Cotton t-shirts

Wholesale Cotton T-Shirts for Retailers, Brands & Businesses

Simplstc Apparel is your complete source for wholesale cotton t-shirts — 100% cotton tees, ring-spun cotton tees, combed ring-spun cotton tees, organic cotton tees, heavyweight cotton tees, soft cotton tees, pima cotton tees, and cotton-poly blend tees for every program and every customer. Cotton t-shirts remain the most popular wholesale blank apparel category in the US market because cotton's natural breathability, print compatibility, and comfortable wear make it the preferred fabric for the widest range of programs — from school events to retail lifestyle collections.

Wholesale cotton t-shirt programs serve clothing brands, school athletic departments, corporate event organizers, promotional merchandise distributors, screen printers and embroidery shops, gyms and fitness studios, restaurants and hospitality businesses, nonprofits and organizations, and retail buyers building floor inventory. Our wholesale cotton t-shirt catalog covers every cotton construction — from the Gildan 5000 Heavy Cotton T-Shirt at 5.3 ounces to the ultra-soft Bella Canvas 3001 Airlume combed and ring-spun cotton tee to organic cotton options from Allmade.

Browse the full Wholesale T-Shirts collection at Simplstc Apparel. See also Performance T-Shirts for moisture-wicking polyester options and Long Sleeve T-Shirts for cotton long sleeve styles. Free shipping on all orders over $149.99.

Wholesale Cotton T-Shirts by Type

100% Cotton T-Shirts — the standard wholesale cotton tee; natural breathability, excellent screen printing and DTF printing results, and the familiar hand-feel that most customers associate with the word 't-shirt.' Available from Gildan apparel (5000 Heavy Cotton, 2000 Ultra Cotton), Port & Company, and Hanes.

Ring-Spun Cotton T-Shirts — a finer, softer yarn produced by twisting the cotton fibers during spinning rather than opening and air-jetting them. Ring-spun cotton produces a noticeably softer hand-feel than standard open-end cotton at the same weight. Available from Gildan (64000 Softstyle), Bella + Canvas (3001), Next Level Apparel, and Comfort Colors.

Combed Ring-Spun Cotton T-Shirts — the premium tier; cotton fibers are combed to remove short fibers before ring-spinning, producing an even finer, more uniform yarn with an ultra-soft surface. The Bella Canvas 3001's Airlume combed and ring-spun cotton is the most popular combed ring-spun wholesale tee.

Organic Cotton T-Shirts — grown without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers and GOTS-certified for programs that need documented sustainable sourcing credentials. Available from Allmade (AL2100 GOTS-certified organic cotton tee).

Heavyweight Cotton T-Shirts — 5.3oz and above for programs that need durability, opacity, and a substantial feel. The Gildan 5000 Heavy Cotton T-Shirt (5.3oz) is the most popular heavyweight cotton wholesale tee in the US market.

Lightweight Cotton T-Shirts — under 4.5oz for programs where a lightweight, drapey feel is preferred — summer retail programs, lifestyle brands, and active casual wear.

Pima Cotton T-Shirts — extra-long staple cotton for the smoothest, most durable cotton surface; premium retail positioning for lifestyle and boutique brand programs.

Cotton-Poly Blend T-Shirts — 50/50 and 60/40 cotton-polyester blends that combine cotton's natural feel with polyester's wrinkle resistance and color retention. Available from Gildan, Jerzees, Hanes, and Port & Company.

Made in USA Cotton T-Shirts — domestically manufactured cotton tees for programs that need a FTC-compliant Made in USA claim. Available from Volunteer Knitwear (VL100 All-American Tee, VL45 Daily Tee, VL60 Chore Tee).

Bulk Cotton T-Shirts for Large Orders & Inventory Programs

Bulk wholesale cotton t-shirts from Simplstc Apparel are available with no minimum on most blank styles and automatic volume discounts at every quantity tier. Bulk cotton t-shirt programs are the most common blank apparel order type across every industry — from 12-piece custom programs to 10,000-unit promotional runs.

Most Popular Bulk Cotton T-Shirt Styles

The most ordered bulk cotton t-shirt styles at Simplstc Apparel by program type:

• Gildan 5000 Heavy Cotton T-Shirt (5.3oz, 100% cotton) — the best-selling wholesale t-shirt in the US market by volume. Starting under $2.50 per unit at high volume. Available in ~30 colors, S through 5XL. The standard bulk cotton tee for events, schools, and high-volume programs.

• Gildan 64000 Softstyle T-Shirt (4.5oz, ring-spun cotton) — Gildan's softer alternative to the 5000; 30 singles ring-spun cotton with a noticeably softer hand. Under $4.00 per unit. The right choice for programs that need a softer tee without paying Bella Canvas pricing.

