For a printed tee on a budget, the Gildan 64000 Softstyle is the best value of the three: it is ring-spun cotton like the premium blanks and comes in at $10.01 per piece for 50 white shirts with a 1-color front print. If the shirt is part of your brand, step up to the Bella+Canvas 3001 ($12.82) for the softest hand and the biggest color range, or the Next Level 3600 ($12.15) for the same 32-singles print surface with a longer, trimmer cut and sizes up to 6XL.
All three are soft, ring-spun cotton tees that print well. The differences are yarn fineness, cut, color range and price, and those differences are smaller than most people expect once the print is on the shirt.
The three tees side by side
Prices below come from our live quote engine: 50 pieces, sizes S to XL, one location (front), 1 ink color, per piece before sales tax, garment and print included. Screen prep is built into the per-piece price, so there is no separate setup line.
| Garment | Weight and fabric | Fit and feel | Best print methods | FPC price, 50 pcs, 1-color front (white / black shirt) | Minimum | Turnaround |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gildan 64000 Softstyle | 4.5 oz/yd², 100% ring-spun cotton, 30 singles (heathers are blends) | Modern classic fit, narrow rib collar, taped neck and shoulders | Screen printing, DTG on solid colors | $10.01 / $11.66 | 36 per design (screen print), 1 (DTG) | About 2-3 weeks after art approval |
| Bella+Canvas 3001 | 4.2 oz/yd², 100% Airlume combed and ring-spun cotton, 32 singles | Unisex retail fit, side-seamed, lightest fabric of the three (4.2 oz/yd²) | Screen printing (fine detail, water-based, discharge on solids), DTG | $12.82 / $13.86 | 36 per design (screen print), 1 (DTG) | About 2-3 weeks after art approval |
| Next Level 3600 | 4.3 oz/yd², 100% combed ring-spun cotton, 32 singles | Runs a touch longer and trimmer than the 3001; sizes XS to 6XL | Screen printing, DTG | $12.15 / $13.19 | 36 per design (screen print), 1 (DTG) | About 2-3 weeks after art approval |
Fabric specs are from the S&S Activewear catalog descriptions for each exact style. Color counts in our live catalog today: 96 for the 3001, 77 for the 64000 and 46 for the 3600.
What you pay at 100 pieces and for a DTG sample run
Screen printing gets cheaper per piece as quantity goes up, because the screen prep is shared across more shirts. Same setup as above (1-color front, S to XL, before tax):
| Garment | 100 pcs, white shirt | 100 pcs, black shirt | 12 pcs DTG, white shirt | 12 pcs DTG, black shirt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gildan 64000 | $8.35 | $9.60 | $19.58 | $25.19 |
| Bella+Canvas 3001 | $11.16 | $11.80 | $22.39 | $27.39 |
| Next Level 3600 | $10.49 | $11.13 | $21.72 | $26.72 |
The blank itself is most of the gap between the three. In our catalog the 64000 prices at $4.58 per piece in white, the 3600 at $6.72 and the 3001 at $7.39, before any printing. Sizes 2XL and up carry a size upcharge on all three, which the quote calculator adds automatically.
Why a black shirt costs more to screen print
This is the detail most price lists leave out. On a dark garment we print a white underbase first, then the design color on top, so the color stays bright instead of sinking into the fabric. That underbase is its own screen. A 1-color design on a black tee is really two screens on press, and our pricing engine counts it that way.
You can see it in the numbers. At 50 pieces, the print on a white shirt costs $5.43 per piece and the same 1-color print on a black shirt costs $6.47. At 100 pieces it is $3.77 versus $4.41. On the 64000, black is also a slightly pricier blank than white, which is why its white-to-black gap is the widest of the three.
If you want a soft print on a dark shirt without the underbase feel, discharge is an option on the 100% cotton solid colors of the 3001 and 3600. It does not work on heathers: the 64000's Dark Heather and Heather colors are 65/35 polyester/cotton, and polyester will not discharge. See our water-based and discharge printing page for how that works.
Which one should you pick?
Pick the Gildan 64000 when price per piece decides. Events, staff shirts, giveaways and fundraisers where you want a shirt people actually re-wear, without paying fashion-blank prices. It is a real step up from a heavy open-end tee in softness and print detail. Gildan 64000 specs and live pricing.
Pick the Bella+Canvas 3001 when the shirt is the product. Clothing lines, band merch and startup swag. The finer 32-singles combed yarn holds halftones and thin lines, the retail fit reads as "brand merch", and 96 colors means you can usually match your palette. It is also the standard DTG blank. Bella+Canvas 3001 specs and live pricing.
Pick the Next Level 3600 when fit range matters. It prints the same as the 3001 but cuts longer and trimmer, and the size run goes to 6XL, which helps team and company orders where one style has to fit everyone. Buyers used to a boxy tee may want to size up. Next Level 3600 specs and live pricing.
Not sure? DTG has no minimum, so you can order a single sample on each blank before committing to a screen printed run. For a broader look at the three brands, read Bella Canvas vs Gildan vs Next Level, and if you are also weighing a heavier garment-dyed tee, see Comfort Colors 1717 vs Bella 3001 vs Gildan 5000.
Choosing the print method
- Screen printing is the right call from 36 pieces per design. It is the lowest cost per piece at volume and the most durable. Our screen printing cost guide shows how price changes with quantity and colors.
- DTG printing has no minimum and prints full color with no screens, which makes it the method for samples, short runs and photographic art. It is priced higher per piece, so it rarely wins above a few dozen shirts with simple art.
- Minimums by method are explained in Custom Shirt Minimums by Print Method.
Every order gets a free digital proof, and production starts only after your written approval. You can price your exact shirts and design in the quote calculator; it uses the same engine as the prices above.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Gildan 64000 as soft as the Bella+Canvas 3001?
It is close on solid colors because both are ring-spun cotton. The 3001 uses a finer 32-singles combed yarn and a retail cut, so it feels lighter and drapes more; the 64000 is 30 singles at 4.5 oz/yd² and costs less.
What is the difference between the Bella+Canvas 3001 and the Next Level 3600?
Both are 32-singles combed ring-spun cotton tees with an excellent print surface, so print quality is the same. The 3600 runs longer and trimmer and goes up to 6XL; the 3001 has more colors (96 versus 46 in our catalog today).
How much does it cost to screen print 50 shirts on these blanks?
With a 1-color front print, sizes S to XL, before tax: $10.01 per piece on a white Gildan 64000, $12.15 on a white Next Level 3600 and $12.82 on a white Bella+Canvas 3001. On black shirts it is $11.66, $13.19 and $13.86 because of the white underbase screen.
What is the minimum order for these tees?
Screen printing starts at 36 pieces per design. DTG has no minimum, so you can order one shirt as a sample.
Which of the three is best for DTG printing?
The 3001 and 3600 are the standard DTG blanks because their 32-singles combed cotton gives the cleanest full-color prints. The 64000 works well on solid colors; its polyester-rich heathers print more muted.
How long does an order take?
Our turnaround is about 2-3 weeks after art approval. Rush depends on the schedule, so tell us your date and we will confirm what is possible.
