Men's wetsuit size chart
The grid most surf brands work from. "T" sizes are tall cuts, for riders who are long for their weight.
| Size | Height | Weight | Chest |
|---|---|---|---|
| XS | 160–168 cm / 5'3"–5'6" | 52–59 kg / 115–130 lb | 33–35" |
| S | 165–173 cm / 5'5"–5'8" | 59–66 kg / 130–145 lb | 35–37" |
| MS | 165–173 cm / 5'5"–5'8" | 64–72 kg / 141–159 lb | 36–38" |
| M | 172–180 cm / 5'8"–5'11" | 68–75 kg / 150–165 lb | 37–39" |
| MT | 180–188 cm / 5'11"–6'2" | 70–79 kg / 154–174 lb | 38–40" |
| L | 178–186 cm / 5'10"–6'1" | 75–84 kg / 165–185 lb | 39–41" |
| LT | 186–193 cm / 6'1"–6'4" | 79–89 kg / 174–196 lb | 40–42" |
| XL | 183–191 cm / 6'0"–6'3" | 84–95 kg / 185–209 lb | 41–43" |
| XXL | 188–196 cm / 6'2"–6'5" | 95–109 kg / 209–240 lb | 43–46" |
Women's wetsuit size chart
Women's suits are numbered rather than lettered, and the numbers do not match dress sizes.
| Size | Height | Weight | Chest |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 152–160 cm / 5'0"–5'3" | 43–48 kg / 95–106 lb | 31–32" |
| 4 | 155–163 cm / 5'1"–5'4" | 47–52 kg / 104–115 lb | 32–33" |
| 6 | 160–168 cm / 5'3"–5'6" | 51–57 kg / 112–126 lb | 33–34" |
| 8 | 163–170 cm / 5'4"–5'7" | 55–61 kg / 121–134 lb | 34–35" |
| 10 | 165–173 cm / 5'5"–5'8" | 59–66 kg / 130–145 lb | 35–36" |
| 12 | 168–176 cm / 5'6"–5'9" | 64–71 kg / 141–157 lb | 36–38" |
| 14 | 170–178 cm / 5'7"–5'10" | 70–78 kg / 154–172 lb | 38–40" |
| 16 | 173–181 cm / 5'8"–5'11" | 77–86 kg / 170–190 lb | 40–42" |
Brands differ, sometimes by a full size. These tables are a starting point, not a substitute for the size chart on the product page you are buying from. Rip Curl, O'Neill, Xcel, Billabong and Patagonia all cut slightly differently — check the specific one before ordering.
How a wetsuit should fit
Warmth comes from a thin layer of water being trapped and heated by your body. If the suit is loose, that water is constantly replaced by cold sea, and you are essentially swimming in a bucket. Fit matters at least as much as thickness.
- Snug everywhere, tight nowhere painful. On land a new suit should feel restrictive and slightly awkward. In the water it will loosen noticeably.
- No gap at the lower back. Press the small of your back — if you can get a fist of space in there, it is too big.
- No loose folds behind the knees or in the armpits. Bagging there means water will pump through as you paddle.
- Neck seal firm but not choking. The neck is where most flushing happens.
- Arms should reach. Do a full paddle motion in the shop. If the shoulders bind, you will hate it within twenty minutes.
What to do if you are between sizes
Very common, and the calculator above tells you which two you are between. The rule of thumb: go with the smaller size if the difference is height, the larger if the difference is girth. Neoprene stretches lengthways far more willingly than it stretches around you.
If you are tall for your weight, look for a tall cut — MT and LT exist precisely for this and solve it better than sizing up does. Sizing up to fit your height leaves you swimming in it around the middle.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know my wetsuit size?
Wetsuits are sized on height and weight together, not on your normal clothing size. Find the row where both your height and weight fall inside the same window — that is your size. If they fall in different rows, follow your weight and look for a tall cut if height is the mismatch.
Should I size up or down for a wetsuit?
Down, in almost every case. A wetsuit needs to be tight to work, and it loosens once wet. The exception is if the smaller size restricts your shoulders enough to affect paddling — nothing is worth that. If the mismatch is purely height, look for a tall cut rather than sizing up.
What size wetsuit for a 5'9" man?
Usually a medium if you are around 70 kg / 155 lb, or a large closer to 80 kg / 176 lb. At 5'9" you sit in the overlap between M and L on most brand charts, so weight is the deciding factor rather than height.
Do wetsuit sizes differ between brands?
Yes, sometimes by a full size. Rip Curl, O'Neill, Xcel, Billabong and Patagonia all cut differently, and women's ranges vary more than men's. Use this chart to find your starting point, then check the brand's own chart for the specific suit before ordering.
Should a wetsuit be tight when dry?
Yes. A new suit should feel snug to the point of being mildly irritating on land, and getting into it should take some effort. Neoprene relaxes in water, so a suit that feels comfortable in the shop will usually be too loose in the sea.
Next steps
- Wetsuit thickness guide — how many millimetres you need for your water temperature.
- What to wear under a wetsuit — the layer question, settled.
- Surfboard volume calculator — your board's litres, adjusted for wetsuit float.