Gildan vs. Bella+Canvas vs. Next Level: Which Blank Tee Is Best for Custom Printing?
A head-to-head comparison of the three most popular blank t-shirt brands for custom screen printing — softness, fit, color range, print quality, and price — with a clear verdict on which to choose for events, retail, and brand merch.
If you're ordering custom shirts, you've almost certainly run into these three names: Gildan, Bella+Canvas, and Next Level. They cover the spectrum from budget to premium, and picking the right one is the difference between a tee people toss and one they keep wearing. Here's the honest head-to-head.
The 30-second verdict
- Gildan — best value. Widest color and size range, lowest price, most durable. Slightly less soft.
- Bella+Canvas — best all-arounder. The retail standard: soft, trendy fit and colors. Runs slim.
- Next Level — best premium feel. Softest hand and the most "boutique" look, at the highest price.
If you only remember one thing: Gildan for budget/giveaways, Bella+Canvas for brand merch, Next Level for premium resale.
Gildan — the value king
Gildan's flagship soft tee, the Gildan 64000 Softstyle, is 4.5 oz combed ring-spun cotton — genuinely soft, but priced barely above a basic heavyweight. Gildan's edge is range and durability: the most colors, the deepest size runs (youth through 5XL on many styles), and fabric that survives industrial laundering.
- Softness: good (Softstyle); basic (heavyweight 5000)
- Fit: classic/relaxed, true to size
- Price: $ (lowest)
- Print surface: excellent for bold and detailed art
- Best for: events, schools, giveaways, uniforms, anything high-volume or budget-driven
Bella+Canvas — the retail standard
The Bella+Canvas 3001 family (Airlume combed ring-spun cotton) is what most people picture when they think "nice tee." It's the default for brand merch and fashion-forward orders thanks to its soft hand, on-trend colors, and modern cut.
- Softness: very soft
- Fit: modern, runs slim — size up for a relaxed fit
- Price: $$
- Print surface: excellent; takes soft-hand water-based prints beautifully
- Best for: branded merchandise, boutiques, startups, anything sold rather than given away
Next Level — the premium pick
Next Level 3600 is 4.3 oz combed ring-spun with the softest hand of the three and a clean fashion fit. It reads "premium" off the hanger, which is why it's a favorite for retail drops and merch people pay for.
- Softness: softest
- Fit: fashion fit, fairly true to size
- Price: $$–$$$
- Print surface: excellent; pairs best with water-based/discharge inks
- Best for: premium retail, music/brand merch, anything where the shirt itself sells
Head-to-head
| Gildan 64000 | Bella+Canvas 3001 | Next Level 3600 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Softness | Good | Very soft | Softest |
| Fit | Classic, true to size | Modern, runs slim | Fashion, true to size |
| Color range | Widest | Wide, trendy | Moderate |
| Size range | Deepest | Good | Good |
| Durability | Highest | High | High |
| Price | $ | $$ | $$–$$$ |
| Best for | Value & volume | Brand merch | Premium resale |
Which should you choose?
| Your goal | Pick |
|---|---|
| Lowest cost per shirt | Gildan (64000 Softstyle or heavyweight 5000) |
| Maximum colors / sizes | Gildan |
| Trendy brand merch | Bella+Canvas 3001 |
| Softest possible feel | Next Level 3600 |
| Selling shirts at retail | Next Level or Bella+Canvas |
| Uniforms / heavy washing | Gildan |
A note on printing
All three are 100% (or mostly) ring-spun cotton, so they take any ink system — plastisol, water-based, or discharge. The softer the tee, the better a soft-hand water-based print looks on it. Want the full rundown of every blank we recommend, not just these three? See our guide to the best blank t-shirts for screen printing.
Get a recommendation for your order
Tell us your use case, budget, and quantity, and we'll recommend the exact brand, style, and ink system — then proof it before anything prints. Browse the full blank t-shirt catalog or start your order below.
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