Comfort Colors shirts shrink very little. The 1717 is garment dyed after it is sewn, which washes and pre-shrinks the finished shirt, and the brand describes it as having minimal shrinkage. At French Press Custom in Santa Fe Springs, a 1717 with a one-color front screen print costs $14.68 per shirt at 100 pieces, before tax.
That is the short answer. The rest of this page covers why garment dyeing matters, what "minimal" really means, how to wash a 1717 so it keeps its size, whether you should order a size up, and how screen printing and DTG behave on garment-dyed cotton. Prices at the bottom come from the same engine as our quote calculator.
Why do Comfort Colors shirts shrink less than other cotton tees?
Most blank tees are knit from fabric that was dyed before cutting and sewing. The finished shirt has never been through a hot wash, so the first few washes at home are where the cotton relaxes and pulls in.
A Comfort Colors 1717 is made the other way around. The shirt is sewn first, then the whole garment is dyed and washed. That process is what gives the 1717 its soft, lived-in feel and the slightly uneven, vintage color the brand is known for. It also means the shirt has already done a lot of its shrinking before it reaches you.
Here is how the supplier catalog we buy from describes the 1717:
| Spec | Comfort Colors 1717 |
|---|---|
| Fabric | 100% ring-spun cotton, 20 singles |
| Weight | 6.1 oz/yd² |
| Dye process | Garment dyed |
| Shrinkage, as described | "Garment dyed for a lived-in feel with minimal shrinkage" |
| Fit | Relaxed fit |
| Collar | Topstitched, classic width rib collar |
| Sizes | S to 4XL |
| Colors | 68 |
Specs are from the S&S Activewear catalog description of the Comfort Colors 1717.
How much do Comfort Colors shirts shrink?
Comfort Colors does not publish a shrinkage percentage for the 1717 in the product data we receive, and we will not guess one. What the brand does say is "minimal shrinkage," and that matches what we see when customers reorder the same sizes year after year.
Two honest caveats:
- Minimal is not zero. The 1717 is 100% cotton, and cotton can still tighten a little if it goes through a very hot wash and a long, hot dry. Pre-shrinking removes most of the change, not all of it.
- Heat matters more than washing. In our experience, most "my shirt shrank" complaints on any cotton tee trace back to a high-heat dryer, not the wash itself.
If you need exact numbers for a product label or a team that is picky about length, lay one shirt flat, measure it, wash and dry it the way you normally would, and measure again. Ordering a single sample first is easy, because DTG has no minimum.
How should you wash a Comfort Colors shirt so it does not shrink?
Our care advice for a printed 1717 is simple and the same advice we give for every garment-dyed tee:
- Wash cold, inside out. Cold water protects the faded color and turning the shirt inside out protects the print.
- Wash with similar colors. Garment-dyed colors can bleed a little in the first washes, especially deep shades like Pepper, Brick or True Navy.
- Tumble dry low, or hang dry. Low heat is the single biggest thing you can do to keep the original size.
- Skip the iron on the print. If you need to press the shirt, press it inside out.
- No chlorine bleach. It will strip garment-dyed color unevenly.
Follow that and a 1717 holds its size well. Check the care label inside the shirt for the manufacturer's own instructions.
Should you size up in Comfort Colors?
For most people, no. The 1717 is already cut as a relaxed fit, and because it is pre-shrunk you do not need to buy a size up to make room for shrinkage. Order the size you normally wear in a tee.
Size up only if you want an oversized look, which is popular for merch drops and campus wear. If your group is used to slim retail tees, the 1717 will feel roomier and boxier, so a size run sample helps before a big order. Comfort Colors publishes a size chart for the 1717, and the reliable method is to measure a shirt you like flat, armpit to armpit, and compare.
A practical note for group orders: sizes 2XL and up cost a little more because the blank itself costs more. On a 50-piece black 1717 with a one-color front print, 2XL adds $2.61 per shirt and 3XL adds $5.55. All sizes of one design count toward the same minimum.
How does printing work on garment-dyed cotton?
The 1717 is one of the best tees to print on, and garment dyeing is a big reason why. A few things are different from printing a standard tee.
Screen printing on a 1717
The 100% ring-spun cotton face takes ink well. Plastisol gives a bright, opaque print, and water-based ink soaks into the fibers for a soft, worn-in print that matches the vintage look of the shirt. If you want discharge on a garment-dyed shirt, ask us first, because results depend on the dye. Our water-based and discharge printing page explains the difference.
On any 1717 color that is not clearly light, we print a white underbase under your ink so it stays bright on the colored cotton. That is one extra screen, and our quote adds it automatically. That is why a one-color print on Black or Pepper costs a little more than the same print on White.
