November 2, 2026 7 min read

Castelli Sizing Guide: How Castelli Fits and Which Size to Buy

Short answer: Castelli is cut close, so measure yourself and use the Castelli chart rather than your usual T-shirt size. Jerseys are sized by chest, shorts and bibshorts by hips, gloves by hand circumference, and socks and shoe covers by shoe size. If you fall between two sizes, Castelli's advice is to order the larger one. Race-cut pieces such as the Free Aero Race feel tighter than endurance and entry pieces in the same size.

Castelli, the Italian brand with the scorpion logo, makes some of the best-fitting cycling kit available, but its sizing catches out many first-time buyers. A medium Castelli jersey is smaller than a medium casual shirt, and the fit changes between the race, endurance and entry ranges. This guide brings every Castelli size chart together and explains how each kind of garment should fit.

How Castelli sizing works
How to measure yourself
Men's sizes
Women's sizes
Gloves, socks and shoe covers
Race, endurance and entry fits
Between sizes
FAQ
Getting help

How Castelli sizing works

Sizes are based on body measurements, not garment measurements. The chart tells you which size fits a body with that chest or hip measurement.
The fit is close. Cycling kit is meant to sit against the skin without flapping, and Castelli's Italian cut is slimmer than casual clothing. Many riders end up one size larger than their usual T-shirt size, but the chart, not the label, should decide.
Men's and women's sizes are different charts. Women's kit is cut for a different shape, not simply scaled down, so a woman should use the women's chart even for unisex-looking pieces.
Tops and bottoms are sized separately. It is common to wear a medium jersey with large bibshorts, or the reverse.

How to measure yourself

Use a soft tape measure, measure over underwear or close-fitting clothes, and keep the tape level and snug but not tight.

Chest: around the fullest part of your chest, under your armpits, with your arms relaxed at your sides.
Waist: around your natural waistline, keeping the tape slightly loose.
Hips: around the widest part of your hips and seat, with your feet together.
Inseam: from the crotch seam to the ankle bone, easiest measured on a pair of trousers that fit you well. It matters for bibtights and longer shorts.
Hand: around your hand across the knuckles, not including the thumb.

Men's sizes

Tops (jerseys, jackets, gilets and base layers), sized by chest:

Size	Chest (cm)	Waist (cm)
XS	88	76
S	92	80
M	96	84
L	100	88
XL	105	93
2XL	110	98
3XL	115	103

Bottoms (shorts, bibshorts and bibtights), sized by hips:

Size	Hips (cm)	Inseam (cm)
XS	90	81
S	94	82
M	98	83
L	102	84
XL	107	85
2XL	112	86
3XL	117	87

Full charts with inch conversions: Castelli men's tops and Castelli men's bottoms.

Women's sizes

Tops, sized by chest:

Size	Chest (cm)	Waist (cm)
XS	79	63
S	84	68
M	89	73
L	94	78
XL	99	83

Bottoms, sized by hips:

Size	Hips (cm)	Inseam (cm)
XS	87	75
S	92	76
M	97	77
L	102	78
XL	107	79

Full charts: Castelli women's tops and Castelli women's bottoms.

Gloves, socks and shoe covers

Gloves, sized by hand circumference across the knuckles:

Size	Men (cm)	Women (cm)
XS	Under 18.4	Under 16.6
S	18.4 to 20.3	16.6 to 18.4
M	20.3 to 22.2	18.4 to 20.2
L	22.2 to 24.1	20.2 to 22
XL	24.1 to 26	Over 22
2XL	Over 26

Fingerless summer gloves such as the Arenberg Gel 2 should feel snug across the palm, with the padding sitting under the base of your palm, not your fingers. See the Castelli gloves size chart.

Socks, sized by shoe size (EU):

Size	Men (EU)	Women (EU)
S/M	36 to 39	35 to 38
L/XL	40 to 43	39 to 41
2XL	44 to 47

Shoe covers, sized by the shoe size of your cycling shoes (EU): S 36 to 39, M 40 to 42, L 43 to 44, XL 45 to 46 and 2XL 46 to 48. If you are on the boundary, or your shoes are bulky with a large dial, take the larger size. See the socks and shoe covers charts.

Race, endurance and entry fits

The same size fits differently across Castelli's ranges, because each is cut for a different riding position.

Range	Examples	How it fits
Race	Free Aero Race	Compressive and close, cut for a low, stretched-out position. Feels tight standing up, which is intended.
Performance	Competizione, A Tutta jersey	Race-derived fabrics with a slightly more forgiving fit, for fast group rides and training.
Endurance	Endurance 3	Shaped for a more upright position and long hours, with a softer compression.
Entry	Entrata 2, Evoluzione	The most relaxed Castelli fit, and the easiest place to start if you are new to close-fitting kit.

Whatever the range, the fit should be judged on the bike. A jersey should lie flat against your back without fabric flapping, and its hem should not ride up when you reach for the bars. Shorts and bibs should keep the pad in place without the straps digging into your shoulders. Our guide to choosing bibshorts explains how a good pair should fit and what separates a good chamois.

Between sizes

Castelli's own advice is to order the larger size when your measurements fall between two.
For jerseys, go by chest first. If your chest is a medium but your waist is a large, a large will be more comfortable on the bike, where the hem sits around your stomach.
For shorts and bibshorts, go by hips. Then check the straps: if they pull hard on your shoulders when you stand upright, you need the larger size, especially if you are tall for the size.
For race pieces, riders who want maximum compression sometimes stay in the smaller size. Only do this if you are right on the line, and never if the straps or hem feel restrictive in the riding position.
Tall or long in the body? Size up in jerseys and bibshorts. Extra length matters more than a slightly loose waist.

See all Castelli kit. Our Castelli care guide explains how to wash it so it keeps its fit.

FAQ

Does Castelli run small?

Compared with casual clothing, yes: Castelli uses a close Italian cycling cut, so a Castelli medium is smaller than a medium T-shirt, and many riders who choose by their usual clothing size find the kit too tight and end up one size larger once they measure themselves against the Castelli chart. Compared with other premium cycling brands, it is broadly in line. Always measure rather than guess.

Should I size up in Castelli bibshorts?

Size up if your hip measurement falls between two sizes on the Castelli chart, if you are tall for your size, or if the shoulder straps pull hard when you stand upright, because short straps drag the shorts upward and press the chamois into you on the bike, which causes discomfort on long rides. Otherwise, choose the size your hips indicate. Bibshorts should feel snug standing and right on the bike.

Is Castelli women's sizing the same as men's?

No, Castelli women's kit has its own chart and its own cut, with a different relationship between chest, waist and hips and, in shorts and bibs, a women-specific chamois, so a woman should never convert from the men's chart by dropping a size, as the fit across the hips and shoulders will be wrong. Measure and use the women's chart. A women's M has an 89cm chest and 97cm hips.

How should a Castelli jersey fit?

A Castelli jersey should feel close to the body, lying flat against your chest and back without wrinkles or fabric flapping in the wind, with the sleeves sitting snug on the arms and the hem gripper staying at your waist when you reach for the bars instead of riding up your back. Check it in your riding position, not standing. Race jerseys fit tighter than performance ones.

Can I return Castelli kit if the size is wrong?

Yes, apparel that does not fit can be returned within 7 days of delivery, as long as it is unused, still has its original tags and packaging, and was not discounted by more than 5%, with return shipping arranged and paid by you, and you can choose full store credit or a refund less gateway and shipping charges. Try it on indoors before removing the tags. Our refund policy has the full conditions.