Last Updated on April 23, 2024 by Fredrick Miller
When running a home business of sublimation printing on shirts, it is necessary to use high-quality and sublimation compatible shirts.
That is where the best shirts for sublimation come in demand. You also need to buy the best sublimation printers for t-shirts for maximum results.
Hanes Sport Men’s Heathered Training Tee
Gildan Men’s Heavy Cotton T-Shirt
A4 Shorts Sleeve Crew Shirt
It is because the content of fabric highly affects the sublimation prints. If you sublimate on cotton t-shirts, the print will fade out even after the first wash.
That’s why it is required to use those shirts for sublimation printing that contain polyester.
Some cotton blends provide excellent sublimation printing along with 100 % polyester fabric.
It includes 65% polyester & 35% cotton, and 50% cotton & 50% polyester.
Moreover, the shirts available online for sublimation printing come in high quality and are economical. All the shirts included in this article are machine washable, durable, and breathable.
Table of Contents
5 Best Shirts For Sublimation in 2024
| Image | Product | Details | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
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Hanes Sport Men’s Heathered Training Tee | 100% Polyester Size: Small,Medium,Large,XL ,XXL Colors: Multiple Colors |
Check Price |
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Gildan Men’s Heavy Cotton T-Shirt | Classic fit for loose comfort Available sizes: small, medium, large, XL, 2XL, 3XL, 4XL, and 5XL Available colors: Multiple |
Check Price |
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Comfort Colors Men’s t-shirt | 60% Cotton, 40% Polyester Size: X-small to 4X large Available colors: Multiple |
Check Price |
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Gildan Men’s DryBlend T-Shirt | 50% Cotton, 50% Polyester Available sizes: Small, Medium, Large, X-Large, and XX-Large Available colors: Multiple |
Check Price |
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A4 Shorts Sleeve Cooling Performance Crew Shirt (N3142) | 100% Polyester Available sizes: Small to 4x Large Available colors: Multiple |
Check Price |
1. Hanes Sport Men’s Heathered Training Tee
In my list of best shirts for sublimation, Hanes Sports men’s got the highest points as it features 100 percent polyester in its fabric composition.
As polyester is one of the most suitable materials for sublimation, you can create high quality prints on your Hanes Sports shirt.
Nothing compares to the ease and grace of Hanes Men’s Clothing.
Whether exercising or relaxing, Hanes Men’s Activewear always provides the right fit, look, and level of comfort.
Hanes Men’s t-shirts go above and beyond to keep you comfortable during strenuous activities. Hanes has what you look for in comfort, fitting, and appearance.
Moreover, Hanes Sport Men’s t-shirt is durable and easy on the budget. You can also gift it to your loved ones after creating beautiful sublimation prints on it with your sublimation printer.
The quality of this t-shirt is up to mark. As it is light in weight, you can feel fresh air even in hot summers. It is manufactured in the USA.
Most importantly, the cool comfort technology of the Hanes Sport Men’s shirt will keep you fresh and comfortable by wicking out the sweat and allowing cool air.
Furthermore, this t-shirt for sublimation is free of tags to prevent any allergy to sensitive skin.
Sizes
The Hanes t-shirts are available in all sizes, i.e.
Colors
These shirts are available in a variety of colors:
- Graphite Oxford grey Deep Forest
- White Light Blue Navy
- Safety green Wow pink Maroon
- Black Deep red Gold
- Purple safety orange Kelly green
Why should one buy this?
One should consider Hanes men’s shirt for sublimation printing as it is 100 % the best polyester shirt for sublimation. It is soft and provides excellent comfort.
The sublimation prints on these shirts last longer and do not fade away upon washing them. This shirt stuff also allows you to remove sublimation ink without any damage.
Pros
Cons
2. Gildan Men’s Heavy Cotton T-Shirt
People who wear Gildan t-shirts adore the strength and flexibility of the fabric, and the G5000 model is Gildan’s best seller for justification.
Companion versions are also available for women, children, and toddlers. This midweight, manufactured in the United States, lasts all year.
