15 Best White T-Shirts for Men, According to GQ Editors

Around the GQ water cooler, there’s no topic more bandied about than the best white T-shirts for men. What goes down is not unlike the business card scene in American Psycho, only more neurotic. We talk at length about the fit, the fabric, the construction, the long-winded, unnecessary back stories, all in service of doing our very favorite white tees justice.

Plain white tees are among the most foundational pieces of anyone’s wardrobe whether they’re functioning as an undershirt, supporting the other star players in your outfit or serving as the lead role with a pair of blue jeans. It’s a lot of positions for one garment to play, which makes it all the more important to get the right T-shirt.

Each of us have searched nearly our entire lives for the perfect plain white tee. But in that search we’ve all come to the same conclusion: no such thing exists. And because GQ isn't staffed by robots with carbon-copy bodies, we all have different preferences. Below are our battled-tested, hard-won, expert opinions on the go-to white T-shirts we swear by—and actually live in. From the no-frills shrink-wrapped multipacks to the over-the-top luxury tees and the very respectable options in-between, here are our very favorite white tees right now.

• The Cult-Classic White T-Shirt: Gildan Hammer Tee (2-Pack), $12
• The Affordable White T-Shirt: Uniqlo Dry Color T-Shirt, $8
• The Upgrade White T-Shirt: Sunspel Classic T-Shirt, $95
• The Heavyweight White T-Shirt: Buck Mason Field-Spec T-shirt, $55
• The Editor-Favorite White T-Shirt: Lady White Co. Our T-Shirt (2-pack), $110
• The Pocket White T-Shirt: Dickies Heavyweight Pocket T-Shirt, $17
• The Comfortable Undershirt: Calvin Klein Cotton Stretch T-Shirt (3-pack), $35
• The Softest White T-Shirt: CDLP Heavyweight Crewneck T-shirt, $108
• The Worn-In White T-Shirt: J.Crew Vintage-Wash Cotton Pocket Tee, $40

Michael Nolledo, Associate Commerce Director: Gildan Hammer Tee

Bowen Fernie

Gildan

Hammer Tee (2-Pack)

$14 $12

Amazon

Material: 100% ring spun U.S. cotton | Fit: Classic | Sizes: S-4XL

There’s a good chance the most comfortable T-shirt in your closet right now is low-key from Gildan. That’s because they’re a legendary wholesale brand preferred by bands, bootleggers, and anyone in need of a quality blank to print on. I’ve been wearing the brand for years, and my all-time fav is the Hammer-T. It just hits all the boxes for me: tailored fit (read: tubular construction), flattering sleeve length, beefy 100% ring spun cotton, and incredibly economical. Tearaway tag is a major plus. Another major plus: It stands up to endless washes and actually looks better when lived in. All around a great everyday tee. Doesn’t matter if I wear solo or under a button-up, it just looks right.

Tyler Sparling, Social Editor: Uniqlo Dry Color T-Shirt

Bowen Fernie

Uniqlo

Dry Color T-Shirt

$8

Uniqlo

Material: 66% Cotton, 34% Polyester | Fit: Classic | Sizes: XXS-3XL

The key to having the perfect white tee is having a fresh white tee; so with a price tag that rings in at $7.90—quite literally the price of an iced oat latte—Uniqlo’s tee will keep you looking fresher than any amount of caffeine ever could. Plenty of guys love the Uniqlo U tee (also great), but I prefer the brand’s Dry Color T-shirts for their silky soft feel, feathery lightness, and near-perfect fit. When you find a tee that fits this good, you gotta stock up while you can, especially at a price this low.

