Fabric & GSM Guide for Bulk T-Shirt Orders

Choosing the right fabric and GSM (grams per square metre — the standard measure of fabric weight and thickness) is one of the first decisions in any bulk t-shirt order. Get it wrong and you either overpay for weight you didn’t need, or end up with a garment that feels thin and see-through. Here’s how to think about it.

Cotton

100% cotton is breathable, soft, and the most common choice for corporate wear, event t-shirts and everyday uniforms. It takes screen printing and embroidery well, but it isn’t the fastest-drying option, so it’s less common for active sportswear.

Polyester

Polyester is durable, holds colour well, dries quickly and resists shrinking. It’s a common choice for sports jerseys, workwear that needs frequent washing, and sublimation-printed designs, since sublimation ink bonds best to polyester fibres.

Poly-Cotton Blends

A poly-cotton blend (commonly 65/35 or 50/50) aims for a middle ground — some of cotton’s comfort with some of polyester’s durability and lower shrinkage. It’s a practical default for uniform programs that need to survive frequent commercial laundering.

Dry-Fit / Performance Fabric

Moisture-wicking dry-fit fabric is built for sports days, fitness events and outdoor staff uniforms — it moves sweat away from the skin and dries fast, at the cost of the softer hand-feel of cotton.

What Does GSM Actually Mean?

GSM (grams per square metre) measures how much fabric is packed into each square metre — higher GSM generally means a heavier, more substantial garment, while lower GSM means lighter and more breathable.

• 160–180 GSM — lightweight, breathable, good for hot climates and high-volume promotional giveaways.
• 180–200 GSM — the most common range for corporate and event t-shirts; a good balance of durability and comfort.
• 200–220 GSM — a heavier, more premium feel, often used for branded merchandise and retail-quality apparel.
• 220+ GSM — heavyweight, used for winter wear, premium polos and garments that need to hold their shape through repeated washing.

Not Sure Which to Pick?

If you’re not sure, tell us the use case — daily office wear, a one-day event, an outdoor activity, or retail merchandise — and we’ll recommend a fabric and GSM combination, with a physical sample so you can feel it before committing to a bulk order.