Sizing
Fight Shorts and Rashguard Size Guide
Size fight shorts by your waist measurement and rashguards by your chest measurement, in centimetres, rather than by the T-shirt or jeans size you usually wear. Between two sizes, take the larger size in shorts and the smaller size in a rashguard.
6 min read · Last updated · By KCG Boxing
Key takeaways
- Measure your chest and waist with a soft tape, in centimetres.
- Shorts are sized by waist; rashguards are sized by chest.
- Between two sizes, round up for shorts and down for rashguards.
- A rashguard should be tight everywhere - it is compression wear.
- Sizes run XS to XXL, but the published tables start at S: ask the team before ordering XS.
Read how to choose fight shorts
How to measure yourself
You need a soft tape measure and two minutes. Measure over bare skin or one thin layer, keep the tape level all the way round, and pull it snug but never tight.
- Chest: around the widest part of your chest, under the armpits, with your arms relaxed at your sides.
- Waist: around your waist at the height the waistband will sit - the natural waist for boxing and Muay Thai shorts, slightly lower on the hip for MMA shorts.
- Write both figures down in centimetres.
- Compare them with the tables below, not with the size you wear in everyday clothing.
Fight gear is cut either to compress or to move, not to fit like street clothing, so the size printed on your T-shirt or jeans does not translate. The measurement does.
Rashguard size chart
| Size | Chest | Waist | Length | Sleeve |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S | 86-92 cm | 72-78 cm | 64 cm | 68 cm |
| M | 92-98 cm | 78-84 cm | 66 cm | 70 cm |
| L | 98-104 cm | 84-90 cm | 68 cm | 72 cm |
| XL | 104-110 cm | 90-96 cm | 70 cm | 74 cm |
| XXL | 110-116 cm | 96-102 cm | 72 cm | 76 cm |
Measurements in centimetres. Sleeve length is measured from the shoulder seam. XS is available to order but has no published measurements yet - contact the team for them.
Choose the size whose chest range contains your chest measurement. A rashguard should then be tight everywhere: snug against the chest, snug at the cuffs, with no loose fabric across the back.
Between two sizes, take the smaller one. The fabric stretches, and a rashguard that is not tight bunches under a gi, chafes over a long session and gives a grappling partner something to grip.
If your arms are long for your chest size, compare the sleeve figure too. Between sizes, a slightly looser torso is a better compromise than sleeves that stop short of the wrist - contact the team if you are unsure.
Design a custom rashguard The two sleeves are separate design zones.
Shorts size chart: boxing, MMA and Muay Thai
Boxing, MMA and Muay Thai shorts are published with the same measurements. Match your waist measurement to the relaxed waist figure.
| Size | Waist (relaxed) | Waist (stretched) | Length | Leg opening |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S | 70 cm | 90 cm | 40 cm | 30 cm |
| M | 75 cm | 95 cm | 42 cm | 32 cm |
| L | 80 cm | 100 cm | 44 cm | 34 cm |
| XL | 85 cm | 105 cm | 46 cm | 36 cm |
| XXL | 90 cm | 110 cm | 48 cm | - |
Measurements in centimetres. Relaxed is the waistband at rest; stretched is how far it gives - a range, not a size to aim for. No leg-opening figure is published for XXL. XS is available to order but has no published measurements yet.
Your waist measurement should sit at or just above the relaxed figure for your size. Between two sizes, take the larger one: a slightly loose waistband can be taken in where the shorts have a drawstring, while one that is too tight cannot be fixed.
How each cut should fit
The same measurements wear differently, because each cut is built around a different movement:
- Boxing shorts sit at the natural waist and stay long and loose through the leg, for footwork and a high guard.
- Muay Thai shorts sit at the waist and are cut short and wide, so the knee travels all the way up for knees and kicks.
- MMA shorts sit lower on the hip and stay close through the leg, because loose fabric is a liability on the ground.
Shinguard sizing
Shinguards are also made in XS to XXL, but their size depends on your height and calf circumference far more than on the size you wear in clothing, and no measurement chart has been published for them yet.
