HTV Decal Size Calculator – what size to cut for any shirt
Choose the garment and its size, then where the decal goes, and the calculator gives you the decal’s width and height plus how far below the collar to press it.
HTV decal size calculator
Pick a garment and a size, and the decal size shows up here.
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How the sizes are worked out
A front design looks right at about half the width of the shirt laid flat, measured armpit to armpit. That gives about 10 in on an adult M and 8 to 9 in on youth sizes. Most charts stop at 12 in, which is as wide as a 12 × 10 in press plate and a 12 in roll of vinyl.
Pocket and sleeve decals don't grow with the shirt the same way, so they come from a fixed size per age group.
The top of a front design sits about 3 in below the collar on adults, closer on kids. Hoodies start lower because of the hood seam, and back designs on hoodies start below where the hood hangs.
The typical widths are from common unisex blanks. Fitted and women's cuts run 1 to 2 in narrower, so measure yours if you are close to the limit.
HTV decal size chart
Recommended decal width for each spot in inches, and how far below the seam the top of a front design goes. Hoodie sleeves show the width × the longest design down the arm.
T-shirts
| Size | Front | Back | Sleeve | Front, below the collar | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baby (6–24 months) | 5 | 2 | 5.25 | 1.5 | 1.5 |
| 2T | 6 | 2.5 | 6 | 2 | 2 |
| 3T | 6.5 | 2.5 | 6.5 | 2 | 2 |
| 4T | 6.5 | 2.5 | 7 | 2 | 2 |
| 5T | 7 | 2.5 | 7.5 | 2 | 2 |
| Youth XS (4–5) | 7.5 | 3 | 8 | 2.5 | 2.5 |
| Youth S (6–8) | 8 | 3 | 8.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 |
| Youth M (10–12) | 8.5 | 3 | 9 | 2.5 | 2.5 |
| Youth L (14–16) | 9 | 3 | 9.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 |
| Youth XL (18–20) | 9.5 | 3 | 10 | 2.5 | 2.5 |
| Adult XS | 8.5 | 3.5 | 8.5 | 3 | 3 |
| Adult S | 9 | 3.5 | 9.5 | 3 | 3 |
| Adult M | 10 | 3.5 | 10.5 | 3 | 3 |
| Adult L | 11 | 3.5 | 11.5 | 3 | 3 |
| Adult XL | 12 | 3.5 | 12 | 3 | 3 |
| Adult 2XL | 12 | 3.5 | 12 | 3 | 3 |
| Adult 3XL | 12 | 3.5 | 12 | 3 | 3 |
Hoodies and sweatshirts
| Size | Front | Back | Sleeve | Front, below the neck seam | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2T | 5.75 | 2.5 | 6.5 | 1.5 × 6 | 2.5 |
| 3T | 5.75 | 2.5 | 7 | 1.5 × 6 | 2.5 |
| 4T | 6 | 2.5 | 7 | 1.5 × 6 | 2.5 |
| 5T | 6.5 | 2.5 | 7.5 | 1.5 × 6 | 2.5 |
| Youth XS (4–5) | 7 | 3 | 8.5 | 2 × 9 | 3 |
| Youth S (6–8) | 7.5 | 3 | 9 | 2 × 9 | 3 |
| Youth M (10–12) | 8 | 3 | 9.5 | 2 × 9 | 3 |
| Youth L (14–16) | 8.5 | 3 | 10 | 2 × 9 | 3 |
| Youth XL (18–20) | 9 | 3 | 10.5 | 2 × 9 | 3 |
| Adult S | 9 | 3.5 | 10.5 | 2.5 × 12 | 3.5 |
| Adult M | 10 | 3.5 | 11.5 | 2.5 × 12 | 3.5 |
| Adult L | 11 | 3.5 | 12 | 2.5 × 12 | 3.5 |
| Adult XL | 11.5 | 3.5 | 12 | 2.5 × 12 | 3.5 |
| Adult 2XL | 12 | 3.5 | 12 | 2.5 × 12 | 3.5 |
| Adult 3XL | 12 | 3.5 | 12 | 2.5 × 12 | 3.5 |
Onesies
| Size | Front | Back | Front, below the neckline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newborn | 3.75 | 3.75 | 1.5 |
| 0–6 months | 4 | 4 | 1.5 |
| 6–12 months | 4.25 | 4.25 | 1.5 |
| 12–18 months | 4.5 | 4.5 | 1.5 |
| 18–24 months | 4.75 | 4.75 | 1.5 |
Tote bags
| Size | Front | Front, below the top edge |
|---|---|---|
| Small | 8 | 3 |
| Standard | 10 | 3 |
| Large | 11.5 | 3 |
Measure the side distance of a pocket decal from the center of the shirt, about a fifth of the chest width. Always press a test piece on a new blank.
