The parcel arrives. You open the box, take out the scrubs and put on the new set. After thirty seconds you already know something is wrong. The top looks fine until you raise your arms. The trousers seem perfect while you are standing, but during the first squat they start pulling across the hips or sliding down at the waist.
Then comes repacking, the return label, waiting for another size and one more delivery.
Is that scenario unavoidable? No. In this guide we show you how to choose the right scrub size without guessing — from body measurements and size charts to cut, fabric and a movement test.
The most important rule is: do not buy scrubs solely on the basis of the S, M or L you wear in another brand. Measure your body, check what the specific manufacturer’s chart refers to, pay attention to the cut and fabric composition — including elastane content — and think about how you move during work.
This matters because scrubs should not look good only in front of a mirror. They should be comfortable when you sit at a computer, lean over a patient, raise your arms, squat or move quickly from room to room.
Quick answer — how do you choose the right scrub size?
If you are wondering how to choose your scrub size, start with three basic measurements: chest or bust, waist and hips. Compare them with the size chart of the specific brand, rather than using the size you wear in other clothes.
First, check whether the chart shows body measurements or finished garment measurements. These are not the same thing.
International standards for clothing size designation base sizing primarily on body measurements. The dimensions of the finished garment depend on the pattern, fit and the amount of ease designed into that specific model. [1] [2]
And what if you fall between two sizes? There is no honest rule saying “always size up”. You need to check which measurement is on the boundary, how stretchy the fabric is and what cut the model has.
Table of contents
- Why does size matter in premium scrubs?
- How to measure yourself correctly for scrubs
- How to read a medical clothing size chart correctly
- The most common mistakes when reading a size chart
- Between two sizes?
- How should premium medical scrubs fit?
- Movement test after trying them on
- Women’s and men’s scrubs — size and body proportions
- Outside the standard chart? Made-to-measure
- Does fabric affect size selection?
- Can scrubs shrink after washing?
- FAQ
Why does size matter in premium scrubs?
Premium scrubs should not simply be an expensive T-shirt and trousers with an elastic waistband.
The final result depends on a whole set of details: pattern construction, shaping, crotch length, sleeve shape, seam placement, neckline finishing, pocket construction and the way the fabric behaves in motion.
That is why premium starts with comfort you do not have to keep adjusting throughout the day.
Well-cut scrubs should follow the body through construction, not through compression.
If you choose a size that is too small, even an excellent design can start to look wrong: the fabric will pull under the arms, pockets may gape, trousers can strain across the hips and the neckline may move every time you do.
A size that is too large does not solve the problem either. Excess fabric may gather at the waist, sleeves may shift while you work, and deep pockets filled with a phone, pens and other items can pull the garment down even more.
The right size is therefore part of the garment’s construction, not just a number on the label.
Research into clothing ergonomics shows that garment size can affect range of motion. In one study of protective coveralls, an ill-fitting size that was too small restricted some movements more than fabric weight itself. An older study of nurses’ uniforms also found differences in mobility depending on garment construction. [6] [7]
In a job where a few centimetres of movement can make the difference between a free squat and pulling your trousers up for the twelfth time before coffee, that matters.
How to measure yourself correctly for scrubs
All you need is a soft tailor’s tape and a few minutes.
Do not measure yourself over a sweatshirt or while holding your stomach in “just for a second”. The tape should describe the body that is about to spend several or a dozen hours at work.
Standards in the ISO 8559 family describe anthropometric measurements used to create size profiles and clothing size designations. [1] [2]
1. Bust or chest
Measure around the fullest part of the chest. Keep the tape horizontal around the torso.
Do not pull it tight and do not add a few centimetres “just in case”. The necessary ease should be built into the garment pattern, not added while measuring the body.
If the chart gives a chest range, compare it with your actual body measurement.
2. Waist
Measure your natural waist circumference. Stand comfortably and breathe normally.
With trousers that have an elastic waistband, waist is not always the measurement that determines the size — hips may be more important. It is still useful to know it, especially when comparing two neighbouring sizes.
3. Hips
Measure around the fullest part of your hips and seat, keeping the tape horizontal.
This is one of the most important measurements when choosing trousers. If your hips exceed the upper limit for a size, an elastic waistband is unlikely to solve the problem.
4. Shoulders — when is it worth checking them?
Shoulder width is especially useful with more fitted tops.
If the manufacturer provides a finished shoulder measurement, the easiest comparison is with a similar garment that already fits you well. Measuring your own back without another person can be difficult and inaccurate.
With the correct size, the shoulder seam should not run clearly toward the neck or hang far down the upper arm — unless that is the intended design of the model.
5. Trouser length
Again, check how the manufacturer defines the measurement.
