Is 55% cotton 45% polyester good?

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.

In search of the perfect T-shirt? The problem is there are a thousand different types to choose from (give or take). Between the dozens of major brands, hundreds of styles, a wide variety of fabric types, and new blends each year, it’s a lot to sort through.

How did the humble T-shirt become so complicated? And how to find the best one? We’re here to help. This article covers the different shirt fabrics, including their attributes, pros and cons, and specific recommendations in each category.

First, a short answer to the burning question.

Which T-shirt fabric is best for custom T-shirts?

Like the answer to most questions in the custom apparel business, it depends on a combination of your particular requirements. Cotton is the go-to fabric for most people because it’s soft and non-irritant, polyester is the go-to for performance, and cotton/poly blends give you the best of both worlds.

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Here are the factors to consider when deciding on what T-shirt fabric to choose:

The qualities you’re looking for (softness, breathability, moisture-wicking, etc.)
The print method you want (direct-to-garment, screen printing, embroidery, etc.)
The price you’re willing to pay (maximum budget for the order or per item)
The purpose (family reunion, work uniform, sporting event, merchandise, etc.)
The person who will wear it (age range, style, expectation)

Here’s a simple breakdown of the pros and cons of each category of T-shirt fabric:

Which T-shirt material should you choose?

Go with 100% cotton if you want shirts that are soft, comfortable, breathable, gentle on the skin, non-clingy, and can be customized with any method. Cotton tees are popular with everyone, so it’s a safe bet.
Keep in mind: they may shrink a bit, can stain, wrinkle, and tend to absorb moisture and hold it, rather than allow it to evaporate quickly.

Go with 100% polyester if you want shirts that are lightweight, durable, silky smooth, and resistant to wrinkles, shrinking, or fading, plus allows moisture to evaporate quickly.
Keep in mind: Polyester is less breathable, clingy, irritates the skin, and is restricted as far as printing methods. The price can be higher than other garments, depending on the brand.

Go with a blend if you want the best of both worlds. The poly-cotton 50/50 was the first major blend, but now we have the increasingly popular tri-blends, which add rayon for extra softness and drape, and are a big favorite among our customers. Then there’s CVC, a predominantly cotton blend.
Keep in mind: They tend to be priced higher, but are still affordable.

The four T-shirt fabric categories

Wait, there are only four? Granted, people have made T-shirts out of everything from alligator leather to human hair– but I’m guessing you’re not in the market for that. So here are the three main fabric categories you will need to know about to make an informed choice. Here’s a brief description of each and a few of our favorites.

100% Cotton

By far the most common and popular fabric for T-shirts, cotton is a fluffy, natural vegetable fiber obtained from the seedpod of the cotton plant. The fiber is most often spun into yarn or thread and used to make the soft, breathable fabric everyone knows and loves.

Most of your T-shirts are probably cotton or partially cotton. After all, it’s the fabric of our lives if you believe commercials. It also happens to be hypoallergenic, which is a huge plus for the itchy/rashy types. Cotton as a fabric dates back to prehistoric times. Concert tees from 500 B.C. must be worth a fortune now.

Here are a few of our favorite cotton T-shirts:

Premium: Bella+Canavs Fine Jersey (3001C) – Fitted, soft, well-constructed, smooth print surface. One of the most popular tees for retail and merch.
Standard: Hanes Perfect-T (4980) – A classic, mid-range tee with solid construction by the famous Hanes brand. Most are tagless or tear-away tags.
Budget: Gildan Heavy Cotton (G500) – The best value for the price and one of our most popular T-shirts, especially for large bulk orders.

100% Polyester

Polyester is a durable, synthetic fabric with excellent resiliency. Low moisture absorbency allows the fabric to dry quickly, also known as “moisture-wicking”. It’s so scared of water they call it hydrophobic. This material always keeps its shape, so there’s almost zero shrinking or stretching, regardless of what kind of extreme wash and dry cycle you put it through.

As a performance fabric, it’s a favorite of athletes and adventurous outdoor types who subject themselves to extreme conditions. And although a trip to your local gym might tell you otherwise, polyester is also somewhat odor-resistant, because the stink departs with evaporating sweat. Plus it doesn’t stain as easily as other fabrics. There’s a lot to love with poly.

