USPS Uniform Sizing Guide: How to Measure Yourself Correctly

USPS Uniform Sizing Guide: How to Measure Yourself Correctly

The worst email we get is "I ordered and they don't fit."

The good news: that's almost always fixable by getting the measurement right the first time.

This guide walks you through exactly how to measure your chest, waist, and inseam so you order the right size. We'll also show you how A+, Flying Cross, and other brands fit differently, and we'll clear up the sizing mistakes we see most often.

Why Sizing Matters

Postal uniforms have to fit a specific way. Not tight. Not loose. Just right.

A shirt that bunches under your armpits makes you miserable on hour 2 of your route. Pants that are too tight in the waist after you eat lunch are too tight. Shorts that are too loose ride down when you're carrying a loaded scanner bag.

The good news: postal uniform brands are built for postal carriers, not fashion models. They're cut with room for movement and gear. And most brands run true to size if you measure correctly.

The bad news: measuring yourself correctly takes five minutes and most carriers skip this step.

Don't skip it.

Measuring Chest (for Shirts)

What you need: A soft measuring tape (the kind tailors use, not a steel ruler).

How to do it:

Wear a regular t-shirt, nothing padded or extra-thick.

Stand with your arms at your sides, relaxed.

Wrap the tape around your chest at the fullest part (across your nipples, roughly 1-2 inches below your armpits).

Keep the tape snug but not tight. You should be able to slip a finger under the tape.

Read the measurement. That's your chest size.

What it means for shirts:

Short-sleeve polos: Choose the size that matches your chest measurement.

Long-sleeve dress shirts: Same rule. Measure chest, order that size.

Women's shirts: Measure across the fullest part of your bust. A+ women's shirts run true to size.

Common mistake: Too tight. Carriers often measure with the tape pulled snug, as if they're trying to suck in. That gives you a number 1-2 inches smaller than your actual chest. Then you order that size and it's tight around the armpits.

Measure relaxed. Breathe normally. Keep the tape snug but not cinched.

Measuring Waist (for Pants and Shorts)

What you need: Same soft measuring tape.

How to do it:

Wear pants you normally wear (not jeans with a thick waistband, and not sweatpants).

Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, relaxed.

Wrap the tape around your waist at the natural waist (where your pants normally sit, not at your hip bone).

Keep the tape snug but not squeezed. Again, one finger should slip under easily.

Read the measurement. That's your waist size.

What it means:

Pants and shorts: Order the size that matches your waist measurement.

Why this matters: Your waist is the hardest dimension to alter. Inseam can be hemmed. But waist is waist. You can't let out a seam if you buy too small, and you can't take it in without tailoring if you buy too big.

Common mistake: Measuring at the wrong spot. Some carriers measure at their hip bone (which is usually 1-2 inches bigger than the natural waist). Others measure at the very bottom of their belly, which is even bigger. The natural waist is where your pants actually sit. Measure there.

Measuring Inseam (for Pants and Shorts)

What you need: Soft measuring tape, a friend (or a mirror, if you're solo), and an accurate pair of pants you already own.

How to do it (the easy way):

Put on a pair of pants that fit well and are hemmed correctly.

Measure from the crotch seam straight down to the bottom of the ankle where the pants end.

That's your inseam.

How to do it (if you don't have a reference pair):

Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, barefoot.

Have a friend place the end of the measuring tape at your crotch (the inseam point where the seams meet).

Pull the tape down the inside of your leg to the bottom of your ankle bone.

That measurement is your inseam.

For shorts: Same logic, but measure from the crotch seam down to where you want the shorts to end (typically 8-10 inches for most carriers).

What it means:

Pants: Most brands carry inseams from 30 to 36 inches. A+ has full range. Flying Cross has standard range.

Shorts: Measure from crotch to roughly 2-3 inches above your knee. Most shorts come in 8, 9, or 10 inch inseams.

Common mistake: Measuring wrong spot. Some carriers measure from the waist down, which gives them a number 10-12 inches bigger than inseam. Inseam is from crotch seam to ankle. That's it.

How the Brands Fit Differently

Here's the reality: A+ and Flying Cross are both good. They just fit different bodies.

A+ Postal Uniforms

Pants:

True to size in waist and inseam

Full range of sizes: 28-42 waist, 30-36 inseam

Cut is standard (not slim, not oversized)

Thigh and calf are roomy enough for gear

Shirts:

Short-sleeve polos run true to size

Long-sleeve dress shirts run true to size

If you're broad-shouldered, some carriers size up

Women's products:

Designed for women (not just smaller men's)

True to size in bust

Generous in the waist (carriers like this for movement)

Fitted through the hips, not oversized

Flying Cross

Pants:

True to size in waist and inseam

Standard size range: 30-40 waist

Cut is professional (slightly tapered, less bulk than A+)

If you carry heavy scanner or pellet, this might feel snug through the thigh

Shirts:

Short-sleeve polos run true to size in the chest but slightly small in the shoulders

Long-sleeve dress shirts are the same: true in the chest, tight in the shoulders

If you're broad-shouldered, consider sizing up

Women's products:

Limited availability

When available, run true to size

The Bottom Line

Common Sizing Mistakes (And How to Fix Them)

Mistake 1: Ordering Based on What You Used to Wear

Your body changes. Muscle changes. Weight changes. The size you wore five years ago might not be your size now.

