The shirt you print on matters just as much as the print itself. A killer design on a terrible blank is still a terrible product. Let’s talk about how to choose the right shirt.
Weight Matters
T-shirt weight is measured in ounces per square yard. Here’s the general breakdown:
- 4.0-4.5 oz — Lightweight and soft. Fashion-forward feel. Think Bella+Canvas 3001 or Next Level 3600.
- 5.0-5.5 oz — Mid-weight. Good balance of durability and comfort. Gildan 5000 lives here.
- 6.0+ oz — Heavyweight. Boxy, thick, streetwear vibes. Pro Club and Shaka Wear territory.
There’s no “best” weight. It depends on what your customer expects and what your design needs.
Fabric Content
100% Cotton — Best for screen printing. Ink sits on top of the fibers nicely. Discharge printing requires at least 80% cotton.
Cotton/Poly Blends — Softer hand feel, less shrinkage. Watch out for dye migration on polyester with plastisol — you’ll get that dreaded color bleed if you over-cure.
Tri-blends — Cotton, poly, and rayon. Incredibly soft. Great for DTG and DTF. Can be tricky with plastisol.
100% Polyester — Moisture-wicking, athletic wear. Requires low-bleed inks for screen printing. DTF works great here.
The Brands Worth Knowing
Bella+Canvas — The go-to for premium retail feel. Consistent sizing, soft fabric. Higher price point but customers notice the quality.
Next Level — Similar to Bella+Canvas in quality. Their CVC (cotton/poly) shirts are incredibly soft.
Gildan — Workhorses. The Heavy Cotton (5000) is cheap and reliable for budget jobs. The Softstyle (64000) is a step up.
Comfort Colors — Garment-dyed, vintage look and feel. Perfect for that lived-in aesthetic. Prints beautifully with the right setup.
AS Colour — Growing in popularity. Premium quality, modern fit. Worth stocking if your customers want something elevated.
Matching Blank to Print Method
| Method | Best Blanks |
|---|---|
| Screen Print (Plastisol) | 100% cotton, cotton/poly |
| Screen Print (Discharge) | 100% cotton, dark colors |
| DTF | Anything — that’s the beauty of it |
| DTG | 100% cotton or high cotton blends |
| Heat Transfer Vinyl | Cotton or cotton/poly |
The Real Talk
Don’t cheap out on blanks to save a dollar. Your customer wears the shirt, not the print. A great print on a scratchy, ill-fitting blank gets donated to Goodwill. A decent print on a comfortable, well-fitting blank gets worn until it falls apart.
That repeat customer wearing your shirt to shreds? That’s your best advertising.