Blank t-shirts are all the rage these days. For one thing, avoiding the big name brands is no longer just a matter of saving money, it’s also in fashion. Look up #dupe on social media and you’ll see what we mean. Also, it’s easier than ever to design your own t-shirts.
The traditional methods are still there– you can still use embroidery, and tie-dye has made a comeback. Digital printing has gotten really good now though, and when you couple that with how easy it is to make your own graphics on modern software, anyone can make great-looking t-shirts with whatever they want on them. There’s a bunch of reasons you might want to make your own t-shirts: for yourself, to give as gifts, for charity, or to resell as part of your business.
Whatever reason you have for making custom t-shirts, or wanting the no-logo look, you’ll want the best quality blank t-shirts. We work with dozens of brands in order to find the best for quality, style, price, and more. We’ve narrowed them down to a top 6, so you can make an informed decision in your search for the perfect t-shirt.
How We Chose the Best T-Shirt
There are a few factors that are important to everyone when picking the best blank t-shirt. Price, comfort, and durability are always key. The range of colors and sizes are important to some, but if you want a medium t-shirt in blue then you don’t need too much variety. Style and fit are more subjective– we all have different tastes when it comes to sleeves and collars. Some want to show off how ripped they are, while others would rather people didn’t know.
We’ve also considered the best t-shirts for printing. You can print on pretty much anything these days, but different methods work well on particular materials. Screen printing works better on cotton, while sublimation and direct transfer film work better on polyester. Direct-to-garment is best with a blend of both. So it’s worth thinking about your printing method before you buy your t-shirts, our glossary has more information if you’re not sure which to choose.
Their best two are the 5000, as low-priced as you’ll find, and the 64000, a touch more expensive, but made with ringspun cotton for extra comfort. Both come in an enormous range of colors, and are usually 100% cotton. Some colors use polyester, so double-check if you need.
Gildan: Best for Casual Wear and Children
Shaka Wear, from the US, is Gildan’s closest equivalent in the medium-priced market. A shade more expensive, they’re still very good value. They also have the relaxed fit and durability of Gildan, but a little extra quality and comfort.
Our favorite is the SHGD, which has a nice feel, and a slightly more relaxed collar than some of their others. It’s 100% cotton, and while you don’t get the range of colors you do with Gildan, we like the colors they’ve chosen– they fit with the street vibes of Shaka Wear.
Shaka Wear: Best T-Shirts for Urban Looks
Back to the extra low-priced options. Gildan’s only real competitor at this price range is Fruit of the Loom, another US-based company, but notable for being readily available all over the world. They have a lot of great options, but we love the SF45R. The Sofspun cotton makes it the most comfortable budget t-shirt.
There’s very little between them– if you’re buying the same t-shirt for everyone I’d go with Gildan, but if picking different ones for each person, Fruit of the Loom offers a better range.
Fruit of the Loom: Best Style on a Budget
Next Level is based in California, and is the medium-priced equivalent of Fruit of the Loom. They offer a fantastic range of really stylish fits, with a slightly higher quality. We love that they are a little longer than some of the budget options. There was some stiff competition here, especially Lane Seven, but they don’t have the range of Next Level.
Next Level has the best balance between all our criteria. Trendy fits, comfort, value for money, everything you want from a blank t-shirt. They have excellent variations for men, women, and children, including some lovely ringer tees– a personal favorite.
The 6210 is the most popular, and maybe the most stylish budget t-shirt out there. The 3600 is another favorite, with a slightly more relaxed fit.
Next Level: Best Quality and Price Balance
The premium end of the scale, and also based in California. Bella+Canvas are still well-priced, but the most expensive on our list. For your extra couple of dollars, you get more fashionable, flattering fits, thanks to the side seam. Depending on taste, this may or may not be an advantage. What definitely is an advantage is the trademarked Airlume combed and ringspun cotton, which is even more comfortable, making it the best quality blank t-shirt.
The 3001 is the favorite. You get a slim fit– for men it can be a little small, so consider going up a size. The 6004 was our favorite ladies’ option, but they have plenty worth taking a look at.
Bella+Canvas: Best Quality Blank T-Shirts
The last spot on our list is reserved for performance t-shirts. It came down to a battle between Augusta and Core 365. There’s a lot to like about both. 100% polyester makes them durable, quick-drying, good for sublimation printing, and you get moisture-wicking, which keeps you dry when you sweat. Both are ideal for doing sports.
Core 365 is a shade cheaper, but we’ve gone with Augusta just for the range available. They both have great options, but we love the different designs you get with Augusta, they make it easy to find the perfect t-shirt for any sport.
Augusta: Best Blank Performance T-Shirts
The Verdict
Who makes the best blank t-shirts comes down to exactly what you want from your t-shirts. You need to decide how much you want to spend, what you want them for, and what fit you’d like. Once you’ve decided, hopefully our guide helps you pick the best one.
Picking an outright winner is tough, but we’ve gone with Next Level. The balance is what won us over– great style, comfort, price, you have it all. They’re also great for customization. Whichever you decide in the end, we’re sure your finished product will look great!
At Wordans it’s easy to find the best blank t-shirts, and much more besides. Check out our website to see what we have on offer, and the video below to see just how easy we’ve made customization. You can also head over to our Instagram, @wearewordans, for more ideas and inspiration.