100% Polyester always keeps its shape, so there’s almost zero shrinking or stretching, regardless of what kind of extreme wash and dry cycle you put it through.

Check out some of our popular 100% polyester T-shirts:

Premium: Nike Legend Tee (727982) – High-quality construction, moisture-wicking, temperature regulating, ultra-tight knit for great printing.
Standard: Augusta Sportswear NexGen Wicking T-shirt (790) – Excellent moisture-wicking knit fabric, may run a bit small, so talk to a sales rep before ordering.
Budget: Team 365 Performance T-shirt (TT11) – Polyester interlock knit. Moisture-wicking and UV protection. The best value for the price and our most popular poly.

Blends

A blend– as you might guess– is a yarn or fabric that is made up of more than one type of fiber. Blends are huge right now, making up a massive percentage of the T-shirt market, and for good reason. Blended fabrics are the best of both worlds– or in the case of tri-blends, the best of three worlds.

In the category of blends, there are three types:

50/50: Also known as cotton/poly, this material is half cotton, half polyester.
CVC: (Chief Value Cotton) is typically 60% cotton, 40% polyester.
Tri-Blend: Made from cotton, polyester, and rayon. The ratio is 50/25/25.

Cotton-poly blends

Cotton-poly blends, including 50/50s and CVCs, combine the softness and natural feel of cotton with polyester’s temperature-regulating and moisture-wicking properties. They also tend to shrink less, wrinkle less, and are more durable and stain-resistant than their cotton counterparts. It’s a win/win for blends.

Here are our favorite cotton/poly blends:

Premium: Bella+Canvas Heather CVC T-shirt (3001CVC) – Lightweight, fitted, 52/48 mix, airloom combed ringspun cotton, quality construction, side-seamed.
Standard: Next Level CVC Crew T-shirt (N6210) – Fitted, 60/40 mix, ringspun cotton for smooth printing, and side-seamed for a perfect fit.
Budget: Gildan DryBlend 50/50 T-shirt (G800) – 50/50 mix, moisture-wicking, best value for the price, and our most popular cotton-poly blend.

Tri-Blend: The best of all three worlds

Tri-blends are head and shoulders above other T-shirts when it comes to softness. The combination of polyester, cotton, and rayon form a powerful alliance that will make you want to wear it every day. The combination of breathability, durability, flexibility, and drape makes it a winner in all categories.

Believe it or not, this fabric type has only been on the market for around 20 years. In that short time, it’s become one of the most popular fabrics in the T-shirt business.

When people rave about their favorite T-shirt, it tends to be a tri-blend. There are very few downsides. But there are a few things to keep in mind:

They tend to be more fitted than their counterparts, also known as fashion fit, slim fit, or retail fit. This should not affect which size to order– because of the rayon and polyester they have more give (or stretch).
They are mostly all “heathered” with few exceptions, meaning they have a speckled pattern to the fabric (see image above). This is due to the mix of fabrics. Just something to be aware of.
They may be irritant to some people’s skin. Only a small percentage of people are allergic to synthetic fabrics, but for others, it may be just the way the material feels on their skin that they don’t like.
They are lightweight, so it’s best not to print too much ink on them or it will weigh down the fabric. Use direct-to-garment printing (DTG), water-based, or regular screen printing with no underbase to give it a soft hand.
They are typically at a higher price point than their counterparts.

Here are some top picks among the tri-blends:

Premium: Threadfast Apparel Unisex Tri-Blend Short-Sleeve T-Shirt (102A) – Ultra-lightweight, fitted, high-quality construction that uses 50% cotton, 38% cotton and 12% rayon for a super-soft feel
Standard: Bella+Canvas TriBlend Crew T-shirt (3413C) – Ultra-lightweight, fitted, excellent fit, combed ringspun cotton, side-seamed, and retail-ready.

Watch: The T-shirt Test

Still not sure which kind to get? Check out these videos. We put four T-shirts to the test– one from each category of fabric type. We feel them, wear them, stretch them, wet them, wrinkle them, print on them, mess them, wash them, and damage them– all to see what happens. There’s even some axe throwing for some reason. Enjoy!