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T-shirts are about as basic as basics get. But the best T-shirts for men go beyond fashion fundamentals; they can play the lead just as well as the supporting role. Save for daring feats of shirtlessness, the T-shirt is the foundation of practically every great outfit, whether it's taking the spotlight with a classic pair of blue jeans and sneakers, hiding under a flannel shirt or hoodie, getting dressed up with a luxuriously louche suit, or soaking up your hard-earned sweat in a swishy gym get-up.
The Best T-Shirts Buying Guide
- The “I Need a T-shirt, STAT!” Tee: Gildan Ultra Cotton T-Shirt (2-pack), $13
$11 - The Mega-Affordable Tee: AlStyle Apparel AAA Plain Blank T-Shirt, $10
- The Sleek, Sexy Black Tee: Gap Classic T-Shirt, $20
- The Crayola's Box Tee: Comfort Colors Short Sleeve Pocket Tee,
$15$12 - The Supporting Role Tee: Calvin Klein Cotton Classics Undershirts (5-pack),
$70$49 - The Gym Partner Tee: Rhone Reign Short Sleeve Workout Shirt, $68
- The Jumbo Jawn Tee: Madewell Relaxed Tee, $40
- The Extra-Beefy Tee: Uniqlo U Crewneck T-Shirt, $20
- The Splurge-Worthy Tee: Lady White Co. Lite Jersey T-Shirt, $70
Though you might not wear a T-shirt every day, you'd be fooling yourself by thinking you could achieve menswear greatness without a single tee in your closet. They're not just wardrobe staples, they're wardrobe essentials. Even for the most advanced and avant-garde style gods, T-shirts are fundamental to building a top-shelf wardrobe. Einstein had to know his times table before he could solve for E, right?
The situations that warrant a T-shirt are endless and there are a thousand options for each one. That makes actually choosing the right one a near-impossible task. Near being the operative word because we've done the Herculean task of assembling an encyclopedic breakdown of the absolute best men's T-shirts, from crisp white tees to funky-colored bangers, husky winter-ready heavyweights and paper-thin summer undershirts. Whatever you're after, whatever your budget, wherever you're going, the T-shirt of your wildly specific dreams is right here.
If, as Tolkien might put it, there was one T-shirt to rule them all, it would be the plain white tee. Your wardrobe could go plenty far with just one version and a pair of blue jeans, wearing it around the house as simple loungewear, or following in the footsteps of many a menswear great, aiming to cement yourself as a style icon. From pima cotton options to broken-in crewnecks to retro-inspired, relaxed-fit joints, there's no shortage of options to choose from.
But if you had to choose just one, whether you're in a pinch or low on cash, we recommend Gildan's Ultra Cotton T-shirts. They come in multipacks so you can stock up for cheap and they're made of 100% cotton, unlike many other brands cutting their materials with synthetic materials.
Calvin Klein
Slim Fit Cotton Crewneck T-shirt (3-pack)
Calvin Klein's underwear prowess extends to its range of basic tees, too, in case you were wondering.
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T-shirts are a commodity that shouldn't force you into bankruptcy (though some might argue that a really, really good tee is totally worth the hit to your credit score). Thankfully, there are plenty of T-shirt brands that make rock-solid affordable options, and one of the below will never steer you wrong.
Ask any fashion aficionado and they'll confirm that AllStyle's AAA crewneck tees were the blanks of choice for many of today's high priests of streetwear. But even if you're not looking to screenprint your way to success, they're great tees straight out of the plastic. They're made with a pre-shrunk, hefty 6-ounce 100% cotton jersey fabric with a classic straight silhouette, shoulder seam tape for durability, and no side seams. Plus, they just so happen to be ten bucks a pop.
We've already explained why a white tee is an essential. But life is all about balance, which means you need a stack of top-notch black tees in your dresser, too. Where white T-shirts are pristine and proper, black T-shirts are sexy and badass. Who doesn't want to feel like a sexy badass?
You could pretty much find a black colorway for every T-shirt on here and you'd be golden (we do recommend each one on this list, after all). Gap's Classic T-shirt is worth adding to your T-shirt rolodex thanks to the all-cotton construction, brushed soft and cut with a tailored, but not too slim fit.
Lady White Co
Our Shirt T-shirt (2-pack)
Lady White Co.'s hyper-focused approach to high-quality knit basics is the stuff of legend, and this is the T-shirt that started it all. Each one is cut, sewn, and knit in Los Angeles using American cotton—and as far as we’re concerned, they’ve set the bar for high-end tees.
Did you know that T-shirts can telegraph your mood, too? Well, sorta. T-shirts come in a million different colors between the usual black and white fare, and if you're into chromotherapy or color theory, you'll know that each one gives off a different energy. Like, have you ever tried to decide on a new paint color for your room? The main difference is that it's a hell of a lot easier to change your T-shirt than to re-paint a room.
