Buying guide
Which t-shirt brand is best for custom printing?
This isn't a catalog dump. These are the blank tees that run through our Sandy shop the most - the blanks our customers choose most often, the ones we print on every day, and the ones we hear the most feedback about. Here's what we notice about each one, so you can match the shirt to the job before you order.
Fabric specs are checked against manufacturer and distributor data, and the feel and fit notes come straight from our production floor. Prices move week to week, so we talk in tiers instead of dollar amounts - grab a quote if you want today's numbers. Size ranges are the manufacturers' full runs; online color availability can vary.
Reviewed by the Koala-Tees production team · Updated July 2026 · About our shop
Our quick picks
- Best budget blank: Gildan 5000 Heavy Cotton
- Best soft upgrade: Next Level 6210 CVC
- Best athletic tee: Sport-Tek ST350 Competitor
- Best heavyweight: Comfort Colors 1717
- Best premium heavyweight blank: AS Colour 5080 Heavy
- Best kids' sizing: Bella+Canvas 3001 family
Printing method matters as much as the blank - see how screen printing compares to DTF & DTG printing, or read the full printing methods comparison.
The quick version
Swipe the table sideways to compare →
| Shirt | Weight | Fabric | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gildan 5000 Heavy Cotton | 5.3 oz | 100% cotton (open-end) | Everyday basics, events, giveaways |
| Gildan 64000 Softstyle | 4.3 oz | 100% ring-spun cotton | Softer + lighter on a budget |
| Port & Co. PC54 Core Cotton | 5.4 oz | 100% cotton | Everyday basics (G5000's twin) |
| Port & Co. PC43 Easy Cotton | 4.3 oz | 100% cotton, very light | The absolute lowest budget |
| Port & Co. PC54DTG | 6.0 oz | 100% cotton, mill-pretreated | Full-color DTG printing |
| Sport-Tek ST350 Competitor | 3.8 oz | 100% poly, moisture-wicking | Teams, sports, athletic wear |
| Next Level 3600 Cotton | 4.3 oz | 100% combed ring-spun | Upgraded fit, pure cotton feel |
| Next Level 6210 CVC | 4.3 oz | 60/40 cotton/poly | The soft upgrade we see most |
| Next Level 6010 Tri-Blend | 4.3 oz | 50/25/25 poly/cotton/rayon | Drapey retail-merch feel |
| Bella+Canvas 3001 | 4.2 oz | 100% Airlume ring-spun | Retail fit + deep kids' sizing |
| Comfort Colors 1717 | 6.1 oz | 100% ring-spun, garment-dyed | Heavy-soft favorite, online merch |
| AS Colour 5001 Staple | 5.3 oz | 100% combed cotton | Premium everyday tee |
| AS Colour 5040 Stone Wash | 4.7 oz | 100% combed cotton, stone-washed | Worn-in premium merch look |
| AS Colour 5050 Block | 5.9 oz | 100% carded cotton | Premium, heavier + boxier |
| AS Colour 5080 Heavy | 8.2 oz | 100% carded cotton | The heavyweight statement piece |
Not sure where to start? Get a quote and we'll match the blank to your job - it takes about a minute.
The budget basics we see picked most
Gildan
Gildan has made its name as the budget basic - and that's not a knock. When an order needs solid, affordable tees that do the job, Gildan is the brand our customers reach for most.
Gildan 5000 - Heavy Cotton T-Shirt
- Weight:
- 5.3 oz/yd²
- Fit:
- Classic tubular cut
- Fabric:
- 100% US cotton (open-end); heathers blend poly
- Sizes:
- S-5XL
- Also in:
- Youth 5000B · Ladies 5000L
The tee we probably see customers select more than any other. "Heavy Cotton" is the official name, but at 5.3 oz it sits midweight - heavier than Gildan's lighter styles, lighter than their Ultra Cotton. It's affordable, it prints well, and it does exactly what a basic tee should.
The honest tradeoffs: the open-end cotton gives it a more basic hand-feel - some people call it scratchy (we think that's overstated, but you should know the reputation) - and quality can vary slightly from run to run. For events, giveaways, and everyday crew shirts, it's hard to argue with the price.
