We independently review everything we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more›
Head here to find all of our expert cozy coverage and enter to win a bundle of our favorite picks for a comfy, snug fall. (Giveaway terms and conditions.) Performance T Shirts
A white T-shirt is a blank canvas. Versatile, casual, and classic, it can blend in—or stand out—with just about any wardrobe.
But with hundreds of options out there, finding a favorite can feel anything but basic. With help from a diverse and fashionable panel of testers, we sifted through heaps of tees to find flattering, comfortable and well-made staples that you’ll wear again and again.
Five T-shirts, that will suit a variety of body types and budgets, rose to the top of the pile: a universally praised white T-shirt of exceptional quality, a versatile shirt with a boxier fit, a super-soft slim-cut tee, a high-end, splurge-worthy shirt, and an affordable white T-shirt that comes in lots of sizes.
This shirt is well made, comes in three different cuts—classic, slim, and tall—and feels airy and comfortable. But its thin fabric, while still opaque, may be too lightweight for some tastes.
How it feels: Soft and especially light—well suited to warmer climes and summer months.
Why it’s great: The J.Crew Broken-In Short-Sleeve White T-shirt hit all the right notes: It fit most of our testers nicely, was well constructed, and felt comfortable and light. Our panelists all loved the J.Crew shirt—and finding a crowd-pleaser was no easy feat, considering the varied preferences of the six people who wore it. Aside from the Lady White Co. shirt (which is more than 1½ times the price and comes in fewer sizes and styles), the J.Crew T-shirt was the most universally praised shirt we tested.
For the price, the quality of the J.Crew shirt is exceptional. Even though this T-shirt is lightweight, the cotton has a tight weave and looks especially white and opaque (in testing, however, some shirts were transparent enough to show nipples, which is simply not the vibe). Sure, you might notice, if you’re looking for it, that the bottom hem is a little twisted, and the fabric isn’t as thick as that of some other white T-shirts we tried. But the stitching was even and straight, and we didn’t spot any loose threads or pilling, unlike on other shirts we tried, including the Bonobos T-shirt, which pilled a little.
Across all testers of different sizes, the J.Crew T-shirt’s seams hit the right spot on their shoulders, and its sleeves didn’t ride up. The collar was just right, neither too narrow nor too wide. Wirecutter deputy editor Jason Chen described it as “how a T-shirt should fit.” Jason, who wears a size M, also noted that the length of the shirt was perfect for tucking in, but it wasn’t so long that the shirt looked sloppy if he wore it untucked. After this T-shirt was washed and dried, it shrank by 2 inches total—less shrinkage than with many other shirts we tested in this price range.
The J.Crew shirt comes in sizes XS through XXL, which is a decent range, though we’d love to see that expand further. We tested the shirt in its standard (or “classic”) cut (which goes up only to size XXL). But it also comes in Slim and Tall, the latter of which adds 2 inches to both the body and sleeve length and goes up to size XXXL. Alan Henry, Wired’s special projects editor, who wears between an XXL and a 3XL, said the fit on this tee in XXL was a little tight but that the length on his 5-foot-7-inch frame was great.
“The J.Crew shirt was definitely built for comfort,” said Henry. It’s thinner and feels lighter than many of the other T-shirts we tested—panelists commented on its airiness and its soft feel, too. Some of our testers who wore size XL and up complained it was a little too thin, but most found the weight to be perfect, especially for layering under heavier clothes.
Flaws but not dealbreakers: The J.Crew tee is made from thinner fabric than other T-shirts we tested, which is why our testers found it so delightfully lightweight. Some found it to be papery-thin, though. One XXL tester said the J.Crew tee would be a decent undershirt—a shady comment for something that’s sold as a T-shirt. Another said he’d be hesitant to wear it without something over it.
