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Buck Mason and Merz B. Schwanen came out on top in our testing. 100 cotton t shirts
NO DOUBT, T-SHIRTS are the Alpha and Omega of men's wardrobe. And the best t-shirts for men should be a mixture of style, comfort, and versatility. Whether it’s moisture-wicking fabrics or burly heavyweight cotton, great tees are made from materials that ensure durability and long-lasting comfort. Maximizing versatility with solid neutral colors, the best t-shirts for men will seamlessly transition from casual outings to semi-formal gatherings, making them ideal for everyday wear or layering. From vintage-inspired boxy cuts, to physique flattering slim fits, your new go-to t-shirt is somewhere on this list.
Every guy needs some graphic-less tees in their wardrobe, but how you wear them goes a long way in deciding how much you should spend. If your t-shirts typically play a supporting role, standing as a clean background for more complex garments, or hidden all together as a base layer, then budget-friendly options will do the trick. Simplified construction and bare bones detailing is all you need. For gentlemen who place their t-shirts in a staring role that can carry an entire outfit, a steadily growing trend these days, then shelling out for fancier fabrics and upgraded manufacturing is a good idea. Clothing brands have been paying more attention to this often overlooked garment, and some of the best t-shirts for men now feature fabrics and detailing once reserved for sweaters and button down shirts.
Read More: How to Choose the Perfect T-Shirt
In a plain tee, the only thing that makes you “look good” is the fit. While it’s easier for athletic guys to look great in all kinds of T-shirts, men of any shape and body type can also look just as good, if they’ve found the right fit—such as slim, classic, relaxed, etc. For slender bodies, a slim fit will make you look more tailored. If you’re a big dude, a roomy fit will flatter you. If a tee fits tight around your chest, your chest will look big. Lastly, the best T-shirts shouldn’t cover your butt, so choose one that reaches just a tad below your waist.
100% cotton tees are often the gold standard for every day tees, but cotton often doesn’t perform the best, which is why tech, blended fabrics can give useful feats like moisture-wicking, four-way stretch, breathability, or even temperature regulation. Hence, if you're an athletic or active guys, or maybe you sweat a lot naturally, or are looking for tees for going out, ditch the full cotton and opt for blended fabrics.
Different styles of tees work best for different occasions—don’t let anybody tell you otherwise. A V-neck T-shirt, for instance, works best as an undershirt and can make your neck look longer. A crewneck is your everyday kind of tee that’s great for layering or on its own. Garment-dyed tees look lived-in for a vintage style. And if you want to look dressy in T-shirts, ditch the plain-looking ones that look like undershirts and go for a pocketed tee instead. Better yet, opt for graphic tees to really make a style statement that is true to you.
These are two indicators on whether your t-shirt can—or should—be tucked in or left untucked. With a curved hem, then the tee is best left untucked; it'll probably look better that way. A straight hem can do both, depending on the length. That is to say, a longer length is thus best left tucked in, unless you've got the height or the style magic to offset any disproportion.
To find the best t-shirts for men, our style team, led by fashion director Ted Stafford, have personally tried on over 60 different options since 2020 and tested each of them for at least two weeks by wearing them on different occasions. We vetted our tested options by taking notes of their style, type, comfort, fit, price point, versatility, and performance such as stretch, moisture-wicking, and breathability.
We examined whether they fitted well and true to size, whether their fabric could withstand hours of movement in different temperatures, and whether they could be worn for more than one occasion. We also tested these t-shirts on different body types, from slim to athletic to buff, to ensure the most unbiased results.
Specifically, we're looking for t-shirt styles that are not trendy or trend-chasing (so no funky graphics, baggy fits, or holes here and there); instead, our picks of the best t-shirts for men all fit great even on buff guys, provide a ton of value at reasonable price points, and come in styles that will look great years from now. Keep reading to see our top 17.
If you're a one-and-done type of shopper, this tee from Mack Weldon is available in every color you need, from standard white to a cool navy. The softness also feels like a second skin without being too warm, and the slim fit is flattering, hugging our biceps and pecs with just the right amount of tightness while still giving our skin enough breathing room
In my experience of wearing this tee to run everyday errands or layering it under another garment, I found that it's managed to retain its softness and shape wear after wear—courtesy of its recovery collar and strong stitching. Made with anti-odor, stretchy fabric, I've also used it as a reliable workout shirt.
An affordable, reliable set of tees to wear under your dress shirts and sweaters.
Need to stock up on T-shirts? Gildan has you covered with this bestselling multipack, which has received plenty of five-star reviews on Amazon for its moisture-wicking, soft, breathable fabric, as well as an easy-to-move-in fit.
