The 5 Most Popular T-shirt Fabrics: An Ultimate Guide

When it comes to printing custom t-shirts, it’s great to have as many options as possible, but sometimes all the choices can be overwhelming. We’ve created this guide to help break down the 5 most popular t-shirt fabrics on the market, from the classic 100% cotton to the trendy tri-blends. Whether you need a few shirts for a special celebration or outfitting thousands of participants at your big event, we hope this guide can help you make the most fitting decision.

The Top 5 Most Common T-shirt Fabrics:

100% Cotton (Heavyweight Cotton, Ultra Cotton)
Ringspun Cotton (Soft-Spun Cotton, Combed Ringspun Cotton)
100% Polyester (Dri-Fit, Cool-Dry, Performance)
Cotton/Polyester Blends (50/50, 60/40, 65/35, 80/20, CVC)
Tri-Blends (Cotton/Polyester/Rayon)

Ranking the Features of the 5 Most Popular T-shirt Fabrics

	100% Cotton	Ringspun Cotton	Poly/Cotton Blend	100% Polyester	Tri-Blends
Softness	⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐	⭐	⭐⭐⭐
Durability	⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐
Breathability	⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐	⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐
Lightweight	⭐	⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐
Moisture-Wicking	⭐⭐	⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐
Quick-Drying	⭐	⭐	⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐
Stretchiness	⭐	⭐⭐	⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐
Shrink-Resistant	⭐⭐	⭐⭐	⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐
Wrinkle-Resistant	⭐	⭐	⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐
Fade-Resistant	⭐	⭐⭐	⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐
Printing Options	⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐	⭐	⭐⭐⭐
Print Quality	⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐	⭐⭐	⭐⭐
Low-Priced	⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐	⭐	⭐⭐

Not only is ringspun cotton softer, more durable, and more comfortable than traditional cotton, it is also more stretchy and lighter in weight, making it feel like your favorite worn-in shirt right out of the box. Because the surface of the fabric is smoother and denser than regular cotton, printing on ringspun cotton results in a smoother and more vibrant print. Ringspun cotton also tends to be more resistant to fading and losing its shape from laundering compared to regular cotton.

Not all ringspun cotton shirts are created equal! In fact there are several levels of quality within the ringspun category. First you have standard ringspun shirts which may also be called soft-spun, or soft-style. A step above ringspun there is “combed ringspun cotton” which has undergone an additional step of processing that “combs” the impurities out of the cotton fibers before it is “spun.” The highest level of quality is called “airlume combed ringspun cotton” which is more extensively combed and uses only the longest cotton fibers which prevents fewer tiny strands of fiber from “poking out” of the finished fabric. For more info on the superiority airlume ringspun cotton check out this article from Bella + Canvas.

Polyester is the world’s most popular synthetic fiber. It’s well known for its moisture-wicking properties, meaning it pulls sweat away from your skin and evaporates it quickly, keeping you dry and comfortable during even the most intense workouts. It's like having a personal air conditioner built into your t-shirt - lightweight, breathable, and oh-so-cool. But polyester isn't just for gym rats and marathon runners. It's also great for outdoor activities like hiking, camping, and cycling, where moisture management and durability are key.

Now, let's talk about the perfect marriage of comfort and durability: 50/50 poly cotton blends. Picture a t-shirt that's soft like cotton but tough like polyester – that's the beauty of this hybrid fabric. By blending polyester fibers with cotton, you get the best of both worlds: the breathability and softness of cotton, combined with the wrinkle-resistance and durability of polyester. It's like having your cake and eating it too – why choose between comfort and performance when you can have both?

Last but not least, let's talk about tri-blends – the ultimate trifecta of comfort, style, and sustainability. Made from a blend of cotton, polyester, and rayon, these t-shirts offer the best of all worlds. Picture a fabric that's soft like cotton, stretchy like polyester, and drapey like rayon – that's the magic of tri-blends. Plus, they're more eco-friendly than traditional cotton tees, thanks to the use of recycled materials. It's like hitting the jackpot in the fabric lottery – why settle for one great thing when you can have three?