3X vs 3XL: Women's Plus and Men's Hoodie Sizes Compared

No, 3X and 3XL are not the same size. 3X is a women’s plus size, US 22/24 at Dia & Co, for a 51.5 to 54 inch bust. 3XL is a men’s or unisex size, 54 to 56 inches of chest at Westport. The inches overlap, but the cuts differ, so compare measurements, not letters.

Both labels show up in hoodie listings, often side by side, which is where the mix-up starts. This page is part of our hoodie size guide.

What do 2X, 3X and 4X mean?

The X sizes are women’s plus sizes. Dia & Co, a plus-size retailer, maps each one to a pair of US numeric sizes and publishes the body measurements:

The first plus size, 1X, has its own explainer on our sister site: what size is 1X.

And what does 3XL mean?

3XL, also written XXXL, is a men’s or unisex size that adds width. Westport Big & Tall lists 3XB for a 54 to 56 inch chest; Carhartt’s body chart puts 3XL at a 56 inch chest. The 3XL hoodies page covers that size in detail.

Why do brands give the same letter different inches?

Because each brand writes its own chart. Nike’s women’s plus chart puts 2X at a 49 to 53 inch bust, while Dia & Co puts 2X at 47 to 49. Target’s Universal Thread plus chart lands in between, with 2X at 20W and a 47 inch bust. Three charts, three answers for one label.

The same goes for men’s sizes: Westport’s 4XB covers a 58 to 60 inch chest, Carhartt’s 4XL a 60 inch chest. For a hoodie, a couple of inches either way is the difference between relaxed and snug.

Women's hoodies in 2X to 6X

Shop women's hoodies in 2X to 6X→

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• 2XBrowse →
• 3XBrowse →
• 4XBrowse →
• 5X and 6XBrowse →

Wear women’s plus? How to pick a unisex size

Many hoodies, especially plain blanks and printed designs, are sold as unisex and sized like men’s tops. A unisex chart usually lists chest only, so start there:

1. Take your bust measurement in inches.
2. Find the unisex size whose chest range covers it. With a 52 inch bust, that is a 3XL on Westport’s chart (54 to 56 in gives a little room) rather than a 2XL (50 to 52 in).
3. Check the hip. Unisex charts rarely list one, so if your hip measurement is larger than your bust, look for a hem width in the listing, or choose a zip-up you can wear open.
4. Check the sleeves. Unisex sleeves often run long; a rib cuff can be pushed up.

3XL and women's 3X hoodies

Shop 3XL hoodies→

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• PulloverBrowse →
• Zip-upBrowse →
• Women's 3XBrowse →
• HeavyweightBrowse →

Which one should you buy?

Buy the label that matches the chart you can check, in the size your inches point to. Women’s plus hoodies are sized on charts like Dia & Co’s, which list bust, waist and hip. Men’s and unisex hoodies are sized on charts like Westport’s, which list neck, chest, waist and sleeve. Neither is better; they answer different questions, and many people own both. For styles cut for women’s plus sizes, see women’s plus-size hoodies; for bigger sizes, see 4XL hoodies.