T-Shirt Sizing
Updated 2026-08-09
INTRODUCTION
English translation pending.
CORE DEFINITION
T-shirt sizing replaces numeric estimates with coarse size labels, typically XS through XXL, when information is still too thin for precise figures. A team agrees roughly what each size band covers, then labels every item, which supports scheduling and bucketting without pretending to an accuracy the data cannot support. The technique trades resolution for speed and consensus, and the labels are usually converted into story points once enough information has accumulated.
SCAFFOLDING EFFECT
Reduce cognitive load
- Use size banding: agree on what each T-shirt size band roughly covers in terms of effort. - Use rapid labelling: have the team label every backlog item with a single size. - Use later refinement: convert the sizes into story points once enough information allows that.
Anchor fast decisions
Coarse size labels stand in for numbers when information is too thin for precision. Agreeing the bands, labelling every item, and deferring conversion to points reduces estimation anxiety and the false precision of early guesses, letting a team reach consensus quickly and schedule at an appropriate level of resolution.
MINIMUM ACTION
In progress 0/1Practice this model in one real situation:
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Source support: Explicit
- en.wikipedia.orghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planning_pokerverified
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