SIZE GUIDE

US Military Size Chart Guide

How to Measure for Military Gear

Military sizes are more precise than standard retail clothing. To ensure a perfect fit for your tactical or surplus gear, please follow these measurement guidelines. 

Note: Use a flexible measuring tape and have someone help you for the most accurate results.

1. Chest (for Jackets, Shirts, and Parkas)

• How to measure: Wrap the tape around the fullest part of your chest, keeping it under your arms and level across your shoulder blades.
• The Pro-Tip: Do not puff out your chest or "flex." Relax your arms at your sides. Keep one finger between the tape and your body for breathing room.

2. Sleeve Length

• How to measure: Place your hand on your hip (arm slightly bent). Measure from the center-back of your neck, across your shoulder, and down to your wrist bone.
• The Pro-Tip: Military sleeves are often slightly longer than civilian sleeves to allow for full range of motion while reaching or climbing.

Military Tops (Jackets & Shirts)
Width Size	Chest (Inches)	Length Size	User Height (Inches)
XXX-Small	25" – 29"	XXX-Short	55" – 59"
XX-Small	29" – 33"	XX-Short	59" – 63"
X-Small	33" – 37"	X-Short	63" – 67"
Small	37" – 41"	Short	67" – 71"
Medium	41" – 45"	Regular	71" – 75"
Large	45" – 49"	Long	75" – 79"
X-Large	49" – 53"	X-Long	79" – 83"
XX-Large	53" – 57"	XX-Long	83" – 87"
XXX-Large	57" – 61"	XXX-Long	87" +

 

3. Waist (for Trousers and Pants)

• How to measure: Measure around your natural waistline—this is usually level with your belly button.
• The Pro-Tip: Do not measure where your jeans or low-rise pants sit. Military trousers are designed to sit higher on the waist. If you measure at your hips, the pants will be too small. 

4. Inseam (for Trousers)

• How to measure: Measure from the crotch seam (the "V") down to the top of your ankle bone.
• The Pro-Tip: It is often easier to measure a pair of pants you already own that fit well. Lay them flat on a table and measure from the crotch to the bottom of the leg opening.

Military Bottoms (Trousers & Pants)
Width Size	Waist (Inches)	Length Size	Inseam (Inches)
XXX-Small	23" – 27"	X-Short	Below 26.5"
XX-Small	27" – 31"	Short	26.5" – 29.5"
X-Small	31" – 35"	Regular	29.5" – 32.5"
Small	35" – 39"	Long	32.5" – 35.5"
Medium	39" – 43"	X-Long	35.5" – 38.5"
Large	43" – 47"	XX-Long	38.5" – 41.5"
X-Large	47" – 51"	XXX-Long	41.5" +
XX-Large	51" – 55"
XXX-Large	55" – 59"

 

5. Head Size (for Hats and Berets)

• How to measure: Wrap the tape around your head, about 1 inch above your eyebrows and just above your ears.
• The Calculation: Take the circumference in inches and divide by 3.14. Round to the nearest 1/8" to find your military hat size.

Military Headwear (Hats, Caps, & Berets)
Width Size	Hat Size	Circumference (Inches)	Circumference (cm)
XXX-Small	6 3/8	20 1/8"	51 cm
XX-Small	6 1/2	20 1/2"	52 cm
X-Small	6 3/4	21 1/8"	54 cm
Small	7	21 7/8"	56 cm
Medium	7 1/4	22 5/8"	58 cm
Large	7 1/2	23 1/2"	60 cm
X-Large	7 3/4	24 3/8"	62 cm
XX-Large	8	25 1/8"	64 cm
XXX-Large	8 1/4	26"	66 cm

6. Military Boots / Footwear

Military boots use the Brannock Device standard, but since most people are measuring at home, follow these steps to get an accurate fit.

7. The "Paper Trace" Method

1. Place a piece of paper on a hard floor (not carpet).
2. Wear the exact socks you plan to wear with the boots (e.g., thick wool cushion socks).
3. Stand with your full weight on one foot and have someone trace the outline of your foot. Keep the pencil perfectly vertical.
4. Measure the distance from the outermost point of the heel to the tip of the longest toe.

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8. Determine Your Width

Military boots often come in three specific widths:

• N (Narrow)
• R (Regular/Medium)
• W (Wide/Large)
• XW (Extra Wide)

How to measure: Measure the circumference of your foot at the widest part (the "ball" of your foot, right behind your toes). If your foot feels "suffocated" in standard Nikes, you almost certainly need a Wide (W) in military boots.

9. The "Rule of Thumb" for Length

• The Fit: You should have about 1/2 inch (1.3 cm) of space between your longest toe and the front of the boot.
• The Test: Slide your foot forward until your toes touch the front. You should be able to fit your index finger comfortably behind your heel.

Footwear Fit Tips for Your Customers

• Account for Swelling: Feet swell after a few miles of walking. Always measure your feet in the afternoon or evening, as they are at their largest then.
• The "Slope" Test: When you lace the boots tightly, your foot should not slide forward when walking downhill. If your toes hit the front, you need a larger size or a different width.
• Break-in Period: Remind users that full-leather military boots require a "break-in" period. They will feel stiff at first but will mold to the foot over time. Modern "Athletic-style" combat boots (like those from Oakley or Garmont) usually require less break-in.

Military Footwear / Boot Size Chart
Width Size	Width Code	Length Size (US Men's)	Foot Length (Approx)
XXX-Small	XN (Extra Narrow)	3 – 4	8.5" – 9"
XX-Small	N (Narrow)	5 – 6	9" – 9.5"
X-Small	R (Regular)	7 – 8	9.5" – 10.2"
Small	W (Wide)	9 – 10	10.2" – 10.8"
Medium	XW (Extra Wide)	11 – 12	10.8" – 11.5"
Large		13 – 14	11.5" – 12.2"
X-Large		15 – 16	12.2" – 13"
XX-Large		17 – 18	13" – 13.8"
XXX-Large		19 – 20	13.8" +

 

Quick Fit Guide

• Between Sizes? Always size up. It is easy to tighten a waist tab or wear a belt, but military fabric (Ripstop/Twill) does not stretch.
• Layering: If you plan to wear a fleece or thermal layer underneath, take your measurements while wearing those items.
• The "Suffix" Rule: Remember that military sizes come in pairs (e.g., Medium-Regular). The first word is your width; the second word is your height/length.