Sizes: XS (32- to 34-inch chest) to XXXL (50- to 52-inch chest) Cuts: Classic, Slim, Tall Other variants: crew neck with pocket, long-sleeve crew neck (available seasonally), V-neck Lengths: one
Compared with our other picks, this ultra-soft T-shirt has a boxier shape and stretchier feel, which our XXL testers especially loved. However, its generous fit may not work for some people with smaller frames.
How it feels: Extremely soft, with some stretch (though it’s still made from 100% cotton) and a boxier cut.
Why it’s great: The Bonobos Soft Everyday Tee is a soft, well-constructed T-shirt with a boxier-than-average cut, which some of our testers preferred.
Like some of the other shirts we like, including our J.Crew pick, the Bonobos shirt lets you mix and match cuts (Slim or Standard) and even neckline styles (crew neck or V-neck).
Our plus-size testers rated the Soft Everyday Tee their favorite T-shirt for quality, fit, and comfort. And all testers agreed that the Bonobos shirt was more sturdily constructed, stretchier, and more comfortable than some tees we tried that were twice the price. One tester told us the shirt felt soft and looked luxurious, and he said it was nice enough that he’d feel comfortable throwing it on with a pair of slacks and walking into a good restaurant.
Our testers who described themselves as “bigger dudes” particularly dug the Bonobos shirt—and though it doesn’t come in the absolute largest sizes of our picks (that honor goes to the Bella+Canvas shirt, which goes up to size 5XL), it offers an excellent combination of quality and comfort with sizing up to XXL.
Bruce Sturgell, founding editor of Chubstr (a website for big, tall, and plus-size men) said the Bonobos tee in size XXL fit him “without being too long or billowy,” and the arms hit at a good length on him. We tested this shirt in its standard width and found it to be proportionally a bit wider than the J.Crew tee in the classic cut. So the Bonobos tee is a good choice for someone with wider shoulders, for someone with a rectangular- or inverted-triangle-shaped torso, or for someone who simply prefers a less-svelte cut. However, both shirts come in slim options that may sit differently on the body (we didn’t test them).
The Bonobos tee felt of a higher quality than many T-shirts we tested, and it was on a par with the J.Crew T-shirt, which costs only a couple dollars more. The Bonobos tee has solid stitching and a close-knit cotton weave that is opaque and feels smooth against your skin. After it was washed and dried, a size M Bonobos shirt shrank 1½ inches total, the least of any white T-shirt we tested.
Flaws but not dealbreakers: Not everyone loved the Bonobos shirt’s boxy fit, especially testers who wore sizes below XXL (one mentioned it was big and sloppy). A couple of panelists also noted its wide neck, which one complained looked loose after they wore it.
We also found that the Bonobos tee pilled a little after we washed it—tiny balls of fabric popped up, which isn’t uncommon but is annoying.
Sizes: XS (35-inch chest) to 2XL (47-inch chest) Cuts: Standard, Slim Other variants: V-neck, pocket Lengths: regular
If you like a slim-fitting tee, this shirt is soft, comfortable, and reasonably priced. But the cut may be too narrow for some, and the fabric is slightly transparent.
How it feels: Crisp, as if it’s recently been ironed, but it softens and gets more comfortable with wear. It has a slimmer cut than most other shirts and a thin fabric that’s slightly transparent if you look very closely.
Why it’s great: “It isn’t fancy, but it gets the basics right,” Jesse Thorn, founder of style blog Put This On, said of the Uniqlo Supima Cotton Crew Neck Short-Sleeve T-Shirt. Indeed, this is a super-comfy shirt that costs half the price of most of our picks. It goes down to a size XXS and is cut slim.
The Uniqlo T-shirt is soft and comfortable, but it still has some structure and heft. One tester described the shirt as “crispy” at first—but we found that after we washed it a few times, the crispness settled into an easy, worn-in feel. Still, this wasn’t quite as high-quality as the J.Crew or the Lady White Co. T-shirts we recommend. The fabric is a little more transparent than we prefer—you can see a shadow of a nipple, if you try (but you really have to try). We didn’t find any loose threads on the shirt during testing, and the hems and sleeves were nice and even.