In my personal testing, not only do these tees work wonders as undershirts layered beneath zip-up hoodies or sweaters but when I wear them as standalone tees, their versatility as either a workout shirt or my everyday basic tee has fitted me like a glove. I also like how soft and thin they are.
Read more: Gildan Crew Neck T-Shirt Review
Winner of our Fitness Awards, Rhone’s Reign is perhaps the most comfortable t-shirt the athletic guys at Men's Health have ever tested and worn to a gym session. "This breathable top moves with you when you reach overhead for pullups and chin-ups thanks to its seamless construction," says our Fitness Director Ebenezer Samuel, C.S.C.S..
In addition, its breathable, moisture-wicking fabric has always come in a pinch for me whenever the gym gets a bit too heated.
OoohCotton is both the proprietary name of Bugatchi’s specially developed fabric, and the typical reaction the first time our writers and editors tried this t-shirt on. The fabric feels incredibly sturdy, yet has plenty of give to it. It comes on and off easily and allows for easy range of motion, for a relatively slim fitting tee.
After road testing this one, we dug into the stats and figured out how Bugatchi’s special cotton works. Despite the classic cotton tee feel, there is actually 8% spandex woven into the fabric. This high of a percentage tends to give an athletic garment feel in other products we’ve tested, but not there. Which brings us to the other key factor, the use of mercerized cotton. Mercerization is a washing technique that adds strength and softness to natural textiles like cotton, which shows up in the sturdy feeling here.
Lululemon takes the cake for making the best-fitting and flattering T-shirts. This basic tee especially has just the right weight to make it feel like a real shirt and not something sloppy. More importantly, we found out that the fabric is, in fact, not only soft like butter but also it's extra resistant to abrasion, and has stood the test of time for our editors who've been wearing this tee since the spring of 2021.
Better yet, our Fashion Director Ted Stafford has even put this tee to the test in our Spring denim style guide. We're not only impressed by how soft and durable the fabric is, but we're also floored by its superb quick-drying and shape retention, no matter how you move.
Reigning Champ is one of the few clothing brands out there, and the only one on this list, that mills their own fabrics. While the fabric is called mid-weight, it felt sturdier to us than most tees we tried out. The boxy fit was extremely comfortable, with ‘90s inspired sleeves that are on the longer and wider side. This is especially beneficial for guys with broader shoulders and bigger biceps.
The flatlock seam construction along the sleeves, shoulders, and sides is more commonly seen in sweatshirts, with this being the only t-shirt on the list to feature it. It was a nice touch because flatlock seams reduce friction points, which is especially helpful with a heavier fabric like this one. We noticed the benefit after wearing this tee all day, especially along the shoulder.
Everlane has a talent for making high quality, affordable basics that can fit seamlessly into pretty much any wardrobe. The Essential Organic Crew is a perfect example of the brand’s mastery of fit, fabric, and colors that have mass appeal while still looking cool. Boxy shoulders, wider sleeves, and a collar that sat just right provided a relaxed feel in our testing, which was perfect for lounging around and casual every-day wear.
We wanted to highlight the fabric, not only because it is a sturdy pure cotton jersey, but it comes with a unique washed finish. The t-shirt had a cozy lived-in feel that usually requires quite a few washes and wears to achieve. According to Everlane, this also helps prevent shrinkage, which was not a problem for us after a couple of cold water washes.
In our option, Abercrombie nailed the fit that guys are looking for in t-shirts these days. Just a little boxy in the shoulder, a slightly wider sleeve, and a straight fitting body that hugs your silhouette without being tight. We liked how the shoulder is cut to be a little slouchy, which gave a comfortable range of motion. There is nothing fancy about the construction details, but it checks all the boxes for a reliably made tee.
Our editors could tell that Abercrombie put some effort into the washing process before selling this t-shirt. It is a mid-weight 100% cotton fabric that comes with a lived in feel right out of the box. The color had a vintage faded texture to it as well.
Vuori, one of our favorite athleisure brands, uses moisture-wicking tech fabric in its signature crewneck tee, providing unparalleled comfort while you're running a 5K or just running errands.
Unlike with other standard athletic shirts that always fit too tight, I didn't have to go through that trouble myself with this slim fit take, making it a tee I'd actually wear out on its own, because outside is where it shines: to me, its stretch and moisture wicking have made it look and smell fresh time after time. More importantly, I couldn’t believe how soft it felt when I put it on the first time: it was like being clothed in a cloud, and the breathable fabric was able to keep me cool instead of suffocating me.
