When sizing a counter coat, buyers should take into account a variety of measurements and factors that allow them to choose a coat with a balance of comfort and functionality.
- A well-fitted and well-sized coat appears much more pleasing to the eye, but it also offers better protection from spills, biohazards, or unexpected chemical reactions.
- Pockets – Buyers need to have several tools and references on hand while at work, they should consider the effect this has on the fit of their lab coat. As many coats are equipped with several outer and inner pockets that often see heavy use, buyers should remember that when full, these make the coat much tighter than when empty. Therefore, some professionals opt for a slightly oversized or loose-fitting coat to account for this. It keeps the coat comfortable even when packed to the brim with notebooks, pencils, goggles, and the like.
- Work Environment and daily situations of each buyer should factor heavily into the sizing of a lab coat. Buyers should ensure that their coats have sufficiently long sleeves to cover any exposed skin, protecting it from potentially harmful chemicals or contaminants while on the job. They also must be able to comfortably button, zip, or snap closed the front of their coats; without this, the lab coat begins to lose its effectiveness and very purpose.
- How to choose your medical coat size? Men's sizes are based on standard suit or sports coat sizes. Women's sizes are based on standard dress sizes. Buyers should seek out coats that extend farther down past the hips to cultivate the classic medical appearance. 6 feet or under height people may look for regular normal size or slightly shorter in the arms. Over 6 feet tall people should look for a long or tall size lab coat.
- How to size men or unisex lab coats? Men should generally use suit jacket measurements to size their lab coats. They can either look for their size on the inside of a jacket or suit their already own, or can measure by hand. To do so, consumers must use a flexible measuring tape to measure the circumference of their chest. They should place the tape under the armpits and wrap it around the shoulder blades in the back to account for the widest part of their torso; this is often easier with the help of a second person.
- How to size women's lab coats? Women buyers should use their dress size to determine their coat size. If buyers measure themselves, they should ensure that they wrap the tape measure relatively loosely under their armpits, over the shoulder blades, and across the front of their chest. Measuring around the hips also helps to ensure a good fit, as some coats are cut to fit the contours of the body.
- How to measure your sleeve length: Stand straight with your arms hanging loosely at your sides. Have a second person measure from the back of the neck in the midline where the coat and the collar meet, over the shoulder, and down the arm to the wrist where you want the sleeve to end.
- How to measure your coat length: Stand straight with your arms hanging loosely at your sides. Have a second person measure from the back of the neck in the midline where the coat and the collar meet, and straight down the back to where you would like the coat to end.
- How to measure your circumference: Wrap a tape measure around the widest part of your body (typically the hip or chest area). Allow 2-4 extra inches for the coat to hang loosely away from the body and allow you to comfortably button the coat and put things in your pockets.