# What LT and XLT Mean: Tall Sizing Explained Source: https://tallfolkpicks.com/blog/tall-sizing-lt-xlt-inseam-explained Published: 2026-07-24 Updated: 2026-10-02 Publisher: Tall Folk Picks The T in LT and XLT stands for Tall: Large Tall and Extra Large Tall keep the same chest or waist as regular sizes but add length through the body, sleeves, and legs. Inseam (crotch seam to hem) is the key pants number, often 34 to 38+ inches for tall shoppers, listed as the second figure in sizes like 36x34. Sleeve length on dress shirts is the second number after neck size, such as 16/35. Favour T sizes when your width is average but your length is long. Tall sizing has its own vocabulary, and once you understand it, shopping gets much simpler. The letters and numbers on tall labels are not random. They describe how much extra length a garment carries and where that length lives on your body. ## What the T in LT and XLT means The T in sizes like LT and XLT simply stands for Tall. So LT means Large Tall and XLT means Extra Large Tall. These sizes keep roughly the same chest or waist measurement as their regular counterparts but add length through the body and sleeves. That is why an LT shirt fits a large chest while staying long enough to stay tucked. ## Why tall sizing exists as its own category Tall sizing exists because scaling a regular size up in every direction does not work for a long frame. Someone can have an average chest but a long torso and long arms. Tall cuts add inches where a taller person needs them, in the sleeves and the shirt body, without ballooning the width. ## Inseam: the measurement that matters most for pants Inseam is the measurement that matters most for pants. It runs from the crotch seam down to the bottom of the leg. A 34 inch inseam means the leg is 34 inches long. Taller people often need inseams of 34, 36, or more, and many standard ranges stop short of that. ## Reading a pant size like 36 x 34 When you read a pant size like 36 x 34, the first number is the waist and the second is the inseam. Getting the inseam right is what keeps your pants from looking too short. If a brand only offers one length, check whether they sell an unfinished or long version. ## Sleeve length on dress shirts Sleeve length works similarly for dress shirts, often listed as a neck size paired with a sleeve measurement such as 16 to 35. The second number is the sleeve length in inches, measured from the center back to the cuff. ## Putting the terms to use Knowing these terms turns a confusing label into useful information. Match your inseam, sleeve, and torso measurements to the numbers on the chart, favor T sizes when your width is average but your length is long, and you will order correctly far more often. ## Frequently asked questions What does LT mean in clothing sizes? Large Tall. It keeps the same chest or waist measurement as a regular Large but adds length through the body and sleeves for a longer torso and arms. What is inseam and why does it matter for tall people? The measurement from the crotch seam to the bottom of the trouser leg. Taller people often need inseams of 34, 36, or more, and many standard ranges stop short of that. How do I read a pant size like 36x34? The first number is the waist and the second is the inseam. Getting the inseam number right is what keeps pants from looking too short. What does the second number in a dress shirt size mean? The sleeve length in inches, measured from the center back to the cuff, for example the 35 in a 16/35 shirt size.