What Size Lab Coat Does a Year 10 Student Need? (Parent's Guide)

For a Year 10 student, the short answer is: most fit an M (58cm chest) or L (60cm chest) lab coat. Our Sizing Chart maps M to Year 9–10 and L to Year 11–12, so Year 10 is the last year of the "middle" sizes for most students — and the right coat here often carries them through to the end of school.

M or L? How to Decide

• M (58cm chest, 103cm length) if your child is still comfortably in the coat they wore in Year 9 — loose over the school shirt, sleeves past the wrist bone, hem at or just above the knee
• L (60cm chest, 107cm length) if that coat is now snug across the chest or short in the sleeve, or your child is one of the taller students in their year

Between the two? Go up, not down. A lab coat is made to fit loose, and a generous fit is safe and comfortable.

The 2-Minute Check (No Measuring Tape Needed)

Compare a garment your child already wears over other clothes:

1. Lay it flat on a table
2. Measure armpit to armpit (chest) and top of collar to hem (length)
3. Match the numbers to the Sizing Chart — every size from XXS to 3XL, plus sleeve measurements

One Question Worth Asking Before You Order: Will It Last to Year 12?

Plenty of parents ask whether a Year 10 coat will see their child through to the end of school. The honest answer: it depends on the growth still to come. If your child has largely finished growing, a well-fitting coat bought in Year 10 can absolutely last — our coats are made from a durable 220gsm poly-cotton that stands up to years of weekly science classes.

If there's a growth spurt still in the pipeline (worth asking them — they usually know), buying the L instead of the M is the sensible hedge: one size of growing room without sleeves that get in the way of practical work. Don't go further than one size up.

And if the coat makes it to Year 11 but not Year 12, replacing it is straightforward — our guide to when to replace a lab coat covers the signs.

Check Your School's Booklist First

If your school is supplied by us, its page on Booklisted Schools shows the exact coat, colour, and size range the school has chosen. Many schools specify sizes by year level — that's the fastest answer when it's available.

Common Parent Questions

My child is in Year 10 but small for their age. Can they stay in an S?

Absolutely — the year mapping is a starting point, not a rule. If an S (56cm chest) still fits loosely over their school uniform, it's the right size. The Sizing Chart measurements are the real answer, and they're the same price.

Senior students get longer practicals. Does that change anything?

It doesn't change the size, but it's the reason fit matters more from Year 10 up: longer sessions mean more reaching, pouring and writing in the coat. A coat that's snug becomes a daily irritation — another reason to go up, not down.

How much does a Year 10 lab coat cost?

$24 ex GST in white, $27 in navy, every size XXS to 3XL at the same price.

What if I get the size wrong?

Free size exchanges within 7 days — see our Returns & Exchanges page.

Where to Next

Browse the Shop, check Booklisted Schools, or read the complete guide: What Size Lab Coat Does My Child Need? (Year 7–12). Sizing questions? Contact us — we're happy to help.