How to read the result
The calculator returns three numbers and a diagram. Width is the number you type into your design software, with proportions locked, so the height follows on its own. Max height is the tallest the design should run before it slides under a hoodie pouch, wraps toward the armpits or ends up on the belly.
Collar distance is measured from the collar seam, where the ribbed neckband joins the body of the shirt, down to the top edge of the decal.
Measure from that seam, not from the top of the neckband. On an adult tee the band adds close to an inch, and that inch decides whether the design sits on the chest or drifts toward the stomach.
The diagram draws the decal to scale on a plain shirt outline. A tall design on a small size shows up right away as a box that runs too low.
Where the numbers come from
Printful’s placement guide puts a center chest print between 6 x 6 and 10 x 8 inches, 3 to 3.5 inches below the collar, and a left chest print between 2.5 and 5 inches square, about 3 inches under the neckline.
Craft-e-Corner, a heat transfer vinyl retailer, recommends 11 to 14 inches wide for adult shirts, 9 to 11 inches for women’s fitted cuts, 5.5 to 9 inches for kids and 3 to 5 inches for onesies in 0 to 3 month sizes.
The calculator stays in the lower half of those ranges on purpose. A 14 inch decal looks great on a flat mockup. On a real adult S it reaches toward the side folds, and vinyl that bends at the armpit every time someone lifts an arm starts to crack and peel.
If you’re torn between two sizes, cut the smaller one. Nobody notices a decal that’s an inch narrower than it could have been, but everyone notices one that creases under the arms.
HTV size chart for t-shirts
All sizes in inches. Front and back widths are the widest part of the design. For women’s fitted tees, take one inch off the front and back widths.
| Size | Front width | Front max height | Below collar | Left chest width | Back width | Sleeve width |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baby 0 to 12 months | 3 to 4 | 4 | 1.5 | 1.5 to 2 | 3 to 4 | n/a |
| Baby 12 to 24 months | 4.5 to 5.5 | 5.5 | 1.5 to 2 | 2 | 4.5 to 5.5 | 1.5 |
| Toddler 2T to 5T | 6 to 7 | 7 | 2 | 2 to 2.5 | 6 to 7 | 1.5 to 2 |
| Youth XS to S | 7 to 8 | 8 | 2 to 2.5 | 2.5 | 7 to 8 | 2 |
| Youth M to XL | 8 to 9.5 | 9.5 | 2.5 to 3 | 2.5 to 3 | 8 to 9.5 | 2 to 2.5 |
| Adult XS to S | 9 to 10 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 9 to 10 | 2.5 to 3 |
| Adult M to L | 10 to 11 | 11 | 3 to 3.5 | 3 to 3.5 | 10 to 11 | 3 |
| Adult XL to XXL | 11 to 12 | 12 | 3.5 to 4 | 3.5 to 4 | 11 to 12 | 3 to 3.5 |
On the back, start the decal 3 to 4 inches below the collar seam on adult shirts and about 2 inches on kids’ shirts. Sleeve decals go about an inch above the hem, centered on the outside of the arm. Left chest decals sit at the same height as a front design and halfway between the center line and the armpit seam, roughly where a pocket would be.
Sizing for hoodies and other garments
Hoodies get a front decal about an inch narrower than a tee in the same size, because the hood and the drawstrings frame the chest. The bigger limit is height. The bottom of the decal needs at least an inch of clear fabric above the kangaroo pocket, which caps an adult front design at around 8 to 9 inches tall.
On the back, the hood hangs down over the shoulders, so the top of an adult back decal goes 5 to 6 inches below the collar seam instead of 3 to 4. Long sleeves also leave room for vertical text down the forearm, 1.5 to 2 inches wide.
