When designing a custom T-shirt, there are lots of choices to make. Color, design and style are all important elements, but one of the biggest decisions is choosing the right T-shirt material. Different materials offer different benefits based on your budget, priorities and audience.

Because every project is different, there’s no such thing as one-size fits all when it comes to choosing the perfect material. Here are our top tips for deciding which T-shirt material is right for your project.

100% Cotton

Tried and true, cotton is one of the most popular T-shirt materials, and with good reason. This soft, comfortable material can be printed with just about any kind of ink or design. It’s hypoallergenic, which means it won’t irritate those with sensitive skin.

In the past, 100 percent cotton T-shirts were infamous for being thick and heavy. These days, with updated technology, cotton T-shirts can be produced with a lightweight, breathable feel.

One of cotton’s biggest selling points is its affordability. Cotton T-shirts are relatively inexpensive to produce, which makes this material a great option for large-scale or budget-conscious projects.

Cotton fabric, while comfy, isn’t quite as light as other fabrics. It also doesn’t dry quickly. Cotton material is best for tees that aren’t specifically meant to be worn outside or while exercising.

Cotton might be your perfect fit if…

  • You’re creating a large number of T-shirts for an event or conference.
  • Your target audience is likely to have sensitive skin.
  • You’re producing T-shirts for a charitable cause and want to keep costs low.

100% Polyester

If you’re creating shirts for people on the move, polyester might be your best bet. This T-shirt material is more durable than cotton, which makes it less likely to shrink or stretch. It’s also more light-weight.

Polyester fabric dries quickly, which is why it’s often called “moisture wicking.” It’s also more resistant to odors and stains than cotton. If your audience is going to be out in the hot sun, spending time near the water or working up a sweat, they’ll be much more comfortable in a polyester T-shirt.

The increased durability of polyester comes with a slightly higher price point, so it might not be the best options for those trying to cut down costs.

Polyester might be your perfect fit if…

  • You’re creating shirts for a 5K race.
  • You’re printing new jerseys for your softball team.
  • You’re ordering work uniform shirts for your landscape business.

Cotton/Polyester Blend

What did Hannah Montana call it… the best of both worlds? A cotton-polyester blend offers some of the benefits (and drawbacks) of both T-shirt materials already discussed.

Cotton/polyester blend is more durable than cotton alone, but isn’t quite as expensive to produce as a shirt that’s 100 percent polyester. The look, feel and durability of your T-shirt will depend on the percentage of each material that makes up your blend.

Some blended fabrics also have rayon added to the mix. Many people call this combination of cotton, polyester and rayon “tri-blend” material. The versatility of blended fabrics makes them another popular choice for all kinds of T-shirts.

Cotton/Polyester Blend might be your perfect fit if…

  • You’re creating shirts for a kids’ camp or school event.
  • You’re designing matching shirts for a bachelorette weekend trip.
  • You’re ordering work uniform shirts for an office setting.

Need helping choosing which T-shirt material is the right fit for your project? Full Press Apparel’s team is here to help. Our expert staff will guide you through the design process from start to finish, so you can be confident in a final product you’ll love. To get started, click here or give us a call at (850) 222-1003.