guide
Youth Wrestling Singlet Sizes: A Parent's Guide to Getting the Size Right
Quick answer: size a youth singlet by your kid's current weight, not by age or grade. On our Pro Series chart, Youth XXS starts at 35 lbs and the youth run tops out with Youth XL at 80-95 lbs. Buy the size that fits now, or at most the next size up if he's right at the top of a weight range. A singlet that's big enough to "grow into" is loose in the straps and legs, which is the one thing a singlet shouldn't be.
If you're a first-year wrestling parent, this is probably the first time you've ever shopped for a garment that is supposed to be tight. The questions that come up in parent threads and club group chats are always the same. My 7-year-old is this tall and this heavy, which size is he? Do brands run small or large? Should I buy room to grow so it lasts two seasons? Where do I even find a wide range of youth sizes?
This guide answers those the way a coach would, using the published numbers from the Compound men's and boys' wrestling size chart for our Pro Series Youth Singlet. If you want the full fit-check routine for any age, our guide on how a wrestling singlet should fit covers it. This page is specifically about the youth end of the chart.
Why age and grade don't pick the size
Two second-graders can be 15 pounds apart. One is built like a string bean and one is built like a fire hydrant, and both are 7 years old. A size label based on age would put them in the same singlet, and one of them would be wearing something that doesn't fit.
That's why wrestling sizing runs on weight. Weight is also a number you'll need for tournament weigh-ins anyway. Get a current weight on a real scale (not last spring's number, and not an estimate), then use the chart.
Height is a useful second check. If your wrestler is tall for his weight, the torso may be longer than the chart's body length, and the straps will tell you first: if they pull down hard on the shoulders when he squats into a stance, go up a size.
Youth singlet size chart by weight
This is the youth portion of our Pro Series chart for boys. The half measurements are the garment laid flat, in inches. Double a half measurement to get the full circumference. Weights are approximate, per the published chart.
| Size | Weight (lbs) | 1/2 chest | 1/2 waist | 1/2 hips | Inseam |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Youth XXS | 35-40 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 4 |
| Youth XS | 40-45 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 4 |
| Youth S | 45-55 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 4 |
| Youth M | 55-65 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 5 |
| Youth L | 65-80 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 6 |
| Youth XL | 80-95 | 13 | 12 | 15 | 8 |
| Adult XS | 95-110 | 13 | 12 | 15 | 8 |
Two things stand out. First, the sizes are narrow bands: a kid who gains 10 pounds can move a full size. Second, look at the bottom two rows. On the boys' chart, Youth XL and Adult XS have the same flat measurements. That matters in a minute when we talk about moving up to adult sizes.
Should you buy room to grow?
This is the most common youth mistake, and it's an understandable one. Youth wrestling gear isn't cheap, kids grow fast, and nobody wants to buy a second singlet in February.
But a singlet is a stretch garment built to sit close to the body. When it's too big:
- The straps slide. They fall off the shoulders or twist, and you'll see a kid hiking them up between periods.
- Fabric bunches at the waist and legs. That's loose material for an opponent to grab and for a kid to trip over his own hands in.
- The leg openings creep. A singlet that's too long in the torso or too loose in the hips rides and bunches during a shot or a sprawl.
- It's uncomfortable. Kids who are fighting their uniform aren't thinking about their stance.
A reasonable rule: buy the size that fits at his current weight. If he sits at the very top of a range and is clearly growing, you can go one size up, never two. If you can pinch a handful of fabric at the waist or the straps don't lie flat on his shoulders, it's too big.
If budget is the worry, a better move than oversizing is to think about the whole season. Many clubs order singlets once per season anyway, and youth wrestlers often outgrow a size by the following year. Planning on a fresh singlet next season beats having a kid look and feel sloppy all year.
Boys' and girls' youth sizes are not the same pattern
If your daughter is wrestling, don't automatically buy from the boys' chart. Our Pro Series Girls' Singlet is cut with the women's racerback pattern, graded for youth frames, so it's built for girls from the start rather than resized from the boys' pattern.
