In the highly competitive T-shirt market, one attribute is more sought-after than ever: softness.
People who value comfortable tees have a challenge: with all the brands, styles, and fabric blends out there, how do you know which is the softest? And how do you order online without being able to feel it for yourself? We know the answer.
To be sure, we looked at all the T-shirts in our catalog known for their softness and compared them based on their hand feel, body feel, and fit. We’re about to tell you which material is the softest–and why.
Tri-Blend is the softest T-Shirt material
Regularly championed by our staff and customers alike as the softest is the fabric known as tri-blend. Lightweight, heathered, and made from cotton and polyester plus rayon, tri-blend achieves a winning combination of soft hand (feel), drape, and overall comfort.
Some people consider cotton to be the ultimate in softness because of its classic organic feeling on the skin, while polyester and synthetic blends don’t feel right–and for an unfortunate few, synthetics can cause itching and irritation.
But most people find that the modern, lightweight synthetic fabric blends improve cotton’s softness, adding silkiness, smoothness, and suppleness along with stretch–allowing for a snug fit without feeling restrictive.
How we define soft
Supple, smooth, spongy, velvety, light, fluffy, fuzzy, comfy–there are a variety of words to describe the feeling of softness, and the feeling can be subjective. A big heavy plush blanket can be soft, and so can a breeze.
By soft, we mean overall comfort: the fabric, the feel of the surface (the hand), and how the T-shirt feels on your body when you wear it.
The top three T-Shirt materials, ranked by softness
- Tri-blend: A combination of three materials, typically cotton, polyester, and rayon.
- CVC: Chief Value Cotton, usually 60/40 cotton/poly blend.
- Cotton: The classic natural fiber.
- Tri-blend: the softest of the blends
Characteristics:
- Lightest fabric weight
- Ratio: 50% cotton, 25% polyester, 25% rayon
- Typically heathered
- Superior drape and stretch
Top Tri-blend Tees:
- American Apparel Unisex Track T-shirt (TR401W)
- Bella+Canvas Tri-blend (3413C)
- Next Level Tri-blend (6010)
CVC: The softest of the poly/cotton blends
Characteristics:
- Best value
- Mostly cotton, often heathered
- Polyester adds durability
Top CVC Tees:
- Bella+Canvas Sueded T-shirt (3301C)
- Next Level Cotton Blend T-shirt (N6210)
- Threadfast Apparel Unisex Ultimate T-shirt (100A)
Cotton: The original softest T-shirt material
Characteristics:
- Natural softness
- Excellent breathability and print surface
- Hypoallergenic
Top Cotton Tees:
- American Apparel Unisex Jersey T-shirt (2001W)
- Bella+Canvas Soft Cotton T-shirt (3001C)
- Next Level Apparel Crew Neck Tee (3600)
Avoid COE (Carded Open Ended) cotton for softness. Choose combed ring-spun cotton instead.
What makes a soft T-shirt?
- Quality: Higher quality fibers and construction
- Knit: Jersey knit is standard; tighter or looser affects drape
- Drape: Tri-blends have the most fluid drape
- Singles: Higher singles = softer (aim for 30+)
- Ring-spun and Combed: Both increase softness and print quality
The softest T-Shirt brands for retail and premium merch:
- Bella+Canvas
- American Apparel
- Next Level
- Alternative Apparel
- Threadfast
- Comfort Colors
- Bayside
Comfort Colors & similar styles
Garment-washed cotton is pre-washed after construction, often resulting in a soft, broken-in feel. Comfort Colors is the standout brand in this category.
Printing tips to keep T-shirts soft
- Use smaller design prints
- Minimize print areas
- Use outlines over solid blocks
- Choose water-based or discharge ink
- Avoid embroidery on soft tees
- Consider distressed effects
Does washing make your T-shirts softer?
Yes–but only to a point. Cotton and blends get softer over time, but cheap materials can degrade. Higher quality blends remain soft and durable longer.
Conclusion
Cotton remains a classic choice, especially for comfort and skin sensitivity. But for the ultimate softness, tri-blends are the clear winner, providing unmatched drape, lightness, and a silky-smooth hand feel. Choose premium brands and higher-quality materials to make the best, softest custom T-shirts possible.
Learn more about T-shirt fabrics here or jump right into our Design Studio to create your own super-soft, custom tees!