Do 60% cotton 40% polyester shirts have better quality than 100% cotton shirts?

Dec. 06, 2023

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Most people spend a good amount of time selecting the perfect shirt for their sports team, promotional, or personal events. Finding a shirt that matches your design exactly right is important, but you'll also want to consider the best material for your needs. Many clubs and groups find they will prefer a cotton polyester blend of fabric for their uniforms rather than alternatives exclusive to one material.

When it comes to fabric, people often gravitate toward 100% cotton — a sturdy, breathable, lightweight crafting resource that is especially suited for warmer climates. While 100% cotton is oftentimes the better choice, it’s worth considering all of the benefits of a 50% cotton 50% polyester blend before making your decision.

A 50/50 blend offers many of the same advantages of 100% cotton, but also avoids some of the pitfalls of the pure blend.

Advantages of a 50/50 Blend Over 100% Cotton

There are many instances when you'll want to use a 50/50 polyester and cotton blend over 100% cotton. While it is typically a slightly more expensive fabric than 100% cotton, it makes up for the cost by offering you a more durable, versatile, and comfortable material. Here are some of the reasons this blended fabric may be a better choice for your event.

A Cotton + Polyester Blend is Versatile

A 100% cotton t-shirt has some limitations as to what it is best used for, but this is not the case with a polyester/cotton blend. It takes the benefits of both fabrics and combines them into one, making the fabric ideal for almost any purpose.

Whether ordering shirts for a sports team or your business or a community event, this material will get the job done.
A Blend of Fabrics Will Not Fade As Quickly

While 100% cotton is a sturdy, beautiful fabric, it is still much more likely to fade than a 50/50 blend. The synthetic fibers in polyester help the material hold its color better over time. In short, it will suit your needs really well if you intend to wash the shirts frequently.

When it comes to children, unless you're dealing with allergies (as mentioned above), the polyester/cotton blend will have a distinct advantage.
Children’s clothing
often requires multiple washes, and this blend maintains its color much longer as you treat and remove stains again and again.
Fabric Blends are More Durable

If you want a material that’s long lasting, polyester/cotton blends are known for their durability. Just as it won’t fade as quickly, it also won’t lose its shape or come apart as quickly. It’s also less likely to pill over time, meaning it stays looking new longer.

We all want clothes that will last, and a polyester/cotton blend offers just that. If you plan to wear and wash your shirt a lot, the blended fabric will be better suited to your needs.
A 50/50 Cotton Polyester Blend is Less Prone To Wrinkling

Perhaps one of the most frustrating things about 100% cotton is that it is extremely prone to wrinkling. Obviously, wrinkles can be taken care of with an iron and a spray bottle, but most people prefer clothes that come out of the dryer ready to wear.

50/50 polyester and cotton is far less likely to wrinkle than 100% cotton, especially if you remove it from the dryer promptly. If you want to avoid the extra step of ironing, this blend is a much better choice.
Cotton Polyester Blends are Easy To Care For

Not only does 50/50 polyester and cotton come out of the wash ready to wear, it’s much easier to wash and care for to begin with. It’s a far less temperamental fabric than 100% cotton, and washes and dries with little fuss.

This fabric responds best to being washed in warm water and dried on low to medium heat. 100% cotton must be washed in cold water, dried on very low heat, and will not respond well to being overheated. Stick with the 50/50 blend if easier maintenance is your goal.
A 50/50 Fabric is Great For Activity

While 100% cotton is definitely breathable, it doesn’t respond as well to regular sweating and activity. And, as we mentioned, it’s harder to care for, meaning stains are a little trickier to deal with than they are in a polyester/cotton blend.

The 50/50 blend is not quite as breathable as 100% cotton, but it makes up for it by holding up well in regular
activity
, making it an ideal choice for sports and athletics. Polyester has wicking properties, meaning the fabric will dry faster during activities.
Cotton Polyester Blends are Less Likely To Shrink

Shrinking after washing and drying a 100% cotton piece of clothing is a bit of a gamble. However, the synthetic fibers of polyester will keep a blended fabric from shrinking. Although you can purchase pre-shrunk 100% cotton clothing, polyester/cotton blends are a little more reliable when it comes to maintaining size and shape.