If the shop gives an inseam length, compare it with a pair of trousers whose length already works for you. With joggers, also check where the cuff is intended to finish according to the photos and description.
Buying a larger size is not a good way to get longer trousers. If your main issue is height or proportions, look for product length information or length variants if the brand offers them.
How to choose a medical clothing size without mixing up the charts
If you are wondering how to measure yourself for medical scrubs, this is where many problems begin.
You see:
S — M — L — XL
and automatically think:
“I always wear M.”
But the letter on the label is not a universal unit of measurement.
In Europe there are standards concerning size designation, including EN 13402 and the current ISO 8559 series. These systems use body measurements, but that does not mean every brand must construct size M in exactly the same way. The standards distinguish body measurements from finished-garment dimensions and leave manufacturers to make decisions about fit and construction ease. [2] [3]
EU rules on mandatory textile labelling focus primarily on information such as fibre composition. European standards are generally voluntary, so there is no single mandatory S/M/L system that every brand must use. [4]
That is why the size chart of the specific medical clothing manufacturer matters more than the letter on the label of another garment you own.
The most common mistakes when reading a medical clothing size chart
Mistake 1: “I buy M in high-street stores, so I order M”
No. This is the classic mistake.
You may wear M in one brand, S in another and L in a third — while your body did not change size as you switched browser tabs.
Look at centimetres and first check whether the chart gives body measurements or finished garment measurements. At UNDAMED, we provide the key garment measurements for each model so that you can compare them with clothing that already fits you well.
Mistake 2: confusing body measurements with garment measurements
If a table says “hip circumference 100 cm”, you need to know whether it means:
- the hips of the person the size was designed for;
- or the circumference of the finished trousers.
The difference can be several centimetres or more because of construction ease.
The ISO 8559 system bases size designation on body measurements, while finished-garment dimensions depend on the manufacturer’s design decisions. [2]
Mistake 3: choosing an entire set based on one measurement
Do you have M at the bust and L at the hips?
That does not mean something is wrong or that you measured yourself incorrectly. A body simply does not have to fit one standard size from shoulders to ankles. That is normal.
That is why being able to buy the top and trousers separately is practical. You can choose the top according to chest measurements and the bottom according to hips and waist.
Mistake 4: assuming viscose and elastane will fix the wrong size
They will not.
Elastane helps the fabric move with the body, while viscose contributes to softness and drape. Neither can turn an incorrectly chosen size into the correct one.
If trousers are clearly too small at the hips or a top pulls across the chest, extra stretch may temporarily hide the issue but will not replace correct pattern construction and adequate ease. The garment simply will not be comfortable.
How clothing behaves during movement depends not only on fabric properties but also on size, pattern construction and the placement of ease. Ergonomic clothing studies confirm that an ill-fitting size can restrict movement. [6] [7]
Mistake 5: choosing a size “with extra room just in case”
Scrubs do not have to look like a sack to be comfortable.
Oversized trousers that slide down under the weight of a phone are just as impractical as trousers that are one size too small.
What matters is controlled ease, not the largest possible amount of fabric.
Between two sizes? Do not automatically choose the larger one
This is one of the most common shopping tips, but in our view it simplifies the subject too much.
If you fall between S and M, first check why.
If your chest or hips exceed the range of the smaller size, the larger size will usually be the safer starting point — but check the cut and fabric composition before buying.
If only the waist is on the boundary, while the trousers have an elastic waistband and the hips fit comfortably within the smaller range, the situation may be different.
If the problem is sleeve or leg length, sizing up may only make the garment wider without solving the proportion issue.
Also check the fit description. Slim fit, regular fit and oversize are designed with different amounts of ease even when intended for the same body measurements.
And if the chart and description still do not give you a clear answer — contact the brand. One email is faster than sending a parcel back and forth.
If you are hesitating between sizes because you are worried about changes after washing, do not buy a larger set “just in case”. First check the care instructions for the specific fabric. More information is available in our guide How to wash scrubs without damaging the fabric and fading the colour.
Premium medical scrubs — how should they fit?
So that after a few minutes you stop thinking about them.
The fit should be visible, but the garment should not need constant adjustment. It should simply be comfortable.
At UNDAMED we spend a great deal of time refining the base pattern of each model. We do not finish when a garment “matches” a mannequin or looks good on a still body. We fit prototypes on different body types, make corrections and return to further fittings.
And we fit them in motion. We sit down, bend, raise our arms, squat and check whether the garment pulls, rides up or restricts movement. We also test things that look like details on paper but stop being details during a shift: whether a phone really fits in the pocket, whether the loaded pocket still hangs correctly and whether it remains comfortable to use.
If you want to see this process from sketch and pattern construction through prototypes, fabric selection and repeated fittings, we describe it step by step in How we design medical scrubs — behind the scenes.
