Guides · medical scrubs
Scrubs Size Guide for Team Orders: Measuring Staff and Building a Size Breakdown
Getting sizes right is the hardest part of a team scrubs order. Here is how to read size charts, measure staff and turn the results into a size breakdown your supplier can produce.
To get sizes right on a team scrubs order, measure each staff member (or have them try a size set), match their measurements to the supplier's own size chart rather than their usual clothing size, and record top size, trouser size, fit and length separately. Then add those up into a size breakdown by style, colour and size, plus a small buffer for new joiners.
Sizing errors are the most common source of delays and waste on clinic uniform orders. This guide walks through reading size charts, measuring staff and turning the results into an order your supplier can produce.
Why scrubs sizing goes wrong
Brand sizes are not universal
A medium in one brand can fit like a large in another. Women's, men's and unisex cuts also size differently. Asking staff "what size are you?" gives you their high-street size, not their size in your chosen scrubs.
Multinational teams
UAE clinics often have staff from South Asia, the Philippines, the Arab world, Europe, Africa and beyond, used to different size systems (UK, EU, US, Asian). Everyone means something different by "medium". Measurements cut through that confusion.
Tops and trousers rarely match
Plenty of people need a medium top and large trousers, or the reverse. If you record one "set size" per person, a good share of the team will end up with something that does not fit.
Stretch changes the fit
Stretch fabrics are more forgiving than poly-cotton. If you have mixed fabrics across roles, staff may need different sizes in each.
How to read a scrubs size chart
A good size chart for scrubs gives body measurements, not just garment measurements, for each size and fit.
| Measurement | What it tells you | Matters most for |
|---|---|---|
| Chest / bust | Body chest at the fullest point | Tops |
| Waist | Natural waist | Trousers, fitted tops |
| Hip | Fullest part of the hips | Trousers, tunic-length tops |
| Inside leg (inseam) | Crotch to ankle | Trouser length |
| Height | Overall proportion | Top length, trouser length options |
| Garment length | Shoulder to hem on the top | Coverage, tunic vs hip length |
Ask your supplier for the chart for the exact style and fabric you are ordering. If they offer women's, men's and unisex fits, ask for a chart for each.
Measuring staff: a simple routine
What you need
- A soft tape measure
- A short form or spreadsheet with a row per person
- Someone who measures consistently (ideally the same person for everyone)
- A private space, and a same-gender measurer where staff prefer it
Step by step
- Chest or bust. Measure around the fullest part, tape level under the arms, over a thin top.
- Waist. Measure around the natural waist, where the body is narrowest.
- Hip. Measure around the fullest part of the hips and seat, feet together.
- Inside leg. Measure from the crotch to the ankle bone on the inside of the leg; easiest with a well-fitting pair of trousers laid flat.
- Height. Useful for top length and trouser length options.
- Fit preference. Women's, men's or unisex; relaxed or regular.
- Coverage preference. Short or long sleeves, hip or tunic length, neckline style.
Do not pull the tape tight. Record in centimetres to avoid conversion errors.
Using a size set instead
Many suppliers can lend or sell a size set: one garment in each size and fit. Staff try them on and note the size that fits best. This is often faster and more accurate than measuring, especially with stretch fabrics. A combined approach works well: try-on for most staff, measurements for anyone between sizes. We explain sample and wear-trial approval in scrubs sample approval.
Choosing between sizes
Tops
Staff reach overhead, bend over beds and lift patients. A top that fits standing still can ride up or pull across the back. If someone is between sizes, the larger top is usually the safer choice, especially in poly-cotton.
Trousers
Hip and inside leg matter more than waist, because elastic and drawstring waists adjust. Check the trousers sit comfortably when the person crouches.
Length
Tall staff often need longer tops and trousers; shorter staff may find standard lengths drag on the floor. Ask your supplier what length options they offer. Jogger legs are more forgiving on length because the cuff sits at the ankle.
Fit cuts
Women's cuts are shaped at the waist and hip; men's and unisex cuts are straighter. Some women prefer unisex for a looser fit, and that is fine as long as you record it. Our women's scrubs fit guide goes deeper on cuts and rises.
Building the size breakdown
Record each person
A simple spreadsheet works best. One row per person with:
- Name (as it should be embroidered) and role
- Colour (by role, if you colour code)
- Top style, fit and size
- Trouser style, fit, size and length
- Number of sets
- Cap style, if ordering caps
This doubles as your embroidery name list, so check spellings carefully, including Arabic names if you are embroidering both scripts.
Add it up
Turn the list into a summary table by style, colour and size. An illustrative example for a small clinic ordering one colour of women's tops:
| Women's V-neck top, teal | XS | S | M | L | XL | 2XL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Staff count | 1 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| Sets each | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Total pieces | 3 | 12 | 18 | 12 | 6 | 3 |
Repeat for each style, colour and fit, and for trousers separately. Your supplier needs this summary to plan production; the per-person list is what makes the embroidery and labelling right.
Add a buffer
Keep a small stock of the most common sizes for new joiners and exchanges. Size the buffer to your turnover rather than ordering lots of spares. Planning reorders for new staff in regular batches, with shipping time in mind, keeps the buffer small. For how many sets each person needs, see how many scrubs per staff member.
Collecting sizes respectfully
Size information is personal, and some staff find being measured uncomfortable. A few habits help:
- Let staff measure themselves privately using a short guide, or try on a size set, rather than being measured in front of colleagues.
- Offer a same-gender measurer for anyone who prefers it, which many UAE teams expect.
- Collect sizes through a form that goes only to the person placing the order, not a shared group chat or noticeboard.
- Record sizes, not body measurements, in the final order sent to the supplier, unless they need measurements for a specific fit.
- Delete detailed measurement records once the order is delivered and sizes are confirmed.
Making sure every staff member is covered
Some staff will be outside the core size range: very petite, tall, plus size, or pregnant. Ask early whether your supplier can make extended sizes and different lengths, so nobody is left in an ill-fitting uniform or wearing something that looks different from the rest of the team.
Also ask about labels. Size and role labels inside each garment help the laundry team sort sets back to the right person quickly.
Sizing checklist before you order
- Supplier's size chart for each style, fabric and fit
- Every staff member measured or fitted with a size set
- Top and trouser sizes recorded separately
- Length, fit and coverage preferences recorded
- Names checked for spelling (English and Arabic)
- Size breakdown summarised by style, colour and size
- Buffer agreed for new joiners
- Sample approved before bulk production
Getting scrubs made to your size breakdown
MISHAREN makes scrubs to order at its own unit in Konni, Kerala, India, to your clinic's size breakdown, in women's, men's and unisex fits, with names embroidered and size or role labels added for laundry sorting. The approved specification is kept on record, so sizes added for new staff later match the original order.
Send us your staff list or size breakdown through our medical scrubs page or contact us for a quotation.