Women's Wetsuit Fit Guide

For all you ladies that want to surf in an area where a wetsuit is necessary, there is a suit out there for you! You might be thinking, how do I find a suit that fits my odd waist, my flat chest, my broad shoulders, or my short legs? Sizing for a wetsuit can be overwhelming with the many different brands and styles to choose from, but with the right information, it doesn’t have to be. That's why we've created this comprehensive guide to help women find the best size and brand for them.

For us ladies, before you select a size, it’s really important to know your height, weight, chest, and waist measurements. It might not be such a big deal for men, but with our curvy bodies, those measurements are crucial in finding the best fit. Having a proper fitting suit makes all the difference in staying out in the water longer and catching more waves!

The ladies of Cleanline have generously offered to help with this guide to give you a complete overview of how various brands and types of suits fit differently. We took our measurements, looked at the size charts, tried on 2-4 suits in the size that were recommended by the chart, and then gave feedback on how the wetsuits fit. For this guide, we tried on Roxy, Patagonia, Rip Curl, Hotline, O’Neill, and Billabong wetsuits.

Before we go into the fit differences between wetsuit brands, let's first go over some commonly asked questions:

Women's Wetsuit FAQ

How do you measure for a women’s wetsuit?

• Chest: measure around the fullest part of your chest
• Waist: measure around the natural waistline
• Hip: Measure around the fullest part of your bottom at the top of your legs
• Height: Measure from top of head to bottom of feet
• Weight: In pounds

Why isn’t my clothing size the same as my wetsuit size?

Wetsuit sizing runs completely differently than clothing sizing! Some wetsuit brands start at size “2” and work up from there, whereas other brands start at size “4”. Many clothing brands start at size “0”. Don’t be surprised if you wear a size 4 jean but end up being a size 8 wetsuit!

What’s the difference between women’s and men’s wetsuits?

The cut of men’s and women’s suits have noticeable differences. Women’s suits are cut to accommodate our curvy bottoms, chest, and narrower shoulders. Men’s suits are cut more in a rectangular shape with more room in the crotch, which can be tight-fitting for that region for the ladies. There are RARE cases where a rectangle-shaped lady with a slender body and a smaller chest fits better in a men’s suit vs a women’s suit.

Do you wear anything under a wetsuit?

A bathing suit is typically worn under a wetsuit. Going commando is a personal preference! My advice: err on the side of caution and protect the goods with bikini bottoms.

How snug should a wetsuit fit?

Generally, a wetsuit should fit snugly, like a second skin, but not so tight that your range of motion is limited. The sleeves (if full-length) should fall at the wrist bone and the legs just above the ankle bone, and there should be no gaps, pockets, or rolls of neoprene. Wetsuits fit more snugly than clothing. Wetsuits are meant to be form-fitting. You don’t want loose folds of neoprene or large pockets of air or water in your wetsuit.

Do wetsuits stretch out?

It is important to understand that after a wetsuit gets wet, it will loosen up and feel more comfortable. After a few sessions, neoprene will develop “memory” and conform to your body even better. One thing that you may find unusual is the extra neoprene in the armpit of a wetsuit. This is a raglan gusset, and you’ll find it in every wetsuit out there. Since 90% of surfing is paddling, wetsuit manufacturers use this gusset to prevent fatigue and increase the range of motion.

I have long hair; will it fit in a hood?

The best way to keep hair out of the way and tucked in a hood is either braiding it or putting it in a low bun. With a bun on top of my head, it causes too much pressure with it being tucked under the hood.

Alright, now that we've covered the basics, here are the fit differences between the wetsuit companies.

Fit of Billabong Wetsuits

General Fit: True to size fit with a slightly wider cut to the neoprene, which results in a good fit for ladies with a few curves (or for short ladies like me with a soccer body and muscular quads).

Fit for Sarah - Billabong Size 8

Fit for Jamie - Billabong Size 8

Fit of Rip Curl Wetsuits

General fit: Rip Curl has a longer torso and legs with a smaller fit throughout the suit. Because of the smaller fit, in most cases, you might consider sizing up if in between sizes.

Rip Curl makes some models in 6T, 8T, and 10T for you taller ladies!

Fit for Jamie - Dawn Patrol Size 10

Fit for Hayley - Flashbomb Size 8

Fit for Sarah - Flashbomb Size 8

Fit for Mckenna - Dawn Patrol Size 8T

Fit of O'Neill Wetsuits

General fit: Fits true to size. Ladies with bigger curves or very tall stature tend to fit well because of the type of neoprene and cut. Want to be centered or at the higher end of the weight range. Makes some models in 6S, 8S, 8T, 10S, and 10T.

Fit for Hayley - Psychotech Size 8

Fit for Sarah - Psychotech Size 8S

Fit for Makenna - Psychotech Size 8T

Fit of Patagonia Wetsuits

General fit: true to size, Yulex rubber runs stiffer compared to other neoprene rubbers, so if in between sizes, go with the bigger one. Makes some models in 8T and 10T for taller ladies.

Fit for Sarah - R4 Size 8

Fit for Hayley - R4 Size 6 and 8

Fit of Roxy Wetsuits

General fit: True to size fit with a longer, feminine cut to the neoprene. Roxy has one of the most feminine cuts to the legs and butt area. Arm length fits a hair on the short side.

Roxy makes some models in 6T, 8T, 10T, and 12T, which is a great option for taller ladies.

Fit for Hayley - Roxy Size 6

Fit for Justine - Roxy Size 8

Fit of Buell Wetsuits

General fit: Buell has a slightly smaller fit throughout the suit - similar to Rip Curl. Because of the smaller fit, you might consider sizing up in most cases if in between sizes.

Buell makes the RB2 models in 6T and 8T for you taller ladies!

Fit for Sarah – Buell Size 8

Fit for Hayley – Buell Size 6

Fit of Hotline Wetsuits

General fit: Hotline has unique sizing, and their suits fit stocky/not average body types well. The zipper system on Ultra Hot Combo works well for surfers with limited shoulder mobility because of the large entry that extends from the mid-upper arm all the way across the chest to the opposite side.

The neat thing about Hotline is that they make custom-sized suits! They can add length to the arms and legs of any of their sizes.

Fit for Sarah – Hotline Size 6

Overall Best-Fitting Size and Brand

Remember, this is only a guide to help you narrow down what brand might fit you best! Based on the suits we tried and our experience in the past, here are the suits that fit us the best.

Mckenna: O’Neill size 8T

Sarah: Billabong size 8 and Patagonia size 8

Hayley: Rip Curl size 8 and O'Neill size 8

Jamie: Rip Curl size 10

Justine: Roxy Syncro size 8

Hopefully, now you have all the information you need to find a suit that fits great for you. If you are unsure or have questions about women's wetsuits or wetsuits in general, call us at 1-888-546-6176 or email us at support@cleanlinesurf.com or leave a comment below.

Other Relevant Fit Guides

• A Woman's Guide To Wetsuit Entries
• Best Wetsuits For Plus Sized Women

Women's Wetsuit Reviews

• Women's Patagonia Yulex Wetsuit Review
• Women's O'Neill Hyperfreak Wetsuit Review
• Women's Buell RB2 Wetsuit Review
• Women's Rip Curl Dawn Patrol Wetsuit Review
• Women's Billabong Furnace Wetsuit Review
• Women's Sisstrevolution Seven Seas Wetsuit Review
• Women's Roxy Swell Wetsuit Review

SHOP OUR 60+ STYLES OF WOMEN'S WETSUITS