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100% Cotton
Wholesale 100% Cotton T-Shirts and Blanks
100% cotton is the foundation of the wholesale blank market — the fabric construction that most decorators start with, that most events reach for, and that end customers tend to default to without thinking about it. Bulkthreads.com carries 100% cotton blanks across every weight, price tier, and use case, from budget event tees to garment-dyed retail-quality blanks.
Budget Cotton: Gildan G500 and Hanes 5250
The Gildan G500 Adult Heavy Cotton Tee is one of the more widely decorated blanks in the wholesale market — 5.3 oz., 100% cotton, available across an extensive color range in basic, traditional, and extended colorways. The G500L Ladies' version and G500B Youth Tee make it practical to outfit mixed groups from a single brand. For a heavier option, the Gildan G200 Ultra Cotton Tee at 6 oz. offers more structure and a slightly more substantial hand feel. The Hanes 5250 Tagless Tee at 6.1 oz. is a comparable alternative with brand recognition that resonates with end consumers, and the Hanes 5280 ComfortSoft Tee is a lighter, softer option at 5.2 oz. for programs where wearability matters more than weight.
Port & Company PC61: The Essential Tee Family
The Port & Company PC61 Essential Tee is a practical and flexible 100% cotton blank in this collection — a 6.1 oz. ring-spun cotton tee with a clean, classic fit that works for screen printing, embroidery, and DTG alike. The PC61 family extends across more formats than most styles at this price point: the PC61LS Long Sleeve Tee, PC61P Pocket Tee, PC61T Tall Tee, LPC61 Ladies' Tee, and PC61Y Youth Tee — a complete family that can outfit every age group and size range on a single style.
Premium Cotton: Comfort Colors and Gildan Softstyle
At the premium end, the Comfort Colors C1717 Heavyweight Tee occupies its own niche — 6.1 oz. garment-dyed ring-spun cotton with a worn-in, pigment-washed finish that arrives pre-washed and ready to wear. It's a strong choice for vintage-inspired merch drops, lifestyle brands, and any program where the garment's appearance is part of the design rather than just the canvas. The Gildan G640 Softstyle Tee bridges the gap between budget cotton and premium ring-spun — 4.5 oz. ring-spun construction at a price point that's still accessible for mid-volume runs.
All styles ship with automatic volume discounts applied at checkout, typically arrive in 1–3 business days, and come with free returns on every order. For print runs that need a softer hand feel or heathered colorways alongside 100% cotton basics, the ring-spun cotton collection and blends collection are natural complements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why choose 100% cotton for wholesale blank tees?
100% cotton is breathable, comfortable against the skin, and takes screen print and DTG inks well — which is why it remains the most common fabric choice for event tees, promotional runs, and decorated apparel programs of all kinds. It tends to shrink more than poly-cotton blends through washing, which is worth factoring in for programs where fit consistency over time matters. Pre-shrunk blanks like the Gildan G500 address this reasonably well, but it's worth noting for programs with strict sizing requirements.
What is the best wholesale 100% cotton tee for screen printing?
The Gildan G500 is one of the more widely used 100% cotton blanks for screen printing — its 5.3 oz. ring-spun construction takes plastisol and water-based inks consistently and holds up well through repeated washing. The Port & Company PC61 is a comparable ring-spun alternative at a similar price with a slightly broader size range including tall and pocket options. For programs where a softer hand feel matters, the Gildan G640 Softstyle is a meaningful step up at a modest price difference.
What is the difference between the Gildan G500 and G200?
The G500 is 5.3 oz. and the more commonly ordered of the two — well suited for most screen printing and event programs. The G200 Ultra Cotton is heavier at 6 oz., offering more structure and a slightly more substantial feel. The G200 is a practical choice for programs where a heavier blank is preferred, such as work shirts or any application where the end customer wants a tee that feels more substantial in hand.
What is the Port & Company PC61 family and why does it matter for uniform programs?
The PC61 is notable for how broadly it extends across formats from a single style — short sleeve, long sleeve, pocket, tall, ladies', and youth are all available in the same ring-spun cotton construction. For uniform programs that need to outfit a full range of employees or participants across different preferences and sizes, being able to source all formats from a single brand and fabric family simplifies the ordering process considerably.
What is the Comfort Colors C1717 and how does it differ from standard cotton blanks?
The C1717 is a 6.1 oz. ring-spun cotton tee that's individually garment-dyed after construction, which produces organic color variation, a softer broken-in texture, and a vintage aesthetic that standard cotton blanks don't replicate. It's heavier and more expensive than budget cotton options like the G500, and it's not designed for programs where exact color consistency between pieces is critical. It's best suited for lifestyle brands, boutique decoration runs, and retail merch where the garment-dyed character is part of the appeal.
Do wholesale 100% cotton blanks at Bulkthreads come with volume discounts?
Yes. Automatic volume discounts are applied at checkout across the 100% cotton collection — no codes required. The per-unit price decreases as order size grows, all styles typically arrive in 1–3 business days, and returns are free on every order.