How do plate carrier and plate sizes compare to T shirt sizes?

With out having Plates and carriers to try on, can you guys help me find the right size?

T shirt sizes and how they fit are below.
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XXL. is what i wear every day i like them loose.

XL. fits well and it slightly loose.

L. Fits very tightly on my arms. Tightly hug's the unflattering gut That i'm working on getting rid of and failing horribly at.

M. Will bust the seam's.



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In before the fatty hate.

Plate carriers are sized according to the size of the plates they carry.

And clearly there's some magic way you find out what size you get with out buying 1 of each.

Yeah. Look up plate sizes, measure your torso front with attention to where your vitals are.
Then, pick the plate size that provides optimum protection (usually the smallest size that will completely cover heart, lungs, aorta, etc.) and pick a carrier scaled for that size plate, plus backers if you want or if the plate is an in-conjunction rated type.

Done.

ETA: as a reference on what plates should be covering: Proper wear of Hard Armor, with anatomical diagrams

Plates should be sized to protect your internal organs, not your whole body. So even if you are overweight your organs are in the same place despite being covered with layers if fat. I would however recommend loosing some weight as a beer belly will prevent plates from siting properly and in general is good for health.  As for sizing you want the plate to just cover each nipple, the top should almost be level with your collar bone and the bottom of the plate should not dig into your hips or get pushed up when you sit down. As doe the shirt size reference im 6' tall, 200 lbs, wear size large tshirts and wear a large armor carrier, large ESAPI and large BALCS.

Someone just help the poor guy out and give him the sizes
per wiki:


Measure your guts (see the "Proper wear of Armor" thread) and get the smallest plate that'll still cover them.
Me personally, I'm a Med-reg guy (small-long on occasion) and my large plates are juuuust too big in the front.