If you're new to the world of heat transfer vinyl it can seem daunting at first. One of the most frequently asked questions is, "what size should I make the design for my t-shirt?". In this tutorial, we'll walk you through decal sizing tips for t-shirts, baby onesies and tote bags.

These sizes are a great starting point for most projects. Of course, all brands are different and what works for one particular onesie might not work well for another. It's always best to measure the onesie to pinpoint the exact amount of space you have to work with.

Photo credit: Age Themes

This is a 3-6 month size onesie and as you can see I could've easily fit a 5 inch decal across the width of the garment. Measure first, cut second.

Youth t-shirts:

Here are the suggested sizes for toddler and youth t-shirts:

Again, it totally depends on the brand of t-shirt you're using as well as the placement of the decal on the shirt. In the example below, the skate is centered on the shirt and is the suggested youth M size of 8" x 8", however, if you wanted the skate to take up most of the shirt you could increase the size to a 10" x 10" decal and achieve a completely different look.

Photo credit: Envato

ADULT T-SHIRTS:

Here are the suggested sizes for adult t-shirts:

Women's fitted t-shirts run smaller than regular t-shirts so the decal naturally runs a bit smaller. For anything XL or above you'll want to measure the shirt and size the design accordingly.

Pocket decals should be around 4" x 4" and sleeve designs are typically 2" x 11".