The Next Level 3600 and Bella + Canvas 3001 are two of the most popular premium T-shirt blanks in custom apparel. If you’re shopping for retail-quality shirts with a soft feel and a modern fit, there’s a good chance these two have made your shortlist.
The truth is that these shirts have far more in common than they have differences. Both offer excellent comfort, dependable print quality, and modern styling, making either one a strong choice for custom apparel. That said, there are a few distinctions in fit, color selection, sizing, and price that may make one a better fit for your project.
Let’s compare them side by side to help you decide which shirt best meets your needs.
At a Glance: Next Level 3600 vs. Bella + Canvas 3001
| Next Level 3600 | Bella + Canvas 3001 | |
| Fabric Weight | 4.3 oz. | 4.2 oz. |
| Construction | 100% combed ring-spun cotton | 100% Airlume combed ring-spun cotton |
| Fit | Semi-fitted, side-seamed | Semi-fitted, side-seamed |
| Color Options | 23 colors | 44 colors (+73 colors in the 3001CVC selection) |
| Sizes* | Adult XS-3XL, Youth YXS-YXL | Adult XS–3XL/4XL, Youth YS–YXL |
| Pricing** | $10.25 per shirt | $11.32 per shirt |
*Size availability varies by color
**When ordering 50 shirts with one color screen printed
Brand Comparison
Bella + Canvas and Next Level Apparel are both well-established names in premium blank apparel, and both have earned loyal followings.
Bella + Canvas is one of the most recognizable premium blank brands on the market. The 3001 has been an industry staple for years and is commonly recommended by print shops thanks to its soft feel, dependable quality, and extensive color selection. If you’ve purchased custom apparel from a clothing brand, brewery, coffee shop, or company in recent years, there’s a good chance you’ve already worn a Bella + Canvas 3001.
While Next Level Apparel doesn’t have quite the same level of brand recognition as Bella + Canvas, it’s widely respected for producing exceptionally soft retail-style T-shirts at a slightly lower price point. The 3600 is one of the brand’s flagship styles, offering many of the same qualities customers look for in premium apparel while remaining competitively priced.
Both brands are trusted throughout the custom apparel industry, and neither could be considered a compromise in quality.
Fabric Weight and Feel
Looking at the specifications, there’s very little separating these two shirts.
At 4.3 oz., the Next Level 3600 and the 4.2 oz. Bella + Canvas 3001 are close enough in weight that most people won’t notice a difference just from picking them up. Both are genuinely lightweight tees, built to breathe in warm weather and layer easily without adding bulk.
The Next Level 3600 is made from 100% combed ring-spun cotton with a 32 singles construction. Bella + Canvas uses its proprietary 100% Airlume combed ring-spun cotton, also with a 32 singles construction. Both fabrics go through additional processing that removes shorter fibers and impurities before the yarn is spun, creating a smoother, softer fabric than standard cotton.
The result is exactly what most customers expect from a premium retail T-shirt. Both shirts feel noticeably softer than traditional open-end cotton tees while maintaining enough structure for everyday wear.
Some customers may find the Bella + Canvas 3001 feels marginally smoother thanks to its Airlume cotton, but the difference is subtle.
Fit and Silhouette
Just like the fabric, the fit is remarkably similar.
Both shirts feature side-seamed construction rather than a tubular body. Side seams allow the shirt to follow the body’s shape a little more naturally than traditional classic-fit T-shirts, creating the clean retail silhouette that both brands are known for.
Both shirts also have relatively long body lengths compared with classic heavyweight tees, making them comfortable to wear untucked while providing good coverage during everyday movement. The Bella Canvas 3001 is about an inch longer than the Next Level 3600.
Although the overall fit is very close, there are a couple of subtle differences.
The Next Level 3600 has a slightly roomier fit through the body, while the sleeves fit a little closer to the arms.
The Bella + Canvas 3001 fits similarly through the torso, but the sleeves open slightly more toward the cuff, creating a slightly less fitted appearance through the upper arm.
These aren’t dramatic differences, and many customers would be perfectly happy wearing either shirt in the same size. Unless you’re directly comparing them side by side, the distinction is fairly minor.
If sleeve fit is something you tend to notice, you may prefer the Next Level 3600. Otherwise, the overall fit between the two shirts is close enough that it probably won’t be the deciding factor.
Printing and Embroidery Compatibility
When it comes to custom decoration, there’s very little to separate the Next Level 3600 and Bella + Canvas 3001. Both have become go-to choices for custom printers because they perform consistently across multiple decoration methods.
Screen Printing
Both shirts provide an excellent surface for screen printing.
Their smooth combed ring-spun cotton fabrics allow inks to sit evenly on the surface, producing clean lines, solid coverage, and detailed prints. Whether you’re printing a simple company logo or a more complex multicolor design, either shirt is capable of delivering excellent results.
