The Best Cheap T-Shirts Look Anything But
This article's purpose is to answer one fundamental question: Do cheap T-shirts even exist anymore—and more importantly, are they any good? See, T-shirts were once a dime-a-dozen commodity, an everyman staple you threw on beneath your actual shirt before you left the house for the day. Over the years, though, the once-humble T-shirt has somehow transformed into a high-ticket luxury item, like salads and movie tickets. There's a time and place for everything, including that $85 Sunspel joint or even a $1,625 crystal-embroidered Versace creation. (As far as the latter goes: the time would be 2006, and the place would be Christian Audigier’s yacht.) But sometimes (most times) you really just need your T-shirt to be a T-shirt, nothing more, nothing less.
The Best Cheap T-Shirts, According to GQ
- The Bulk-Buy Pick: Kirkland Signature Crew Neck T-shirts (6-Pack), $35
- The Large-and-in-Charge Pick: Uniqlo U AIRism Oversized T-Shirt,
$20$15 - The Ultra-Beefy Pick: Pro Club Heavyweight Cotton Short Sleeve T-shirt,
$17$11 - The Blanket-Soft Pick: Abercrombie & Fitch Classic Polished Tee, $19
- The Cropped Pick: Gap Original T-Shirt,
$30$17 - The Sleeper Pick: Muji Jersey Short Sleeve T-shirt, $13
All of which is to say: T-shirts shouldn't feel precious. They should be the kind of thing you're not scared to break a sweat in or wear to bed. And while prices can get comically steep, cheap T-shirts that won't rip at the faintest sharp movement do still exist—and these days, there's a veritable menagerie of options, cut from dense, heavyweight cotton or airy, highly cuddle-able supima. Layer them beneath your slinkiest full-placket polos and breeziest camp shirts or rock 'em solo when you're safely back inside with the AC on blast.
The 17 cheap T-shirts we’ve highlighted below probably won’t be taking home any CFDAs for superior tailoring, but they’re comfortable, versatile, and each cost less than $20 a pop. It's not really a question of if you need one—it's more of a matter of how many your tiny, cramped drawers can comfortably house.
All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission. Read more about our selection process here.
The Best Cheap T-Shirts to Buy in Bulk: Kirkland Signature T-Shirt
Material: 100% combed heavyweight cotton Fit: Straight Sizes: S-3XL Colors: White, black
The cult of Costco isn't just blind loyalty—the mega-chain has serious buying power that it leverages into actually good products. Case in point, the Kirkland Signature crew neck T-shirts. They use Supima cotton, known for its long staple fibers which are strong and silky. They're made without side seams for a comfortable and durable construction. And the silhouette is a tastefully tailored fit that's *chef's kiss*, especially if you like to tuck in your tees. At around six bucks a pop, the multipacks are some of the best value out there. The good news is they're not just cheap (and you don't actually need a Costco membership to get in on the deal).
The Best Oversized Cheap T-Shirts: Uniqlo U Oversized T-Shirt
Material: 53% Cotton, 47% Polyester, Fit: Oversized, Sizes: XXS-3XL, Colors: Varies
In this year of our lord 2024, baggy, wide-legged, and oversized clothes reign supreme. The quiet luxury trend would have you believe that you need to drop several bags to get the look, but time and again Uniqlo has debunked that claim, especially under the Uniqlo U sub-label helmed by one of the preeminent names in the genre, Christophe Lemaire. The Uniqlo U AIRism tee is billowy, breezy, and ultra-wide, but the carefully considered cropped length keeps everything in the right proportions so you won't look like you're trying to bring back the tall tee.
The Best Beefy Cheap T-Shirts: Pro Club Heavyweight T-Shirt
Material: 100% Cotton, Fit: Relaxed, Sizes: S-10XL, tall sizes available Colors: Varies
If you're after a tee that's as burly as your fancy Japanese denim, but, well, you spent all your money on said denim, then look no further than Pro Club. The brand has flown under the radar for most people, save for the savviest of style hunters. With an all-cotton jersey that tips the scales at six ounces per square yard, they're certified beefy and actually weigh more than other so-called heavyweight tees. And for under twenty bucks a pop, your money's going a loooong way.
The Best Blanket-Soft Cheap T-Shirts: Abercrombie Classic Polished T-Shirt
Material: 100% Cotton, Fit: Classic, Sizes: XS-XXL, tall sizes available Colors: Varies
The softest T-shirts are either stupid expensive high-end tees that use the finest cottons, lovingly worn-in vintage pieces that have been washed and worn a million times, or cheap tees that are cut with synthetic materials. But Abercrombie & Fitch's Polished tee is somehow all-cotton, surprisingly plush thanks to the special Biopolish finish, and remarkably affordable.
The Best Cheap T-Shirts to Wear Untucked: Gap Original T-Shirt
Material: 100% Cotton, Fit: Classic, Sizes: XS-3XL, Colors: Varies
When the weather gets warm enough, the only layer you'll have on is a T-shirt. And, unless you're a staunch tucked-in sort of guy, you'll want to wear your tees untucked to let that glorious breeze waft through. The trick is to get a tee that's the right length. You could go wide and cropped, but for the majority of us, a regular-fitting tee that hits the sweet spot is tough to find. Gap's entrypoint is among our faves for wearing untucked since it hits right around the hips and looks great with just about any pant. Add to that a breathable and soft cotton fabric and a gang of colors and even some patterned options and you've got your whole summer tee rotation down pat.
The Best Sleeper-Hit Cheap T-Shirts: Muji Jersey T-Shirt
Material: 60% Cotton, 40% Polyester, Fit: Relaxed, Sizes: XS-XXL, Colors: Varies
We've tested a whole bunch of plain tees at our laboratory (the GQ offices), and to our surprise, Muji stood out even against some of our longtime favorites. The construction is up there with tees that cost several factors more, the fabric is satisfyingly dense yet silky to the touch, and the cut is a classic silhouette that fits most people. The next time you need to restock on your aroma diffuser, you may as well pick up a fresh tee while you're there.
Plus 11 More Cheap-'n'-Cheery Tees We Love
Uniqlo U
Crew Neck Short-Sleeve T-Shirt
Hefty and slightly boxy, Uniqlo U's all-cotton tees have drawn flocks of T-shirt enthusiasts (Tyler, the Creator, included).
Hanes
Short Sleeve Beefy-T
Arguably the most recognizable of the heavyweight T-shirts, Hanes's Beefy-T shirts helped usher in a wave of thick tees—and they're still plenty toothsome today. They've got a soft hand that feels peachy to the touch and the fit is on the tailored side which makes them great as undershirts.
ALStyle
AAA Plain Blank Short Sleeve T-Shirt
Lore has it that these were the tees that got brands like Supreme off the ground. Sure, you'll have to have some decent design chops and a tuned-in streetwear sensibility, but these AAA T-shirts stand on their own thanks to the hefty cotton jersey and classic silhouette.
Banana Republic
Premium Wash T-Shirt
Banana Republic Factory's Premium Wash tees achieve their luxe feel thanks to a balanced blend of cotton and post-consumer recycled materials which uses up to 4 bottles of recycled plastic bottles per tee. Okay, okay, so they're actually more than $20. But if you're patient enough (it doesn't take much, honestly), you can find them on sale.
Russell Athletic
Dri-Power Short Sleeve Tee
There's a time and a place for synthetic materials—and if you're trying to make some serious gains in the gym or are playing your heart out on the basketball court, you'll want some thing that wicks away moisture (i.e. not cotton). Russell's Dri-Power tees come in a gang of great colors and are imbued with sweat-wicking and breathability powers to ensure you're not soaked in sweat.
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