Screen printing rewards a good blank. The right t-shirt gives you a smooth, stable surface, crisp registration and colours that stay vibrant wash after wash. The wrong one soaks up ink unevenly, shows a rough texture through the print, or shrinks and distorts your design. Here's what to look for, and the specific wholesale blanks that consistently deliver.
What makes a good screen-printing blank
- A tight, smooth knit. The flatter and denser the fabric surface, the cleaner your print. Loose or slubby knits show texture through fine detail.
- The right weight. Mid-to-heavyweight cotton (roughly 165-185gsm) gives ink something solid to sit on and resists show-through. Very light tees can be printed but leave less margin for error.
- Ringspun vs open-end cotton. Open-end (carded) cotton is cheaper and perfectly printable for everyday work. Ringspun cotton is smoother and softer, giving a more premium finish for retail-quality prints.
- Colour consistency. Consistent dye lots matter when you're printing hundreds of shirts that need to match.
- Minimal shrinkage. Pre-shrunk cotton keeps your print proportions right after the first wash.
The best blanks for the job
Gildan Heavy Cotton (G5000)
The default choice for a reason. At 180gsm with a tight knit and a massive colour range, it's smooth, stable and forgiving to print, and it's priced for volume. If you only stock one screen-printing tee, this is it.
Fruit of the Loom Valueweight (F61036)
At 165gsm, this is one of the most cost-effective quality printable tees available. Ideal for high-volume, budget-sensitive jobs like events, charities and giveaways where price per unit is everything.
Gildan Softstyle (G64000)
When your customer wants a softer, more retail feel, the ringspun 150gsm Softstyle prints beautifully and feels far nicer on the skin than a standard heavy cotton. A great upsell for fashion-led orders.
Fruit of the Loom Super Premium (F61044)
A heavier 205gsm option for customers who want a substantial, quality tee. The extra weight gives a premium hand and an excellent print surface.
Cotton vs polycotton vs performance
For screen printing, 100% cotton is the classic choice: it takes plastisol and water-based inks brilliantly and gives the most reliable results. Polycotton blends can print well too and resist creasing, but be aware of dye migration on polyester-heavy or brightly-dyed garments, where the garment's dye can bleed into your ink over time. If you're printing on performance polyester, you'll need the right inks and a low cure temperature to avoid problems.
A few practical tips
- Always test-print a single garment before committing to a full run, especially on a new blank or colour.
- Watch dye migration on reds, purples and other strong colours: use a migration-blocking underbase if needed.
- Order a size run to check the print area works across small and large garments.
- Keep dye lots consistent by ordering your full quantity in one go where possible.
Start with samples
Because we have no minimum order, you can buy one of each blank, print your test design, wash it a few times and judge the results for yourself before you place a bulk order. It's the cheapest insurance there is against a print run gone wrong.
Browse the full range in our wholesale blank t-shirts collection, or compare brands in our Gildan and Fruit of the Loom ranges.