waistcoat, the widest part of the hips for a classic puffer vest, the seat or below for a long vest. As a guide, a vest that covers the seat on someone 5 ft 4 in (163 cm) tall measures about 26 in (67 cm) at the back, and on someone 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) about 29 in (73 cm). The coat size guide has full lengths by height.
Puffer, fleece and sweater vests
| Vest | Fit | Sizing advice |
|---|---|---|
| Puffer / down vest | Insulation takes up interior room | Usual size over a shirt or thin knit; size up if worn over a hoodie or thick sweater |
| Fleece vest | Relaxed, slight stretch | Usual size; works as a mid-layer under a shell jacket |
| Sweater vest | Close, worn over a shirt | Usual size or one down if you want it under a jacket |
| Fishing / utility vest | Loose, pockets add bulk | Usual size measured over your outer layer; side adjusters take up slack |
| Quilted gilet | Straight, hip length | Usual size; check it closes over a sweater |
Armholes on insulated vests are often cut generously so the vest can go over a shirt with a collar. If you plan to wear a vest under a jacket, check that the jacket has room for it; the jacket size guide lists how much each layer adds to your chest measurement. Knit vests follow the ease rules in the sweater size guide.
High-visibility safety vest sizes and classes
Hi-vis vests are made to go over work clothing and outerwear, so they are cut loose. Most come in paired sizes such as S/M, L/XL and 2XL/3XL, up to about 5XL. Choose by your chest measured over the jacket you will wear in cold weather. A vest that is too big can snag on machinery; breakaway vests, which separate at the shoulders and sides when pulled, are designed for that risk.
In the US, ANSI/ISEA 107-2020 sets minimum areas of fluorescent background material and retroreflective tape:
| Class (type) | Background material | Retroreflective material |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 (Type O, off-road) | 217 in² 0.14 m² | 155 in² 0.10 m² |
| Class 2 (Type R, roadway) | 775 in² 0.50 m² | 201 in² 0.13 m² |
| Class 3 (Type R, roadway) | 1,240 in² 0.80 m² | 310 in² 0.20 m² |
The minimums apply to every size; the standard allows a reduced background area (540 in², 0.35 m²) for the smallest Class 2 size only. A sleeveless vest cannot meet Class 3, which requires retroreflective material on sleeves. Wearing a Class 2 vest with Class E high-visibility trousers or shorts makes a Class 3 ensemble. Rules on which class a job requires come from employers and transport authorities; confirm current requirements with them.
Life jacket vests
Wearable flotation devices are sized by chest for adults and by body weight for children. US Coast Guard-approved children's devices are labeled infant (under 30 lb, 14 kg), child (30-50 lb, 14-23 kg) and youth (50-90 lb, 23-41 kg). Size by the label, not by clothing size, and check that the vest does not ride up over the chin when lifted by the shoulders.
Vest in British English: the undershirt
In the UK a vest is a sleeveless undershirt or athletic top, what Americans call a tank top or A-shirt, and the outer garment Americans call a vest is a waistcoat or gilet. UK vests are sized by chest in letters or inches, the same as men's tops. For measurements and armhole styles, see the tank top size chart.
Frequently asked questions
How do you measure vest length?
Lay the vest flat and measure at the back from the base of the collar or neckline seam to the hem, or at the front from the high point of the shoulder to the lowest point of the hem. For a suit vest, the front points should cover the trouser waistband by about 0.5 to 1 in (1-2.5 cm).
What is the usual length of a women's vest in size 1X?
Length depends on style and the wearer's height more than on size, because plus sizes are graded much wider but only slightly longer. On a 5 ft 4 in (163 cm) wearer, a vest ending around the widest part of the hips measures about 23-25 in (58-64 cm) at the back, and one covering the seat about 26 in (67 cm). Compare the listed length with your own neck-to-hem measurement.
What American sizes do women's vests come in?
Letters XS to XL (US 0-18), and plus sizes 1X (about 14W-16W), 2X (18W-20W) and 3X (22W-24W). Tailored women's waistcoats may use numeric dress sizes such as 4, 6, 8 and 10.
Should a vest be tight or loose?
A suit vest should be close-fitting, smooth over the shirt with no gaps between buttons. Puffer and fleece vests should have room for a sweater, about 4-6 in (10-15 cm) more than your chest. Safety vests are cut loose to go over work clothing and a jacket.
What is a vest in UK sizing?
In British English a vest is a sleeveless undershirt, called a tank top or A-shirt in the US. UK vests use the same chest-based letter sizes; see the tank top size guide for measurements.