At French Press Custom in Santa Fe Springs, 100 black tees with a 1-color front screen print cost $11.13 each on a Next Level 3600 and $15.32 on a Comfort Colors 1717. The 3600 is the lighter, smoother, lower-cost retail tee. The 1717 is a 6.1 oz garment-dyed heavyweight with a relaxed fit and a lived-in vintage look.
Neither shirt is better across the board. They are built for different jobs, and the right pick depends on how the shirt should feel, who is wearing it, and your budget per piece. Every price below comes from the same engine as our instant quote calculator.
Next Level 3600 vs Comfort Colors 1717 at a glance
| Spec | Next Level 3600 | Comfort Colors 1717 |
|---|---|---|
| Fabric | 100% combed ring-spun cotton (Heather Grey is 90/10, Oatmeal 99/1 cotton/poly) | 100% ring-spun cotton |
| Weight | 4.3 oz/yd² | 6.1 oz/yd² |
| Yarn | 32 singles | 20 singles |
| Dye | Dyed as fabric, then sewn | Garment dyed after sewing |
| Fit | Regular fit, side seams | Relaxed fit, topstitched classic width rib collar |
| Sizes | XS to 6XL | S to 4XL |
| Colors in our catalog | 46 | 68 |
| Feel | Smooth, light, soft from day one | Thick, soft, broken in, slightly boxy |
Specs are from the S&S Activewear catalog descriptions for each exact style, which mirror the Next Level and Comfort Colors product data.
How different are the weight and feel?
The 1717 is about 40% heavier fabric: 6.1 oz/yd² against 4.3 oz/yd². You notice it the moment you pick one up. The 1717 uses thicker 20-singles yarn and feels substantial and broken in. The 3600 uses finer 32-singles yarn, so it is lighter, smoother and cooler to wear, which matters in a Southern California summer or at an outdoor event.
How do they fit?
S&S lists the 3600 as a regular fit, and on our brand page we note it runs a touch longer and trimmer than a classic tee. The 1717 is a relaxed fit with a classic width rib collar, so it sits looser and boxier on the body. If your buyers are used to slim retail tees, order a size sample of the 1717 before the full run. Size range is a real difference for groups: the 3600 runs XS to 6XL, while the 1717 runs S to 4XL.
What does garment dyed mean, and why does it matter?
Most tees, including the 3600, are knit and dyed as fabric, then cut and sewn. Comfort Colors dyes the 1717 after it is sewn, which S&S describes as giving "a lived-in feel with minimal shrinkage." That process is why 1717 colors look soft and slightly faded, and why colors like Pepper, Blue Jean and Ivory look the way they do.
Two practical effects:
- Color varies a little by dye lot. It is part of the look. We pull a full order from one lot where stock allows and flag it on the proof when we cannot.
- It is the reference discharge blank. Discharge ink lifts the garment dye and replaces it with your print color, and it needs 100% cotton with dischargeable dye. The 1717 has both, which is why it is the reference shirt for soft vintage prints. Solid-color 3600s are also 100% cotton and discharge on darks too. See water-based and discharge printing.
Our Comfort Colors guide goes deeper on the garment-dyed range.
Price per shirt at 24, 50 and 100 pieces
Prices are per shirt, printed, before sales tax, sizes S to XL, one front print. Screen print setup is already included in the per-shirt price. Screen printing starts at 36 pieces per design, so 24 pieces go to DTG.
Screen printing, front only
| Style and shirt color | 24 pcs | 50 pcs, 1-color | 50 pcs, 2-color | 100 pcs, 1-color | 100 pcs, 2-color |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Next Level 3600, White | Below the 36 minimum | $12.15 | $13.19 | $10.49 | $11.13 |
| Next Level 3600, Black | Below the 36 minimum | $13.19 | $14.23 | $11.13 | $11.76 |
| Comfort Colors 1717, White | Below the 36 minimum | $16.34 | $17.38 | $14.68 | $15.32 |
| Comfort Colors 1717, Black or Pepper | Below the 36 minimum | $17.38 | $18.42 | $15.32 | $15.95 |
Full-color DTG front
| Style and shirt color | 24 pcs | 50 pcs | 100 pcs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Next Level 3600, White | $21.72 | $18.72 | $14.72 |
| Next Level 3600, Black | $26.72 | $21.72 | $16.72 |
| Comfort Colors 1717, White | $25.91 | $22.91 | $18.91 |
| Comfort Colors 1717, Black or Pepper | $30.91 | $25.91 | $20.91 |
For 100 black shirts with a 1-color front, the order total with tax is $1,183.56 on the 3600 and $1,646.56 on the 1717.
Why black costs more. On any shirt that is not clearly light, we print a white underbase under your ink so the color stays bright. That is an extra screen, and the engine adds it automatically. Pepper, the 1717's washed charcoal, prices the same as black.