If you’re slender, the Uniqlo shirt may fit you especially well. It has the smallest chest measurements of the shirts we tested, and after a wash it shrank around 3½ inches. Post-shrinkage, it measures just 18½ inches pit to pit in size M, compared with our more generously cut pick, the Bonobos tee, which measures 20 inches in the same size.
You may want to consider sizing up. “Even the medium-sized shirt I tested—and I sometimes wear a small—felt tight against my shoulders,” Wirecutter deputy editor Jason Chen noted. Not only does the Uniqlo run small, it’s also the only T-shirt we recommend that goes all the way down to XXS (it runs up to 3XL).
Flaws but not dealbreakers: The Uniqlo shirt runs a little tight, so it felt narrow on most of our testers—especially those who wore sizes XXL and 3XL. If you’re more comfortable in roomier tees, consider sizing up, if you can.
Sizes: XXS (31- to 33-inch chest) to 3XL (50- to 53-inch chest) Cuts: one width Other variants: V-neck Lengths: one
With its premium fabric, seamless side construction, and reinforced collar, this flattering tee looks and feels unquestionably luxe. But it comes in a limited range of sizes—and as great as it is, the price is still a lot for simple shirt.
How it feels: The Lady White Co. T-Shirt has a fit that’s slim but not tight. The shirt is made with a dense, smooth fabric that borders on being heavyweight, and it has a lovely cut, thanks to the absence of side seams.
Why it’s great: The Lady White Co. T-shirt was a clear standout for its construction and premium materials. It’s made of a midweight jersey that feels crisp and cool, and it was more flattering than any other shirt we tested. I want to be buried in a bundle of them.
This is an extremely high-quality tee, replete with little details that show how much went into making it feel just right. We especially loved the dense cotton, thicker, reinforced collar, and solid stitching.
The Lady White Co. T-shirt felt fantastic when I wore it for a couple of weeks of prolonged testing—its fabric felt textured, and its dense cotton felt thicker and plusher than that of its competition. It’s made using tubular construction—which means it doesn’t have any side seams—so it hangs beautifully on the body. Jesse Thorn, founder of the style blog Put This On, noted that the shirt’s tubular construction was a “big bonus” in terms of comfort, enabling the tee to envelop the body easily and smartly.
The shoulders on the Lady White Co. shirt were a little wide, at 17 inches across in a size M, compared with the 16-inch shoulders on most other high-end brands we tried. I personally have broader shoulders, so it fit me well. Our testers appreciated the longer sleeves, which hit farther down the arms than those on many other T-shirts we tested—below the biceps and above the elbows. “I like that the sleeves of the Lady White T-shirt cover up my Shaggy–from–Scooby-Doo biceps,” Thorn cracked.
Choire Sicha of The New York Times described the T-shirt as being tight in the chest but not grippy in the stomach: “You look more like an alley cat than a chunky unit,” he quipped (which we’ll note is a good thing).
After it was laundered, the Lady White Co. shirt shrank by 1¾ inches total—a little bit all around—so buy your true size. That said, the Lady White Co. shirt comes in the smallest range of sizes of any T-shirt we recommend, from S to XL.
The Lady White Co. shirt isn’t quite a true, bright white like the other T-shirts we tested. You won’t notice this on its own, but when it’s compared with a stack of other options, the Lady White Co. shirt stands out for being slightly toward the “canvas” side of the color spectrum. It has a slightly off-the-beaten-path, vintage jersey look to it that we ended up loving.
This shirt is more expensive than any other we recommend; though we think it’s a good value, given the quality, it’s still a lot for a shirt.
Flaws but not dealbreakers: Technically, this is not really a “white” T-shirt—it would be nice if it were available in a true white as well.
