How many of each size? Size distribution for group orders

You won't find the right size distribution for a group by guessing. You find it with a short survey that includes measurements, one shared list and a deadline set well before the order date. Ask this way and you'll order almost exactly what you need, with only a small buffer in the middle sizes.

In group orders for churches, confirmation classes, camps or teams, sizing is the step that most often goes wrong. Yet it's the one step that is entirely in your hands. At Good-Natured we support group orders from 25 pieces, and the tips in this article come from those projects.

1. Why guessing the size distribution goes wrong

Sizes differ a lot between brands. One brand's M is closer to another brand's L. Then there's the cut: with oversized and boxy styles, the extra width is already built in. Someone who normally wears L often fits an oversized shirt in M, and still orders L, sometimes even XL.

An example from our shop: Lys is 1.78 m tall, of average build and wears the United in Christ Oversized Hoodie in M, slightly oversized. Many people of that height would automatically pick L. Every group knows the result of that kind of guessing: too many large pieces, too few medium ones, and a box nobody wants at the end.

When you request group apparel through our B2B page, we talk through cut and fit with you in advance. With the Standard and Premium packages you can also get a physical sample to check the size before ordering.

2. How to collect sizes in a group

Send a measurement chart. Give measured values in centimetres for every size: chest width measured flat and length from the shoulder. Letters alone say too little, because everyone compares them with a different brand.

Add measuring instructions. One sentence is enough: “Take a shirt that fits you well, lay it flat and measure from armpit to armpit.” That way everyone compares a favourite piece with the chart instead of comparing a gut feeling with a letter.

A deadline before the real deadline. If you name the day the order goes out as the deadline, some answers will arrive too late. Build in a few days of slack.

One single list. Not a sheet in the church hall plus a messenger group plus email, but one shared spreadsheet where everyone enters their name, size and, if needed, the style.

For mixed orders, one column per product helps. The 25-piece minimum is freely combinable, so you could order 15 shirts and 10 hoodies, for example. How to plan your shirts overall, from design to timeline, is covered in our guide to church T-shirts.

3. Oversized, boxy or classic: factor in the cut

The size distribution depends heavily on the cut. With classic-fit shirts, a mixed adult group usually clusters around M and L. With wide cuts the distribution shifts down, so more S and M than usual. Youth groups run smaller overall than adult groups.

Many styles in our shop are oversized or boxy, such as the King Of My Heart Oversized T-Shirt (38 €) or the Grace Boxy T-Shirt (38 €). Both come in XS to XXL. If you want to understand the difference between the cuts in more detail, read our article Oversized, boxy or relaxed.

Socks are easier: just ask for shoe size. Group socks come in sizes 35–38, 39–42 and 43–46, and 47–50 on request for a surcharge. The minimum order for socks is 50 pairs.

4. When not everyone replies

It happens in every group. Two approaches work well:

Follow up by name. A list that shows who is still missing works better than three group emails. In a church, a short announcement after the service or at the group meeting often helps.

Buffer instead of guessing. For everyone who hasn't replied, order a few extra pieces in the middle sizes rather than inventing their size. A buffer of around five to ten percent in M and L is a good starting point.

You can keep that buffer small: we can reproduce your apparel as often as you like, with no limit on quantities. Anyone who joins later simply gets their piece with the next order. The normal production time applies to reorders.

5. Timeline: when sizes need to be fixed

A group order at Good-Natured runs in six steps: planning (1–2 weeks), optional sample (2–4 weeks), optional design and approval (2–4 weeks), finalisation with order confirmation and payment (1 week), production and shipping. From design approval, production takes about 4 weeks up to 100 pieces and about 6 weeks from 100 pieces; shipping takes 3–4 working days.

The size list must be complete by finalisation at the latest. With a finished design, plan for about 7–8 weeks in total; with sample and design process, 11–16 weeks (roughly 2 weeks more from 100 pieces). Count back from your target date and run the size survey alongside planning, not at the last minute. Our article on confirmation class shirts shows what this looks like for a youth group.

6. What to do with leftover pieces

A small buffer makes sense; a stockroom doesn't. Leftovers can be sold at the church café, handed to new volunteers or taken along to the next camp, as long as there's no date on the design.

That's why it pays to think ahead when designing: a year group or a motto without a date lasts longer than “Summer Camp 2027”. For the print files themselves, see our article on the logo file for printing.

Conclusion

A good size distribution doesn't need a crystal ball: a measurement chart, measuring instructions, one shared list and an early deadline take ten minutes to prepare and save you the box of leftovers. With wide cuts, plan one size smaller, order a small buffer in M and L, and reorder the rest if needed. At Good-Natured we advise you personally along the way, from choosing the cut to final delivery. You'll find everything about packages, prices and process on our B2B page.