Measure yourself now, not from memory.

Mistake 2: Assuming All Brands Size the Same

They don't. A+ and Flying Cross both run true to size, but they fit different. Short-sleeve polos from one brand might fit perfectly, and the same size from another brand might be tight in the shoulders.

This is why we list sizing notes on every product. Read them before ordering.

Mistake 3: Ordering a Size Down Because You Want It "Fitted"

Postal uniforms aren't fashion. They're work gear. They need to fit with a polo shirt on, a tool bag around your waist, and a scanner in your pocket.

Buy your true size. Don't size down.

Mistake 4: Assuming Women's Sizes Are Just Men's Sizes Downscaled

They're not. A+ women's shorts aren't a men's 32 shorts cut down. They're cut differently through the hip, waist, and thigh. Same with shirts.

If you're a woman carrier and you've been wearing men's uniforms, try the women's cut. It's probably the first time something's actually fit right.

Mistake 5: Measuring with Clothes On

A thick sweater under your shirt adds 1-2 inches to your chest measurement. An undershirt adds another half inch. Measure with a thin t-shirt on, or measure your actual body and then add maybe a quarter inch for a thin layer under.

Mistake 6: Measuring Waist Too High or Too Low

Your natural waist is where your pants normally sit, not where your hip bone is. Measure there.

Size Chart: Quick Reference

Men's Scanner Pocket Pants (A+ Postal Uniforms)

All inseams can be hemmed by a tailor if needed.

Women's Shorts (A+ Postal Uniforms)

Women's shorts don't vary by inseam the way men's do. They come in one inseam length per size.

Short-Sleeve Polos (Both Brands)

If you're between sizes, choose the larger size. Polos shrink slightly in the wash.

How to Measure Like a Carrier (Not a Fashion Model)

Here's the real-world version:

Wear what you'd actually wear under your uniform (a polo or undershirt, not a tank top).

Measure yourself relaxed, not posed.

Keep the tape snug but not squeezed.

Measure waist where your pants normally sit, not where you want them to sit.

Measure inseam from the crotch seam to your ankle bone, not from somewhere else.

If you're between sizes and can't decide, order both and return one. That's what 30-day returns are for.

Inseam Variations by Height (Rough Guide)

If you've never measured yourself and need a starting point, here's a rough guide based on height. But this is only a starting point. Measure yourself to be sure.

Remember: this is a guide. Actually measure yourself. Height and inseam don't always line up perfectly.

What to Do If You Order the Wrong Size

It happens. You measure, you order, and it still doesn't fit. Here's the deal:

30-day returns, no questions asked. Ship it back and we'll exchange it for the right size or refund your money. If you paid with a USPS voucher, the refund goes back to your voucher account within 5 business days. If you paid with a card, it's 3-5 business days.

Shipping is covered if the mistake was ours (wrong item, size mislabeled). If it's a measurement error on your end, you cover shipping. Either way, you're not stuck with gear that doesn't fit.

Shop By Category

Ready to order the right size?

Shop Scanner Pocket Pants - the top seller

Shop Regular Pants - no pocket option

Shop Waterproof Pants - rain shifts

Shop Shorts - summer wear

Shop Polos and Shirts - foundation pieces

Shop Outerwear - cold-weather gear

Related Reading

Not sure what to buy on your first order? Read our Complete USPS Postal Uniform Buying Guide.

Need help extending the life of your uniform? Check out How to Care for Your Postal Uniform: Washing, Drying, Storage.

FAQ

Q: Can I return pants if I measured wrong and they don't fit?

A: Yes, 30-day returns. Measure again, make sure you got it right, then order the new size. Return the old pair in the same package. No questions asked. If the return is because of our error (wrong size shipped), we cover return shipping. If it's a measurement error on your end, you cover the return, but we'll still exchange or refund.

Q: What if I'm between two sizes?

A: Order the larger size. It's easier to take in pants that are slightly loose than to make them bigger if they're too tight. And you can always add a belt.

Q: Does Flying Cross really run small in the shoulders?

A: Yes. Not dramatically, but noticeably. If you're broad-shouldered or between sizes, A+ is the safer bet, or size up in Flying Cross.

Q: I'm a woman and men's uniforms have never fit. Will women's cuts actually be different?

A: Yes. Women's polos fit across the bust without gapping. Women's shorts fit through the hips without bunching. Women's pants are cut for a different hip-to-waist ratio. Try them. Most women carriers who make the switch don't go back.

Q: Can you hem pants if I order the wrong inseam?

A: We don't provide hemming, but any tailor can do it for $10-15. That said, measure right the first time and you won't need it. If you do order the wrong length, most tailors can turn it around in a week.

Q: What's the difference between A+ sizes 38 and 40?

A: 2 inches in the waist. Everything else (inseam, thigh, calf) stays the same. Order the size that matches your actual waist measurement.

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