• Bella Canvas 3001 (4.2oz, Airlume combed ring-spun cotton) — the premium retail-quality bulk cotton tee. Under $7.00 per unit at volume. 100+ colors. The standard for lifestyle brands, boutique retail, and fashion-adjacent decorated apparel programs.

• Comfort Colors 1717 (6.1oz, ring-spun cotton, garment-dyed) — heavyweight garment-dyed cotton tee with a washed vintage finish. Under $8.00 per unit. The standard for programs targeting the vintage aesthetic and Southern/coastal lifestyle markets.

• Next Level Apparel 3600 (4.3oz, combed ring-spun cotton) — Bella Canvas competitor at a slightly lower price point with similar softness and fit.

• Allmade AL2100 (organic GOTS-certified cotton) — the sustainable certified alternative for eco-conscious brand programs; 14 colors, XS–4XL.

• Volunteer Knitwear VL100 (5.5oz, 100% cotton, Made in USA) — the premium American-made cotton tee for heritage brands, trade programs, and domestic sourcing requirements.

For matching cotton hoodies and sweatshirts to pair with bulk cotton tee orders, explore Hoodies and Sweatshirts at Simplstc Apparel.

Custom Cotton T-Shirts — Decorated for Brands, Teams & Events

Custom wholesale cotton t-shirts are the single most ordered decorated apparel item across every industry. The natural cotton surface — particularly on 100% cotton and ring-spun cotton tees — accepts screen printing, DTF printing, and embroidery decoration better than any synthetic fabric alternative. A custom cotton t-shirt with your logo is the most universally wearable branded merchandise item: comfortable against the skin, breathable in all seasons, and durable enough to last years of regular washing.

Our in-house decoration services for custom cotton t-shirts:

• Screen Printing — the most popular decoration for custom cotton tees; bold, vibrant prints on 100% cotton and ring-spun cotton surfaces; plastisol inks for maximum color vibrancy and durability, water-based inks for a softer hand-feel on premium ring-spun styles; available from 12 pieces with no setup fee

• DTF Printing — full-color photo-quality designs on any cotton t-shirt style; excellent adhesion on combed ring-spun and 100% cotton fabrics; no minimum order; the right choice for complex multi-color designs and lifestyle brand programs that need photographic or gradient graphic quality

• Embroidery — premium stitched logos on cotton t-shirts for corporate branded programs; left chest or center chest placement; backing stabilizer required; communicates quality beyond screen printing for corporate and professional programs

Custom cotton t-shirt programs by industry:

• School and team programs — Gildan 5000 with screen-printed school name, team name, and event graphics

• Corporate events — Gildan 64000 Softstyle or Port & Company PC54 with screen-printed company logo

• Lifestyle and boutique retail — Bella Canvas 3001 with DTF-printed brand graphics or screen-printed logo in water-based inks

• Vintage brand programs — Comfort Colors 1717 with screen-printed vintage-style graphics

• Eco-conscious brand programs — Allmade AL2100 organic cotton with water-based screen printing or DTF

• Heritage and Made in USA programs — Volunteer Knitwear VL100 with bold screen-printed graphics

Custom cotton t-shirt programs start at 12 pieces with no setup fee. For complete uniform packages — cotton tees plus matching hoodies or sweatpants — call +1 773-245-6241 for a bundled program quote.

Blank Cotton T-Shirts for Decorators & Retail Buyers

Blank wholesale cotton t-shirts are the most ordered blank apparel item by screen printers, DTF decorators, embroidery shops, and retail buyers across every market segment. The 100% cotton and ring-spun cotton t-shirt is the backbone of the wholesale blank apparel industry — it prints cleanly, holds its shape through decoration, washes well, and is available at the widest range of price points from any other apparel category.

Why blank cotton t-shirts are the decorator's first choice:

• Screen printing compatibility: 100% cotton absorbs plastisol and water-based inks with consistent dye penetration and minimal ink bleed; the standard substrate for professional screen printing programs

• DTG (direct-to-garment) compatibility: 100% cotton is the best DTG substrate — polyester and blends reduce ink adhesion and require pre-treatment; pure cotton produces the most vibrant DTG results without additional processing

• DTF compatibility: combed ring-spun cotton (Bella Canvas 3001, Next Level 3600) produces the best DTF results in the blank cotton category — the tight yarn structure maximizes transfer adhesion

• Color consistency across orders: 100% cotton holds dye consistently across production runs — the black Gildan 5000 ordered in January will match the black Gildan 5000 ordered in November for programs that need long-term color consistency

