Cotton vs blends vs performance
- 100% cotton — softest hand, prints best with DTG, classic look. Gildan 5000, Hanes Beefy-T.
- Cotton/poly blend — drapes nicer, less shrinkage. Bella+Canvas 3001, Next Level 6210.
- Tri-blend — vintage feel, super soft. Best for fashion tees. Bella+Canvas 3413.
- Performance (polyester) — wicks moisture, holds shape. Best for sports. Sport-Tek, A4.
Weight matters
Shirt weight is in oz/yd². Lighter (3–4 oz) shirts drape softly but are slightly see-through. Heavier (6+ oz) shirts feel more substantial and print bolder. Most popular blanks live in the 4.5–5.5 oz sweet spot.
Sizing & fit
Gildan and Hanes run roomy. Bella+Canvas and Next Level run modern/slim. If you're ordering for a team, get one sample shirt first in the size you'd normally wear — it's the cheapest way to avoid a fit disaster on a 50-piece order.
Match the method to the shirt
- DTG works best on 100% cotton.
- Screen printing works on almost anything — cotton, blends, even some synthetics with the right ink.
- Embroidery needs a sturdy fabric (avoid super-thin tri-blends for hats and densely stitched logos).
Still not sure?
Ping us. We'll ask three questions (what's it for, who's wearing it, what's your budget) and tell you the two or three blanks that fit best.