Bella+Canvas vs Gildan vs Next Level: Choosing the Right Blank T-Shirt

Bella+Canvas vs Gildan vs Next Level: Which Blank T-Shirt Should You Choose?

The blank garment you choose is just as important as the print itself. A great design on a cheap, boxy tee feels like a missed opportunity. At French Press Custom, we stock over 50 blank brands, but three dominate the conversation: Bella+Canvas, Gildan, and Next Level, with Comfort Colors close behind for the garment-dyed look.

Here is an honest comparison to help you choose, including the head-to-head matchups people ask us about most. Live blank pricing for every style below is on our t-shirts page, and the instant quote tool prices any of them with your print in about a minute.

The Quick Verdict

• Bella+Canvas 3001: best overall for premium retail-quality tees
• Gildan 5000: best for budget-friendly bulk orders
• Next Level 3600: best for fashion-forward fitted tees
• Comfort Colors 1717: best for the vintage garment-dyed look

Spec Comparison: Bella+Canvas 3001 vs Gildan 5000 vs Next Level 3600 vs Comfort Colors 1717

Price tiers are relative; the live per-blank price (wholesale times our fixed markup) is on the t-shirts page.

Bella+Canvas 3001 (The Industry Standard)

The Bella+Canvas 3001 has become the default choice for anyone who wants a quality custom tee. There is a reason every online merch brand uses it.

Fabric and Feel

• 4.2 oz Airlume combed and ringspun cotton
• Incredibly soft hand feel right out of the box
• Side-seamed construction (no twisting after washing)
• Retail fit: not too slim, not too boxy

Pros

• Buttery soft fabric that customers love to wear
• Excellent print surface for both screen printing and DTG
• Huge color range (100+ colors in stock)
• Consistent sizing across production runs
• Tear-away label for easy relabeling
• Sustainable practices (WRAP certified, reduced water usage)

Cons

• Higher wholesale cost than Gildan
• Lighter weight may not suit everyone
• Runs slightly smaller than traditional cuts

Best For

Merch brands, band tees, retail products, events where the shirt quality reflects your brand, corporate gifts for employees who will actually wear them.

Gildan 5000 (The Budget Workhorse)

Gildan is the most printed-on brand in the world, and the 5000 Heavy Cotton is their flagship. When budget matters more than fabric luxury, Gildan delivers.

Fabric and Feel

• 5.3 oz preshrunk cotton
• Thicker, more structured feel
• Traditional fit, wider through the body
• Double-needle stitching throughout

Pros

• Lowest wholesale cost in the industry
• Excellent ink absorption for screen printing
• Huge size range (S through 5XL readily available)
• Massive color selection
• Very durable, holds up to heavy use and industrial washing
• Reliable supply chain, rarely out of stock

Cons

• Boxy, unflattering fit compared to modern cuts
• Rougher hand feel, less comfortable for all-day wear
• Open-end cotton is less smooth than ringspun
• Can shrink more than premium blanks
• Tubular construction can twist after washing

Best For

Promotional giveaways, large corporate events, budget-conscious school orders, construction crews, situations where cost per unit matters most.

Next Level 3600 (The Fashion Pick)

Next Level sits between Bella+Canvas and Gildan in price but offers a distinctly fashion-forward fit that appeals to younger demographics.

Fabric and Feel

• 4.3 oz combed ringspun cotton
• Soft, smooth hand feel
• Modern fitted silhouette, slimmer than Bella+Canvas
• Side-seamed construction

Pros

• Fashion-forward fit that looks great in photos
• Soft ringspun cotton at a mid-range price
• Excellent for DTG printing
• Great heather and tri-blend options
• Tear-away label

Cons

• Runs slim, so size up if customers prefer a relaxed fit
• Smaller color range than Bella+Canvas or Gildan
• Less well-known brand name (does not matter for custom printing)
• Can be harder to source in large quantities

Best For

Streetwear brands, fitness apparel, younger demographics, fashion-conscious clients who want a fitted look, Instagram-friendly merch.

Comfort Colors 1717 (The Garment-Dyed Favorite)

The 1717 is a 6.1 oz ringspun cotton tee that is dyed after it is sewn, which gives it the broken-in feel and muted, earthy colors that have taken over Greek life, coastal brands, and college campuses. It is heavier and boxier than the other three, and it costs more, but the blank itself adds perceived value to whatever you print on it. It takes screen printing and discharge printing especially well. We cover it in depth in The Comfort Colors Guide.

Bella Canvas vs Gildan: Which Is Better?

