So, for reference, I am about 5'4" though I like to say 5'5" and unfortunately, kinda a bigger guy. I'm working on that part, but in the meantime, I am stuck in larger sized shirts. It doesn't help that I still have an intact chest that is kinda large, so in order to wear button down shirts that fit in the chest I am probably ordering a size larger than I normally would, even with binding.

Problem is the shirts are a bit baggy in other places. The arm length especially is super long, and the sleeves cover the tips of my fingers. Question is, it is because I am wearing shirts that are too big to cover other areas, or are shirts fit for guys always going to have super long sleeves on my frame? I was wondering if guys in my height range (assuming arm length is proportional to leg length) also have this problem, or is this something I can expect to go away once I lose weight/have chest surgery and go down a few sizes in button down shirts.

TLDR summary -do guy's size M and L shirts have shorter arms then XL and 2X, or is arm length of shirts just standard?

I think it depends on where you buy them, and how the shirts are sized. They can be small-medium-large, or sized by the neck and sleeve length. My dad can only shop at certain department stores that carry his size. He has a 17" neck (which I believe is XL), but a rather short sleeve length (32?). Though he has the additional problem of also being skinny, so he only buys a certain brand that comes in slim fit with the large neck. I'm the opposite: 5' 10" with long limbs. I wear a 14" neck (small) with longer sleeves.

tl;dr: Shop around, and pay attention to the way things are sized. I'm sure that shirts exist that will fit you.

thank you very much for your reply. So, I guess for nice button downs used with slacks and jackets, it is possible to select arm length sizes in the shirts. that's very good news. Then, for everyday casual button downs I order online, I'll just keep hoping that when I go down in sizes the arm length will start to match, or I'll just keep rolling my sleeves up.

maybe there is something to be said for only wearing sweaters and hoodies until then.

There are lots of nice shirts that have a collar measurement and sleeve measurement would fit way better than small, medium, large. I bought a Sean John shirt which seems to be cut a bit wider than other brands. Also, slim fits are where you can get cooler designs usually but never fit bigger guys. My size is 16.5 inches and 32 inch sleeve and I'm 5'2

There are places online where you put in your measurements and get a shirt custom made for your measurements. I know one site offers a $20 shirt for your first time so you know how it works and what you get.

i think its just cause your buying a bigger size to cover other areas i have the exact opposite problem to fit my torso i need a smaller size but then the arms are way to short. i have a short torso and long limbs.

I'm 5'5 and 200 pounds. I wear an L or XL and the sleeves are too long. The sleeves on shirts sized like that stops where my thumb comes out of hand when the cuff is buttoned. This makes it bunch up the arm.  Yes it looks bad, some guys wear it like that anyway. If your had is too small to stop the sleeve on a larger shirt then you are probably going to have to stick to shirts that are sized like this.

My shirt has an L for large, but not all shirts will have that and will just use numbers. The 16-16 1/2 is the neck and the 32/33 is the sleeve.



I will still buy and wear shirts that you can't pick the the sleeve length.

I just flip the cuff up.


Or roll the cuff up


Or get no sleeves




TLDR- M and L has shorter sleeves than XL or 2X.