Because this T-shirt comes only in sizes S to XL, we were able to test it with just three members of our five-person panel. Although those who did test the T-shirt loved it, the size range is a limitation—and unfortunately, it’s one we found among many high-end shirts. It’s also more off-white than other white T-shirts, which might turn away some people who want a shirt that’s as white as you can find.
Sizes: S (36-inch chest) to XL (42-inch chest) Cuts: one width Other variants: none Lengths: one
This budget-friendly shirt is a comfortable weight, and its quality is decent enough. It comes in a wide range of sizes, from XS to 5XL, but it does shrink quite a bit in the wash.
How it feels: Medium-weight cotton with a bit of give (but with a bad habit of deforming if you stretch it too far); this is not as soft on the skin as our other picks, and it shrank significantly after being laundered.
Why it’s great: The stretchy Bella+Canvas Unisex Jersey Tee is a bargain—it’s the absolute cheapest option we recommend. It’s comfy enough and comes in the widest variety of sizes of any T-shirt we tested, from XS to 5XL.
Despite its supremely affordable price, the Bella+Canvas tee proved to be of decent quality, with solid construction and nice stitching. The 100% cotton material is stretchy and had a comfortable weight to it, which played well with our larger-bodied testers.
All of our panelists thought the Bella+Canvas tee was pretty comfortable to wear. It was soft—though not the softest we tested. Wired’s Alan Henry praised its double-seamed hems, a sturdy feature that made him feel like he could wear the Bella+Canvas T-shirt untucked without worrying about showing his stomach to the world.
“Maybe it’s because I’m a big guy,” Henry noted, “but I loved this fit. It was well-sized and hung long enough down my body that I could wear the T-shirt outside my pants or tucked in.”
However, the length of the Bella+Canvas tee was too much for some of our testers. Even after laundering, it was still 27 inches long in size M, compared with the 25-inch length of some others we wore. If you have a long torso or a large stomach, that might be something you want, but otherwise it may be too long to wear untucked.
The Bella+Canvas tee shrank a lot when we washed and dried it—by 6½ inches in a size medium—so make sure you size up at least one size, or hang it to dry.
The Bella+Canvas tee has a low price, but sometimes there’s a catch to that bargain. It’s primarily sold as a blank for companies to print their logos on (you may already own one from a fun run or a company retreat). So you can usually buy the shirt for less than $5 from blank clothing sellers like Clothing Shop or Shirt Space, though you may need to search around to find your size. Michael’s reliably stocks the shirt for $10, but only up to 3XL, while it goes up to 5XL from other sellers. It’s available on Amazon, too, but the size and color options there can be intermittent as well.
Flaws but not dealbreakers: Although our testers who wore larger sizes liked the Bella+Canvas tee, those who wore size M to XL didn’t love it so much. Those panelists had a host of complaints: Its tag was irritating to the skin, and it was simply too boxy for their bodies.
Availability for this shirt—especially in certain sizes—can be spotty, and shipping may cost more than the T-shirt, depending on where you buy.
Sizes: XS (31- to 34-inch chest) to 4XL (58- to 61-inch chest), 5XL (dimensions not listed) Cuts: one width Other variants: none Lengths: one
We started this guide by compiling a list of 128 T-shirts, based on researching popular retailers, online reviews, and roundups. We focused on shirts marketed as “for men,” though they can be worn by people of any gender. These shirts are cut differently from ones that are marketed “for women” in that they have straight seams and are either the same size from chest to waist or have a very slight taper.
We wanted T-shirts with a clean, plain aesthetic, so we eliminated any options that had pockets or garish logos. Many of the shirts we looked at are available in a myriad of colors, but that didn’t influence our decision-making, since our emphasis was purely on white tees.
I personally tested 36 (size M) T-shirts in person. I wore each shirt to check for comfort and fit—we didn’t want any too-short sleeves or scratchy textures—and I carefully inspected the fabric, seams, and other details.
I washed and dried each shirt twice, to see how they would fare. Before and after laundering the shirts, I measured them to calculate total shrinkage.
