NHL Jersey Size Chart: Every Tier, and Why They Run So Large

NHL jerseys are designed to be worn over shoulder pads, so they are obviously much bigger than a typical shirt. The regular recommendation including from the official store of the NHL, is to buy a size smaller than what you normally wear, to get a good fit. One other thing to be aware of before beginning to read any chart: the chest measurements listed are flat, measured pit-to-pit across the jersey laying down, and do not include the full circumference. For example: the 52 listed, 25.25 flat chest, would be about a 50 inch circumference chest. That is by far the most common sizing error. Full charts are here for all the tiers.

The Short Version:

Checked September 2026.

	What to know
Who makes NHL jerseys now	Fanatics, which replaced Adidas as the on-ice outfitter from the 2024-25 season
The three main tiers	Authentic Pro, Premium and Breakaway
Authentic Pro and Premium sizing	Numeric, such as 50, 52, 54
Breakaway sizing	Standard S, M, L, XL
Do they run large?	Yes. Authentic jerseys are cut to fit over shoulder pads
The golden rule	Order one size down from your normal shirt size for a tailored fit
The measurement trap	Chest figures on these charts are flat, pit to pit, not the full way around
Goalie cut	Sizes ending in G, such as 58G, have a wider torso and sleeves
Another name for it	A hockey jersey is often called a sweater, particularly in Canada
Checked	September 2026. Always confirm against the retailer’s chart for the exact jersey

Fanatics Authentic Pro Size Chart:

This is the on-ice jersey, the closest thing to what players actually wear, with stitched crests and numbers. It uses numeric sizing.

All measurements in inches, taken flat. Double the chest and hip figures for the full circumference.

Letter	Numeric	Chest	Hip	Sleeve	Back length
XS	48	23.25	24.5	30.5	33
S	50	24.25	25.5	31.25	33.25
M	52	25.25	26.5	32	34
L	54	26.25	27.5	32.5	34.25
XL	56	27.25	28.5	33	34.5
2XL	58	28.25	29.5	33.5	34.75
3XL	58+	29.25	30.5	34	35.5

Note where this scale starts. Authentic Pro runs from 48 at the small end up to 58 and above, which is a narrower range than the older Adidas scale and than the Premium tier below.

Fanatics Premium Size Chart:

The Premium tier sits between Authentic Pro and Breakaway. Confusingly, it uses a different numeric range from Authentic Pro, running 42 to 60.

All measurements in inches, taken flat.

Letter	Numeric	Shoulder	Chest	Hips	Sleeve	Back
XXS	42	19	19.5	23	32.75	31.5
XS	44	19.5	20.5	24	33.25	32.25
S	46	19.5	21.5	25	33.75	33
M	50	20	22.5	26	34.5	33.25
L	52	20	23.5	27	35.25	34
XL	54	20.5	24.5	28	35.75	34.25
XXL	56	20.5	25.5	29	36.25	34.5
3XL	60	21	27.5	31	Not published	Not published

This is a good place to stop and look at this. It does catch people out. A size 52 in Premium is a large. A size 52 in Authentic Pro is a medium. The same number on both tiers can mean the exact opposite, so double check what you are actually ordering.

Fanatics Breakaway Sizing:

Breakaway this is the “packaged” jersey. This is the one most fans eventually purchase. Ordinary letter sizes S through 3XL are used, with nothing to help you translate it. It features a fabric called FanTex, which Fanatics says is softer than the on-ice fabric, as well as flexible crests and numbers instead of stiff, stitch-in types. It’s loose-fitting, but not quite as free-flowing as an authentic jersey. Most people buying a Breakaway for most people normally most of the time, just release your usual, ordinary size, or go one down if you prefer it shaped rather than baggy.

Legacy Adidas Size Chart:

Adidas made NHL jerseys from 2017 until Fanatics took over for the 2024-25 season. There are still enormous numbers of Adidas jerseys on the resale market, so this chart remains useful.

The Adidas Authentic numeric scale, still widely seen secondhand.

Letter	Numeric	Notes
XXS	42	The smallest adult size. Rare at retail
XS	44	Note that Adidas skipped 48 entirely, jumping from 46 to 50
S	46	Jerseys below size 50 from the 2017-18 season had smaller crests and shoulder patches
M	50	The most commonly stocked size
L	52	Equivalent to a size 54 on the current Fanatics Authentic Pro scale
XL	54
XXL	56
3XL	60	The largest standard adult size

There are a couple of anomalies to watch out for when buying secondhand. Adidas did not produce a size 48, instead jumping from 46 to 50. And on the 2017/18 season jerseys only, sizes below 50 had proportionately smaller crests and shoulder patches, a defect that was rectified in subsequent reprints.

How to Measure Yourself Properly:

Three measurements, and they are measuring a minute. For the chest take a measurement around the largest area of the chest under the armpits all the way around. Also don’t forget to compare that to double the chart figure as the charts are flat measurements. LengthMeasures from the top of your shoulder to your hip. Sleeve from the centre of the back of the neck, along arm outstretched to the wrist.

Which Size Should You Actually Order:

A quick decision table for the most common situations.

If you are	Order	Why
Your usual T-shirt size	One size down	A regular large should order a medium in an authentic jersey
Wearing it over a hoodie	Your usual size	If you plan to layer for cold rinks, stay at your normal size
Buying Breakaway	Your usual size, or down one	Breakaway has a loose fit but uses ordinary letter sizing
Between two sizes	Go smaller	These jerseys are cut generous. Erring large is the more common mistake
Buying for a child	Youth sizing	Kids’ jerseys use their own scale and are sold separately
Goalie cut wanted	Add a G	Sizes such as 58G exist for the wider goalie fit

The reason the rule is to size down is that these garments were designed around shoulder pads, elbow pads and a chest protector. Without that equipment underneath, a jersey in your usual size hangs like a tent.

Authentic, Premium or Breakaway:

It is also worth noting that because the tier impact both the sizing system and the fit, Authentic Pro it’s the on-ice jersey. It has stitched crests and numbers, performance fabric, numeric sizing and the highest price. It is THE choice for collectors and for those who want exactly what the players are wearing. The premium is an intermediate, sharing the numeric scale with the classic, while having a construction more similar to the classic. Breakaway is the clone. Letter size thinner softer material, pliable instead of rigid logos, and a very much lower price. This is the logical choice for many fans just wearing the colors to a game or around their own home.

A Note on Counterfeits:

Jersey sizing questions and fakes are more similar than you might think. Counterfeit jerseys often have inappropriate sizing, and we’re not talking just about traditional sizing errors, but sizing that isn’t even documented on any of the various official tags. If a jersey’s sizing doesn’t match those charts above, or the numeric size options offered include numbers that aren’t on the official scale, take this as an alert. Purchase only from a licensed dealer or the official NHL retailer and avoid anything that seems quite a bit below market value.

Final Take:

Get about one size smaller than your regular shirt size, this is normally good advice but just keep in mind that the measurements are all flat measurements not all the way around and factor as a result (somethings different in every chart, so keep an eye on which tier you’re looking at!); for Authentic Pro and Premiums, where a 40 has completely different measurements. Get all three right and you won’t need to send it back. That’s the whole point of using a size chart.

Frequently Asked Questions:

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