If you've got the cash to splash on an entire rainbow of high-quality, next level T-shirts, we're happy for you. But Comfort Colors is proof that you can grab a great T-shirt in a grip of colors without forking over bales of dough. We've recommended them for years, so it's only fitting that we inducted them into our list of GQ Recommends All-Stars.
Before brazen graphic tees and high-end Supima cotton splurges existed, the T-shirt had humble beginnings as a basic undergarment. If you're attempting to protect your nice dress shirts and sweaters from the funk of your sweat glands, or simply need a warm base layer to keep the frigid air out, undershirts are designed to play a supporting role so the rest of your outfit can truly shine. You’ll find ‘em in a range of materials like waffle-knit thermals and temperature-regulating Merino wool—in addition to plain ol’ cotton jersey. But FYI: most good undershirts will lean closer to the slim-fit end of the silhouette spectrum.
Advancements in undershirt technology have infused T-shirts with sweat-wicking and odor-blocking properties and Stretch Armstrong levels of elastane, but nothing quite compares to a plain ‘ol cotton T-shirt like the ones from Calvin Klein. They’re plain, simple, uncomplicated, and just classic. They're made with super soft 100% cotton and are cut long enough to tuck into your pants as a supporting role or stand on its own as the lead with a pair of blue jeans and boots.
You could work out in a standard cotton tee and you'd be fine—soaking wet and really smelly, but fine. What we'd rather you do is get a proper workout shirt. They're not like regular T-shirts: they're cool T-shirts—literally. Workout shirts are built with fabrics that have cooling and moisture-wicking properties, allowing you to exercise more efficiently and effectively. Some workout shirts also come with anti-microbial properties, so even when you're sweating like a pig, you won't stink like rotten bacon.
Rhone's Reign shirt won our hearts as the best overall workout T-shirt. That's all thanks to the fabric which is chock full of features like UPF50+ sun protection, four-way stretch, and anti-odor gold-infused fibers (yes, really). They're outfitted with comfortable raglan sleeves that won't ride up when you're pumping iron.
Fashion's pendulum will always swing from tight-fitting Marlon Brando-type tees (promise that's the last time we mention Brando!), to more classic fits to certified Big T-shirts that billow and drape oh so elegantly in the wind or mid-kick flip. The pendulum has been in oversized tee territory for a minute now and if you're looking for a tee with some built-in airflow, here are a few of our faves.
While other oversized tees focus on the oversized look, they tend to also be too long. The result? A tee that wacked out proportions. Madewell's tee manages the delicate balance with ease. It's wide enough to qualify as slouchy, but cropped enough to steer clear of sloppy.
Who doesn't love the airy, cloud-like softness of a feathery-light T-shirt? We're certainly not ones to complain about the barely-there experience. But there's something to be said about a brolic tee that let's you know it's there. Where lightweight tees are a high thread count top sheet, heavyweight tees are more like weighted blankets. They offer a security and heft that just can't be matched. The best combine softness with heft and have a structured drape that pairs well with wide pants and minimalist aesthetics. But even if you're not here for the objectively good looks, beefy tees are great value propositions since they'll last longer than most regular tees in your drawer.
If you strolled into the GQ office and took a poll for everyone's favorite T-shirt, a significant portion of us would name Uniqlo U's as our go-to tee. The Christophe Lemaire-designed tee is undeniably heavy with a relaxed, but not-quite-boxy silhouette. Construction-wise, they're on par with some of the most expensive tees on the market but will only cost you a paltry twenty bucks. And if that doesn't do it for you, just know that Tyler, The Creator (a.k.a GQ's Most Stylish Man of the Year 2021) wears them.
Were you to bop around the GQ office taking a survey of every staffer's T-shirt of choice, you'd get a long list of differing answers, not to mention an earful from a handful of overly passionate writers. Because we all have our own unique tastes and unique bodies, our go-to tees span the whole gamut, from the cheap and cheerful multi-pack options to esoteric and artisanal grails to underground and up-and-coming labels. They might not be certified best-sellers, but they're the tees you'll see us wearing most often.
Naming a single perfect T-shirt to represent the entire GQ staff would be silly. But prod enough of us and we'd say that Lady White Co. as a great option, especially if you appreciate the finer things in life. Each tee is crafted in an almost farm-to-table approach, using American cotton which is then cut, sewn, and knit in their Los Angeles factory with superior construction techniques you'd only find on the highest quality T-shirts. That said, the doctorate-level approach will cost you. So if you don't have the scratch to scoop up a Lady White tee, here are a couple we also rate.