Along with comfort, it is the best fit for machine printing, needlework, sublimation printing, iron-on imprints, bleaching, and tie-dyeing. All work best on a flat surface. As it is the Best Shirt for bleaching and sublimation
The shirt is available in different fabric blends that are as follows:
- 50 % cotton and 50 % polyester; suitable for sublimation prints.
- Solid shirts with 100 % cotton content: Although cotton is unsuitable for sublimation printing, you can try it for embroidery, tie-dyeing, or iron-on imprints.
- Antique heather is about 90 % cotton and 10% polyester. Polyester will cause the sublimation dye to stick to the fabric, and cotton content is breathable; for summer.
- Cotton content will provide mid-weight strength, whereas polyester will be suitable for creating quality prints that last longer.
- Available in all colors and sizes, the Gildan’s shirt provides the best fit for all age groups. Moreover, the shirt fabric is also suitable to wash in machines.
And the pull on closures will help you to wear and take it off quite easily.
Available sizes: The Gildan shirts are available in sizes including small, medium, large, XL, 2XL, 3XL, 4XL, and 5XL.
Available colors: You can select your favorite color as the Gildan shirts are available in mostly all colors.
Pros
Cons
3. Comfort Colors Men’s t-shirt: Best T-Shirt For Sublimation
Another one of the best shirts for sublimation includes the comfort colors Men’s t-shirt. The shirt fabric blends 60% polyester and 40% cotton.
People who want more than just a simple crew neck to highlight their sublimation graphics may be interested in the selection of comfy, casual tees sold by Next Level Apparel.
You easily sublimate on this colored shirt in a better way. The Next Level 6200 is one of the popular shirts and is excellent for sublimation printing.
The 6200, also referred to as the “festival t-shirt,” has a cozy composition of 60% polyester and 40% ring-spun cotton.
It is available in a variety of hues, including a heather grey. It has a set-in collar to give your sublimation print design additional room.
Although cotton can interfere with sublimation printing, the high percentage of polyester ensures that your design will still look fantastic.
Moreover, the shirt fabric is already laundered, so you do not have to face volume shrinkage upon washing.
Pros
Cons
4. Gildan Men’s DryBlend T-Shirt
It is another of the best color shirts for sublimation, featuring 50% polyester and 50% cotton fabric content if you use the best sublimation inks.
The Gildan DryBlend Adult T-Shirt makes it simple to appear great and keep damp whether you’re working out in the morning or at night.
The USA-grown cotton used by Gildan offers the best balance of quality and price for its cotton and cotton-blend goods.
To give a user-friendly experience, Gildan specifies a pull on closure; it will help you to wear or take off the shirt easily.
The Gildan Men’s dryblend t-shirt is 50% polyester to retain beautiful, realistic sublimation prints.
Polyester has a high capacity to hold the sublimation dyes effectively. And the cotton fabric content will give you a good feel in summer.
Moreover, it is compatible with washing machines. The soft cotton content will keep the shirt fit and in shape even after years of usage.
Also, the sweat wicking capacity of Gildan is excellent for keeping you cool and dry. That is why it provides comfort every time you wear it.
Lastly, these shirts are available in almost all sizes and colors, so you can choose the perfect shirt according to your demands and fit.
Available sizes: Small, Medium, Large, X-Large, and XX-Large.
Pros
Cons
Related Articles:
- How to do Sublimation on Dark Shirts?
- Best Printer For Dye Sublimation
- How to Wash a Sublimated Shirt?
5. A4 Shorts Sleeve Cooling Performance Crew Shirt (N3142)
One of the best high-performance tees for sublimation printing is A4 Crew Shirt.
This shirt is the best option all year round for any activity with benefits like cooling and moisture-wicking technology, sun protection, rash protector, and much more.
When you perform challenging workouts, your clothing must also comply with it, so this shirt provides a higher performance level with its quality fabric content.
As the A4 shirt is 100% polyester, whatever you print on it with sublimation technology will look excellent and realistic.
The polyester holds the dyes, and the color does not fade even after washing.