Yang-Yi Goh, Senior Style Editor: Buck Mason Field-Spec Cotton Heavy Tee

Bowen Fernie

Buck Mason

Field-Spec Cotton Heavy Tee

$55

Buck Mason

Material: 100% cotton | Fit: Boxy | Sizes: XS-XXL

Here’s a secret: There is no such thing as a perfect white T-shirt. There are perfect tees for specific occasions, maybe—the paper-thin one you reach for when the swampy August heat’s got you cooking like Steph Curry in crunch time; the crisp and classy one you pull on with a cotton suit; the old-school one you opt for whenever you’re in the mood to dress like a chess-playing, tai-chi-practicing Hong Kong grandpa (yes, I really do own a T-shirt for that). But a perfect all-around T-shirt for every occasion? Keep dreaming. In my current arsenal, Buck Mason’s Field Spec tees are the best option I’ve found to fill the role of the beefy, brawny, structured tee you need to serve as the foundation for beefier, brawnier, more structured fits on cooler-than-expected days. They’ve got a serious heft about them, to the point that they’ll retain their shape no matter how hard you push ‘em or how many times you run them through the wash. You probably won’t want to wear one in the dead of summer, sure, but that’s why they’re best served as just one small part of a complete and balanced T-shirt diet.

Gerald Ortiz, Style Commerce Writer: Lady White Co. Our T-Shirt

Bowen Fernie

Lady White Co.

Our T-Shirt (2-Pack)

$110

Lady White Co.

Material: 100% combed cotton | Fit: Classic | Sizes: S-XL

I’ve been a stan for Lady White Co. ever since the brand launched almost a decade ago. LWC really came out of the gate swinging because its flagship tee was a straightaway home run and has remained in the catalog ever since. The fit is a classic straight fit that’s perfect for wearing untucked and the construction is top notch. Hell, it took me about eight years to finally wear through mine. Plus, from the seed to sew, it’s all made within just a few miles of LWC’s headquarters in Los Angeles. What other brands can say that? If there’s one tee to convince you that the upgrade is totally worth the price jump, it’s Lady White Co.’s Our T-shirt.

Ian Burke, Senior Commerce Editor: Dickies Heavyweight Pocket Tee

Bowen Fernie

Dickies

Heavyweight Pocket Tee

$17

Amazon

Material: 50% cotton, 50% polyester | Fit: Classic | Sizes: S-5XL; big and tall sizes available

The Dickies Heavyweight Short Sleeve Pocket T-Shirt is the best T-shirt, period. It's super durable and I've never noticed any pit stains or fraying, even after two years of wear. Makes sense, given Dickies’ well-documented workwear pedigree. The length is great for guys like me who prefer to wear their tees tucked in. (Pro Tip: Snip the bottom about two inches from the hem to make a sick, cropped workout shirt.)

Avidan Grossman, Senior Commerce Editor: J.Crew Vintage-Wash Cotton Pocket T-Shirt

Bowen Fernie

J.Crew

Vintage-Wash Cotton Pocket T-Shirt

$40 $26

J.Crew

Material: 70% cotton, 30% recycled cotton | Fit: Classic | Sizes: XS-XXL; tall sizes available

For years, I was recklessly immune to the power of the pocket tee. It’s a tee…with a pocket, I scoffed to less skeptical colleagues. Big whoop. Well, I guess my immunity wasn’t nearly as strong as I thought, because J.Crew’s perfectly lived-in riff was just the shock my system needed. Few tees I’ve tried look as righteous with the hallmarks of the brand’s glorious catalog heyday—rumpled poplin button-ups, roomy cotton chinos, weathered crewneck knits—and even fewer boast the ability to store, like, half a pack of gum or a cooked Elf Bar while they do it. There are far worse pockets to be in.

Louis Cheslaw, Contributing Commerce Editor: CDLP Heavyweight T-Shirt

Bowen Fernie

CDLP

Heavyweight T-Shirt

$108

CDLP

Material: 67% Tencel lyocell, 33% pima cotton | Fit: Classic | Sizes: XS-XXL

I've had my same CDLP T-shirt for what must be four years now, and continue to be mystified at how soft and silky it feels. Not that the mystery is that tough to solve: CDLP fuses a positively sporty Tencel Lyocell fabric into this piece, along with soft Pima cotton, for a result that just feels lux as hell. I'm also happy to report—especially given the price—that there are no armpit stains at all, an essential consideration with any white tee especially.

