Guides · patient gowns
Unisex Patient Gowns: One Design for All Patients
A well-designed unisex gown simplifies stock, laundry sorting and ordering. It works when overlap, length and sizing are right, with separate designs kept only where there is a clear need.
For most wards, a well-designed unisex patient gown works for men and women alike: one pattern, one stock line, fewer sorting errors in the laundry. It works when the size range is wide enough, the back overlap and length give real cover, and the cut allows for both broader shoulders and wider hips. Where unisex gowns fall short, usually in maternity, some modesty needs and very small or very large patients, add specific designs rather than abandoning the unisex approach.
This guide covers when a single unisex design makes sense, what to check in the pattern and where separate designs still earn their place.
Why hospitals choose unisex gowns
Patient gowns are a high-volume, constantly moving stock item. Every extra variant adds work. Unisex gowns simplify:
- Stock: one design per size instead of two, so each ward holds fewer lines.
- Laundry sorting: no need to separate men's and women's gowns, only sizes and wards.
- Par levels: gowns are interchangeable between patients, so you need less buffer for an unexpected gender mix on a ward.
- Ordering: one specification to approve and reorder.
- Mixed wards and departments: imaging, outpatients and day surgery see everyone in quick succession.
For many hospitals that alone makes unisex the default.
Where a single design can fall short
A unisex gown is a compromise between body shapes. Common problems are:
- Too narrow at the hips for some women, so the back gaps when sitting
- Too narrow at the shoulders for some men, so the neckline pulls or the sleeves restrict movement
- Too short for taller patients, too long for shorter ones
- Too much exposure in designs that rely on a single back opening
- Not suited to specific needs, such as breastfeeding access or very large or very small bodies
Almost all of these are solved by sizing and cut rather than by separate men's and women's patterns.
Designing a unisex gown that works
Generous overlap
A wrap-around or wide-back design with real overlap covers both broader shoulders and wider hips. A fastening at the waist or lower back keeps it closed when the patient sits or walks. Our comparison of back-opening vs wrap-around gowns explains the options.
A straight or gently flared body
A gown that is straight or slightly flared from chest to hem fits a wider range of body shapes than one shaped at the waist.
Adjustable fastenings
Ties at the neck and waist let one gown fit different builds. Press studs are quicker but less adjustable; some hospitals use a mix.
Length
Agree a target length for each size with nursing staff. A gown that reaches below the knee on most patients in that size gives better cover when sitting on a bed or examination couch.
Neckline
A neckline that adjusts with a tie or press stud avoids the gown slipping off narrower shoulders or pulling on broader ones.
Sizing is where unisex succeeds or fails
A one-size gown is never truly unisex; it fits a narrow band of patients. A unisex range should run through enough sizes to cover your patient population:
| Size band | Typical use | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Paediatric sizes | Children | Usually a separate design with child-friendly prints |
| Standard adult sizes | Most adult patients | The bulk of stock |
| Larger adult sizes | Patients who need more width and length | Plan a meaningful share, not a token few |
Mark each size clearly, by label or colour, so staff can pick the right one quickly. Our patient gown size guide covers size mixes and measurements in more detail.
When separate designs are worth it
Unisex should be the default, not a rule. Keep separate designs where the clinical or cultural need is clear:
- Maternity and postnatal wards: gowns with front or shoulder openings for breastfeeding and examination.
- Modesty-focused designs: longer gowns with long sleeves, or extra overlap, for patients who want more cover. Our post on modest patient gowns looks at options for UAE patients.
- Paediatrics: child sizes and prints.
- Bariatric patients: larger sizes with wider cuts.
- Department-specific needs: telemetry pockets, shoulder openings for lines, or metal-free fastenings for MRI areas (confirmed by the imaging team).
These are additions to a unisex core, not separate men's and women's ranges.
Colour and appearance
Unisex gowns are usually plain colours or small, neutral prints. Avoid colours or prints that patients may read as aimed at one gender, which can make some patients uncomfortable. If you colour-code by ward, the same logic applies: choose colours for the ward, not for the patient.
Fabric and laundering
Unisex does not change fabric choice. Cotton and poly-cotton are the usual options, chosen for comfort and how they stand up to your laundry. What matters is that the fabric stays opaque after repeated washing, because a thin gown undermines cover whatever the cut.
What patients notice
Patients rarely care whether a gown is labelled unisex. What they notice is whether it closes, whether it covers them when they sit or walk, and whether it feels clean and opaque. A unisex range that gets those basics right is usually better received than separate men's and women's gowns that come in too few sizes. If you collect patient feedback, ask about cover and fit specifically, and use the answers to adjust the size mix or cut at the next reorder rather than adding more variants.
How to introduce unisex gowns
- Review current stock: which gowns are used where, and where men's and women's designs are separate today.
- Ask nursing staff which patients struggle with current gowns, and why.
- Specify a unisex design with overlap, adjustable fastenings, agreed lengths and a full size range.
- Sample and trial on a mixed ward, with staff and with volunteers of different builds.
- Keep specific designs for maternity, paediatrics, bariatric care and departments with special needs.
- Update par levels to reflect that gowns are now interchangeable.
- Approve the specification and keep it on record for reorders.
Quick checklist
- One unisex core design for general wards and departments
- Wrap-around or wide back with a waist fastening
- Adjustable neck and waist fastenings
- A size range that includes larger sizes in meaningful numbers
- Lengths agreed per size
- Neutral colours or prints
- Separate designs only where there is a clear need
Request a quotation
MISHAREN makes reusable unisex gowns in standard adult sizes, with larger and paediatric sizes on request, plus specific designs where your wards need them. Send your specification through our contact page or see the patient gowns page for options.