Before ordering, send your height and your calf circumference - measured around the widest part of the calf - to the team, and they will confirm the size. A correct guard covers from just below the knee to the top of the foot and does not rotate when you check a kick.
Before you order a custom piece
Every item is cut and printed to your design after you order, so a size choice cannot normally be exchanged afterwards. You can change the size within 24 hours of ordering by contacting the team; after that, production has started.
If you are collecting sizes for a team, send everyone the tables and ask for measurements rather than sizes. People report the size they wear, which is not always the size they measure.
Frequently asked questions
How do I measure myself for fight shorts and rashguards?
Measure your chest around its widest point with your arms relaxed, and your waist at the height the waistband will sit, keeping the tape level and snug but not tight. Compare the centimetre figures with the size tables rather than converting from your usual clothing size.
Should I round up or down between two sizes?
Round up for shorts and down for rashguards. A slightly loose waistband can be taken in where the shorts have a drawstring, while a rashguard only works when it is tight, and its fabric stretches.
Glove fit follows the same logic as shorts: between two fits, the larger one is the safer choice.
What size Muay Thai shorts should I buy?
Match your waist measurement, taken at the natural waist where Muay Thai shorts sit, to the relaxed waist figure: 70 cm for S, 75 cm for M, 80 cm for L, 85 cm for XL and 90 cm for XXL. Between two sizes, take the larger one.
Should I order the same size in shorts and a rashguard?
Not necessarily. They are sized on different measurements - waist for shorts, chest for rashguards - and you round in opposite directions between sizes, so treat them as two separate decisions.
Do rashguards shrink or stretch over time?
The fabric relaxes slightly while you train and recovers when washed. Heat is what damages it: a hot wash or a tumble dryer can break down the elastic fibres, so the rashguard loses its compression and its shape.
Wash it cold and inside out, without fabric softener, and hang it to dry.
Can I wear a rashguard under a gi?
Yes, many people do: it reduces friction from the jacket and keeps sweat off it. Check your gym's or competition's rules first, because what may be worn under a gi differs between organisations.
Can I order XS?
Yes. XS can be ordered on shorts, rashguards and shinguards, but the published measurement tables start at S. Contact the team before ordering XS and they will confirm the measurements for the product you want.
Explore more
- Read: How to choose fight shorts
- View: Custom Muay Thai shorts
- View: Custom MMA rashguards
Related guides
- How to Choose Fight Shorts: Cut, Fit and Sizing - Three cuts, three jobs. Which shorts suit boxing, Muay Thai or MMA, and how to size them by waist measurement rather than clothing size.
- How to Choose Shin Guards for Muay Thai, Kickboxing and MMA - Strap-on with an instep pad for Muay Thai and kickboxing, sleeve-style for MMA: coverage, padding, fit and the signs a guard is the wrong size.
- Boxing Glove Size Guide: How Should Boxing Gloves Fit? - Snug with wraps on, never painful. How glove fit differs from glove weight, how to measure your hand, and how to spot a bad fit.
- Custom Fight Gear for Gyms and Teams: How to Plan a Club Order - One design, many sizes: how to plan a matching club order, collect sizes that fit and prepare one logo for every product.
Related products
- Custom Muay Thai Shorts - Design custom Muay Thai shorts in XS to XXL, cut short and wide for the knee. Seven coloured zones plus a dedicated front name patch.
- Custom MMA Shorts - Design custom MMA fight shorts in XS to XXL with eight separately coloured panels and your name or logo printed front and back.
- Custom Boxing Shorts - Design custom boxing shorts in XS to XXL, cut long and loose for footwork. Three separately coloured zones: body, side accent and waistband.
- Custom MMA Rashguards - Design a custom compression rashguard in XS to XXL with nine coloured zones and independently designed left and right sleeves.
- Custom Shinguards - Design custom shinguards in XS to XXL covering the shin and instep, with three coloured zones and your name or logo on the front shin plate.
Choose your fight gear Pick shorts, a rashguard or shinguards, enter your size and design every panel in 3D.
Browse the KCG Boxing Help Center for questions about ordering, artwork, shipping and returns, or see all equipment guides.