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T-Shirt Size

Overview​

The T-Shirt Size field is a configurable custom field type that helps teams estimate effort quickly by using relative sizes such as XS, S, M, L, and XL. Unlike fixed sizing schemes, admins can define the exact size labels and assign colors that match their team or project conventions.

T-Shirt sizing is a lightweight estimation method. Instead of assigning exact hours or story points too early, teams can compare work items by relative complexity, uncertainty, and effort.

Why use T-Shirt sizing​

  • Faster estimation during planning sessions.
  • Better alignment when exact estimates are not needed yet.
  • Flexible sizing model that can evolve as your team matures.
  • Clear visual communication with color-coded sizes on Jira screens.

Configuration highlights​

After creating the field in Jira Custom fields, admins can configure:

  • Size set: Define the exact list of sizes (for example, XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL or a custom set like Tiny, Small, Normal, Large).
  • Visual colors: Assign a color to each size value for quick recognition.

Inputs and defaults​

  • Size set: Admin-defined labels for relative sizing.
  • Color mapping: Admin-defined color for each label.

Example configuration​

For a product delivery team:

  • Size set: XS, S, M, L, XL
  • Colors: Green for S, Yellow for M, Orange for L, Red for XL

This setup creates a shared visual language for effort during refinement and planning.

Expected result​

  • Users can select one of the configured size labels on issues.
  • The selected value is visible on configured issue screens.
  • JQL queries can filter issues by size value.

Edge cases​

  • JQL must use the exact configured custom field name.
  • Renaming the field requires updating saved filters that reference the old name.

Typical use cases​

  • Product teams running quick backlog refinement.
  • Cross-functional teams that need shared, easy-to-understand effort buckets.
  • Early planning phases before moving to detailed story-point or time-based estimates.

Search with JQL​

You can search issues by this field in JQL. A typical query is:

"T-Shirt size.Size" = "xl"

In this query, T-Shirt size is the custom field name. Since admins can rename the field, use the exact field name configured in your Jira instance.

Create and configure the custom field​

Create and configure your custom field by following the instructions in our Getting Started guide on FieldCraft Custom Field Configuration.