Short answer: Choose a similar shirt that already fits well, lay it flat without stretching it, and compare its measurements with the same fields on Dawson's live size chart. Use the chart for the exact garment type you plan to order, because its labels and proportions can differ by style. Dawson's public guidance is unisex S–5XL with about a 1-inch (2.5 cm) production tolerance.
Use the live chart as the measurement authority
Do not rely on remembered measurements, an old screenshot, or another brand's size label. A medium from one garment is not a universal physical size. Open Dawson's current chart while measuring and select the table for the garment shown on the product page.
The chart provides flat-lay garment dimensions. That means the safest comparison is garment to garment, not a body measurement forced into a clothing table. It also means you should not assume that a field called “width,” “chest,” or “bust” has the same relationship across every garment category. Follow the labels in the relevant live table and compare like with like.
This guide intentionally does not repeat the chart's numeric rows. Keeping the live chart as the source avoids creating a second set of measurements that could become outdated.
Make a useful flat-lay comparison
Use a shirt that is close to the garment type being ordered and fits the way the rider wants the new item to fit. A favorite fitted polo is a better reference for another polo than an oversized hoodie. Then:
- Fasten or arrange the garment as it would normally be worn.
- Lay it on a flat surface and smooth ordinary wrinkles without pulling the fabric.
- Use a flexible measuring tape and take only the dimensions named in the relevant Dawson table.
- Measure from the same garment points implied by those labels and keep the tape straight.
- Write the results down before opening another rider's row.
- Compare the results with the live chart and choose the closest preferred fit, allowing for the published tolerance.
Do not stretch a knit shirt while measuring. Do not measure one side at an angle. Most importantly, do not double or halve a chart value based on an assumption about circumference; compare a flat garment directly with the flat-lay field shown for that style.
Account for the production tolerance
Dawson advises allowing about 1 inch (2.5 cm) of variation in actual garment dimensions. That is a production tolerance, not an instruction to add exactly one inch to every measurement or a guarantee that every garment will vary in the same direction.
If the reference garment is already uncomfortably tight, matching its dimensions is unlikely to create a looser fit. If it is deliberately oversized, decide whether that extra room is part of the desired result. Use the chart to make that fit preference explicit rather than expecting a size letter to decide it for you.
When a rider falls between two chart choices, there is no single honest rule for every body and garment. Compare both options against the reference shirt, consider whether the rider prefers closer or roomier clothing, and record the choice they approve.
Use the table for each garment type
The Dawson size chart has a separate table for each garment, and the measurements differ between styles. A size that fits well in a t-shirt may fit differently in a polo or a hoodie.
Do not carry one garment's size choice over to a t-shirt, long sleeve, polo, tank top, sweatshirt, hoodie, or zip hoodie. Use the relevant garment table for each. Likewise, garment mixing is available only on products that expose those choices; selecting a size does not create a garment option that is absent from the product page.
Size each rider instead of the team average
Dawson supports per-rider sizes, names, and numbers, so a coordinator does not need to force the whole roster into one size. Add one row per person and record:
- the exact product and available garment option;
- the rider's chosen unisex size from S–5XL;
- the reference garment used;
- the date the rider confirmed the choice; and
- the exact printed name and number paired with that size.
Have each rider confirm their own row before checkout. This is especially useful when two people share a surname, when a number changed during the season, or when the roster includes several garment variants from an selected product.
Recheck sizing before approving the order
There is no minimum order, but that flexibility does not remove the need for a final audit. On each Dawson jersey page, each team member's garment and size are selected individually. Compare the cart or order details with the locked roster before submitting, then check the emailed artwork proof before printing for the correct names and numbers.
Personalized non-faulty products cannot be returned or exchanged for a change of mind or a customer selection error. Read the current refund policy before ordering, particularly if a deadline makes a replacement impractical. Wrong, damaged, or defective products follow a separate claim process.
Sizing also affects order timing. Published estimates are 3–5 business days for production plus 7–15 business days for U.S. transit, shipped by third-party fulfillment partners that may be outside the United States. These are estimates rather than delivery guarantees; the live shipping policy has the current terms.
Final sizing checklist
Before placing a custom jersey order, confirm that every rider has:
- used the current chart for the actual garment type;
- compared a similar, well-fitting garment while it was laid flat;
- allowed for about 1 inch (2.5 cm) of production tolerance;
- checked the table for the exact garment they are ordering;
- selected a unisex size from S–5XL; and
- approved the size beside the correct name and number.
Dawson's FAQs summarize the available sizes, personalization, proof, minimum-order, and shipping answers. The live chart and a real garment comparison remain the best starting point for choosing a size without inventing precision that the product does not promise.