Size Guide

Last updated: November 14, 2026

Buying clothes for a cook is mostly guesswork, especially when it is a gift and the man in question will not stand still long enough to be measured. This guide replaces the guess with a method. It shows you which sizes each product comes in, how to measure a tee he already wears so you can compare it, how to judge an apron on the body, and what to do when you land between two sizes. It does not list garment or apron measurements in inches or centimetres, because those are still being confirmed with our print partner. If you need them before you order, email support@grilltee.shop and we will send what we have.

Sizes by product

The add-on is the same on every adult garment. The product page shows the price for the size you pick before it goes into the cart, so you never find a different number at checkout.

Adult sizes: who usually picks which

The adult garments are unisex. Unisex sizing is cut on a straight, shared pattern rather than a fitted men’s or women’s one. Many women who usually wear a women’s cut find that going one size down in unisex gives the fit they are used to; many men wear their usual size. Treat that as a starting point, then check it against a tee he or she already likes, using the method in the next section.

This table describes habits, not measurements. Two men who both wear XL can have very different shoulders. The only reliable way to choose is to measure a garment that already fits.

How to measure a tee that fits

You do not need to measure the person. Measure a tee he already wears and likes, the one that comes out of the drawer on cook day. A soft tape measure is best; a piece of string and a ruler will do.

1. Lay the tee flat on a table or the floor, front side up. Smooth it out without stretching it.
2. Chest: measure straight across the front, from one side seam to the other, just under the armpits. That is the chest-across measurement. Do not wrap the tape around; measure one layer only.
3. Length: measure from the highest point of the shoulder, where the shoulder seam meets the collar, straight down to the bottom hem.
4. Write both numbers down, with the size printed on the tag of that tee.

Then email us those two numbers and the product you are looking at. When the measurements from our print partner are confirmed, comparing chest-across and length side by side is the fastest way to choose. Until then, we will help you judge the size from what we have. For the long sleeve tee, also note the sleeve length on his tee, measured from the shoulder seam to the cuff. For the crewneck and hoodie, measure a sweatshirt rather than a tee, because people often wear those over another layer.

Measuring a person instead

If there is no tee to measure, a chest measurement taken around the body, under the arms and across the widest part of the chest, gives a rough guide. It is less useful than a garment measurement, because it says nothing about how loose he likes it. When you have the choice, measure the tee.

How to judge an apron that fits

All our adult aprons come in one size, and so does the kids apron. One size does not mean it fits every body the same way, so it is worth knowing what to look for. Apron measurements are being confirmed with our print partner and are not listed yet. If you need them before ordering, email us. In the meantime, here is how to measure the person, so you can compare as soon as the numbers are in hand:

1. Length: with him standing straight, measure from the base of the neck, where a neck strap would sit, down the front to where he wants the apron to end. Some cooks like it at mid-thigh, others just above the knee.
2. Width: measure across the front of the hips, from one hip bone to the other. A good apron covers the front of the body at the hips, where splashes land when he leans over the cooker.
3. Ties: measure around his waist, then think about how far the ties must reach. They need to go from the sides of the apron around his back and still have enough left to tie a knot or a bow, either behind him or in front.

Write those three down and send them with your question. Remember that an apron is a splatter cover for sauce, rub and spritz, not protective gear. It is not meant for leaning into flames or handling hot metal.

Aprons for bigger cooks

A bigger cook should check the ties above all. A one-size apron can cover the front well and still leave the ties short around a wider waist. Measure around the waist and ask us before ordering.

Youth tee and kids apron for the little helper

The youth tee comes in YXS, YS, YM, YL and YXL. Measure a tee the child wears now, the same way as above: chest across and length from shoulder to hem. Children grow fast, and many parents pick one size up so the tee lasts more than one summer of cook days. If the child is between sizes, the bigger one is usually the safer pick for that reason.

The kids apron is one size. For a small helper, measure from the base of the neck to just above the knee, and across the hips, and email us to compare. Both pieces are in the Crew and Little Helper section.

A worked example: the matching apron pair

A dad orders the Pitmaster Name Apron with his name and the title Head Cook, plus the kids apron for his six-year-old, who has taken over the job of handing him the spritz bottle. Before ordering, he measures her from neck to knee and emails us to compare it with the kids apron. Both aprons travel in one order, with free shipping.

Choosing between two sizes

If his tee measures between two of our sizes, think about how he wears it:

• He tucks it in, or wears it under an apron all day: the smaller size sits flatter and does not bunch at the waist.
• He wears it loose over shorts, or likes room to move when he reaches for the far end of the cooker: take the bigger one.
• It is a crewneck or hoodie that goes over a tee in cold weather: take the bigger one.
• It is a gift and you are not sure: take the bigger one. A loose tee gets worn; a tight one stays in the drawer.

A worked example: a 5XL for a bigger cook

A wife is buying a joint tee for her husband, who has spent years being told his size is not stocked. She lays his favourite tee flat, measures chest across and shoulder to hem, and finds the tag says 4XL but it is snug across the belly. She emails us the two numbers and picks 5XL, with its $4 add-on shown before she adds to cart. If it turns out loose, she has 60 days from delivery to send it back with a free label.

A worked example: a crewneck for a Canadian winter

A son in Winnipeg buys his father the crewneck sweatshirt for the winter cooks, when the smoker runs in the snow and the old man stands by it in a heavy shirt. He measures his dad’s favourite sweatshirt, not a tee, because the crewneck will go over layers, and he goes up one size from his dad’s tee size for that reason.

Crew orders with mixed sizes

A pit crew rarely shares one size. Ask each person for the size on the tag of a tee they like, then build the order: one tee per person, each in its own size. There is no minimum order and no crew discount; each tee is the listed price plus its size add-on. A crew of five might come out as S, M, 2XL, 3XL and 5XL, with $2 added to the 2XL and the 3XL and $4 added to the 5XL.

Caps, mugs and the tumbler

The dad cap has a front design and comes in one size. The 15 oz mug, the second mug and the 20 oz tumbler are one size by nature. If you have a question about any of them before you order, write to us.

When the size is wrong

Every product can be returned within 60 days of delivery, personalised pieces included. A size that does not fit is a change-of-mind return, so we pay the return postage and send you a free label. Ask for it by email with your order number and the item. The refund goes out within 7 days of the return reaching us. To get the right size, place a new order for it; the new order has its own making time of 1-3 business days and transit time of 7-14 business days. The full process is on the returns and exchanges policy and the money side on the refund policy.

Questions about fit

Write to support@grilltee.shop with the product name and, if you have them, the chest-across and length of a tee that fits. We reply within 24 hours on business days. More answers are on the FAQs and the help center, and the whole range is on the shop page.