Grab the wrong size and you'll know it on the first duck dive — cold water flushing in at the neck before you've even cleared the break. We've been building and fitting wetsuits since 1969, from the cold southern waters of Bells Beach to lineups across the Pacific, and the most common question we hear is: "How do I know I've got the right size?”
This guide answers it. How to measure, how to read our size charts for men, women, and kids, and what a proper fit looks and feels like when you've found it.
Already have your measurements? Head straight to our size guides page. New to wetsuits? Start with our beginner's guide to how wetsuits work.
Why Wetsuit Fit Matters
Your wetsuit keeps you warm by trapping a thin layer of water between the neoprene and your skin. Your body heats that layer, and the suit holds it there. The key word is thin. Too much water circulating inside, caused by a loose seal at the neck, wrists, or ankles, and you'll be cold regardless of how good the neoprene is.
A suit that's too loose creates drag on every paddle stroke. Too tight, and you're fighting restricted breathing and shoulder fatigue before you've made it through the impact zone. The sweet spot is snug: a second skin that moves with you, not against you.
Worth knowing before you size: wetsuit sizing runs differently from clothing sizing. A medium in your boardshorts doesn't mean a medium in a wetsuit. Measure first, then check the chart.
How to Measure for a Wetsuit
Use a soft measuring tape — the kind used for clothing, not the metal retractable from your garage. Have a friend help if you can, and measure in your underwear for accuracy. Here's what you'll need:
- Height: Stand straight against a wall, heels together, and measure from the floor to the top of your head. Height and chest are the two most important measurements for wetsuit sizing.
- Weight: Weight helps narrow options when chest and height point toward different sizes.
- Chest: Wrap the tape around the widest part of your chest, arms relaxed at your sides. Don't flex, and don't hold your breath.
- Waist: Measure at your natural waistline, roughly at belly button level. The tape should feel snug, not tight.
- Hips (women): Measure around the widest point of your hips, feet together.
Pro Tip: If your measurements fall between two sizes, always prioritize the best fit for chest and height. These determine how the suit seals at the neck and arms — the two points where water flushing costs you the most warmth.
Before you start comparing charts, write down your measurements. You'll come back to them.
Rip Curl Wetsuit Size Charts
The charts below are based on Rip Curl's official sizing. For the most current measurements and model-specific details, always reference our size guides page before ordering.
Men's Wetsuit Size Chart
Rip Curl men's wetsuits come in standard and tall (T) variants: ST, MT, and LT. If you run long through the torso or legs within a size range, the tall cut gives you extra length so the suit seals correctly at the ankles and wrists.
For model-specific sizing across thickness variants, visit our Men's Wetsuit Guide.
Women's Wetsuit Size Chart
Rip Curl women's wetsuits are engineered for the female form, not adapted from men's patterns. Bust and hip panels align where they need to, and shoulder width is proportionate. Sizing into a men's suit means panels that don't sit right, which translates directly to heat loss and restricted paddling.
For model-specific fit notes and thickness options, see our Women's Wetsuit Guide.
Kids' & Youth Wetsuit Size Chart
For growing groms, sizing up slightly is fine, but the neck seal still needs to close. A gap at the collar loses warmth faster than extra leg length causes problems. Browse Rip Curl's full collection of Kids' and Teens Wetsuits.
Reading the Rails — Is Your Suit a Good Fit?
Reading the rails is how you judge a wave. It's also how you judge a suit. Run through this five-point check in the change room before you commit.
- Neck seal: Should sit snug with no gap when you lean forward. You can fit two fingers under the collar comfortably. Any more, and water will flush on every duck dive.
- Shoulder movement: Arms overhead, full rotation. No binding, no pulling across the back. Your paddle stroke depends on this.
- Wrist and ankle seal: Sleeves should end at or just above the wrist bone. Legs should fall just above the ankle. No excess material pooling.
- Torso pull: No neoprene bunching at the lower back or behind the knees. The suit should lie flat against your body.
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The squat test: Squat down fully. If the suit binds across the lower back or pulls tight at the knees to the point of discomfort, size up.
If all five pass, you've found your suit.
Between Sizes?
Chest and height over waist and weight. Every time.
The chest and neck seal determine warmth. If your chest measurement puts you at a medium but your waist is pushing toward large, go medium. E7 neoprene has give. A snug waist relaxes after a few sessions. A loose neck seal flushes cold water from the first paddle, and no amount of good neoprene fixes that.
Running long through the torso and legs? Check the ST, MT, and LT tall variants before defaulting to the next size up. They're cut for that body proportion, and the difference in seal at the extremities is real. See the full breakdown at our size guides page.
Still not sure? Come into a Rip Curl store. Our crew knows these suits, and they'll have you sorted before the arvo sesh.
Look After Your Wetty
A suit that's looked after keeps its shape and its fit. A few things that matter:
- Rinse inside and out with fresh water after every session. Salt and sand break down neoprene faster than anything else.
- Store flat or on a wide hanger, never folded on a crease. A sharp fold in neoprene becomes permanent.
- Avoid direct sunlight for storage. UV degrades neoprene faster
Wetsuit Sizing FAQ
What thickness wetsuit do I need for Australian winter?
It depends entirely on your state. Vic and Tas surfers are looking at a 4/3 or 5/4/3 steamer from May through September — Bass Strait in July is not a situation for half-measures. SA surfers typically need a 3/2 or 4/3. WA surfers at exposed south coast breaks like Margaret River should lean toward a 4/3 in winter; the cold bottom-end of 15°C and heavy water movement make a 3/2 a marginal call. NSW crews in Sydney can manage with a 3/2 for most of winter. QLD surfers rarely need more than a springy year-round, though the far south can get cool enough for a light steamer in June and July.
What's the difference between a steamer and a springy?
A steamer is a full-length wetsuit with long arms and long legs. It's what you need for cold water, exposed breaks, and any session where staying warm matters more than unrestricted movement. A springy has short arms or short legs (or both), works well in mild to warm water, and gives you more freedom of movement through the shoulders.
Do I need a different size for a thicker suit?
No — your measurements don't change. But a thicker suit feels more restrictive in the same size, because there's more neoprene to compress. This is why we say snug becomes more important as you move up in thickness. The suit that felt right in a 2/2 springy should feel a bit firmer in a 4/3 steamer. That's normal. Don't size up to get comfortable; the snugness is the point.
My grom grew since last season, should I size up?
Yes, and prioritise height and chest when you do. A little extra room in the body is manageable. A neck seal that doesn't seal, is not. If you're sizing up a full size, make sure the collar still sits snug, even if the legs run a bit long. The warmth loss from a gapping collar will ruin a session faster than extra material anywhere else.
Can I use the same wetsuit year-round in Australia?
Depends entirely on where you surf. Vic surfers almost always need two suits: a summer springy or shorty and a winter steamer. The roughly 8°C swing between Vic's summer and winter water temps isn't something one suit bridges well. QLD surfers may genuinely only need one springy for the whole year. NSW sits somewhere in between; you can get by with a versatile 3/2 steamer for much of the year if you're in Sydney, though some surfers prefer a lighter suit in the summer months.
Find Your Suit. Find The Search.
The size question has an answer. It starts with your measurements, runs through your local water temperature, and ends with a Rip Curl suit that disappears on your body when the set swings wide, and you're paddling hard. Browse the full range in our men's wetsuits, women's wetsuits, and kids' and teens wetsuits, or head to our size guides page to cross-reference your measurements with current models.