5 Common Mistakes to Avoid When You Buy Scrubs Online

Shopping for workwear used to mean a trip to a uniform shop and trying on a few sizes until something fit. These days, most healthcare professionals buy scrubs online instead, and it's easy to see why: more choice, better prices, and the convenience of ordering between shifts rather than around them.

 

But buying scrubs online comes with its own set of pitfalls. Without the chance to try before you buy, a few easy-to-miss details can turn a straightforward order into a returns headache. Below are five of the most common mistakes people make when they buy medical scrubs online, along with what to check instead so you get it right the first time.

 

1. Ignoring the Size Chart

 

The single biggest reason online scrub orders end up going back is sizing. Clothing sizing has never been fully standardised across brands. There's no universal size standard that all manufacturers follow, and individual brands build their own fit models around their own target customer, which is part of why a medium in one range can feel completely different from a medium in another.

 

This isn't a new problem, either. "Vanity sizing", where labelled sizes have drifted smaller relative to actual garment measurements over the decades, has been documented in both the UK and the US for years, and a 2011 UK study found misleading size labels on more than half of the clothing items it checked. In other words, you genuinely can't rely on "I'm always a size 12" holding true from one scrub brand to the next.

 

What to do instead:

 

• Measure yourself (chest, waist, hips, and inseam) and check those numbers against the specific size chart for the scrubs you're ordering, not your usual size in other clothing
• Pay attention to the cut. A classic, relaxed-fit scrub top will sit differently to a modern, tapered style, even in the "same" size
• If you're between sizes, think about how you want the fit to feel. A looser cut is often more forgiving over a long shift, while a fitted style needs closer attention to the chart
• Order one set first if you're trying a brand for the first time, rather than committing to several sets before you know how they fit

 

Taking five extra minutes with the size guide before you order is the easiest way to avoid a wasted delivery and a return.

 

2. Choosing Fabric Based on Looks Alone

 

It's tempting to pick scrubs on colour and style and worry about the fabric later. But what your scrubs are made from affects everything from how cool you feel on a busy ward to how many times you can wash them before they start to look tired.

 

Modern scrubs are typically made from cotton, or more commonly, a cotton and polyester blend. Pure cotton is soft and breathable but wears out faster and is more prone to shrinking or losing its shape without careful washing. Polyester-cotton blends handle the trade-off differently: the polyester fibres add strength and resistance to tearing and stretching, while the cotton content keeps the fabric breathable and comfortable against the skin. Workwear blends commonly sit around a 65% polyester to 35% cotton ratio, which favours durability, or closer to 50/50 for a better balance of comfort and breathability.

 

What to check before you buy scrubs online:

 

• The fabric composition listed in the product description, not just the photo
• Whether there's any stretch (spandex or elastane) in the blend, which affects comfort on shifts involving a lot of bending, lifting, or fast movement
• How the brand describes the fabric's weight. Lighter fabrics tend to feel cooler but wear thinner faster; heavier fabrics last longer but can feel warmer
• Whether the scrubs need any special washing care, since that will affect how well they hold up long term

 

If you're on your feet for twelve-hour shifts, a fabric blend built for durability and breathability will serve you far better than one chosen purely because the colour caught your eye.

3. Not Checking Your Workplace's Colour or Dress Code Requirements

 

This is an easy one to overlook, especially if you're new to a role or moving between trusts. NHS uniform colour guidelines exist, but each NHS trust sets its own local policy on top of them, which means colour coding by role can vary significantly from one trust to the next. Two nurses doing the same job at neighbouring trusts can quite legitimately be wearing completely different coloured scrubs.

 

NHS uniform policy generally serves a few purposes at once: helping identify staff and build public confidence, supporting hygiene and infection prevention, and giving staff a practical, comfortable uniform for the job. Individual trust policies then apply their own colour and trim rules on top of that general framework, often tied to specific bands or roles. If you're starting a new placement or switching trusts, it's always worth checking your employer's specific uniform policy rather than assuming your previous trust's colours will still apply.

 

Before you order, it's worth checking:

 

• Your trust or employer's specific dress code policy, not just general NHS guidance
• Whether your role has an assigned colour (many trusts colour-code by band or department)
• Any local rules on sleeve length, tunic style, or additional items like undershirts
• Whether scrubs are required at all for your role, or whether a tunic is the expected uniform instead

 

A quick check with your line manager or HR team before you place an order can save you from having to reorder in the right colour later. If your trust requires navy scrubs or light blue scrubs, our dedicated colour collections cover tops, trousers, and full sets in both shades.

4. Overlooking the Returns and Exchange Policy

 

Because you can't try scrubs on before buying online, the retailer's returns policy matters more than it would in a shop. It's worth knowing your rights here, because they're stronger than many people realise.

 

Under UK consumer law, when you buy scrubs online you have the right to change your mind. You get 14 days from the day you receive your order to tell the retailer you want to return it, and then a further 14 days to actually send the item back. If a retailer doesn't clearly tell you about this cancellation right, that cooling-off period can extend to 12 months plus 14 days. On top of that, a retailer's published returns policy becomes a binding part of your contract with them, so if they've promised a 30-day return window, they're required to honour it.

 

This is separate from your rights if something arrives faulty or not as described. Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, faulty goods entitle you to a refund, repair, or replacement, typically with a right to a full refund within 30 days of delivery if the fault is there from the start.

 

Before you check out, look for:

 

• The length of the returns window and whether it's longer than the legal minimum
• Whether return postage is free or comes out of your pocket
• Whether exchanges are handled separately from refunds (useful if you just need a different size)
• Any exclusions, such as embroidered or personalised scrubs, which are often non-returnable

 

On Call London, for example, offers a free 30-day returns policy, which gives you room to check the fit before committing.

5. Buying on Price Alone and Ignoring Durability

 

Cheap scrubs can look like a bargain at checkout, but price alone doesn't tell you how long a garment will actually last. Fabric composition plays a big role here. Pure cotton scrubs are comfortable and breathable, but they're more prone to wear and tear over time than blended fabrics, and can lose their shape if not cared for properly. Polyester-cotton blends, by contrast, are considerably more resistant to tearing, stretching, and general wear, which extends the working life of the garment even under frequent washing.

 

If you're replacing a set of scrubs every few months because the seams have gone or the colour has faded, you're not necessarily saving money by buying the cheapest option each time. A well-made scrub set in a durable fabric blend, even at a slightly higher price, is often the better long-term investment for anyone wearing scrubs on a regular working week.

 

A few practical things to weigh up:

 

• The fabric blend and ratio, since this has a direct impact on how well the scrubs hold up to repeated washing
• How the brand describes construction quality, rather than relying on price as a proxy for durability
• Your own wear pattern. Someone in a high-activity clinical role will wear through scrubs faster than someone in a lower-contact, desk-based setting
• Whether you're buying enough sets to rotate through the working week, which reduces wear on any single set and extends its overall lifespan

Buying Scrubs Online, Done Right

 

None of these mistakes are hard to avoid once you know to look out for them. Check the size chart properly, choose a fabric blend suited to your role, confirm your workplace's dress code before you order, read the returns policy, and weigh up durability alongside price rather than instead of it.

 

At On Call London, we design our scrubs with exactly these details in mind, from clear sizing guides to fabric blends built for long shifts. If you're ready to buy On Call London scrubs online, browse our full range of women's scrub sets and men's scrub sets, including dedicated tops and trousers, available in the colours and fits UK healthcare professionals rely on every day. Whether you're after navy scrubs, light blue scrubs, or a set for tall fits, our team is on hand to help you find the right size and style before you order.