Design on this tee →Gildan 64000 - Softstyle T-Shirt
- Weight:
- 4.3 oz/yd² (some listings say 4.5)
- Fit:
- Slightly trimmer classic cut
- Fabric:
- 100% ring-spun cotton (solids)
- Sizes:
- XS-5XL
- Also in:
- Youth 64000B · Ladies 64000L
The other Gildan we sell a lot of. Ring-spun cotton makes it noticeably softer than the 5000, and at around 4.3 oz it's a lighter shirt all around. It costs slightly more - not enough to break the budget - so if you want a softer, lighter tee without leaving the value tier, this is the move.
Ask us about this tee →
Gildan also makes heavier premium tees - the Ultra Cotton 2000 (6.0 oz) and the ring-spun Hammer H000 (6.0 oz) - but we see them far less often. Gildan's name is budget basics, and that's what people come to it for.
Basics with a couple of clever tricks
Port & Company
Port & Company makes a huge range, but two basics account for almost everything we see - plus one specialty tee that makes full-color printing easier.
PC54 - Core Cotton Tee
- Weight:
- 5.4 oz/yd²
- Fit:
- Classic cut
- Fabric:
- 100% cotton (solids); heathers blend poly
- Sizes:
- S-6XL
- Also in:
- Youth PC54Y · Ladies LPC54 · Long-sleeve PC54LS
Spec-for-spec, the PC54 sits right next to the Gildan 5000 - 5.4 oz vs 5.3, with nearly identical color blends. Twins on purpose, if we had to guess. It's a very good basic tee, and which of the two an order lands on often comes down to color availability and price that week.
Ask us about this tee →PC43 - Easy Cotton Tee
- Weight:
- 4.3 oz/yd²
- Fit:
- Classic cut
- Fabric:
- 100% cotton, 30 singles
- Sizes:
- S-6XL
- Also in:
- Youth PC43Y
The cheapest tee we stock, and it feels like it - very light and very thin. We keep it as an option for orders where the lowest possible price is the whole point, but we almost always recommend stepping up to a PC54 or Gildan 5000. The small difference in cost buys a shirt people keep wearing.
Ask us about this tee →PC54DTG - Core Cotton DTG Tee
- Weight:
- 6.0 oz/yd²
- Fit:
- Classic cut
- Fabric:
- 100% cotton, mill-pretreated (PosiPrint)
- Sizes:
- S-4XL
A clever one: this tee ships already pretreated at the mill, so it's ready for direct-to-garment printing straight out of the box - no pretreat step. That means faster, more consistent full-color DTG results on a basic tee. It's also a noticeably heavier fabric (6.0 oz) than the standard PC54, which surprises people in a good way.
Ask us about this tee →
The 100% polyester pick
Sport-Tek
When an order calls for athletic, moisture-wicking polyester, one shirt covers almost all of it.
ST350 - PosiCharge Competitor Tee
- Weight:
- 3.8 oz
- Fit:
- Roomy, breathable athletic cut
- Fabric:
- 100% polyester interlock, moisture-wicking
- Sizes:
- XS-6XL
- Also in:
- Ladies LST350 · Youth YST350 · Long-sleeve ST350LS · Hooded pullover ST358 (same fabric family)
The 100% poly tee our customers choose over everything else. PosiCharge keeps the color locked in, it wicks, it breathes, and it's easy to get in every size and a deep color range - which is most of what people want from a performance blank.
The whole family runs on the same fabric: a ladies cut, youth sizes, a long-sleeve, and even a lightweight hooded pullover (the ST358) when a team wants the same feel with a hood. Sports teams, rec leagues, and gym crews - this is the default for a reason.
Ask us about this tee →
A worthwhile step up
Next Level
Next Level is the step up we recommend most. The fit is a more modern retail cut - trimmer and more shaped than a classic boxy basic - and the fabric feels like something off a store rack. Here's the interesting part: all three of the styles below list the exact same 4.3 oz fabric weight. The difference you feel is the blend, not the number.
NL3600 - Cotton Crew
- Weight:
- 4.3 oz/yd²
- Fit:
- Modern retail fit, side-seamed
- Fabric:
- 100% combed ring-spun cotton
- Sizes:
- XS-6XL (varies by color)
The all-cotton member of the family, with the firmest, most structured hand of the three. If you want the upgraded fit but prefer the feel of pure cotton, this is your shirt.
True story: a Salt Lake group flying out to a Texas convention needed tees fast, with a precise fit through the arms and body - and 100% cotton was non-negotiable. The 3600 checked every box, and our DTG printer got them out the door in time.
