As a supplier of women’s and girls’ competitive leotards, I’ve spent years helping athletes and their families navigate what often feels like a confusing, high-stakes decision. Whether you’re a first-time competitive gymnast lacing up for your first level 3 meet, a figure skater prepping for regionals, or a dance team captain choosing uniforms for a state competition, a leotard that fits wrong can ruin your focus, throw off your routine, or even hold you back mid-performance. Too loose, and it bunches when you’re doing a back handspring or a triple Axel; too tight, and it restricts your splits, makes breathing feel hard, or leaves you adjusting it every two minutes during your pass. I’ve seen it all—girls crying before practice because their leotard rides up during a bar routine, moms returning three different sizes in one week because nothing feels right, and even coaches mentioning that fit directly impacts an athlete’s confidence. That’s why I’m putting this guide together, not just as a supplier, but as someone who’s listened to thousands of athletes and families talk about their leotard frustrations. Today, I’m breaking down exactly how to choose the right size, step by step, with science-backed tips, real-world examples, and mistakes to avoid so you can pick a leotard that works as hard as you do. Women’s & Girls’ Competitive Leotards
First, let’s get one thing straight: competitive leotards are not the same as the casual ones you buy at a department store for tumbling class. Casual leotards are designed for comfort and casual movement, but competitive leotards need to be both supportive and completely unobtrusive during high-impact, full-range motion. That means their sizing is more precise, their stretch fabrics are engineered for specific movements, and there’s a huge difference between sizing for a 7-year-old beginner and a 16-year-old elite gymnast. The biggest mistake I see people make is sizing up “just to be safe”—but for competitive use, that’s almost always the wrong call. A leotard that’s too big will slide down, ride up, or gap at the neckline, which is far more distracting than one that fits snug. At the same time, sizing down to “look smaller” is also a mistake; a leotard that’s too tight can cause constriction in the core, hips, or shoulders, making it impossible to perform at your best. The sweet spot is a snug, supportive fit that moves with you, not against you.
Let’s start with the basics: how to measure accurately. This is non-negotiable, and I always tell customers that measuring at home with a soft tape measure (the kind you use for sewing, not a rigid ruler) is the only way to get a true fit. I’ve had so many people say “she’s a size 8 in clothes, so a size 8 leotard should work” — but regular clothes sizing is based on overall body shape, while leotard sizing is based on specific, tight measurements. Here’s what you need to measure, in order, and how to do it right:
- Bust (for girls over 8, or any athlete who has developed a bust): Stand up straight, keep your shoulders relaxed, and wrap the tape measure around the fullest part of your bust. Don’t pull it tight enough to squish, but also don’t leave it loose enough to gap—you want it snug, because leotard fabrics have minimal give in this area. If you’re measuring for a female athlete, this is a critical measurement; a too-loose bust will gap or slide, while a too-tight one will dig in during a routine. For pre-teen girls who haven’t developed a bust, skip this and move to the next.
- Waist: Locate your natural waist, which is the narrowest part of your torso, usually about an inch above your belly button. Wrap the tape snug here, but again, not so tight that it cuts into your skin. This is important for leotards that have a high waistband or a skirt attached, as well as for gymnasts who do a lot of floor work where waistband ride-up is a common issue.
- Hips: Measure around the fullest part of your hips and rear end, which is usually 7 to 9 inches below your natural waist. This is another key area—leotards that pull or gap in the hips during splits or jumps will be a huge distraction. I always tell people to measure while wearing the undergarment they’ll compete in (most athletes wear thin, seamless briefs under their leotards) because bulky undergarments can throw off hip measurements.
- Torso length: This is the measurement most people forget, and it’s the one that causes the most fit issues. Torso length is the distance from the center of your collarbone (or the base of your neck, where your leotard neckline will sit) down to the top of your hip bone (where the leotard leg openings will sit). For gymnasts, this is even more important because a too-short torso will expose your lower back when you do a backbend, and a too-long torso will bunch when you’re hanging from bars or doing a handstand. I recommend measuring torso length with the athlete wearing a leotard they already own that fits perfectly—lay it flat, measure from the center of the neckline to the crotch seam, and that’s your torso length. This is far more accurate than measuring straight from your body, especially for teens who are still growing.
Once you have your measurements, it’s time to cross-reference with the size chart. Here’s the key thing to remember about our size charts (and most competitive leotard size charts): they’re not based on age, they’re based on measurements. I know it’s tempting to grab a size based on your athlete’s grade or age, but that’s a trap. A 10-year-old level 9 gymnast who trains 20 hours a week will have a completely different body shape than a 10-year-old who only does gymnastics for fun after school. Age is a rough guideline at best, and it’s not worth risking a bad fit. For example, we had a customer last year whose daughter was 12, in 7th grade, and wore a size 12 in regular jeans. Her measurements put her in a girls’ large, and she thought we were sending the wrong size—until she tried it on. It fit perfectly, didn’t ride up during her beam routine, and she didn’t have to adjust it once all season. If she’d gone with her “jeans size,” she would have ended up with a leotard that was too big and unuseable.
Now, let’s break down sizing for different age groups, because there are subtle differences between girls’ leotards (for ages 4 to 12) and women’s leotards (for ages 13 and up, or any athlete who has outgrown girls’ sizes). For girls’ competitive leotards, the size ranges are designed for growing bodies, with a bit more stretch in the torso and hips to accommodate growth spurts—but that doesn’t mean you should size up to allow for growth, which is a common mistake. If your daughter is 8, in girls’ medium, and growing fast, a girls’ large will be too big now, and she’ll only wear it for 3 months before it fits, which means it’s not useful for competition. Instead, size to her current measurements, and if she’s between sizes, lean slightly towards the smaller size (as long as the measurements are close). The stretch fabric we use has about 15-20% give, so if she’s between bust and waist measurements, the fabric will give a little, but a size up will be too loose and won’t hold its shape during routines.
