The Last White Coat Sizing Chart You’ll Ever Need

The aim of this article is to provide the last white coat sizing chart you’ll ever need. We cover the types of white coat cuts most commonly offered and needed as well as how to measure yourself so you can get the best coat for your body type.

White Coat Sizing

Although it’s important to research if a particular company you are sourcing lab coats from may have any peculiarities with their sizing, white coat sizing is generally fairly standardized. White coats are typically be sold in female or male cuts. If a person is outside that dichotomy, they should just choose the type of cut that most suits their body type. To get a coat that fits best, you will need to take some measurements of your body, which we describe in more detail in the next section.

Female Measurements

Coats cut for a feminine shape have four metrics one should understand to get the best fit. These are as follows:

• Size: Size is a numerical measurement that more or less aligns with the traditional S/M/L system, with higher numbers marking larger clothes. It is easiest to understand by looking at a sizing chart and seeing which measurements tend to align with which sizes. There will be some variations between brands.

• Bust: The bust measurement is the distance around the fullest part of the chest, wrapping around the torso.

• Waist: The waist measurement is the distance around the narrowest point of the natural waistline.

• Hips: The hip measurement is the distance around the fullest part of the hips, often about eight inches below the waistline.

The following table notes the size, bust, waist and hips measurements associated with the standard system of coat sizing:

Male Measurements

Coats cut for a masculine shape are sized a bit simpler. These coats will typically have two measurements one needs to pay attention to, which are as follows:

• Chest: The chest measurement is the distance around the widest part of the chest, wrapping around the torso.

• Waist: This works identically to how it does with a feminine cut. The waist measurement is the distance around the narrowest point of a person’s natural waistline.

Note that a coat measured in this system typically makes for the best unisex option of the two common cut types. However, some body types, such as if a person has a large bust, may not fit well into a coat cut to be unisex, even if it is otherwise the right size.

The following table notes the chest and waist measurements associated with the standard system of coat sizing:

Measuring Tips

To get a coat properly sized, you need to be relatively precise in how you get your measurements (or you can get them professionally done for an extra layer of precision). Assuming you want to measure yourself at home, you will ideally want a tape measure. This process will also be easier if you have someone you are comfortable with assisting in the measuring process.

As a general rule, the tape measure should be kept snug against the area being measured but not excessively tight. The body has some give to it and you don’t want to press the tape measure into the skin and get undersized measurements.

To get your chest or bust size, relax your body, but keep your back straight. When wrapping the ruler around your bust or chest, make sure to keep it parallel with the floor so you can get the most accurate measurements. 

To measure around the hips, make sure you stand straight and that keep your feet together. Like with measuring the chest or bust, you also want to keep the measuring tape parallel with the floor.

We have more advice about getting the best lab coat fit for your needs here.

Atypical Sizing

Bodies come in a wide variety of sizes and shapes, so not everyone can easily fit into clothes cut to the most common sizes. For example, some individuals may be unusually tall and this can warrant a coat mostly cut to a standardized size but extra long or, depending on the person’s shape, a coat sized beyond 3X. The opposite can also be true. Individuals who are unusually short or slight may need coats that hang shorter or otherwise aren’t cut to a typical adult size.

The availability of coats sized atypically will vary depending on where one is sourcing them. In some cases, a business may need to source coats from a different company than where they typically might so they can meet the needs of all their employees if they have individuals on the team who need coats their standard, “ideal” source can’t provide. 

Conclusion

When it comes to white lab coats, sizing is important. Not only is it a matter of comfort, but a properly sized coat helps keep an employee safe. If a coat is too large, it can be a tripping and catching hazard. A coat that’s too small might not even fit, or it may not fully protect the body from things like hazardous spills. Buying coats of the right size helps protect a company from liability while allowing employees to focus on their work.

If you’d like help sourcing lab coats for your team, check out how we here at Alsco Uniforms can help. If you have any questions about the specifics of what we offer, feel free to contact our team or explore our site to learn more.

References

White Coat Sizing Chart. Rush Medical College, RUSH University.