Choosing the perfect blank T-shirt for your next custom print order is a bit trickier than it sounds. You need to find the best price for your budget, ensure it has the right colors available, and buy a brand that comes in the exact range of sizes that you need. Then, you’ll need to make sure it works with your desired printing method so that the end result is something that people will actually wear.
So let’s break down the best and most popular brands for T-shirt printing to help you choose the perfect blank for your order.
Best T-Shirt Brands for Printing: At a Glance
| Feel | Ideal Printing Methods | Price | |
| Gildan | Soft cotton; mostly heavyweight | All types | Starting at $7.60 |
| Bella+Canvas | Soft and durable cotton; lightweight | All types | Starting at $11.32 |
| Next Level | Soft and durable cotton; lightweight | All types | Starting at $10.25 |
| Comfort Colors | Soft cotton; heavyweight | Most types; DTG less effective for garment-dyed fabric | Starting at $13.81 |
| American Apparel | Soft cotton; lightweight to heavyweight | All types | Starting at $9.90 |
| Hanes | Soft cotton/poly blends; midweight | All types; DTG less effective on poly blends | Starting at $9.10 |
| Jerzees | Soft cotton/poly blends; midweight to heavyweight | All types; DTG less effective on poly blends | Starting at $8.48 |
Best for Budget-Conscious Bulk Orders: Gildan
Gildan is a popular, budget-friendly brand known for its classic T-shirt fit. The style most common for custom group orders is the Gildan 5000 Heavy Cotton T-Shirt, which has a tubular fit, is available in a wide variety of colors, and is size-inclusive.
If you’re looking for a more fashionable model that’s still the classic T-shirt fit, the Gildan 64000 SoftStyle Tee is the way to go. This shirt has a tapered neck and shoulders, making for a trendy look. It’s also a lighter-weight fabric, so it’s wearable for outdoor activities and during the hotter months throughout the year.
The Gildan 2000 Ultra Cotton Tee strikes a nice balance between the two, with a heavyweight cotton fabric along with a tapered neck and shoulders. This is a classic T-shirt with a premium feel that the whole group will love to wear.
With most models ranging from youth sizes to Adult 3XL, everyone in your group can find their size. Made with 100% pre-shrunk cotton, prints on these shirts show up vibrant and last for a long time, whether you go with screen printing or DTG printing. These are the go-to choices for large group orders like company events, school fundraisers, and family reunions, where staying on budget without sacrificing quality is the priority.
Best for a Soft, Retail-Finished Feel: Next Level & Bella/Canvas
Bella+Canvas and Next Level constantly nail the soft, retail-finished T-shirt look and feel. Both brands have a semi-fitted style and soft fabric, and they’re perfect for printing due to their smooth knit fabrics. They’re available in 100% cotton and cotton/poly blends, including tearaway tags for additional branding, which make them a natural fit for bands, small businesses, and anyone selling merch where the shirt itself needs to feel like a product, not just a giveaway.
Bella+Canvas blanks make for vibrant and long-lasting prints, but the main reason they’re so popular is their semi-fitted that’s owed to their side seams — resulting in a durable T-shirt that doesn’t lose its shape over time. The Bella+Canvas 3001 Unisex Jersey Tee is the crowd favorite here, due to its quality and the fact that it comes in a wide size range, from youth sizes to Adult 3XL.
Next Level is another popular brand with soft, lightweight shirts that are available in a wide range of colors and sizes. The model that’s most consistently excellent across every kind of print method is the Next Level 3600 Premium Fitted Short Sleeve Crew Tee, which is made from 100% combed cotton jersey. A cotton/poly blend blank like the Next Level 6010 Unisex Tri-Blend Crew Tee is still quite good, but it’s important to note that sublimation prints may appear faded on these blends. Screen and DTG printing are both solid options in this case.
Best for Premium and Fashion-Forward Fits: American Apparel
American Apparel is a fashion-forward brand that, like Bella+Canvas, features a semi-fitted silhouette with side seams that retain shape — a unisex style that tends to look great on everyone.
The jersey shirts, such as the American Apparel 2001 Fine Jersey Tee, are wrinkle-resistant and made from a soft, 100% cotton that works fantastically with both screen printing and DTG. The colors are vivid, and the T-shirts remain durable even after several washes.
