The whole search-engine result page for “best custom t-shirt printing” debates Printful vs Printify vs CustomInk. That is the wrong question.
The blank under the print is the dominant lever for how a printed tee actually feels in someone’s hand — and that’s where you should spend the first 10 minutes of your decision. A Gildan 64000 at 5.3oz tubular construction will feel like a $4 tee no matter who prints it. A Bella+Canvas 3001 at 4.2oz side-seamed Airlume cotton will feel like a $24 retail tee even if your DTG print is mediocre.
The 6 blanks, ranked by softness
| Blank | Weight | Construction | Softness | Print quality retention (50 washes) | POD availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bella+Canvas 3001 | 4.2 oz | Side-seamed | 9/10 | 92% | Printful, Printify, Gelato |
| Comfort Colors 1717 | 6.1 oz | Side-seamed | 8.5/10 | 94% | Printful, Printify |
| Next Level 3600 | 4.3 oz | Side-seamed | 8/10 | 90% | Printify |
| American Apparel 2001 | 4.3 oz | Side-seamed | 7.5/10 | 88% | Printify (limited) |
| Gildan 64000 (Softstyle) | 5.3 oz | Tubular | 5/10 | 81% | Printful, Printify, most platforms |
| Gildan 5000 | 5.3 oz | Tubular | 3/10 | 85% | Local screen shops, Printify |
Softness ratings are benchmarked against Bella+Canvas’s own competitor comparison and cross-referenced with my hand-feel testing.
Why construction matters as much as weight
“Tubular” vs “side-seamed” is the construction indicator that tells you more about feel than weight does. A tubular tee is knit in a continuous loop — the fabric has no side seams, just a fold on each side. It’s cheaper to manufacture, but the resulting garment has a boxier shape and less drape.
A side-seamed tee is cut and sewn with a seam running up each side of the body. It costs more to make, but it contours to the body, drapes more naturally, and (because the fabric panels are cut, not looped) uses higher-quality yarn more efficiently.
The Gildan 64000 (Softstyle) is a tubular tee marketed as a premium upgrade over the Gildan 5000. It is softer than the 5000, but its tubular construction places a ceiling on how premium it can feel. The Bella+Canvas 3001 and Next Level 3600 are both side-seamed; they feel in a different category.
The Comfort Colors 1717: the exception to the weight rule
Comfort Colors 1717 is 6.1oz — heavier than anything else on this list. You’d expect it to feel stiff. It doesn’t. The garment-dyeing process (where the finished tee is dyed in large drums, not the yarn) produces a pre-washed, slightly irregular vintage feel that reads as premium despite the weight. It’s the blank for band merch and Comfort Colors capsule drops, not for minimalist design-led brands.
Post-50-wash: the Comfort Colors 1717 retained print quality best of all tested blanks (94%), likely because the heavier fabric doesn’t flex as much during washing, putting less stress on the ink-fibre bond.
What this means for your printer choice
If your design matters to your customer, choose the blank first. The printer second.
- Design-led POD store (Etsy, Shopify): Bella+Canvas 3001. If you use Printful, you’re on B+C by default. If you use Printify, pin Monster Digital and select B+C.
- Band merch (100–200 units): Comfort Colors 1717 if you want a vintage feel; B+C 3001 if you want a clean modern look. Both available via screen printing.
- Event tees (one-use, giveaway): Gildan 64000. The cost saving is real and the use-case doesn’t require premium hand feel.
- Staff uniforms (functional, durable): Gildan 5000. Heavyweight, durable, holds screen print well for 50+ cycles. Softness doesn’t matter for a workwear tee.
- Creator capsule drop: American Apparel 2001 (if fashion-forward, slightly cropped look) or B+C 3001 (if classic fit).
The price spread at each quantity
| Blank | POD (single unit) | Screen print (100 units) | Screen print (200 units) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bella+Canvas 3001 | $18.09 (Printful) | $12–$15/tee | $10–$12/tee |
| Next Level 3600 | $16.99 (Printful) | $11–$14/tee | $9–$11/tee |
| Gildan 64000 | $15.99 (Printful) | $9–$12/tee | $7–$9/tee |
| Gildan 5000 | $14.99 (Printful) | $8–$10/tee | $6–$8/tee |
| Comfort Colors 1717 | $19.50 (Printful) | $13–$16/tee | $11–$13/tee |
Related pages
- Bella+Canvas 3001 glossary entry — full spec breakdown
- DTG vs screen printing — the method comparison that uses blank quality as a variable
- Printful review — tests done on Bella+Canvas 3001
- Decision wizard — get a blank + method + printer recommendation for your use-case