Tyler Austin, Assistant Fashion Editor: Calvin Klein Cotton Stretch Tee

Bowen Fernie

Calvin Klein

Cotton Stretch Tee (3-Pack)

$48 $28

Amazon

Material: 95% Cotton, 5% Spandex | Fit: Classic | Sizes: S-XXL

I hate that undershirts and regular T-shirts are often separated, so I love when a tee can do both. They need to be light enough to layer under other tops but fit well enough to work on its own. The best tee I’ve found comes from none other than Calvin Klein. The brand’s Cotton Stretch tee is super thin and truly breathable. It's the perfect shirt to layer under a nice sweater or even as a stand alone on a warm summer day. Definitely my go to T-shirt these days.

Tyler Chin, Associate Commerce Editor: Sunspel Classic T-Shirt

Bowen Fernie

Sunspel

Classic T-Shirt

$98

Sunspel

Material: 100% Supima cotton | Fit: Classic | Sizes: XXS-3XL

Sunspel’s tees are a thing of wonder—mostly because people wonder why anyone would spend $90 on a goddamn T-shirt. Well friends, I’d gladly spend nearly a Benjamin on a tee that I feel might genuinely be perfect. For one, Sunspel’s tees are made from extra-long staple Supima cotton, which is about as premium as you can get from the fabric of our lives. It’s super soft, which makes it feel like a dream to wear all day. It sort of fits like the white tees of yore, where James Dean’s or Marlon Brando’s biceps would be hulking through the sleeves—fitted but not snug. And its dainty little collar just adds to the tee’s overall preciousness, which is why I’ve finally started separating my lights from my darks in the laundry.

More White T-Shirts We Love

Kirkland

Signature Crew Neck Tee (6-pack)

$45 $39

Amazon

Not the best deal at Costco—that honor would go to the $1.50 hot dog and drink combo—but close. Kirkland’s tees are cut long and roomy from stout and soft combed cotton. They’re hardy enough to stand up to all manner of summer activities: hiking, tennis, lying horizontal on the couch and watching TikToks for hours. —Yang-Yi Goh

Imogene + Willie

Pocket Tee

$55

Stag

I love an oversized tee as much as the next guy, but for white tees specifically, I prefer a form-fitting silhouette. Most days, I’m reaching for Imogene + Willie’s pocket tee, which has an ideal vintage-inspired fit (high arm holes, short sleeves). It’s cut pretty slim, so I recommend sizing up. —Michael Nolledo

Everybody.World

Boxier Trash Tee

$40

Everybody.World

If I'm not tucking my T-shirt in—which is rare—I'm going cropped, and the Boxier Trash Tee is my number one pick. It's roomy and breathable enough to wear while lounging around the house, and hefty enough to wear to the gym. (Pro Tip: Showing a little midriff adds at least 10 pounds to all your lifts.) —Ian Burke

Reigning Champ

Midweight Jersey OG T-Shirt

$55

Reigning Champ

I’ve been a Reigning Champ fan for years, long before the “OG” tee was even considered an OG. Its boxier cut and dropped shoulders created a universally beloved fit, and its midweight cotton construction makes it perfect for year-round wear. —Tyler Chin

3sixteen

Pima T-Shirt (2-Pack)

$98

3sixteen

In my deeply broken brain, the perfect white tee boils down to two crucial factors: collar and sleeves. 3sixteen’s American-made riff smashes both, thanks to a triple-needle coverstiched collar that sits high and snug on the neck, and sleeves that land no more than halfway down the bicep. Roughly $50 a pop isn’t exactly cheap, but if you’re the type of monster that runs your purchases through our proprietary cost-per-wear formula, the 2-pack pays for itself within a month. —Avidan Grossman

Non Stock Mfg.