For a more relaxed, laid-back style, the American Apparel 1301 Unisex Heavyweight Cotton Tee is our go-to. This T-shirt can be worn oversized for a trendy look by going up one or two sizes. Made from a long-lasting heavyweight cotton, prints show up beautifully. This makes American Apparel a strong pick for fashion brands, influencer merch, and anyone whose audience will notice the difference between a premium blank and a basic one.
Best for Comfort and Garment-Dyed Look: Comfort Colors
Comfort Colors has a trendy, comfortable fit, but the garment-dyed fabric introduces a bit of a limitation to your designs. Screen printing will probably be the most consistent method for designs that pop and last long. DTG printing can often show the color of the T-shirt through the print, but if a lived-in, vintage-style print is what you are after, this might be the perfect blank.
The Comfort Colors 1717 Pigment Dyed Short Sleeve Shirt is one of our top picks here. It’s pre-shrunk and soft-washed, which gives it a comfortable feel and fit while minimizing the fear of shrinkage in the wash. Available in Adult Small to 4XL, this shirt works great for custom college swag and even vintage-style high school reunion tees.
Best All-Arounder for Schools and Teams: Hanes, Jerzees
For schools and teams, you’ll need a soft yet durable and breathable T-shirt that’s available in a wide variety of sizes. Hanes and Jerzees both meet these demands and look great doing it.
Hanes, for example, carries youth sizes to Adult 4XL (up to 6XL for Hanes 5170 ComfortBlend Tee), so everyone from the teacher to the students can have a comfortable custom shirt. If you want something that will work well no matter the print method, look for 100% preshrunk ringspun cotton. If you want something purpose-built for sports or other physical activities, look for styles made with 100% polyester, like the Hanes 4820 Cool Dri T-Shirt. Just keep in mind that these may not work as well with DTG printing (although this is dependent on the ink your printer uses).
Jerzees also has the size range necessary for your school or sports team. The Jerzees 29M Heavyweight Blend Tee, for example, ranges from youth sizes to Adult 5XL, with a 50/50 blend of polyester and pre-shrunk jersey cotton that offers a classic fit. The Jerzees 29LS Long Sleeve Tee, on the other hand, is perfect for the cooler months of the year, though it only goes up to Adult 3XL.
If you’re outfitting an entire school (staff included) or kitting out a sports team from youth players to adult coaches, these two brands have you covered.
What to Ask Us Before You Commit to a Blank
Can I get a sample made with my design before the full order is printed?
Of course; this not only helps you decide whether the quality is sufficient for your order, but it also helps you determine whether you need to rework your design or choose another blank. Not all print methods will look the same on every blank, so this is an important step to ensure that you’re satisfied with the outcome before printing a large order.
How long will my order take to complete?
If you’re in a hurry to get your custom shirts for your next family reunion, school fundraiser, or sports season, you need to know exactly when you will have your order in your hands. Our standard shipping time is 2 weeks, but we also offer guaranteed 1-week rush shipping, a 3-business-day Super Rush option, and even a Shirts in a Day option, so you can outfit your team long before their first game.
Order Your Next Custom T-shirts with Confidence
Hopefully, you now have a good idea of which shirts will be perfect for your next custom order, whether they’re for a club, a family reunion, or your employees.
If you’re still unsure, here’s a quick case-by-case recap, and you can always reach out with any questions before you order.
- Gildan: Best for budget-conscious bulk orders. It has a wide size range, vibrant prints, and works with all print methods. Great for group events, fundraisers, and reunions.
- Bella+Canvas & Next Level: Best for a soft, retail-quality feel. Side seams hold their shape, smooth fabric prints beautifully, and both work with all major print methods. Ideal when wearability matters as much as the print.
- American Apparel: Best for fashion-forward fits. The semi-fitted silhouette looks great on everyone, and the cotton holds up well to both screen and DTG printing. Good for merch that people will actually want to wear out.
- Comfort Colors: Best for a vintage, garment-dyed aesthetic. Stick to screen printing for crisp results; DTG can create a naturally faded look that works well for retro-style designs. Perfect for college merch and reunion tees.
- Hanes & Jerzees: Best for schools and sports teams. Extended size ranges, durable construction, and affordable pricing. Opt for 100% cotton for DTG compatibility, or go with polyester for athletic performance.