Plus-Size Zip-Up Hoodies: Full-Zip Fits From 1X Up

A plus-size zip-up hoodie opens down the front, so you can wear it closed like a pullover or open like a light jacket. Pick the size your bust points to on the brand’s chart, 47 to 49 inches for a 2X at Dia & Co, then pick a full zip or a quarter zip.

Zip-ups are the most flexible hoodie: one piece that works over a tee, under a coat and on the sofa. This page is part of the women’s plus hoodies section.

Full zip, quarter zip or sherpa-lined?

A full zip is the one most people mean by a zip-up hoodie. It has two hand pockets instead of one kangaroo pocket, and it can sit open without pulling.

Plus-size zip-up hoodies: full zip, quarter zip and sherpa-lined

Shop women's plus-size zip-up hoodies→

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• Full zipBrowse →
• Quarter zipBrowse →
• Sherpa-linedBrowse →

How should a zip-up fit at the bust and hip?

When it is zipped, a zip-up fits like a pullover, so the bust measurement decides the size. Check the hip too: a zip-up with a rib hem sits at the hip, and if your hip measures larger than your bust, a straight hem that sits below the hip, or wearing it open, avoids the hem pulling the zipper.

Dia & Co’s chart shows how bust and hip move together in plus sizes:

Other brands differ. Nike’s plus chart puts 2X at a 49 to 53 inch bust and a 50 to 54 inch hip, so the same label is cut for a larger bust there.

Open or closed: which matters for sizing?

If you will mostly wear the zip-up open, the size that fits your shoulders and arms is the right one, even if it would be a little close at the bust when zipped. If you will wear it closed, go by the bust. Nike’s advice for in-between sizes works here too: the smaller size for a closer fit, the larger one for a looser fit.

Pullover or zip-up?

A pullover has the cleaner front and one big pocket. Carhartt’s women’s Clarksburg hoodie, for example, is a pullover in a relaxed fit, 10.5-ounce cotton and polyester fleece, made in regular sizes from XS to 3X. A zip-up is easier with long hair, glasses or a collared shirt, and it gives you a second way to wear it. Many people own one of each. For a roomier look in either style, read oversized hoodies before you size up.

Sherpa and fleece-lined zip-ups in 3X and up

Shop sherpa and fleece-lined hoodies, 3XL and 3X up→

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• Big and tall sherpaBrowse →
• Women's plus sherpaBrowse →
• Fleece-linedBrowse →

Warmth: unlined, fleece-lined or sherpa

Most zip-up hoodies are fleece: smooth outside, brushed and soft inside. A sherpa-lined zip-up adds a curly pile lining for extra warmth, and some extra bulk. The sherpa and fleece-lined hoodies page compares the two, and the fabric guide explains weights.

Caring for a zip-up

Zippers need a little care in the wash. The FTC’s guidance on care labels says instructions must cover every component, and gives “close zipper” as an example of a special instruction a label may carry. Closing the zipper before washing protects the teeth and keeps them from snagging other clothes.

For the fleece itself, Whirlpool suggests a gentle cycle and a low-heat or air dry to limit shrinking, especially for cotton-rich fabrics. Turning the hoodie inside out protects any print on the front.

Styling a zip-up

A zip-up worn open over a fitted tee and high-rise jeans gives a long, vertical line. Zipped, with the hood down, it looks like a sweatshirt. Half-zipped over a collared shirt, it works for a casual office. In cold weather, a zip-up is the easiest layer under a coat, because you can open it once you are indoors.

Zip-up or cardigan?

A fleece zip-up and a knit cardigan do a similar job as an open layer. The zip-up is usually fleece with a hood and pockets; the cardigan is a knit and looks dressier. For cold mornings, travel and errands, the zip-up is the more casual choice, and a sherpa-lined version adds a warm pile lining.

Before you order

1. Measure bust and hip at the fullest points.
2. Decide whether you will wear it open or closed.
3. Check the chart on the listing; a unisex zip-up is sized by chest, as 3X vs 3XL explains.
4. Look at the zipper in the photos: full length, flat, ideally two-way for longer styles.