If you’re purchasing t-shirts, you don’t want to be concerned with shrinking, and a 50/50 blend will give you peace of mind that the size you purchase is the size you will continue to have.
A 50/50 Fabric Blend Provides a Sporty Look

As mentioned when we talked about 100% cotton, sometimes you want your clothing to have a more professional look, but that’s not always the case. If you’re purchasing shirts for sporty or casual purposes, the polyester/cotton blend will suit your needs well. It’s comfortable and perfect for outdoor and indoor activities of a more casual nature.

Jerseys or event tees are a great example of shirts that would look great in a polyester and cotton blend.
Cotton and Polyester Fabrics Together Will Keep You Warmer

While it’s true that 100% cotton is the more breathable fabric, that’s not always a quality you’re looking for! If you need material that's going to
keep you warmer
, the polyester and cotton blend provides the comfort of the natural cotton feel with the warmth of the synthetic polyester.

Not all activities take place in the winter, or in warmer climates. This blended fabric will be a better choice for you if you need something that breathes but isn’t going to leave you wet and freezing after your activity.

When and Why to Choose 100% Cotton Over a 50/50 Polyester Blend

A 50/50 blend shares some of the same benefits as 100% cotton, but there are a few factors that set the latter apart — and might make it your preferred fabric.

Good for Sensitive Skin: Unlike polyester, 100% cotton is hypoallergenic, which makes it an ideal choice for those who experience skin irritation or allergies. If you are purchasing shirts for children, say for a class or for a sports team, you may want to check to see if any of the children have skin allergies before making your decision.
Breathable: A polyester/cotton blend is also breathable, but if the level of breathability is one of the most important things on your list, then 100% cotton may be a better choice. Because the material is not synthetic, it allows for more airflow, and is an excellent choice for very warm climates. However, as we will get to in a moment, cotton does not have any wicking properties, so it is cooler, but not the better choice if you are concerned about sweating.
Good for Professional and Business Wear: While 100% cotton takes a little more work when it comes to proper care (ironing is typically necessary), it also tends to look a little more professional and makes for a better choice if you are primarily looking for business attire. A good example would be if you are planning to purchase
polo shirts
for your employees to wear while at work. For outdoor activities, 100% cotton would not be as ideal, as it is less durable and does not hold up to sweat as well, but for office use, this pure fabric can have a more professional look than the 50/50 blend alternative.
Holds Screen Printing Better: Screen Printing, the process of imprinting a logo or image onto a shirt, is possible with a 50/50 polyester and cotton blend. However, it must occur carefully to avoid color bleeding and ensure a clear image. 100% cotton, on the other hand, will hold the screen-printed image better, and is less likely to bleed during the printing process. If you are going to have your logo or image printed on a 100% cotton shirt, the
Gildan Heavy Cotton T-shirt
is a great choice, as it is heavy weight, and likely to hold up well during printing.

Conclusion

In certain cases, 100% cotton is a better choice than a 50/50 polyester and cotton blend, but as you can see, the blend holds many advantages over 100% cotton. When choosing a fabric for your needs, take all of these things into consideration and you may find that the blended fabric is exactly what you were looking for.

Whichever fabric you prefer, you can find great, affordable shirts to meet your needs at Discount Mugs.

Polyester vs cotton vs blends? What is the scoop about them?

Have you ever about thought what fabric is used for the shirt you wear all the time? Or why do some of your t-shirts feel different from the others and if your shirts are made from the best shirt material? T-shirts are made from hundreds of different kinds of fabric and every fabric has a different style and feel.

We have outlined all the types of fabric from 60 cotton 40 polyester, and 100 polyester to cotton-polyester blend alongside a comparison of cotton vs polyester and tri-blend vs cotton. So, if you are interested in knowing your fabrics especially when buying or printing, then keep on reading.