The weight ranges are the same as the boys' youth run, but a few measurements differ on the girls' chart:
| Size | Weight (lbs) | 1/2 chest | 1/2 hips | Inseam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Youth XXS | 35-40 | 9 | 10 | 3 |
| Youth XS | 40-45 | 10 | 11 | 4 |
| Youth XL | 80-95 | 13 | 14 | 7 |
The differences are small at the youngest ages and show up at the top of the youth range: the girls' Youth XL has a slightly narrower hip and a shorter inseam than the boys' Youth XL. Use the women's wrestling size chart for the full girls' and women's run.
Do brands run small or large?
Parents ask this constantly, and the honest answer is that there is no industry standard. A Youth Small in one brand is not guaranteed to match a Youth Small in another, and a kid who wears one brand's YXS at 45 lbs might be a YS somewhere else.
So don't carry a size from one brand to the next. Do this instead:
- Take one flat measurement from a singlet that fits well: lay it on a table and measure across the chest and across the hips, edge to edge.
- Compare it to the half measurements on the chart of the brand you're buying.
- If the brand only lists weight, use weight, and sanity-check with the half measurements.
That works with ours or with anyone's. The point is to match numbers, not letters.
When to move from youth to adult sizes
On our chart, the switch comes at about 95 pounds, when a wrestler moves from Youth XL to Adult XS. Because the flat measurements are the same on the boys' chart, you aren't jumping to a bigger garment; you're moving to the adult label on the same dimensions.
The girls' chart is the exception, since the women's adult XS is cut differently from the youth XL. If your daughter is near 95 pounds, check both rows on the women's size chart rather than assuming they match.
Ordering for a whole youth club
Coaches and club directors have a harder job: sizing 25 kids at once, with parents who all think their kid is "about a medium." What works:
- Weigh everyone at one practice and size from those numbers.
- Let families pick from the chart. An online team store lets each family order their own wrestler's size and pay at checkout, so you aren't collecting money or sizes by text. Parents with a size question can look at the chart right there.
- Keep a roster sheet. Our personalization form turns a list of names, numbers and sizes into a spreadsheet you can hand to your rep.
- Order spares in the middle sizes. New kids join in November. A couple of extra mid-range youth sizes saves a scramble.
For the whole kit (singlet, fight shorts, warm-ups) take a look at our team bundles, browse the wrestling uniforms, or request a free quote and we'll put together free design mockups in your team colors.
A note on rules
Uniform rules depend on the level and event. Youth club and tournament events usually follow USA Wrestling guidelines, while school-sponsored wrestling in most states follows NFHS rules and state association policy. Check the current rulebook and your event's requirements for anything about singlet design, logos and undergarments, and don't rely on a blog post for that. For a parent's perspective on what's worn underneath, see what to wear under a wrestling singlet.
Frequently asked questions
What size wrestling singlet does a 7-year-old need?
Age isn't the best guide, because kids of the same age vary a lot in weight. Weigh your wrestler and use the chart: on the Compound Pro Series chart, Youth XXS is about 35-40 lbs, Youth XS 40-45 lbs, Youth S 45-55 lbs and Youth M 55-65 lbs. Pick the row that matches the current weight.
Should I buy a youth singlet a size up so it lasts?
Generally no. A singlet is a stretch garment meant to fit close, and an oversized one means loose straps and bunched fabric. If your wrestler is at the very top of a weight range and growing, going one size up is reasonable. Two sizes up is too many.
Are girls' youth singlet sizes different from boys'?
Yes. The Pro Series Girls' Singlet uses a women's racerback pattern graded for youth frames. The weight ranges match the boys' youth run, but some measurements, such as chest, hips and inseam at the smallest and largest sizes, differ. Use the women's wrestling size chart for girls.
When does a wrestler move from youth to adult singlet sizes?
On our chart, around 95 pounds, from Youth XL to Adult XS. On the boys' chart the flat measurements for those two sizes are the same. Check the girls' rows separately because the women's adult XS is cut differently.
Do wrestling singlet sizes match between brands?
No. There's no industry standard, so a Youth Small in one brand may not fit like a Youth Small in another. Compare flat measurements from a singlet that fits against the half measurements and weight on the chart of the brand you're buying.