Once I had narrowed the contenders down to seven worthy finalists, I enlisted a panel of experts—with different body shapes and style preferences—to participate in the remaining testing by wearing the shirts and sharing their feedback. The panel consisted of: Wirecutter’s deputy editor Jason Chen (size M); Choire Sicha, then-editor of The New York Times’ Style section (size L); Jesse Thorn, founder of style blog Put This On (size XL); Bruce Sturgell, founding editor of plus-size men’s blog Chubstr (size XXL); and Alan Henry, special projects editor of Wired (size 3XL). To rule out any potential brand bias, the tests were performed blind, with tape placed over the labels.
When making our final picks, we considered the following criteria:
Construction: We were seeking high-quality, well-constructed T-shirts that should last a long time. We did a lot of poking, prodding, and pulling—we looked for shirts with even stitching at the seams, no loose threads, and well-built collars that wouldn’t stretch out when you pulled them over your head.
Fabric: We aimed for “medium weight” shirts when possible. More important was a shirt’s opacity—or the ability to properly hide our nipples. We also appreciated shirts that had a little give (while still being 100% cotton) so we could throw them on regardless of whether we planned on having a big breakfast.
Shrinkage: We measured the dimensions of each white T-shirt, and we washed and dried them twice, noting any shrinkage or stretching. Some size change is normal, so as long as a shirt still fit comfortably before and after being washed, we didn’t consider that to be a dealbreaker. But we took into consideration the degree to which the size changed.
Comfort: The feel of the fabric on our skin was understandably important. We considered whether it was soft and easy to wear or rigid and heavy.
Aesthetics: In order to suit a wide range of tastes, we considered shirts with a variety of different cuts, necklines, and lengths. We also took into account how flattering the shirts would be on a range of body types.
Price: We researched T-shirts priced between $6 and $295, but we ultimately concluded that $50 was likely the upper end of what we considered reasonable to pay for a plain white tee.
The Knickerbocker The T-Shirt is an attractive and comfortable tee that has a different look than any of the other white T-shirts we tested. It is not truly white—the brand bills it “milk”-colored—and its collar is more pronounced (almost 3-D) than the usual flat collars found on regular T-shirts. It’s also at least an inch shorter than our picks .
We liked the Kotn Essential Crew for its slim fit and extra-soft feel. But we found it shrank after laundering by around 7 inches, more than the other shirts in its price range (around $40). And there were multiple complaints online reporting the same issue. If you machine-wash the Kotn T-shirt in cold water and hang it to dry, you should be able to avoid any shrinkage. Or you could size way up. If you’re willing to do either of those things, we think the Kotn is a good-looking T-shirt that’s comfy to wear.
The Reigning Champ Pima Jersey T-Shirt was comfortable to wear, but it suffered from a couple of unique stylistic choices that we didn’t love, including a tag on the outside of the T-shirt (near the front left hip) and thick black stitching. These things aren’t necessarily unattractive; they’re just a matter of taste. The T-shirt was comfortable to wear, so if you like the way it looks, it’s a good option.
Although the Save Khaki United Short Sleeve Supima Crew Tee was too slim-fitting to be a main pick, it’s a good white T-shirt for anyone who prefers that type of cut or anyone who is particularly slender. (You could also try sizing up.) Panelist Choire Sicha, editor of The New York Times’ Style section at the time of our testing, noted that the tightness of this tee around his arms made his biceps look “hot.” If you don’t mind a taut tee that leaves nothing to the imagination, this is one to consider.
This is not a comprehensive list of everything we tested in previous iterations of this guide, just what’s still available.
