How to Get the Right Size Scrubs Online: Ultimate Guide

Wearing the right size in scrubs ensures you’re comfortable, flexible, and always appearing professional at work, no matter your healthcare role. What’s more, choosing the right scrubs gives you and your patients extra confidence, and the better the fit, the safer the uniform (and the more efficient you’ll be while moving around).

Take it from me, as someone with years of experience in clinics and on wards - consulting a scrubs sizing guide is a must before you fill up your wardrobe!

In this guide, we’ll explore why proper fit and comfort for scrubs are so important, how to measure yourself, how to read sizing charts, and some tips and tricks to keep in mind while shopping online.

Why Proper Fit and Comfort Matter for Scrubs 

Proper fitting, comfortable scrubs allow you to move freely, maintain hygiene, reduce rubbing and irritation, and keep looking professional even during long hours on shift.

Having done my fair share of 10-12-hour shifts over the years, I can personally vouch for comfortable, properly fitting scrubs being a must-buy. If you’re bending, stretching, and moving quickly from area to area, you need a uniform that won’t constrain you or flap loosely. It’s one of the first points to consider when you learn how to wear scrubs.

Sizing up isn’t always a good idea, either. Loose clothing or larger fits are liable to slow you down, get caught, or come into contact with public surfaces. For optimum hygiene and efficiency, you need scrubs that fit close, but don’t rub or irritate.

It’s why sizing too small should also be avoided. With fabrics rubbing against your skin for hours at a time, you’ll get uncomfortable and lose focus on your work.

Then, there’s professionalism - scrubs that are too tight or too loose give an impression that you haven’t taken the time or care into choosing your uniform. That, in turn, can make you look incapable or incompetent, meaning patients feel less confident in your care.

The way you appear to patients is very important, with studies showing that patients view the right uniforms as highly positive and trustworthy:

“A healthcare uniform permits instant identification of the wearer’s status and is a symbol of training and competency. As seen in several studies, patients associated positive attributes with certain uniforms, such as competence, trustworthiness or friendliness (Clarke et al, 2019; Bauer et al, 2020).”

Cooper, K. et al.

How to Measure for Scrubs Before Buying Online

Before buying healthcare and nursing scrubs online, measure your chest/bust, waist, hips, inseam/leg length, arm length, and shoulder width. Different brands’ sizing charts vary, so it is vital to get your own measurements correct before you buy.

Here’s a quick step-by-step guide on how to measure for scrubs, based on my own experience:

1. If you’re measuring by yourself, make sure you do so in front of a mirror. I personally prefer asking for help if possible, so I have a second party to check.

2. Start by measuring your bust or chest. Take your tape measure and wrap beneath your arms, around your chest’s widest point.

3. Next, find your waist. I recommend measuring midway between the bottom of your ribs and the top of your hips for the most accurate figure.

4. Now, measure your hips at the widest point, with your feet together for accuracy.

5. To measure your inseam or leg length, you’ll need the tape to reach from the inseam of your crotch to just below your ankle (by an inch).

6. Next, if you wish, take arm and shoulder measurements. This isn’t vital, but the more measurements you have, the more accurate your fit will be. Start with the tape at one shoulder’s edge, measuring over to the other, straight across.

7. Now, from your shoulder’s outer edge, measure down along the outside of your arm, up to the wrist.

Scrub Size Charts: How to Read Them Correctly

A scrubs sizing guide will inform you of the sleeve size, pant size, and overall length. However, other stats such as bust, hips, and waist are important to look for, as are the fabric type and breathability features.

Brands such as Cherokee and Dickies have different size charts, and they can even vary depending on the look and line. Here’s what to look for and how to read charts regardless of your brand and line:

• Bust, hips, and waist measurements: Brands like Cherokee generally break their scrub sizes down into these key figures, so be sure to have at least these areas measured for the most comfortable fit.

• Sleeve, pant, and overall length: Sleeves and pants can be adjusted (e.g., with hems) if they are too long, so avoid going too short. If you have a small torso, you may wish to opt for petite or S to XXS sizes.

• Types of ‘fit’: Occasionally, scrubs will be available in slim fit (meaning they’re sleek and fit your form) or relaxed fit (which is looser and more comfortable).

