How to Size Hockey Elbow Pads | Fit Checks That Work

Elbow pads that fit wrong do more than annoy you — they leave gaps in protection or lock up your arm when you need to stick-handle. Sizing comes down to two checks: the elbow sits deep in the center cup, and the pad ends near the glove cuff with no bare gap and no overlap that binds. You don’t need a tape measure for the final call — the on-body feel decides it — but a measurement gets you in the right ballpark first.

How To Measure For Hockey Elbow Pads

Every brand’s size chart starts with an arm measurement, and the method varies slightly. Bauer’s approach uses a bent arm: hold your arm at 90 degrees and measure from the point of the elbow to the wrist crease. Other guides prefer a straight arm parallel to the floor, measuring from mid-forearm to mid-bicep. Either way, use a soft tape and take the measurement against bare skin or a thin undershirt — not over bulky gear.

Match that number to the brand’s specific chart. Youth pads typically cover arms 7 to 9 inches, junior sizes 8 to 10 inches, senior sizes 10 to 13 inches, but these ranges shift between manufacturers. The measurement is a starting point, not a final answer — Bauer’s elbow pad size guide shows how each model can land differently even at the same arm length because pad shape and cap depth vary. Write down your measurement, then read the chart for the exact pad you’re buying.

The Fit Test: What To Check

Put the pads on with your full upper-body gear — shoulder pads, jersey, and the gloves you actually play with. This matters because shoulder caps and glove cuffs change where the elbow pad sits in your equipment stack. Bend your arm to a 90-degree angle and run through these checks:

• Elbow in the cup. The bony point of your elbow should settle deep into the pad’s center pocket, not sit on the edge. If it rides off the cup when you move, the pad is misaligned or the wrong size.
• No binding at full flex. Crank your arm through the full hockey motion — stick handling, reaching, pulling back. The pad should flex with you, not dig in or limit how far your arm bends.
• Gap between pad and glove. The bottom of the elbow pad should meet or slightly overlap the top of the glove cuff. A bare forearm strip between pad and glove is a vulnerability in a fall or slash. If your gloves have a short cuff, consider a longer elbow pad to close that gap.
• Pad stays put when you move. Shake your arms, rotate your shoulders, drop into a hockey stance. If the pad slides down or twists around your arm, it’s either too loose or the wrong cut for your arm shape. Our tested list of the best elbow pads breaks down which models run long, short, snug, or roomy so you can match the fit to your gear.

Avoiding Common Sizing Mistakes

The most frequent error is measuring the wrong landmarks — measuring wrist to shoulder instead of the forearm-to-bicep span the chart expects. Always check which reference points the brand uses. Another common miss is choosing a pad based on measurement alone without trying it inside your full gear stack. A pad that measures correct on your arm can still land wrong once shoulder pads lift it or glove cuffs push against it.

When you’re between sizes, the right call depends on your priority. A smaller size gives better mobility and a lighter feel; a larger size offers more coverage and impact protection. Most players who move well and don’t take heavy contact favor the smaller side for range of motion. Defensemen and physical players often prefer the extra coverage of the larger size. Either way, the elbow cup must stay centered — if the cap misses your elbow point when you bend, that size is wrong regardless of the measurement.