The 3 Best T-Shirt Fabrics

Let’s talk about the three main categories of fabric that you need to know in order to make an informed decision:

100% Cotton

Cotton is the most commonly used fabric for t-shirts. It is a natural vegetable fibre, fluffy as well, that is obtained from a cotton plant’s seedpod and spun into yarn or thread. Cotton is used to make breathable shirts loved by everyone. Most t-shirts are made from cotton or partially cotton. Plus, it is hypoallergenic, so a personal favourite of people with skin prone to itches and rashes.

Feel and Wear of Cotton

Cotton can be knitted or woven into an array of fabrics, such as jersey, denim, and flannel. Each of which, of course, boasts a different wear purpose and feel. Plus, cotton feels very breathable and soft on the skin and is, thus, perfect for hot weather and warm climates, particularly, for people with sensitive skin.

Another plus is that cotton doesn’t cling to the skins, so if you want to start a business with loose-fitting clothes, then choose cotton. But also remember that 100% cotton is not the best choice for activewear because it dries rather slowly.

Cotton’s Printing Suitability

Cotton is the perfect surface for direct to garment printing. Opt for a garment made from 100% cotton if you want a crisp and opaque design. However, DTG prints don’t print as solid on thicker cotton garments, such as sweatshirts and hoodies, as they do on t-shirts.

Durability and Care

Cotton that is pure and high in quality is extremely durable which renders it immune to accidental tears or rips, but it isn’t as durable as polyester or cotton-polyester blend. It can also shrink at high temperature, so use cold water to wash a cotton shirt and don’t go overboard with the detergent.

100% Polyester

Polyester is a synthetic fabric known for its durability and resiliency. It dries quickly, also called moisture-wicking, because of its low moisture absorbency and is also known as hydrophobic. 100% Polyester always maintains its shape, so no matter how you wash it, it doesn’t stretch or shrink. Moreover, it’s the go-to fabric of adventurous and athletic people because of its durability in extreme conditions and resistance to odour. And it doesn’t stain, so that’s another reason why people prefer it.

What Does Polyester Feel Like?

Polyester is lightweight, feels silkier than cotton, perfect for sports, and traps sweat against the skin, which is why it may feel clammy and cooler in warm and cooler weather, respectively.

Polyester is light and thin, so it can cling to the skin and cause irritation for people with extremely sensitive skin. However, this is not common with polyester blends. In addition, it is stretchy and doesn’t shrink or lose its shape even after a lot of wear and tear.

Polyester’s Printing Suitability

Printing on polyester can be a challenge but, thanks to advanced printing services and special dyes, it has now become easy to achieve high-quality prints on polyester. Printed colours on polyester now turn out very vibrant and are very unlikely to fade with time.

Durability and Care

Polyester is more durable than cotton and most blends, but it’s also hard to stain it permanently because of its lower absorbency. Polyester is also famous for its resistance to fading, shrinking and wrinkling. We recommend washing polyester clothes with all-purpose detergent in warm water followed by a low-temperature tumble-dry.

Polyester vs Cotton in a NutshellAttributes Cotton Polyester Feel and WearLightweight ╳✓ Clingy ╳✓ Silky ╳✓ Quick-Drying ╳✓ Soft ✓ ✓ (less than cotton)Breathable ✓ ✓ Sensitive Skin-Friendly✓ ╳PrintingAll-Over Method╳✓ Colour Vibrancy✓ ✓ DTG Method ✓ ╳Durability and Resiliency Prone to Fading✓ ╳Prone to Shrinking ✓ ╳Prone to Tearing ╳╳Prone to Wrinkling ✓ ╳

Blends

When it comes to blends, the majority of people find them confused over a myriad of questions, such as what is cotton blend, are there 100% polyester shirts that feel like cotton, is polyester cotton, or what is poly cotton and the list never seeds to end. So, what is actually is a blend?

A blend is a fabric or yarn made from more than one kind of fibre. They are huge in the t shirt printing market because they provide the best of both worlds and the best of three worlds in the case of tri-blends. Let’s look at the major types of blends:

Tri-Blend: Usually made using rayon, cotton, and polyester.
CVC: Also known as Chief Value Cotton is a blend with most of it being cotton.
50/50: It is a 50/50 blend containing half polyester and half cotton, which is why is it also called cotton/poly.

