Best T-Shirt Brands for Custom Printing — Gildan vs. Bella+Canvas vs. Hanes

The shirt you print on matters just as much as the design you put on it. A great logo on a cheap, ill-fitting shirt won’t get worn. A quality shirt with a sharp print becomes a wardrobe staple. Here’s an honest comparison of the three most popular brands in custom t-shirt printing.

Gildan: The Workhorse

Gildan is the most widely used brand in the custom apparel industry, and for good reason. They offer an enormous range of styles, colors, and fabric weights at prices that make large orders affordable.

Standout models:

• Heavy Cotton 5.3 oz (G500) — The default custom tee for thousands of organizations. Sturdy, affordable, available in 50+ colors.
• Softstyle (64000) — A lighter, softer alternative that’s gained popularity for its more modern feel.
• DryBlend (8000) — A poly-cotton blend with moisture-wicking properties.

Best for: Budget-conscious bulk orders, events, giveaways, and any situation where you need maximum quantity at minimum cost. Gildan’s color range is nearly unmatched, making it easy to find an exact match for your brand colors.

Trade-offs: Gildan’s standard cuts tend to run boxy, particularly in the Heavy Cotton line. They’re functional and durable, but they don’t have the fashion-forward fit that some audiences prefer.

Bella+Canvas: The Premium Pick

Bella+Canvas has become the go-to brand for organizations that want their custom shirts to feel like something you’d buy in a retail store. The fabrics are softer, the cuts are more tailored, and the overall quality signals “premium” without an outrageous price tag.

Standout models:

• Unisex Jersey Tee (3001) — The brand’s flagship. Ring-spun cotton, side-seamed construction, and a modern fit that flatters most body types.
• Triblend Tee (3413) — A polyester-rayon-cotton blend that’s extraordinarily soft and has a distinctive heathered look.

Best for: Branded merchandise people will actually want to wear, employee apparel, retail-quality merch, and any situation where perceived quality matters. If you’re selling custom shirts (rather than giving them away), Bella+Canvas is the most common choice.

Trade-offs: Higher per-unit cost than Gildan or Hanes. The lighter fabric weight (typically 4.2 oz vs. Gildan’s 5.3 oz) feels great but may not hold up as well to heavy daily use or industrial laundering. Color selection is more curated — you’ll find plenty of options but not quite the breadth of Gildan.

Hanes: The Comfort-First Option

Hanes sits between Gildan and Bella+Canvas in both price and quality perception. They’re known for soft, comfortable fabrics and reliable fit.

Standout models:

• ComfortSoft (5280) — Ring-spun cotton at a moderate price point. Softer than Gildan Heavy Cotton but not as premium as Bella+Canvas.
• Beefy-T (5180) — A heavier, more substantial tee (6.1 oz) that’s built to last. Popular for work shirts and organizations that prioritize durability.
• Tagless — A key comfort feature across many Hanes lines. No itchy tag — just a heat-transferred label.

Best for: Organizations that want a step up in comfort from basic Gildan without the price jump to Bella+Canvas. The Beefy-T is also a smart choice for work environments where shirts see hard daily use.

Trade-offs: The color range is narrower than Gildan’s. Availability of specific models and colors can fluctuate more than the other two brands.

Quick Comparison

So Which Should You Choose?

Choose Gildan when budget and quantity are your top priorities. The Heavy Cotton is the most cost-effective custom tee available, and it prints beautifully.

Choose Bella+Canvas when you want people to genuinely love wearing your shirt. The extra cost per unit pays for itself in wearability and brand perception.

Choose Hanes when you want a middle ground — more comfortable than basic Gildan, more affordable than Bella+Canvas, and tough enough for work environments.

We carry all three brands (and several more). Browse our full t-shirt collection to compare options side by side.