Many of the inexpensive white T-shirts we tested suffered from similar issues. Shirts like the Amazon Essentials Men’s Standard 2-Pack Slim-fit Short-Sleeve Crewneck T-Shirt, the Calvin Klein Men’s Cotton Classics T-Shirt the Fruit of the Loom Men’s Stay Tucked Crew T-Shirt, the Gildan Classic Short Sleeve T-Shirt, and the Kirkland Signature Men’s 6-Pack were just plainly undershirts. They were quite thin and didn’t offer enough coverage on the sleeves. What they did offer were twisted seams and see-through fabric.
The Alternative Go-To T-Shirt and the AlternativeOrganic Cotton Crewneck Shirt were too tight in the shoulders, making it difficult for us to move our arms.
The American Apparel Unisex-Adult Fine Jersey Crewneck Short Sleeve T-Shirt, 2-Pack was quite loose around the neck, which we expect would only worsen with wear.
The American Giant Classic Cotton Crew Tee and the Mott & Bow Classic Crew Driggs Tee were nice enough T-shirts, but they didn’t impress the test panel. The American Giant tee, in particular, was a little shorter in length than we like.
The Banana Republic Soft Wash Crew-Neck T-Shirt shrank nearly 3 inches in the chest when we ran it through the washer and the dryer—substantially more than other similarly priced shirts. It also had a gray lining on its collar that looked odd. The Banana Republic Authentic Supima Cotton Crew-Neck T-Shirt was a little scratchy, and it was more see-through than we like.
The Gap Classic Cotton T-Shirt had oddly shaped sleeves, and most of our test panelists thought it was too much like an undershirt.
The Goodfellow & Co Men’s Every Wear Short Sleeve T-Shirt felt scratchy, and the neck bunched.
The Goodthreads Men’s Slim-Fit Short-Sleeve wasn’t a strong contender; it wrinkled easily in testing, and the neck quickly began to sag.
The fit of the H&M Regular Fit Crew-Neck T-Shirt was weird. It was extremely tight around the neck, with too-short sleeves and a disproportionate width—the bottom of the shirt was tighter than the middle. The Dickies Short-Sleeve Heavyweight Crew-Neck T-Shirt was similarly tight around the neck, to the point of discomfort.
The Old Navy Moisture-Wicking Crew-Neck T-Shirt ran too long—about 2 inches longer than any of our picks. We prefer recommending a shirt that you can wear either tucked or untucked.
The Acne Crew Neck T-Shirt had a small but prominently positioned logo label sewn on the chest; we weren’t fans, but that’s entirely subjective.
We tested the Brunello Cucinelli Cotton Jersey T-Shirt—priced at around $400—just for fun, but it didn’t turn us into believers. It is a totally good-looking, slim white T-shirt that requires hand-washing and ironing in order to maintain its appearance. Given its eye-watering price, I’d prefer that the shirt cleaned itself.
Though there was nothing particularly wrong with Theory’s The Essential Tee or the Todd Snyder Made In LA Broken-In T-Shirt (though the latter shirt did have an unsightly tag at the bottom), they simply weren’t as good as our picks. We especially missed that they didn’t have the same seamless tubular construction as our high-end Lady White Co. pick.
This article was edited by Ingela Ratledge Amundson and Jennifer Hunter.
Justin Krajeski is a former staff writer reporting on everyday carry at Wirecutter. He previously wrote about tech at Wirecutter. He carries things every day. He’s very well versed in carrying.
These shoes, shirts, and accessories were the most-purchased Wirecutter clothing picks in 2022.
Whether you dress them up or wear them out, great jeans are a sartorial MVP. We found seven high-quality pairs that fit well and look great.
We found five pairs of great boxer briefs—all comfy, supportive, and good-looking—that will suit a range of tastes, budgets, and circumstances.
After testing 30 rain jackets and raincoats, we found six we liked in a range of sizes, lengths, and styles to keep you dry.
Sleepwear Pants Wirecutter is the product recommendation service from The New York Times. Our journalists combine independent research with (occasionally) over-the-top testing so you can make quick and confident buying decisions. Whether it’s finding great products or discovering helpful advice, we’ll help you get it right (the first time).