Now, that we know the basics of the basic blends available in the market, let’s look at some blends in detail:

Polyester-Spandex Blends (85/15)

Spandex is a synthetic fibre famous for its elasticity. It is also called lycra or elastane. It makes the perfect fabric for soft clothing that is also durable when it is combined with cotton. Polyester-spandex blend garments are most commonly worn in activewear because spandex comes through with its stretchy nature and the ability to keep its original shape, while polyester provides the durability.

Cotton-Polyester Blends (65/35 and 50/50)

Cotton-polyester is perfect for you if you cannot choose between polyester and cotton. It is versatile and used to make shirts, and bedding, and whatnot. These blends are easier to wash and dry because the polyester does not shrink or change its shape, unlike cotton.

And the garments are also breathable, unlike the pure polyester clothes, courtesy of the cotton component in the blend. Lastly, the cotton-polyester blend makes the greatest canvas for colourful and bright designs.

Polyester-Cotton-Rayon Blend (50/25/25)

These blends have the best proportion of three types of fabric because of rayon being a semi-synthetic fibre that combines them together. Garments made using this fabric are stretchy, soft, and durable. So, if you want to make loose-fitting clothes that have a snug feel to them, go for this tri-blend. Another perk of the tri-blend is that it delivers the famous so-called vintage feel when printed on using the DG method. This is because of the looser weave and combination of the three fabrics and the fabrics show through the ink slightly.

Which T-Shirt Fabric Is the Best for You?

This answer depends on different requirements, and we have broken them down for you:

The person wearing the shirt: Fashion style, expectation, age range, etc.
The qualities you want: Moisture-wicking, durability, structure, softness, breathability, etc.
The print method: Sublimation, direct-to-garment, screen printing, digital transfer, embroidery, vinyl transfer, etc.
The price range: Maximum amount per item for the complete order.
The purpose of the piece of apparel: Sports event, work uniform, merchandise, family reunion, etc.

Here’s a short and straightforward breakdown of the pros and cons of three types of fabrics:

Pros and Cons of 100% Cotton, 100% Polyester and Blends100% CottonPros Cons Breathable Generally Heavier Popular Can Be Prone to ShrinkageSoft Can Get Stained Non -Clingy Dries SlowlyComfortable Prone to DamageGentle on the Skin Prone to Wrinkling Easily Customised DTG Prints Aren’t Solid on Thicker Cotton100% Polyester Pros Cons Lightweight Very ClingyDoesn’t Shrink nor Wrinkle Can Irritate the SkinSilky Smooth DrapeLess BreathableOdour ResistantHave Restrictions on Printing Super DurableFeels Synthetic Super Quick-DryingSome Are Very High PricedBlends (Cotton/Polyester)Pros Cons Soft and ComfyA Bit Clingy Better Drape and Lightweight Irritating to Sensitive SkinLess Wrinkling and Shrinkage Can Be Priced Quite HighQuicker Drying and More Durable Minor Restriction on Printing

So, Which One Is Right for You?

100% Cotton: Choose 100% cotton if you want breathable, gentle, comfortable, soft, and customisable shirts. However, these shirts can shrink, wrinkle, strain, and absorb moisture, but they are still a safe bet because they are popular with just about every person out there.

100% Polyester: Go for polyester if you want silky smooth, resistant to wrinkles, shrinking, or fading, durable, quick-drying, and lightweight shirts. But polyester is clingy, irritating, print restricted, and less breathable, and its price can be quite high based on the brand.

Blends: The best choice if you want to enjoy the best of the both worlds. You can get a variety of them, including, the poly-cotton 50/50, the tri-blend that has rayon for extra softness and drape, and CVC with predominant cotton. Tri-blends the best, but they can be a bit expensive, still affordable nevertheless.

The Final Takeaway

There you go. This is all the information you need about polyester vs cotton vs blends in order to make an informed decision whether you want to buy a t-shirt for yourself or start your own business of custom printed garments. Take your time studying the types of fabric until you find the one that fits your needs perfectly and, then go for it.

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