Read More: Best Workout Shirts
Buck Mason earned top honors on our list by taking matters into their own hands. A couple of years ago, the Los Angeles-based brand purchased two century old knitting mills in Eastern Pennsylvania that were on the verge of closure. Now all of the brand’s t-shirts are produced there, from the raw cotton to the finished products.
Vertically integrated production like that provides a level of quality control that is evident in the Slub Classic Tee. There were no loose threads or out of place stitching, the cut was perfectly balanced, and tremendously sturdy for a relatively lightweight tee.
Our editors love this t-shirt because the weight hits a sweet spot that is surprisingly hard to find. For a while now, most t-shirts have been a little flimsy. Heavyweight cotton tees have made a big comeback recently, but many of these are just a little too bulky. Buck Mason’s slub cotton has a soft feel and loose drape while still feeling sturdy and reliable.
The white tee is slightly transparent, but with a speckled texture indicative of slub cotton. It is truly a do-it-all t-shirt that looks good with everything and fits well on most body types.
Read more: Best White T-Shirts for Men
In our experience, and probably yours as well, the first thing to go on a t-shirt is the shape of the neck and sleeves. Which is why Alex Mill paid particular attention to these two trouble spots. A heavy duty ribbed collar is wrapped over the neckline and triple stitched on both sides, which held up as the sturdiest collar we tested. The sleeves are bolstered with a band of fabric sewn on at the end, much like a retro “ringer” t-shirt, but in the same color.
This shirt is garment dyed, meaning that it is made out of white fabric, then dyed once the shirt is completed. This leads to a unique texture to every individual shirt, which ages gradually with each wash and wear. Keep in mind that if you order online, the shirt you receive may not precisely match the color pictured online.
Merz B. Schwaman was a IYKYK brand, sought after for paying incredible attention to detail on seemingly simple garments, until being prominently featured on the hit FX series The Bear. No mere product placement, the “Merz B.” 214 t-shirt was chosen by the show’s wardrobe department because it is a real life favorite of fashion conscious chefs. It took all of ten minutes in this t-shirt for us to become fans of the fit, fabric, and functionality.
Merz B. Schwaman was a IYKYK brand, sought after for paying incredible attention to detail on seemingly simple garments, until being prominently featured on the hit FX series The Bear. No mere product placement, the “Merz B.” 214 t-shirt was chosen by the show’s wardrobe department because it is a real life favorite of fashion conscious chefs. It took all of ten minutes in this t-shirt for us to become fans of the fit, fabric, and functionality.
Levi’s blended a vintage look with a contemporary fit in the Gold Tab tee. Although the shoulders were a little boxy, drooping over our shoulders slightly, the body had a straight fit that created a nice, clean look. There is a soft worn-in feel to the fabric that made it really comfortable to wear.
The thing that really stood out in our testing was the collar construction. Levi’s used a wrap over design that we typically see on more expensive t-shirts, but the fabric is not ribbed. It laid well, without showing any signs of drooping, but does not have the durability of a ribbed overlapping collar.
Anyone that's owned merino wool knows the entry price is worth the investment. The fabric is famously breathable, and its natural anti-odor properties and moisture-wicking ability make it so you can wear the garment for longer than you'd expect before it gets, well, gross.
To test out its merino wool performance, I’ve in fact packed this tee for a recent trip and worn it to trail, walk, and commute for a few days. At the end of the day, when I did take it off, I was delighted to find out that it remained as fresh as when I first put it on, after all those hours of traveling in it.
Simply put, this is a quintessential pocket tee available for a very affordable price. It feels like it was pulled from Gap’s ‘90s archive, when the brand was known for great looking basics. The fit was a little boxy, but by no means baggy, and looked flattering on a whole range of body types. Even though the construction details are simple, especially compared to some of the premium tees we tested, it still felt sturdy and reliable.
The weight of this tee came as a surprise, given the look and price. It felt more like a mid-weight cotton that held its shape better than most “basic” t-shirts we’ve tried in the past.
Guys are starting to embrace heavyweight t-shirts again and our editors are here for it. The simple fact is that a burly cotton, like the one used here by Son of a Tailor, will live on in your closet for significantly longer than the flimsier cotton tees we’ve gotten used to. It also uses a heavy duty ribbed collar, which is a little wider than any other collar we tested, in order to keep its shape for a really long time.
Our favorite part about this t-shirt is that it dispels the common preconception that heavyweight cotton always comes in a boxy fit. This one had a flattering fit, with a soft rounded shoulder and a slim sleeve.
Relaxed t-shirts are on trend, but a lot of them look sloppy. This one is anything but that. In fact, this hefty tee is a staple among fashion-forward folk. Its relaxed, oversized fit makes them a wonder to be worn solo and paired with equally relaxed, oversized pants.