Onesies follow the baby rows in the chart. Keep the decal 1.5 inches under the neckline so it clears the envelope folds at the shoulders, and stop it well above the snaps. Thick vinyl also stiffens the stretchy fabric, so a smaller decal leaves more of the onesie soft where it touches the baby’s skin.
Totes are the easy case. A standard 15 x 16 inch canvas tote takes a design 10 to 11 inches wide, centered, with the top edge 3 inches below the top hem. A 12 x 12 mini tote takes 7 to 8 inches. Press on a flat surface and keep the heat plate off the handle seams, which are thicker than the rest of the bag and lift the plate away from the vinyl.
Worked example: one design, four family shirts
You’re making matching shirts for a lake trip: an adult XL tee for the dad, a women’s fitted M for the mom, a 4T tee for their son and a 12 month onesie for the baby. The design is a wide wordmark that is 1.25 times wider than it is tall.
Dad, adult XL, front: the calculator gives 11.5 inches wide. With proportions locked, the height comes to 9.2 inches. The top edge goes 3.5 inches below the collar seam. It fits on a 12 inch roll with a little margin to spare.
Mom, women’s fitted M: the adult M to L row gives 10 to 11, minus an inch for the fitted cut, so 9.5 inches wide and 7.6 tall, 3 inches below the collar.
Son, 4T: 6.5 inches wide, 5.2 tall, 2 inches below the collar.
Baby, 12 months: 3.5 inches wide, 2.8 tall, 1.5 inches below the neckline.
Lined up for a photo, all four logos look like the same design. Cutting every shirt at the dad’s 11.5 inches would have wrapped the son’s decal around the sides of his chest and buried the baby’s onesie in vinyl. Remember to mirror all four cuts before you send them to the machine.
Placing the decal straight
Fold the shirt in half lengthwise and press it for five seconds. You get a center crease to line the carrier sheet up against. Lay a ruler from the collar seam down to the collar distance from the calculator and mark that point with a pin or a strip of heat resistant tape.
Set the top edge of the vinyl on the mark, line its center up with the crease, and check both numbers once more before the press comes down. Time and temperature come from your vinyl’s own instructions, since they change from brand to brand.
A clear t-shirt alignment ruler speeds this up if you press shirts in batches. It has the collar curve cut into the top, so you can skip the crease and the pin.
Printable HTV size chart
The chart above is also available as a one page PDF for Letter and A4 paper. It uses thin black lines and no filled cells, so it prints on almost no ink. Tape it inside a cupboard door or next to the heat press.
[PRINTABLE CHART DOWNLOAD]
The calculator works with designs from Cricut Design Space, Silhouette Studio or any other software that lets you lock proportions and type in an exact width.
Frequently asked questions
What size should an iron-on decal be for an adult shirt?
For a front design, 10 to 12 inches wide on a unisex adult tee, depending on the size, and 9 to 11 inches on a women’s fitted cut. A left chest decal on an adult shirt is 3 to 4 inches wide.
How far below the collar should I put a shirt decal?
On adult shirts, 3 to 4 inches below the collar seam. On youth shirts, 2.5 to 3 inches. On toddler shirts, about 2 inches, and on baby onesies, 1.5 inches. Hoodie backs are the exception: start 5 to 6 inches down so the hood doesn’t cover the top of the design.
What size HTV decal fits a toddler shirt?
6 to 7 inches wide for 2T to 5T, placed about 2 inches below the collar. A left chest decal on a toddler shirt is 2 to 2.5 inches.
Can I cut one decal size for S through XXL?
For bulk orders you can get away with two. A 10 inch decal covers adult S to L, and an 11.5 to 12 inch decal covers XL and XXL. A single 10 inch cut on an XXL shirt looks noticeably small.
What size should a back of shirt decal be?
The same width as the front decal for that size: 10 to 12 inches on adult shirts, 6 to 7 inches on toddler shirts. Place the top edge 3 to 4 inches below the collar seam on adult tees.
Do I measure from the top of the collar or the seam?
From the seam, where the neckband meets the body of the shirt. Neckband widths vary between brands, and the seam gives you the same starting point on every shirt.
More calculators for vinyl and paper projects are in the craft tools section.