The top six blank t-shirt brands for custom printing deliver distinct advantages across quality tiers. Smart Blanks offers versatile, high-quality blank tshirts ideal for screen printing, embroidery, and DTG applications. Bella + Canvas offers premium ring-spun cotton with modern styling. Gildan Ultra Cotton provides reliable 6.0 oz construction with superior ink adherence. Next Level Apparel features soft CVC blends with fitted silhouettes. American Apparel emphasizes sustainable production and exceptional printability. Port & Company delivers value-focused durability with consistent specifications. Each brand’s unique attributes warrant careful consideration for specific printing applications.
Smart Blanks: Reliable Quality for Every Project
Smart Blanks stands out as a trusted option for custom printing, offering blank t-shirts that combine soft fabric with consistent sizing and exceptional printability. Their tees are designed for versatility, suitable for screen printing, heat transfers, and embroidery projects. With a focus on durability and color consistency, Smart Blanks ensures each garment maintains its shape and vibrancy through repeated washes, making them a go-to choice for professional and hobbyist printers alike.
Bella + Canvas: Premium Quality Meets Modern Style
When it comes to premium blank apparel for custom printing, Bella + Canvas stands as an industry leader in combining high-quality fabrics with contemporary styling. The brand’s signature soft fabric construction utilizes combed and ring-spun cotton, creating an ideal surface for screen printing and heat transfer applications.
Their blank t-shirts feature superior stitching, reinforced seams, and retail-ready fits that appeal to modern consumers. With extensive vibrant color options across their product lines, Bella + Canvas delivers consistent colorfast results that maintain integrity through multiple wash cycles. Their specialized fabric blends offer enhanced printability while maintaining breathability and shape retention.
Gildan Ultra Cotton: The Industry Standard Workhorse
While Bella + Canvas excels in premium market segments, Gildan Ultra Cotton has established itself as the backbone of the custom printing industry through decades of consistent performance and reliability. The 6.0 oz 100% cotton construction delivers excellent fabric quality for screen printing, DTG, and heat transfer applications. Its time-tested composition guarantees superior ink adherence and crisp design reproduction.
The garment’s longevity stems from double-needle stitching at stress points and a robust shoulder-to-shoulder tape that prevents deformation. These structural elements, combined with the pre-shrunk cotton material, maintain shape integrity through repeated washing cycles, making it a cost-effective choice for bulk orders.
Next Level Apparel: Soft Touch and Perfect Fit
Known for revolutionizing the basic tee market, Next Level Apparel combines ring-spun cotton with polyester to create their signature CVC (Chief Value Cotton) fabric blend. This premium construction delivers exceptional softness while maintaining structural integrity through multiple wash cycles.
The brand’s 60/40 cotton-poly ratio provides an excellent canvas for custom graphic designs, ensuring crisp print definition and color vibrancy. Their superior fabric blends minimize shrinkage and maintain shape retention, making them ideal for retail-ready merchandise.
Next Level’s fitted silhouettes feature modern cuts with strategic shoulder taping and reinforced collar bands, addressing both aesthetic appeal and durability demands in the custom apparel industry.
American Apparel: Ethically Made Fashion Basics
American Apparel stands as a pioneering force in sustainable, domestically-produced basics, manufacturing their garments in Los Angeles with strict ethical labor standards. Their blank t-shirts feature ring-spun combed cotton, delivering superior printability and consistent color retention across their product line.
The brand’s commitment to sustainable manufacturing is evident in their vertically integrated production facility, which minimizes carbon footprint while maintaining quality control. Their ethical labor practices guarantee fair wages and safe working conditions, setting industry benchmarks for responsible production.
Their Fine Jersey and 50/50 blend shirts remain top choices for screen printing professionals, offering exceptional durability and color vibrancy for custom designs.
Port & Company: Budget-Friendly Excellence
Standing as SanMar’s value-focused brand, Port & Company delivers reliable blank apparel that balances cost-effectiveness with consistent print performance. Their signature tees feature a robust construction with double-needle stitching at stress points, ensuring durability across multiple wash cycles.
The brand’s soft fabric options include ringspun cotton and cotton/poly blends engineered specifically for screen printing and DTG applications. Their reliable manufacturing processes maintain color consistency and fabric weight specifications across production runs.
Port & Company’s standardized sizing and bulk availability make it a preferred choice for high-volume print shops prioritizing predictable results while maintaining competitive price points.