2XL and up cost more. Both styles carry a supplier upcharge from 2XL. A black 2XL with a 1-color front in a 50-piece order is $16.01 on the 3600 and $19.99 on the 1717.
Next Level vs Gildan: where do the Gildan tees fit?
Many people searching this are also deciding between Next Level and Gildan. Same setup as above, 1-color front screen print, S to XL, before tax:
| Style | Weight and fabric | 50 pcs, white | 50 pcs, black | 100 pcs, white | 100 pcs, black |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gildan 5000 | 5.3 oz/yd², 100% U.S. cotton, 20 singles, classic fit | $9.52 | $11.11 | $7.86 | $9.05 |
| Gildan 64000 | 4.5 oz/yd², 100% U.S. ring-spun cotton, 30 singles, modern classic fit | $10.01 | $11.66 | $8.35 | $9.60 |
| Next Level 3600 | 4.3 oz/yd², 100% combed ring-spun cotton, 32 singles | $12.15 | $13.19 | $10.49 | $11.13 |
| Comfort Colors 1717 | 6.1 oz/yd², 100% ring-spun cotton, garment dyed | $16.34 | $17.38 | $14.68 | $15.32 |
The Gildan 5000 is the lowest cost and the sturdiest everyday tee, the 64000 is the budget soft tee, and the 3600 is the step up to a retail feel with the finest print surface of the four. Our Gildan 64000 vs Bella+Canvas 3001 vs Next Level 3600 comparison covers the three soft cotton tees in more detail.
Which one suits your merch?
- Clothing brands with detailed art: the 3600. The smooth 32-singles face holds fine lines and halftones, it is a first-class DTG blank, and the trimmer cut reads as retail. Choose the 1717 instead if your brand is built on a washed, vintage look.
- Boutique, coffee shop, brewery and lifestyle merch: the 1717. It feels premium in the hand, and a discharge or water-based print on a Pepper or Blue Jean 1717 is hard to beat.
- Events, festivals and giveaways: the 3600, or a Gildan if budget per piece matters most. Lighter fabric is more comfortable outdoors, and at 100 black shirts the 3600 is $11.13 against $15.32 for the 1717.
- Schools, teams and staff: the 3600 when you need a wide size run in one style (XS to 6XL). The 1717 is a popular senior or spirit-week shirt when students want the Comfort Colors look. See school spirit wear and our 1717 vs Gildan 5000 vs Bella 3001 school shirt guide.
Our take
On our presses both shirts print beautifully, but they ask for different art. The 3600's tight, smooth face is where we put fine detail and small text. The 1717's thicker, slightly textured face loves bold graphics and soft inks, and it is the shirt we test discharge on first, because garment-dye lots can release a little differently and we want one test shirt from your run before printing the whole order. The fastest way to decide is to hold both. If you are unsure, order one of each with DTG, since there is no minimum.
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 the Comfort Colors 1717 now, or price the Next Level 3600 to compare.
Frequently asked questions
Is Next Level or Comfort Colors better for t-shirts?
It depends on the look. Next Level 3600 is a light 4.3 oz retail tee with a smooth print surface and a lower price, $11.13 per printed shirt for 100 black tees with a 1-color front at French Press Custom. Comfort Colors 1717 is a 6.1 oz garment-dyed heavyweight with a vintage feel, at $15.32 for the same order.
Is Comfort Colors heavier than Next Level?
Yes. The Comfort Colors 1717 is 6.1 oz/yd² and the Next Level 3600 is 4.3 oz/yd², so the 1717 is noticeably thicker and more substantial.
Does Comfort Colors run bigger than Next Level?
The 1717 is listed as a relaxed fit and the 3600 as a regular fit, so the 1717 sits looser and boxier at the same size. The 3600 runs XS to 6XL and the 1717 runs S to 4XL. Check each brand's size chart before you order.
Which is better, Gildan or Next Level?
The Next Level 3600 is softer and smoother, with finer 32-singles yarn, and prints fine detail better. The Gildan 5000 is heavier and lower cost: 100 black tees with a 1-color front are $9.05 each on the 5000 and $11.13 on the 3600 at French Press Custom.
Do Comfort Colors shirts shrink?
S&S describes the 1717 as garment dyed "for a lived-in feel with minimal shrinkage," because the shirt is dyed and washed after it is sewn.
How much is a custom Comfort Colors 1717 shirt?
At French Press Custom, a 1-color front screen print on a white 1717 is $16.34 per shirt at 50 pieces and $14.68 at 100, before tax, sizes S to XL. On black or Pepper it is $17.38 and $15.32, and 2XL and up cost more.
Can I order fewer than 36 shirts?
Yes, with DTG, which has no minimum. A full-color DTG front on 24 white shirts is $21.72 each on the 3600 and $25.91 each on the 1717.