As someone who always gives bombastic side eyes to oversized tees, this is one of the few that I actually approve and love wearing. Firstly, its nice heft just feels dependable. Secondly, its relaxed fit ain’t too baggy or sloppy—and when styled right, has managed to look elevated on me instead of too streetwear-y.
Casual/Everyday Look: Pair a classic crew-neck or V-neck t-shirt with jeans or chinos (including their shorts variations) for a laid-back vibe. Layer under a denim or bomber jacket for a touch of coolness during cooler weather. Complete the outfit with sneakers or casual shoes like slip-ons.
Going Out: Opt for lightweight, breathable t-shirts. Style them with shorts or casual linen pants for a cool and relaxed look. Slip into comfortable sandals or boat shoes for added comfort.
Relaxed Weekend/Lounging: Pair a relaxed-fit or classic-fit tee with casual joggers or sweatpants for a totally easy vibe.
Beach or Resort: Style a light and breezy t-shirt with swim trunks or linen shorts for a beach-ready look. Wear flip-flops or sandals to complement the vacation vibe.
Athletic/Sports: Pick moisture-wicking or performance t-shirts first, and wear them with gym shorts or athletic shorts or track pants for maximum comfort and flexibility during your activities.
Smart/Business Casual: If you know the dress code allows, pick a well-fitted (usually slim) t-shirt in a solid color and minimal design (no pocket, for instance). Pair it with tailored trousers or chinos for a more polished appearance (make sure to tuck it), then layer it under a blazer. Complete the look with dress sneakers or leather sneakers.
The most popular and reputable t-shirt brands for men that consistently deliver high-quality tees often happen to be the best clothing brands for men. For instance, Calvin Klein, J.Crew, and Sunspel often churn out classic tees in premium materials suitable for both casual and smart-casual occasions. Buck Mason, Outerknown, and Billy Reid are known for making casual pocketed tees with a lived-in vibe and garment-dyed fabric.
Athleisure brands like Vuori, Lululemon, and Rhone make t-shirts that are versatile for all kinds of physical activities. Trendy brands like CDLP, Everlane, and Richer Poorer are what you should go for relaxed-fit, oversized tees. For undershirts or tees for homebodies, Tommy John, Jockey, Calvin Klein, and Hanes have you covered.
Our all-time favorite, tried-and-tested t-shirt brand, however, is Mack Weldon who makes tees that are soft, versatile, long-lasting, well-fitted, and can do no wrong.
That depends on the occasion and personal style. For a casual look, you can't go wrong with a classic crew neck t-shirt (especially those that have gone through the wash to look more vintage and lived-in). V-necks add a touch of flair and work great as undershirts. Graphic tees let you showcase your personality, while t-shirts with a pocket let you look a bit more sophisticated. For athletic activities, moisture-wicking and performance t-shirts are a no-brainer when you go to the gym or hike.
Providing the right care to your tees will help keep them looking sharp and feeling comfy for eons. First up, read the damn label! Make sure you follow the instructions. Also, be sure to separate colors when you wash t-shirts—darks with darks and lights with lights.
When you wash, make sure the water is cold because the temperature will help preserve colors and prevent shrinkage. Turning t-shirts inside out can also help protect the outer fabric from friction and fading. Use a gentle cycle and mild detergent to help maintain the shape and fabric, too.
Additionally, skip the dryer and air-dry if possible because high heat can cause shrinkage (use low-heat settings if you must air-dry). We also recommend folding instead of hanging t-shirts because the latter will stretch out the neck of the tees and cause them to lose their shape.
At Men’s Health, our testing editors and writers always make sure to actually test and use the products ourselves before considering whether to include them. Therefore, rest assured that our product recommendations derive from first-hand experience, and you can read more about our testing process here.
In addition, we have a whole fashion closet in our NYC office dedicated to calling in, trying out, and selecting the best and newest menswear products. We put them on stylish, fit guys to hear their opinions and see how the items look on them before making our final decision. And as style editors, we constantly go into the fashion closet to test out the products.
Lastly, you can trust our opinions on shopping recommendations, whether it’s the products, styling tips, or trends. Not only do we have Fashion Director Ted Stafford and Deputy Editor, Commerce Christian Gollyan, but we also have a panel of style experts—including stylists, fashion influencers, designers, etc.—whom we regularly seek shopping guides from.
Ted Stafford is the Fashion Director of Men’s Health. He oversees all style and fashion content for the brand, and also styles their fashion stories. His active lifestyle informs his passion for translating great designs into real-life style, a favorite part of his job. Prior to joining Men’s Health he worked at GQ magazine and Calvin Klein
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