9 oz US Cotton Tubular T-Shirt

$25

Bronson

Tubular construction? Check. Meaty American cotton jersey that’s perfect for the chillier months? Check. But what about the fit? It’s got that classic vintage silhouette that makes me look like I don’t let my gym membership go to waste, but also stays a hair cropped for the ideal untucked length. Check. —Gerald Ortiz

What to Look for in a Great White T-Shirt

• Fabric: Good quality T-shirts will use high-quality cottons like Pima and Supima cotton, which are known for their long staples and translate to smoother and longer-lasting fabrics. Processes like combing and ring-spinning help to remove the lower-quality shorter fibers, and combining the two processes (ring-spun combed cotton) is considered to be the best. But some tees are cut with synthetic materials, which lowers the cost and, generally, the overall quality. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing. T-shirts blended with materials like lyocell or even merino wool give the garment different properties like breathability, silkiness, and temperature regulation.
• Quality and construction: Quality tees feature even stitching and unobtrusive flat seams. Flatlock stitching reduces bulk at the seams, though many other good-quality T-shirts will use seam tape at the neck and shoulders instead for comfort. Often, the body of the T-shirt is cut with side seams. High-quality and vintage-leaning T-shirts use tubular construction, which results in a seamless body. The most sought-after T-shirts are ones made with loopwheel construction, which uses rare machines that knit fabric very slowly and rely on gravity tension. The result is a dense yet surprisingly soft fabric. Loopwheel T-shirts are only made in Japan or Germany. That said, tubular and loopwheel T-shirts are limited in terms of their silhouette.
• Style and cut: This is where things get really subjective and it comes down to your personal preferences. Consider whether or not you like your T-shirts with a pocket, how high up you like the collar to sit, whether or not you need a longer tee to tuck into your pants, or shorter tees to wear untucked. Take a beat to really think about how you’ll wear your plain white tee and that will help guide your search.
• Shade of white: We’re talking about white tees, but there are a million shades of white to consider. Some lean more warm and others pure white. While it might not matter much, the more consequential thing to consider is how sheer the T-shirt is.

How We Test and Review Products

Style is subjective, we know—that’s the fun of it. But we’re serious about helping our audience get dressed. Whether it’s the best white sneakers, the flyest affordable suits, or the need-to-know menswear drops of the week, GQ Recommends’ perspective is built on years of hands-on experience, an insider awareness of what’s in and what’s next, and a mission to find the best version of everything out there, at every price point.

Our staffers aren’t able to try on every single piece of clothing you read about on GQ.com (fashion moves fast these days), but we have an intimate knowledge of each brand’s strengths and know the hallmarks of quality clothing—from materials and sourcing, to craftsmanship, to sustainability efforts that aren’t just greenwashing. GQ Recommends heavily emphasizes our own editorial experience with those brands, how they make their clothes, and how those clothes have been reviewed by customers. Bottom line: GQ wouldn’t tell you to wear it if we wouldn’t.

How We Make These Picks

We make every effort to cast as wide of a net as possible, with an eye on identifying the best options across three key categories: quality, fit, and price.

To kick off the process, we enlist the GQ Recommends braintrust to vote on our contenders. Some of the folks involved have worked in retail, slinging clothes to the masses; others have toiled for small-batch menswear labels; all spend way too much time thinking about what hangs in their closets.

We lean on that collective experience to guide our search, culling a mix of household names, indie favorites, and the artisanal imprints on the bleeding-edge of the genre. Then we narrow down the assortment to the picks that scored the highest across quality, fit, and price.

Across the majority of our buying guides, our team boasts firsthand experience with the bulk of our selects, but a handful are totally new to us. So after several months of intense debate, we tally the votes, collate the anecdotal evidence, and emerge with a list of what we believe to be the absolute best of the category right now, from the tried-and-true stalwarts to the modern disruptors, the affordable beaters to the wildly expensive (but wildly worth-it) designer riffs.

Whatever your preferences, whatever your style, there's bound to be a superlative version on this list for you. (Read more about GQ's testing process here.)