Ask us about this tee →NL6210 - CVC Crew
- Weight:
- 4.3 oz/yd²
- Fit:
- Modern retail fit, side-seamed
- Fabric:
- 60/40 combed ring-spun cotton / polyester
- Sizes:
- XS-6XL (varies by color)
The one we see most - and Next Level's own #1 selling tee. The 40% polyester changes the drape and gives it that softer, lighter feel people love, even though the listed weight matches the all-cotton 3600. Prints beautifully and wears even better.
Ask us about this tee →NL6010 - Tri-Blend Crew
- Weight:
- 4.3 oz/yd²
- Fit:
- Modern retail fit, side-seamed
- Fabric:
- 50/25/25 polyester / cotton / rayon
- Sizes:
- XS-3XL
The rayon is what does it here - the drapiest, lightest-feeling shirt of the three, with that broken-in softness right out of the box. A favorite for retail-style merch and designs meant to be worn everywhere.
Design on this tee →
Our experience: the couple extra dollars over a Gildan is one of the most worthwhile upgrades in the catalog. When people like the shirt, it gets worn - and that's the whole point of putting your logo on it. (Next Level also makes the heavyweight, relaxed-fit 7200 "Legend" at 6.8 oz - we only see it occasionally.)
The name-brand retail tee
Bella+Canvas
Bella+Canvas has real brand recognition, and some customers pick it specifically for the name - which is a perfectly good reason. Between it and Next Level, though, our shop's pick is usually the 6210 or 3600. Where Bella+Canvas stands out is family coverage: it has one of the deepest kids' lineups in the catalog.
BC3001 - Unisex Jersey Tee
- Weight:
- 4.2 oz/yd²
- Fit:
- Retail fit, side-seamed
- Fabric:
- 100% Airlume combed ring-spun cotton
- Sizes:
- XS-5XL
- Also in:
- Heathers 3001CVC · Youth 3001Y · Toddler 3001T (2T-5T) · Infant 3001B (3-24M) · Women's slim 6004 (S-2XL)
The famous one. Airlume combed ring-spun cotton, a modern retail fit, and a huge color range. The 3001CVC is the same shirt in the same fit and weight - it exists because heather colors need some polyester blended in to get that marled look, so the heathers live under their own style number.
Where this family shines is sizing: adult XS-5XL plus dedicated youth, toddler (2T-5T - ask about 6T), and even infant cuts on the same fabric - so a family reunion or team order can match everyone from grandpa to the baby.
Ask us about this tee →The garment-dyed favorite
Comfort Colors
Some shirts have fans. The Comfort Colors 1717 has devotees - it's one of the most-requested tees we run, and once people feel one they tend not to go back.
CC1717 - Garment-Dyed Heavyweight Tee
- Weight:
- 6.1 oz/yd²
- Fit:
- Relaxed
- Fabric:
- 100% ring-spun cotton, garment-dyed & soft-washed
- Sizes:
- S-4XL
- Also in:
- Youth 9018 · Long-sleeve 6014 · Pocket 6030 · Women's boxy 3023CL
Heavy, soft, and washed to a lived-in feel before it ever reaches you - that combination is why so many people love this shirt. The garment-dye process gives every color a rich, slightly weathered character you can't get from standard piece-dyed tees (expect slight color variation between runs - that's the nature of the process, and part of the charm).
We print a lot of these for people who sell shirts online. If your artwork is the product, the 1717 is a premium canvas - the design lands on something people already want to wear.
Ask us about this tee →The premium tier most people haven't met yet
AS Colour
A brand a lot of people don't know we carry - and one we like a lot. AS Colour is a New Zealand label where the whole line is premium: the fabric, the construction, and especially the print surface, which is some of the nicest we run ink onto. It costs quite a bit more than a Gildan, and it feels like it. These four are the ones we see most.
AS 5001 - Staple Tee
- Weight:
- 5.3 oz/yd² (180 gsm)
- Fit:
- Regular, side-seamed
- Fabric:
- 100% combed cotton, 28 singles
- Sizes:
- XS-3XL (5001B: 4XL-5XL)
AS Colour's flagship blank - a midweight combed-cotton tee with clean construction and a beautiful print surface, in a deep color range.
