Cotton or dri-fit for class and event T-shirts?

Compare the exact shirt, not the label

When a class committee or event organiser asks for cotton or dri-fit, they are naming a category. Each category on our site holds several blanks that are not interchangeable: they can differ in fibre, knit, fabric weight, cut and colour range. Compare two specific listings instead.

Four separate things to check

• Fibre composition. What the yarn is made of. Read it on the listing for your colour, since some listings say it varies by colour.
• Knit. How the yarn is made into fabric, named on the listing or the manufacturer's page where published.
• Fabric weight. GSM is grams per square metre of fabric, not the weight of the shirt. Our GSM guide explains the number.
• Fit. This comes from the model's cut and its size chart, not from the fabric category.

On our site, dri-fit is a product category for sportswear blanks, not one fibre, weight, colour range or level of quality. Cotton is not one specification either.

Two listings side by side

In this pair the cotton tee has the lighter fabric, 150 gsm against 160 gsm. The category name does not tell you which shirt is lighter, and another pair of models could come out the other way.

Oren, the manufacturer, also describes the QD04 as 100% microfibre at 160 gsm on its QD04 product page. If your school or event specifies a material, check the composition there and on our listing rather than relying on the word dri-fit.

Questions to ask for your group

These help you shortlist models. None has one right answer.

Classroom, dinner or indoor event

Will the shirt be worn indoors for a few hours, then again afterwards? Does your group want an everyday look? Is the colour you need in that model's colour list? Start with the cotton blanks on custom T-shirts, then check the size chart for each model you shortlist.

Sports day, run or outdoor activity

Will people be moving and sweating for most of it? Has the school or organiser specified a material or model? Will the design cover a large area? Browse dri-fit and sportswear, then check the composition and size chart of the model you pick.

Mixed use

If one shirt has to work at a morning briefing and an afternoon game, decide which use matters more. Or order two models, for example cotton for helpers and dri-fit for participants, with a size chart and size list for each.

Match the print method to the model

Decoration is chosen for one garment, not a category. The artwork, colours, any names or numbers, and the fabric and colour of the shirt all affect which method we recommend. Compare printing methods, then send the exact model and colour with your artwork and we will confirm the method.

Three example briefs

These are illustrations of how to brief us. They are not past orders or quotes.

Example 1: class dinner tees

• Model: Gildan Softstyle 63000, colour chosen from its listing
• Composition checked for that colour
• Sizes collected against the Softstyle 63000 chart
• A small chest crest and a back design, artwork ready

Example 2: sports day tees

• Model: Oren QD04, colour chosen from its colour list
• Sizes collected against the QD04 chart
• Names or numbers listed, if they will be printed
• A question for us: which method suits this design on this model?

Example 3: a mixed group

• Two models: a cotton tee for helpers and the QD04 for participants
• The same artwork on both models
• One quote request that covers both models

For a whole class, see our class T-shirt guide. When you know the model, colour and quantity per size, send them with your artwork on the quote form or WhatsApp.