• Retail buyer inventory: blank cotton t-shirts in solid colors are the standard floor inventory for screen printing retail shops, custom apparel stores, and college bookstores

Most popular blank cotton t-shirt styles for decorator inventory:

• Gildan 5000 — the most affordable blank; 30 colors, S–5XL, under $2.50 at volume; right for screen printing programs with large runs

• Gildan 64000 Softstyle — soft ring-spun blank; 30 colors, S–3XL; right for programs that want a better hand-feel without Bella Canvas pricing

• Bella Canvas 3001 — premium combed ring-spun blank; 100+ colors, XS–3XL; the standard for lifestyle brand and boutique retail programs

• Comfort Colors 1717 — garment-dyed ring-spun blank; 65+ colors, S–4XL; the standard for vintage-aesthetic programs

• Next Level 3600 — premium combed ring-spun blank; 60+ colors, XS–4XL; Bella Canvas alternative at a slightly lower wholesale price

• Allmade AL2100 — GOTS organic cotton blank; 14 colors, XS–4XL; the blank for sustainable and eco-certified programs

• Volunteer Knitwear VL100 — Made in USA blank; 11 colors including safety colors, XS–4XL; the blank for domestic sourcing programs

Shop all blank cotton t-shirts at Simplstc Apparel — no minimum on most styles, same-week shipping on in-stock blanks.

FAQs

What is the difference between 100% cotton and ring-spun cotton t-shirts?

100% cotton t-shirts can use either open-end or ring-spun yarn construction. Open-end cotton (Gildan 5000) is produced by air-jetting fibers into yarn — faster and less expensive, with a crisper hand-feel. Ring-spun cotton (Gildan 64000 Softstyle, Bella Canvas 3001) twists fibers during spinning for a finer, softer yarn. Combed ring-spun (Bella Canvas 3001) adds an additional combing step to remove short fibers — producing the softest surface of the three. All three are 100% cotton; the construction determines the hand-feel.

What is the best cotton t-shirt for screen printing?

The Gildan 5000 Heavy Cotton T-Shirt is the most popular cotton tee for screen printing at volume — the 5.3oz open-end cotton absorbs plastisol ink evenly with minimal bleed, and the heavier weight provides a forgiving base for specialty inks. For premium programs using water-based inks, the Bella Canvas 3001 combed ring-spun surface produces the most vibrant water-based screen print results. See our screen printing service for details.

What is a heavyweight cotton t-shirt?

Heavyweight cotton t-shirts are typically 5.0 ounces per square yard and above. The Gildan 5000 at 5.3oz and the Comfort Colors 1717 at 6.1oz are the most popular heavyweight wholesale cotton tees. Heavyweight cotton provides more opacity (less see-through on white and light colors), more durability through repeated washing, and a more substantial feel that many customers prefer over lighter-weight fashion tees.

Do you carry organic cotton t-shirts wholesale?

Yes. Allmade AL2100 is a GOTS-certified organic cotton t-shirt available in 14 colors from XS through 4XL — grown without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers with the full supply chain certified. It's the most popular organic cotton wholesale tee for eco-conscious brands that need documented, audited sustainability credentials.

What wholesale cotton t-shirt is the softest?

The Bella Canvas 3001 Airlume combed and ring-spun cotton tee is the softest wholesale cotton blank widely available. The combing step removes short fibers before ring-spinning, producing a finer, more uniform yarn with an ultra-smooth surface. Next Level Apparel 3600 is a close second at a slightly lower price point.

Do you carry Made in USA cotton t-shirts?

Yes. Volunteer Knitwear makes all of their cotton tees in the USA — the VL100 All-American Tee (5.5oz, 100% cotton, 20 singles), VL45 Daily Tee (30 singles combed ring-spun), and VL60 Chore Tee are all Made in USA from domestic cotton at what the brand describes as one of the last great American textile mills.

What is the minimum order for custom cotton t-shirts?

Custom decorated cotton t-shirts via screen printing, DTF printing, or embroidery are available from 12 pieces with no setup fee. Blank cotton t-shirts have no minimum order. Call +1 773-245-6241 for bulk pricing on orders of 100+ units.

What is the difference between Gildan and Bella Canvas cotton t-shirts?

Gildan 5000 is a 5.3oz open-end cotton tee — heavier, more affordable (~$2.50/unit), and the standard for high-volume event and school programs. Bella Canvas 3001 is a 4.2oz Airlume combed ring-spun cotton tee — softer, more fashion-forward, more expensive (~$6/unit), and the standard for lifestyle and retail programs that support $22–$35 retail pricing. See our complete Gildan vs Bella Canvas guide for a full comparison.