For us, a refined pattern therefore does not mean only a clean line in a photograph. It should make the garment as comfortable as possible when you are working, not only when you are standing in front of a mirror.
Top
With your arms down, the top should not pull across the chest or create strong tension under the arms.
Raise both arms high. If the entire top suddenly travels upward and exposes your back, check the size or the construction of the model.
Reach both arms forward, as you would while working with a patient. The seams should not block shoulder movement.
Trousers
Sit down.
Do a deep squat.
Bend forward.
If the waistband slides down at the back, the crotch pulls strongly or the fabric is under heavy tension at the hips, something is wrong.
On the other hand, trousers should not need constant pulling up while you walk.
Pockets
This is where trying on starts to resemble real work.
Put your phone in the pocket. Add your ID badge, a pen or the things you actually carry during a shift.
A deep pocket is useful only if the trousers remain in place after it is loaded.
An ID loop is useful only if the weight of the card does not distort the entire neckline.
That is why the question “how do premium medical scrubs fit?” should not be answered only by a photo of a model standing straight in front of a camera.
Do a test before removing the tags
After trying them on, do not just stand in front of a mirror.
Do this:
- raise your arms above your head;
- stretch your arms forward;
- do a deep squat;
- sit down and lean forward;
- put your phone in a pocket and walk a few steps.
If you do not need to pull anything up, lower anything or keep readjusting after this test, that is a very good sign. The garment should allow you to focus on your work, not on what the trouser leg or neckline is doing.
Movement tests also make sense from an ergonomics perspective. Studies of nurses’ uniforms and protective workwear have shown that garment construction and size can genuinely limit range of movement. [6] [7]
Comfortable women’s and men’s scrubs — size and body proportions
The same letter size does not mean the same proportions for every person.
In women’s scrubs, bust, waist and hips may point to three different size ranges. In men’s scrubs, the same issue may involve the relationship between chest, waist, hips and leg length.
That is why choosing comfortable women’s or men’s scrubs does not start with the question:
“What size do you usually wear?”
It starts with:
“What are your measurements and how do you want this specific cut to fit?”
If your top and bottom proportions indicate different sizes, choose the two pieces separately whenever the brand allows it.
Outside the standard chart? The size should fit you
A size chart is a starting point, not a definition of how your body should look.
At UNDAMED we know that someone can have a narrower waist and wider hips, longer legs, a shorter torso or proportions that simply cannot be sensibly described by one letter such as S, M or L. The Polish CIOP-PIB Atlas of Human Measurements shows how broad a range of anthropometric parameters must be considered in ergonomic design. [8]
That is why we also offer a made-to-measure service.
We can prepare a longer or shorter product. Trousers can be shortened or made in a longer version. If the standard size chart does not match your proportions, contact us before buying and we will check which solution will be best for the specific model.
We can also personalise the number and size of pockets or add hidden pockets if that is the functionality you need.
For us this is precisely what premium means: not forcing a person to fit a chart, but making it possible for the garment to fit the person. Scrubs should look professional and work with your body rather than reminding you throughout the shift that the standard size was created for somebody with different proportions.
When ordering a product made or modified to individual specifications, check the fulfilment and return rules before purchase. The Polish Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK) notes that the statutory right to withdraw from a distance contract does not apply, among other cases, to non-prefabricated goods made to the consumer’s specification or clearly personalised. This does not exclude the right to make a complaint if the goods are not in conformity with the contract. [10]
Once you have the size right, you can move calmly to the next decision — which scrub colour should you choose?
Does fabric affect size selection?
Fabric changes how the fit feels, but it should not replace the correct size.
A fabric containing viscose and elastane may offer a great deal of freedom during bending, twisting or squatting. Elastane increases the stretch of the blend, while viscose is a soft cellulose fibre with properties similar in some ways to natural textiles. The behaviour of the finished fabric still depends on the complete fibre blend, weave and finishing. [9]
So do not choose a smaller size simply because you see elastane in the composition.
Can scrubs shrink after washing?
It depends on the fabric, garment construction and care method.
Do not automatically assume:
“I’ll take a larger size because it will definitely shrink.”
Nor the opposite:
“It contains elastane, so I can choose it very fitted.”
Check the care instructions for the specific product and follow the washing temperature and drying method specified by the manufacturer.
You can read more in our guide How to wash scrubs without damaging the fabric and fading the colour.
Why does the right size matter when shopping online?
Because online you cannot assess clothing by touch or by trying it on.
E-commerce research shows that fit remains one of the main problems when buying clothes online. In a study of 1,026 consumers in the Czech Republic and Portugal, wrong size was the most frequently cited main reason for returning clothing. [5]
That does not mean every return can be prevented by a size chart.