Moreover, the shirt’s outstanding moisture-wicking performance is due to the use of 4-ounce micro poly interlock fabric, which efficiently draws any dampness from the body for quick evaporation.
When engaging in any sport, staying cool and dry improves ultimate satisfaction. It also prevents rashes, burning, and overheating.
This shirt is made from lightweight, well-fitting, 100 percent polyester fabric. Also, it has an incredibly tight weave, strengthened shoulder stitches, and double-stitched hems.
This athletic shirt is the pinnacle of performance clothing owing to its stain-releasing and odor-resistant features.
Pros
Cons
Buying Guide of Best Shirts For Sublimation
When looking for the best shirts for sublimation printing, it is important to consider the following factors to ensure that the end result is vibrant and long-lasting:
1. Material
Polyester is the most commonly used material for sublimation printing as it has a special polymer coating that allows the ink to penetrate and bond with the fabric’s fibers.
2. Thread count
The higher the thread count, the smoother the surface of the fabric, leading to more vivid and accurate printing results.
3. Color
White or light-colored shirts are recommended as they provide a clean canvas for the sublimation ink to show up on.
4. Size
Ensure that the shirts you choose are the correct size for the intended print, as sublimation printing typically has a tight tolerance for misalignment.
5. Brand
Some shirt brands may be better suited for sublimation printing than others, so do some research and read customer reviews to make informed decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are polyester t-shirts considered best suitable for sublimation printing?
Polyester t-shirts are considered best suitable for sublimation printing because polyester fibers incorporate polymeric molecules that, upon heating, form strong bonds with sublimation colorants.
That’s why the top shirts for sublimation printing have a high polyester content. T-shirts that are suitable for sublimation are available from companies including:
Hanes
Gildan
Next Level
What are the best sublimation printers for printing on t-shirts?
Epson and sawgrass printers are suitable for sublimation printing on t-shirts.
Other than polyester, on which fabric blends can you use sublimation printing?
Although sublimation printing is highly effective on polyester; it can also be used on some other fabric blends as;
Triblends
35 % cotton and 65 % polyester
50 % polyester & 50 % cotton
Heathered 65 % polyester
Is it ok to sublimate on cotton t-shirts?
Cotton shirts are not appropriate for sublimation. The reason is the inability of Cotton to react with thermal sublimation inks. It implies that, unlike polyester, cotton cannot capture and maintain the color to bind it on a molecular level.
Which color shirts are best for sublimation?
In my experience, white or light-colored t-shirts are the perfect colors for sublimation.
Black or dark-colored shirts can be sublimated onto, but you must use a particular technique, such as putting a coat of white heat-transfer vinyl underneath the design, to get it to work. If not, the image won’t stand out against the black material properly.
What is the best shirt to sublimate on?
The best shirt for sublimation is a polyester blend t-shirt with a high polyester content of at least 50%. The smoother the surface, the better the print quality. Avoid cotton as it doesn’t sublimate.
Can I sublimate on 50 cotton 50 polyester?
Sublimation only works on 100% polyester or a poly/poly blend with a high polyester content. 50/50 cotton/poly shirts won’t work as cotton fibers don’t allow sublimation dyes to transfer properly.
Can you sublimate on 65 polyesters 35 cottons?
No, sublimation requires a high polyester content of at least 50% to work effectively and a 65/35 polyester/cotton blend is not suitable.
Final Verdict
Regarding the best shirts for sublimation, look for either 100% polyester or fabric blends with cotton containing high polyester content.
Polyester has a high capacity to hold sublimation dyes. It will give a realistic and beautiful appearance.
All the shirts included in this article are machine washable, light in weight, and economical. Most importantly, creating a sublimation print on these shirts will not fade away on washing.
Fredrik Miller is the Founder of PrinterLake.com, a platform dedicated to providing information on sublimation printing. With a Master’s degree in Information Technology from Reputed University, Fredrik brings a wealth of technical knowledge and expertise to the site.
He leads a team of writers who are experts in the field and strive to deliver the best and most comprehensive information on sublimation printers, inks, and paper.