It’s one of the reasons both styles are so commonly used for retail merchandise and branded apparel.
Direct-to-Garment (DTG)
The same is true for direct-to-garment printing.
Both shirts are made from premium combed ring-spun cotton, creating a smooth surface that reproduces vibrant colors, fine details, and gradients with excellent clarity. The Bella + Canvas 3001 has long been a popular DTG blank, but the Next Level 3600 performs just as well for most applications.
Embroidery
Although lightweight shirts aren’t quite as forgiving as heavyweight fabrics when it comes to embroidery, both styles work well for standard embroidered logos and text.
Smaller left-chest logos and simple stitched designs produce clean results on either shirt. As with most lightweight apparel, larger or more densely stitched designs may require additional stabilization to minimize puckering.
Color and Size Availability
Color Selection
Color selection is one area where these two shirts separate.
The Next Level 3600 is available in 23 colors, with a lineup focused primarily on classic staples like black, white, navy, red, royal, and several gray tones. While the selection isn’t especially large, it covers the colors most businesses, organizations, and clothing brands use most often.
The Bella + Canvas 3001 offers a considerably broader palette. The standard 3001 is available in 44 colors, ranging from everyday neutrals to brighter fashion shades. For customers looking for even more variety, the 3001CVC line expands the selection to 73 more colors, adding additional heather blends.
If your design requires a very specific color or you’re building a clothing line around seasonal color palettes, the Bella + Canvas 3001 provides significantly more flexibility.
If you’re sticking with the most common colors, however, the Next Level 3600 offers everything most custom apparel projects need.
Size Availability
- The Next Level 3600 is available in adult XS through 3XL, along with youth YXS through YXL.
- The Bella + Canvas 3001 is also available in adult XS through 3XL, with 4XL offered in select colors. Youth sizing begins at YS and runs through YXL.
Overall, the size ranges are very similar. Bella + Canvas has the advantage of offering select colors in 4XL, while Next Level starts its youth sizing one size smaller with YXS.
Important: Kids sizes are limited to select colors in both shirts. Adult size availability also varies by color, so always make sure to check availability on the product page or contact us directly before finalizing your order.
Price
At 50 shirts with a one-color screen print, the Next Level 3600 comes out to $10.25 per shirt, compared to $11.32 for the Bella + Canvas 3001. It’s roughly a dollar difference per shirt, which won’t make or break most budgets on its own, but it can add up across a larger order or a series of repeat runs.
Given that the two shirts are very similar in many ways, the price difference is often the final deciding factor. For businesses, schools, or organizations ordering several hundred shirts, choosing the Next Level 3600 can reduce the overall project cost without moving away from the premium retail category.
If your budget allows for either option, the decision will likely come down to factors such as color selection, brand recognition, or size availability.
Run your exact order quantity through our Quick Price tool on either product page to see the per-shirt cost for your specific order.
Which Shirt Should You Choose?
The Next Level 3600 and Bella + Canvas 3001 are two of the strongest premium T-shirt options available for custom apparel. As you’ve probably noticed throughout this comparison, they’re remarkably similar overall.
Both are lightweight, exceptionally soft, made from premium combed ring-spun cotton, and offer the modern retail fit that many customers look for today. They also perform equally well with screen printing, DTG printing, and standard embroidery, making either shirt a dependable choice for a wide range of projects.
That means there isn’t one shirt that’s objectively better. Instead, the right choice comes down to the features that matter most to you.
Choose the Next Level 3600 if you:
- Want a premium retail T-shirt at a slightly lower price point.
- Need youth sizing starting at YXS.
- Plan to use classic staple colors rather than an extensive fashion color palette.
- Prefer sleeves with a slightly more fitted look.
The Next Level 3600 has earned its reputation by producing the softness and print quality customers expect from a premium blank while remaining competitively priced. For businesses, promotional apparel, company merchandise, and retail brands that don’t require dozens of color options, it represents an excellent value.
Choose the Bella + Canvas 3001 if you:
- Want to choose from a larger color selection.
- Prefer a blank with the more established brand recognition.
- Need 4XL sizing in colors where it’s available.
- Have a flexible budget where price is not the top priority.
The Bella + Canvas 3001 has become an industry standard for good reason. Its consistent quality, broad color selection, and long-standing reputation have made it a favorite among clothing brands, print shops, and businesses looking for a premium finished product.
Ultimately, choosing between these two shirts comes down to a handful of personal considerations rather than major performance differences. If having the widest possible color selection and one of the industry’s most recognizable premium blanks is important, the Bella + Canvas 3001 is an excellent choice. If you’d rather save a little on your order while getting a shirt that offers nearly identical comfort, printability, and overall quality, the Next Level 3600 is equally deserving of a spot on your shortlist.
Still weighing your options? Reach out and we’ll gladly help you match the right blank to your design, budget, and decoration method.