• Fabric types: Cotton and polyester blends tend to be the most common fabrics used in scrubs manufacturing. Cotton is comfortable and easy to care for, but polyester is more durable and resistant to wrinkling.

• Breathability: Not all scrubs are designed to be completely breathable, so prioritise those that claim they are moisture-wicking to help keep you dry and cool on-shift.

Gender and Fit Variations in Scrubs

Although all bodies are different, some scrubs are designed as unisex (which tend to be looser), women’s (which are usually tailored for hips and waist), and men’s (which account for broader shoulders.

Unisex scrubs are ideal for all, but many choose men’s or women’s so they specifically fit their form. Men’s scrubs tend to be longer than most, and women’s scrub pants typically account for wider hips. Nurses frequently choose gendered options for the most flattering scrubs fits.

As we all have different body shapes, it’s also wise to look for ‘petite’, ‘tall’, or ‘plus-size’ options. Don’t feel bad if you don’t fit a brand’s specific category! Personally, I try to purchase a handful of options to compare and make sure I have the most comfortable and flexible fit.

Tips for Buying Scrubs Online

Before buying scrubs, always read descriptions carefully, compare your measurements with different charts, and don’t be afraid to go one size up or down if your body falls between options.

Read product descriptions carefully

To avoid disappointment and mis-sizing, always make sure you know what you’re buying. Check the measurements listed for the size you’re buying, body types the scrubs are recommended for, and care tips offered by the manufacturer.

Compare measurements with size charts

Don’t just choose an S, M, or XL based on your everyday outfits. Check the measurements you’ve taken against the manufacturer’s size charts, and compare with different brands.

Consider one size up/down if between sizes

You may not fit specific sizes in some scrubs charts, so carefully consider whether to size up or down depending on your fit and flexibility preferences. Again, it’s sometimes worth buying two options if you’re unsure.

Check fabric stretch and material

The stretchier and more durable the fabric of your scrubs, the more forgiving it will be from shift to shift. Don’t simply choose the cheapest materials and blends - think about long-term support and value.

Common Scrub Fit Problems and How to Avoid Them

Many people find their scrubs are too tight in the chest, too loose or long in pants, or that sleeves and legs start bunching up. Unfortunately, you may even experience shrinkage after washing if you don’t care for your uniforms correctly.

Here are some common scrubs concerns and how to avoid them:

• Scrubs too tight in the shoulders or chest: This is often a sign that you need to measure more carefully or size up based on your brand’s sizing chart. Consider returning your top, re-measuring, and re-sizing. 

• Pants too loose or too long: Again, this can happen when you measure incorrectly or size up too much. However, when scrubs are too large or long, you can take them in and up by sewing.

• Sleeves or pant legs bunching: Bunching and tangling can occur when you mix your washing loads. Try to wash your scrubs in separate bags or loads, and if at all possible, turn them inside out to  protect the fabric.

• Shrinkage after washing: Many scrub materials shrink in the wash, and it’s largely due to using too high a temperature. Consider washing cottons in cold water and being as gentle as possible. Air-dry your fabrics and fold and store carefully.

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re just getting started in healthcare or need a new uniform, it’s always worthwhile consulting a scrubs sizing guide to make sure you get a comfortable, flexible, professional fit.

Be sure to check out our scrubs lines and different sizing guides to see what to measure for before you buy!

Sources

Cooper, K. et al. (2024). A scoping review exploring people’s perceptions of healthcare uniforms. In British Journal of Nursing. https://www.britishjournalofnursing.com/content/professional/a-scoping-review-exploring-people-s-perceptions-of-healthcare-uniforms

How to Find The Perfect Flattering Scrubs. (n.d.). In Medshop Australia. Retrieved January 25, 2026, from https://www.medshop.com.au/blogs/news/flattering-scrubs

How to Wear Scrubs? (n.d.). In Medshop Australia. Retrieved January 25, 2026, from https://www.medshop.com.au/blogs/news/how-to-wear-scrubs

Nursing Scrubs Australia - Professional Scrubs. (n.d.). In Medshop Australia. Retrieved January 25, 2026, from https://www.medshop.com.au/collections/nursing-scrubs-uniforms

Scrub Sale Australia. (n.d.). In Medshop Australia. Retrieved January 25, 2026, from https://www.medshop.com.au/collections/scrubs-sale