It cannot.
But a good chart, a clear indication of whether it shows body or finished garment measurements, a fit description, model measurements and the ability to choose tops and trousers independently remove a large part of the guesswork.
And guesswork should not be part of the experience of buying premium clothing.
The right size reveals itself in motion
A measuring tape is the beginning, not the end.
Measure your body. Check the chart for the specific model. Determine whether you are looking at body measurements or finished garment measurements. If your top and bottom indicate different sizes, do not force your whole body into one letter.
And after trying the scrubs on, squat, raise your arms, sit down and put your phone in a pocket.
Because well-chosen scrubs should look professional when you are standing in front of a mirror — but above all they should not get in your way when you do not have time to think about them.
If you want to choose your set, start with the size chart for the specific UNDAMED model. And if one measurement falls exactly on the boundary, ask us before buying. One message is simpler than ordering the same set twice.
If you are still deciding what type of clothing suits your work, also read Scrubs or a lab coat — what should you choose for your work?. We discuss materials, construction and functionality in more detail in Medical scrubs — a complete guide.
Sources
1. International Organization for
Standardization (ISO). ISO 8559-1:2017 — Size designation
of clothes — Part 1: Anthropometric definitions for body
measurement. The standard describes anthropometric body
measurements used, among other things, to build clothing size profiles;
the edition was reconfirmed as current in 2026.
ISO
8559-1:2017
2. International Organization for
Standardization (ISO). ISO 8559-2:2025 — Size designation
of clothes — Part 2: Primary and secondary dimension indicators.
The current edition of the body-measurement-based size designation
system. Polish implementation: PN-EN ISO
8559-2:2026-03.
ISO
8559-2:2025
3. Polish Committee for Standardization (PKN). PN-EN 13402-3:2017-11, “Size designation of clothes — Part 3: Size labelling based on body measurements and intervals”. Polish implementation of EN 13402-3:2017.
4. European Commission / Your
Europe. Information on European standards and textile-labelling
requirements. European standards are generally voluntary, while
mandatory textile labelling primarily concerns fibre composition.
Standards
in Europe
Textile
Label
5. Magano J., Turčinkova J.,
Santos M.C., Correia R., Serebriannikov M. “Exploring Apparel
E-Commerce Unethical Return Experience: A Cross-Country Study”.
Journal of Theoretical and Applied Electronic Commerce
Research. 2024;19(4):2650–2672. DOI: 10.3390/jtaer19040127. The
study included 1,026 online clothing consumers from the Czech Republic
and Portugal; “wrong size” was the most frequently cited main reason for
returns.
Full
publication
6. Adams P.S., Keyserling
W.M. “The effect of size and fabric weight of protective
coveralls on range of gross body motions”. American Industrial
Hygiene Association Journal. 1995;56(4):333–340. DOI:
10.1080/15428119591016944. The study found that clothing that was too
small could measurably restrict range of motion.
PubMed record
7. Stubbs D.A., Buckle P.W.,
Hudson M.P., Butler P.E., Rivers P.M. “Nurses’ uniform: an
investigation of mobility”. International Journal of Nursing
Studies. 1985;22(3):217–229. DOI: 10.1016/0020-7489(85)90005-7. The
study analysed how nurses’ uniform construction affected mobility.
PubMed record
8. Central Institute for Labour
Protection — National Research Institute (CIOP-PIB). Atlas
of Human Measurements — data for ergonomic design and evaluation.
Warsaw, 2023. A publication using anthropometric data from the Polish
population for ergonomic design and evaluation.
Atlas of Human Measurements —
CIOP-PIB
9. Integrated Educational
Platform. “Natural, artificial and synthetic fibres”.
Educational material describing, among other things, viscose as a
cellulose fibre and elastane as a synthetic fibre used to increase
textile stretch.
ZPE
material
10. Office of Competition and
Consumer Protection (UOKiK). Information on withdrawal rights
for goods made to the consumer’s specification and seller liability for
non-conformity of goods with the contract.
Exceptions
to the right of withdrawal — UOKiK
Non-conformity
of goods — UOKiK
About the author
The UNDAMED team creates and develops medical clothing based on experience gained since 2012 in garment design, pattern construction and clothing production in Poland.
When developing our sizing, we do not look only at numbers in a chart. We spend a great deal of time refining the base pattern, fitting on different body types and making successive adjustments. We test garments in motion — sitting, bending, raising the arms, squatting and working with loaded pockets. We even check whether a phone really fits in a pocket and whether the garment remains comfortable after putting it there.
We also know that not every body fits a standard chart, which is why UNDAMED offers made-to-measure options and length adjustments for selected products. A size is right not when the letter on the label matches, but when the garment works with the person wearing it.