Ask us about this tee →AS 5050 - Block Tee
- Weight:
- 5.9 oz/yd² (200 gsm)
- Fit:
- Regular, slightly boxier
- Fabric:
- 100% carded cotton - not a 50/50 blend, despite the number
- Sizes:
- S-3XL
Don't let the style number fool you - the 5050 is 100% cotton. It's the heavier, slightly boxier sibling of the Staple, and it's the AS Colour tee we see ordered most. A nice everyday shirt that still feels premium - and for whatever reason it typically prices below the lighter Staple, a quirk we'll happily take.
Ask us about this tee →AS 5040 - Staple Stone Wash Tee
- Weight:
- 4.7 oz/yd² (160 gsm)
- Fit:
- Regular, side-seamed
- Fabric:
- 100% combed cotton, garment-dyed + stone-washed
- Sizes:
- S-3XL, 5 stone-wash colors
A genuine stone-wash - garment-dyed, then washed to strip color into a worn, mottled finish. Nobody mistakes it for a basic tee, which is exactly why people pick it for merch and small brands.
Ask us about this tee →AS 5080 - Heavy Tee
- Weight:
- 8.2 oz/yd² (280 gsm)
- Fit:
- Relaxed
- Fabric:
- 100% carded cotton
- Sizes:
- S-5XL (varies by color)
The heaviest tee in this whole guide by a wide margin - 8.2 oz of dense, structured cotton. For streetwear-style merch or anyone who wants a shirt with real weight to it, this is the one. We sell it occasionally, and it never disappoints.
Ask us about this tee →
AS Colour goes a lot deeper than these four - stone-washed and faded lines, curved-hem and boxy cuts, plus headwear. We haven't sold a ton of their hats yet, but the option's there. If you want the premium tier, ask and we'll walk you through the range.
Quick answers
What's the difference between a Gildan 5000 and a Port & Company PC54?
Very little, honestly - 5.3 oz vs 5.4 oz, similar classic cuts, and nearly identical color-blend patterns. They're direct competitors in the budget-basic tier. Which one an order lands on usually comes down to color availability and pricing at order time.
What's the softest budget t-shirt?
Of the tees we run most, the Gildan Softstyle 64000 - ring-spun cotton at about 4.3 oz, noticeably softer than a Gildan 5000 or PC54 for only slightly more money. If the budget stretches a couple dollars further, the Next Level CVC (6210) is a real step up in feel and fit.
Which t-shirt is best for DTG (direct-to-garment) printing?
The Port & Company PC54DTG is built for it - the fabric ships pretreated from the mill, so it's ready to print with no pretreat step. Ring-spun and combed cottons like the Next Level 3600 also print beautifully on DTG.
What's the best heavyweight t-shirt?
Depends what 'heavy' means to you. The Comfort Colors 1717 (6.1 oz, garment-dyed) is the crowd favorite - heavy but soft and lived-in. The AS Colour 5080 (8.2 oz) is the heaviest tee we run: dense, structured, streetwear-grade. Next Level's 7200 Legend (6.8 oz) sits between them with a relaxed fit.
Which t-shirt is best if you're selling shirts online?
We print for a lot of online sellers, and the shirts they pick most are the Comfort Colors 1717 (the garment-dyed look makes artwork feel premium), the Next Level tri-blend 6010 (soft, drapey, retail feel), and AS Colour blanks when the brand wants a top-tier canvas. The right pick depends on your price point and audience - tell us what you're building and we'll match it.
Do these shirts come in youth and women's sizes?
Most do. Gildan 5000 (5000B youth / 5000L ladies), Softstyle 64000 (64000B / 64000L), PC54 (PC54Y / LPC54), PC43 (PC43Y youth), and the Sport-Tek ST350 (YST350 youth / LST350 ladies) all have dedicated youth or women's cuts. Bella+Canvas goes furthest: youth 3001Y, toddler 3001T, infant 3001B, and a women's slim 6004. Comfort Colors has the youth 9018. Ask us and we'll match the whole group order across adult, ladies, youth, and even toddler sizes.
Still not sure which tee fits your order?
Tell us the job - quantity, budget, and how the shirts will be used - and we'll recommend the blank we'd pick ourselves.
Beyond this guide
We print a lot more than what's on this page
This guide sticks to tees, but the catalog doesn't stop there - hoodies, fleece, workwear, hi-vis, hats, bags, and more. Browse every category in our online designer, or just reach out and we'll point you to the right blank for the job.
