Every league has its own house cut, and those cuts have barely changed in decades because fans expect them. A hockey sweater is deliberately enormous so it can be worn over pads. A soccer jersey is deliberately close-fitting because it is built for movement. A baseball jersey is buttoned and hangs longer at the back. None of that is a sizing error — it is the silhouette.

Practical takeaway: do not carry your size over from one league to another. If you wear an L in soccer, that same L in NFL will feel boxy and in NHL it will feel like a different garment entirely. Use the row in the table above that matches the sport you are buying.

You need a soft tape and a shirt you already like the fit of. Measure the garment flat, not your body — it is faster and it removes the guesswork about how you like things to sit.

1. Chest — the one that decides your size. Lay the jersey flat, button or pull it closed, and measure straight across from one underarm seam to the other. Double that number. That is the flat chest measurement.
2. Body length. From the highest point of the shoulder to the bottom hem. This is where leagues separate: NBA and MLB run longer, soccer runs shorter.
3. Sleeve. From the shoulder seam to the end of the sleeve, measured along the outside. Matters most for hockey, which uses a long raglan sleeve.
4. Waist (for shorts and pants). Measure the waistband flat with the elastic relaxed, then double it.
5. Hip. For shorts, measure across the widest part of the hip line and double it.
6. Compare, do not convert. Write your chest down, find that number in the chart for your league, and order that size. Only size up if your measurement is within an inch of the next band.

Football jerseys are the classic oversized game-day garment. Cut wide through the body with a slightly shorter body length than basketball, they are designed to be worn over a t-shirt without clinging. The hem sits at the hip and the sleeves end just above the elbow.

Order your true chest size. Size up only for a deliberately oversized look or to layer a hoodie underneath.

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Basketball jerseys are sleeveless with a deeper armhole and a noticeably longer hem than any other league — the extra length is what lets the jersey sit over shorts without riding up. The shoulder is the measurement that surprises people: it runs wide, so the jersey drapes rather than follows.

If you want the on-court look, take your true chest size. If you want a streetwear fit, one size up works well because the hem is already long.

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Baseball jerseys are button-front and cut full through the body, with a longer back hem than front. The button placket means there is no stretch at the chest, so the flat chest measurement is the one that actually decides the fit — there is nothing to pull open.

Order your true chest size. A baseball jersey should look relaxed but not baggy; if the placket pulls apart when buttoned, you are a size too small.

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Hockey is the loosest cut of any league, and it is meant to be. The garment is built to sit over shoulder pads, which is why the chest measurement starts higher than the equivalent letter in other sports and the sleeve is a long raglan that reaches the wrist.

Order your true size — there is no need to size up, the roominess is already built in. Sizing down is the more common mistake, and it destroys the silhouette.

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College jerseys are sized by the sport they are made for, not by the school. A college football jersey is cut on the football block, a college basketball jersey on the basketball block, and college soccer on the soccer block — so start from the right league row and then confirm against the product page.

Where a product page carries its own chart, that chart wins. Campus collections are produced in smaller runs than pro lines, and trims vary more between releases.

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Soccer jerseys are the closest-fitting jerseys we carry. Cut slim through the chest and waist with a shorter body, they are built for movement rather than for wearing over other layers. If you are used to NFL or NHL sizing, your first soccer jersey will feel a full size smaller — it is not.

Choose by chest measurement, and size up one step if you want a relaxed supporter look or a looser fit through the middle. If you are between bands, the larger size is the comfortable one.

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Youth and women’s jerseys are cut on their own blocks, so a men’s size does not translate directly. Youth sizing runs on age, height and chest together, which is why the chart has three columns — a tall nine-year-old may need to move up a size on height alone.

For women’s jerseys, the chest band is the deciding measurement, and the length is shorter than the men’s equivalent by design. If you prefer a longer body, order the men’s size closest to your chest measurement instead.

Shorts and pants are sized on the waist, not the chest, and most pairs we carry use an elastic waistband with a drawstring — which gives you roughly two inches of tolerance either way. Measure the waistband flat with the elastic relaxed, then double it, and match that to the waist column in the product’s own chart.

• Shorts: if you are between waist bands and want them roomy, take the larger size; the drawstring will hold them.
• Pants and joggers: the inseam matters more than the waist. Check the inseam column before ordering.
• Jackets and hoodies: cut to layer over a jersey. If you plan to wear one over a jersey, stay with your normal size rather than sizing down.