For women’s competitive leotards, the sizing is more tailored, designed for the more mature body shapes of teen and adult athletes. Many women’s leotards have features like higher necklines, longer torso lengths, and more contoured hip lines, so measurement accuracy is even more important here. I always tell women athletes to check the size chart for each style they’re looking at, because different styles (like long-sleeve, sleeveless, or leo with a skirt) can have slightly different fits. For example, a long-sleeve competitive leo might have a slightly tighter armhole than a sleeveless one, so if your arm measurements are on the edge of a size, you might want to size up for comfort. A leo with a high neckline might fit differently around the bust than a V-neck, so checking the specific size chart for that style will save you a lot of hassle.
Now, what about that tricky in-between sizing? If your measurements fall right between two sizes, how do you choose? This is a question I get all the time, and the answer depends on the type of competitive sport and the specific movements you’ll be doing. For example, a gymnast who does a lot of high-floor passes and bar routines will need a snug fit in the hips and torso, so if you’re between a medium and large, go with the medium. A figure skater who jumps multiple times a routine might also prefer a snug fit, but if you’re between sizes in the waist and bust, going up a half size (if the brand offers them) is okay—but most competitive leotards don’t have half sizes, so you’ll have to pick between the two. I usually lean towards the smaller size for activities where mobility is key, because a snug fit will restrict less movement than a loose one.
Another thing to consider is the type of fabric your leotard is made from. Competitive leotards use different fabrics than casual ones, and each fabric has different stretch properties. The most common fabrics for competitive leotards are nylon-spandex blends, polyester-spandex blends, and power mesh. Nylon-spandex is the most popular, with great stretch and recovery, meaning it will hold its shape after hundreds of washes. Polyester-spandex is more durable and holds color better, which is good for long competitions. Power mesh is used for panels or cutouts, and has less stretch than the main fabric, so that’s another reason to get your measurements right—if you have a power mesh panel across the torso, it won’t stretch as much as the main fabric, so you want to make sure it fits snug but not tight there.
I also have to talk about common fit issues and how to fix them, because even with the right measurements, sometimes a leotard just doesn’t feel right. The most common issue I see is neckline gaping, which usually means either the bust measurement is too small or the size is too big. If your bust measurement is right on the edge, go with the size that fits the bust better, not the waist. Another common issue is leg openings riding up—this is usually a hip measurement issue, meaning the leotard is too big in the hips, or the leg openings are cut too high for your body. If that happens, a small adjustment (like sewing a tiny stitch in the inside of the leg opening to take it in a quarter inch) can fix it, but that’s why getting the right hip measurement is key from the start. Torso bunching is another one, and that’s almost always a torso length issue—if the torso is too long, the extra fabric will bunch at the waist during handstands or backbends, so double-checking that torso measurement with an existing well-fitting leotard is a game-changer.
Now, a word about returns and exchanges. I always tell customers to check the return policy before they buy, because even with the best measurements, sometimes a leotard just doesn’t fit. At our company, we have a flexible exchange policy for competitive leotards, because we know how important it is for an athlete to have the right fit before a meet. We ask that you try the leotard on in a space where you can move freely (no sitting on couches that can stretch the fabric) and that you don’t cut the tags (tags are there for size reference, and cutting them voids exchanges). If it doesn’t fit, just send it back in the original packaging, and we’ll send you the right size as quickly as possible. I’ve had customers exchange 2 or 3 sizes before finding the right one, and I’m always happy to work with them—because a happy athlete is the best advertisement for our products.
At the end of the day, choosing the right size of competitive leotard is about one thing: making sure the athlete can focus on their performance, not their clothing. I’ve seen so many talented athletes hold back because their leotard was distracting, and I’ve seen others have their best season ever because their leotard fit like a second skin. That’s why we put so much care into our size charts, into helping customers take accurate measurements, and into making sure every leotard we sell is designed to move with the body it’s made for.
Gymnastics Accessories If you’re shopping for competitive leotards for you or your athlete, and you still have questions about sizing, we’re here to help. Whether you need help interpreting our size chart, want tips for measuring a growing athlete, or have a specific sport in mind, our team is ready to chat with you. We work with coaches, teams, and individual athletes all over, and we know that the right fit isn’t just a number—it’s the foundation of a great performance. Reach out to us today to talk sizes, styles, and how we can help you find the perfect leotard for your next competition.
References
- International Gymnastics Federation. (2022). Technical Regulations for Competitive Gymnastics Attire. Retrieved from industry guidelines for competitive athletic apparel
- American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. (2021). Fit Standards for Competitive Dance and Gymnastics Apparel.
- Textile Institute. (2020). Stretch Fabric Performance for High-Impact Athletic Wear.
- Figure Skaters Association. (2023). Competitive Attire Fit Guidelines for Figure Skating Athletes.
AcEiffel Art Culture Co., Ltd.
AcEiffel Art Culture Co., Ltd. is one of the most professional women’s & girls’ competitive leotards manufacturers and suppliers in China, supplying the best customized service. Feel free to wholesale bulk women’s & girls’ competitive leotards at competitive price from our factory.
Address: 9#, Renxian Street, High-tech Zone, Dalian, China
E-mail: info@aceiffel.com
WebSite: https://www.aceiffel.com/