DTG on a 1717
DTG prints the design like an inkjet, so full-color art and photos print with no screens and no minimum. On White and Ivory the printer goes straight onto the shirt. On darker colors it lays down white ink first, which is why DTG on Black or Pepper is priced higher.
If you want the most photo-bright DTG result, choose White or Ivory, or consider screen printing for bold spot-color art.
Does the print shrink with the shirt?
Because the 1717 is pre-shrunk before it ever reaches our press, the print stays the size and position we placed it. Wash cold and dry low and both the shirt and the print hold up. We wash-tested DTG prints in Is DTG printing good quality?.
Dye lots
Garment-dyed colors vary a little from one dye lot to the next. That is part of the look. We pull your whole order from one lot when stock allows and flag it on the proof when we cannot.
How much do printed Comfort Colors 1717s cost?
All prices are per shirt printed, before tax, sizes S to XL. Screen print setup is already included in the per-shirt price. Screen printing starts at 36 pieces per design, so 24 pieces are priced with DTG.
| Order | White 1717 | Black or Pepper 1717 |
|---|---|---|
| 24 pieces, DTG full-color front | $25.91 | $30.91 |
| 36 pieces, screen print 1-color front | $18.64 | $20.11 |
| 50 pieces, screen print 1-color front | $16.34 | $17.38 |
| 50 pieces, DTG full-color front | $22.91 | $25.91 |
| 100 pieces, screen print 1-color front | $14.68 | $15.32 |
| 100 pieces, DTG full-color front | $18.91 | $20.91 |
| 50 pieces, screen print 1-color front and 1-color back | $21.00 | $23.07 |
| 100 pieces, screen print 1-color front and 1-color back | $17.90 | $19.17 |
A single DTG sample is $30.91 on White or $35.91 on Black. Sizes 2XL and up carry a supplier upcharge: on the 50-piece black screen print, 2XL is $19.99 and 3XL is $22.93 per shirt. The calculator prices every size in your mix.
For a side-by-side with other popular blanks, see Comfort Colors 1717 vs Bella+Canvas 3001 vs Gildan 5000, and for the full story of the brand, the Comfort Colors guide. Specs and live pricing are on our Comfort Colors 1717 page.
Our take
The 1717 is one of the tees we get asked about most, and shrinkage worries are rarely the problem people expect. The real surprise for first-time buyers is the fit: it is boxier than a retail tee, not smaller. When a school club or a brand is unsure, we send one DTG sample first so they can wash it, dry it, and try it on before they commit to 100. Garment-dyed colors can also sit a shade off from one dye lot to the next, so reorder the same color together when an exact match matters.
Ordering from Los Angeles or Orange County
- Where we are. 14130 Rosecrans Ave, Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670, serving Los Angeles and Orange County.
- Minimums. DTG none, DTF 12, embroidery 24, screen printing 36 pieces per design.
- Timing. About 2-3 weeks after art approval. Rush available depending on the schedule. Tell us your date.
- Contact. Mon-Fri 8am-4pm PT, (562) 407-3800, sales@frenchpresscustom.com.
Price your Comfort Colors 1717s now.
Frequently asked questions
Do Comfort Colors shirts shrink in the dryer?
Very little. The 1717 is garment dyed and washed after sewing, so it is pre-shrunk, and the brand describes minimal shrinkage. A long, hot dry can still tighten any cotton tee slightly, so tumble dry low or hang dry.
How much do Comfort Colors shirts shrink?
Comfort Colors does not publish a percentage in the product data we receive, only "minimal shrinkage." If you need exact numbers, measure one shirt before and after a wash and dry.
Should I size up in Comfort Colors shirts?
Not for shrinkage. The 1717 is a pre-shrunk relaxed fit in sizes S to 4XL, so order your normal size, and size up only if you want an oversized look.
Are Comfort Colors shirts pre-shrunk?
Yes, in practice. Garment dyeing means the finished shirt is dyed and washed before it is sold, which takes out most of the shrinkage a standard cotton tee shows in its first washes.
How do I wash a custom printed Comfort Colors shirt?
Wash cold, inside out, with similar colors, then tumble dry low or hang dry. Avoid chlorine bleach and do not iron directly on the print.
How much does it cost to print Comfort Colors shirts?
At French Press Custom, a 1717 with a one-color front screen print is $16.34 per shirt at 50 pieces and $14.68 at 100 pieces on White, before tax. DTG with no minimum is $25.91 per shirt at 24 pieces on White.
Can you DTG print on Comfort Colors?
Yes. DTG on a 1717 is $25.91 per shirt at 24 pieces on White and $30.91 on Black or Pepper, with no minimum. Light colors give the brightest full-color result.