It depends on what "better" means for your order. Bella+Canvas 3001 is the better shirt to wear: softer ringspun cotton, a modern retail fit, side seams that keep it from twisting, and a print surface that flatters both screen printing and DTG. Gildan 5000 is the better shirt to buy in bulk: it is the lowest-cost mainstream blank, it is heavier and more durable, it comes in sizes up to 5XL, and it is almost never out of stock. If the shirt is the product (merch, retail, gifts people should keep), choose Bella+Canvas. If the shirt is a giveaway, an event tee, or a crew uniform where cost per unit rules, choose Gildan. The per-blank price difference is visible side by side on our t-shirts page.

Bella Canvas vs Next Level: What Is the Difference?

These two are closer than most people expect. Both are soft combed ringspun cotton, both are side-seamed, and both print beautifully with DTG. The real differences are fit and range: Bella+Canvas 3001 is a retail fit that works on almost any body, while Next Level 3600 is noticeably slimmer through the chest and body, which looks great on a fitted streetwear or fitness brand and can feel tight on a general audience. Bella+Canvas also carries roughly twice the color range and is easier to source in large quantities. Next Level typically lands a little lower in price and has strong heather and tri-blend options. Pick Next Level for a fitted, fashion look; pick Bella+Canvas when you need broad sizing, more colors, or deep stock.

Gildan vs Next Level: Which Should You Pick?

This is a budget-versus-feel decision. Gildan 5000 is heavier (5.3 oz), boxier, rougher, cheaper, and built for volume. Next Level 3600 is lighter (4.3 oz), fitted, soft, and priced in the middle of the pack. For promotional tees, crews, and large school orders, Gildan wins on cost and durability. For a brand, a band, or anyone whose audience will judge the shirt in photos, Next Level is the upgrade that people notice. If you want the Next Level feel with a more forgiving fit, that is where Bella+Canvas 3001 comes in.

Next Level vs Comfort Colors: Fitted or Relaxed?

These two sit at opposite ends of the fit spectrum. Next Level 3600 is a light, slim, fashion-fit tee in a wide range of heathers. Comfort Colors 1717 is a heavy, relaxed, garment-dyed tee in a muted palette. Next Level is the choice for streetwear and fitness brands that want a body-conscious silhouette. Comfort Colors is the choice for Greek life, coastal and outdoor brands, and anyone chasing the vintage, oversized look. Comfort Colors costs more per blank and takes discharge printing beautifully; Next Level is the better DTG canvas. There is no wrong answer, just two very different shirts.

How Do Bella Canvas and Gildan Sizes Compare?

Bella+Canvas 3001 runs trimmer than Gildan 5000. The 3001 is a retail fit cut closer through the body, while the 5000 is a classic fit that is wider through the chest and waist. A customer who wears a Medium in Gildan often prefers a Medium in Bella+Canvas but will notice it is trimmer; someone who likes a roomy fit may want to size up one. Gildan also extends to 5XL in most colors, while Bella+Canvas tops out at 4XL (and XS is available). When you collect sizes for a group, tell people which brand you are ordering and share the brand's size chart so the breakdown is right the first time.

Which Blank T-Shirts Are Easiest to Print for Events?

For event tees, where you need consistent sizing, a wide color range, and a fabric that takes ink cleanly, Gildan 5000 and Bella+Canvas 3001 are the two easiest blanks to work with. Gildan 5000 is the most forgiving screen print surface, stocks deep in every size, and keeps costs low for large headcounts. Bella+Canvas 3001 is the better choice when the event shirt doubles as a keepsake or brand piece, and it prints well with screen printing, DTG, and DTF, so you are not locked into one method. Solid cotton colors are easier than heathers and tri-blends for color matching. Whatever you pick, order a size run breakdown rather than equal quantities, and keep a few extras in the most common sizes. Price an event order with your quantity to compare blanks instantly.

Other Blanks Worth Knowing

AS Colour 5001

Australian brand making waves in the US market. Premium quality, modern fit, curated color palette. Growing fast among streetwear and direct-to-consumer brands.

Champion Heritage T425

Heritage fit with the iconic "C" logo patch on the sleeve. Perfect when you want built-in brand cachet alongside your custom design.

Our Recommendation

At French Press Custom, we print on all of these blanks (and dozens more). Here is our general guidance:

• Starting a merch line? Go Bella+Canvas 3001
• Printing 500+ event shirts on a budget? Go Gildan 5000
• Fashion brand targeting 18-30 year olds? Go Next Level 3600
• Want that vintage aesthetic? Go Comfort Colors 1717

The best way to decide is to feel the blanks in person. We are happy to send you samples of each option so you can compare before committing to a full run. Browse live pricing on our t-shirts page, see decoration pricing in our screen printing cost guide, or get an instant quote. Call us at (562) 407-3800 to request samples.

Related guides: See live blank pricing and best-method guidance on our brand pages for the Bella+Canvas 3001, Gildan 5000 and Next Level 3600.