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8 Best White T-Shirts for Men in 2024 to Wear on Their Own or Under Dress Shirts
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White T-shirts are the most used garments in every man's repertoire. Chances are, there's a heap of wrinkled white tees in your hamper right now, worn ragged from daily use under dress shirts, as makeshift pajamas, or even as last-minute, I-can't-decide-what-to-wear toss-ons before meeting your buddies for a beer.
As such, we experience the white-tee feedback loop. They're so versatile, we don them carelessly and thanklessly as they yellow with sweat from overwear and thin to wispy threads from weekly washing and drying—just to find ourselves buying new ones every few months to repeat the cycle once again.
All that is to say, the best white T-shirts are more than just a six-pack from Amazon (although those have a place in our lives). They're thoughtfully crafted tops that are durable, comfortable, breathable, and effortlessly stylish for dressing up with a sharp suit or dressing down with pants that make your butt look good. Our top pick,
Best White T-Shirts at a Glance
- Overall Best White T-Shirt:
American Giant Premium Slub Crew Tee - Best Heavyweight T-Shirt:
Buck Mason Field-Spec Cotton Heavy Tee - Best Pocketed White T-Shirt: Goodwear Viscose Hemp Short Sleeve Crew Neck With Pocket
- Best White Undershirt:
Fruit of the Loom Men's Cotton V-Neck T-Shirt - Best Multipack: Kirkland Signature Crew Neck 6-Pack
- Best Cheap White T-Shirt:
Comfort Colors 1717 Short Sleeve Tee - Best Relaxed White T-Shirt:
Uniqlo U Crew Neck T-Shirt Best Heritage White T-Shirt: Whitesville Tubular T-Shirt
Best White T-Shirts for Men in 2024
Overall Best White T-Shirt: American Giant Premium Slub Crew Tee
American Giant Premium Slub Crew Tee is the best white T-shirt for men.
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I fell in love with
I washed and dried it multiple times, and after each it held its original shape, indicative of high quality, 100-percent slub cotton build, meaning the shirt's woven from uneven yarns that provide a thick, textured look. (An added boon: the irregular weave produces tiny air pockets in the fabric for extra breathability).
I wore it casually, and it fit comfortably snug without showing every nook and cranny of my body. But it's not so huge that it drowned out my features. The material is thick enough that it's not see through, but I was still able to wear it as an undershirt and hardly noticed its presence, a key indicator of comfort. And perhaps most importantly for someone like me who sweats when the thermometer eclipses 50-degrees—I noticed no sweat stains after a month of weekly wear.
Best Heavyweight T-Shirt: Buck Mason Field-Spec Cotton Heavy Tee
Buck Mason Field-Spec Cotton Heavy Tee is the best heavyweight white T-shirt for men.
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Lots of men are used to light, airy white tees that are only made to wear under dress shirts. But
Made with rugby-weight cotton that weighs over 9 ounces (thicker than many of our favorite summer jackets), this hearty shirt doesn't warp in the wash or tear easily when snagged. It forms to your body without feeling tight and is comfortable and durable enough to last for dozens of those long summer days that beget impromptu adventures.
Best Pocketed White T-Shirt: Goodwear Viscose Hemp Short Sleeve Crew Neck With Pocket
Our favorite pocketed white T-shirt is Goodwear Viscose Hemp Short Sleeve Crew Neck With Pocket.
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Breast pockets add a little flair to plain white tees, of which Goodwear makes the best I've tested. Goodwear Viscose Hemp Short Sleeve Crew Neck With Pocket is a comfortable, durable shirt that's made in the U.S. of environmentally friendly organic cotton and viscose hemp.
Yes, that means the material derived from cannabis sativa plants, but no it won't get you high. Instead, viscose hemp adds a soft, smooth texture when blended with cotton. And bonus points for the tee's tubular construction, meaning there's no side seam, which is both aesthetically pleasing and way less bothersome under a top layer.
Best White Undershirt: Fruit of the Loom Cotton V-Neck T-Shirt
Fruit of the Loom Cotton V-Neck T-Shirt is the perfect undershirt for men.
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I went to Catholic school for over a decade during my youth, meaning dress shirts and ties every day. By the end, the only undershirts I'd think of wearing were
Fruit of the Loom is a widely available big-box store brand that you can pick up at Amazon or Walmart for cheap. And for those who go through white tees like they're Halloween candy, cheap undershirts are essential. The V-neck shape is stylistically the better choice, as you can skip the tie at formal functions without that tacky crew collar poking out from under your top button.
Best Multipack: Kirkland Signature Crew Neck 6-Pack
Kirkland Signature Crew Neck 6-Pack is the overall best multipack of white T-shirts.
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Not everyone is looking for a white T-shirt for style. Many men shop for the category purely with utility in mind.
"For some people, they could really appreciate a good white T-shirt. But knowing themselves, they could spend good money on it, and end up wrecking it in a week or two," says Nolan White, menswear content creator and brand consultant. "So, for that person, I'd say there's nothing wrong with a Kirkland six-pack of white tees."
Kirkland, wholesale club Costco's name brand, is known for surprising the masses with high quality. Case in point, Kirkland Vodka is so good that people legitimately thought it was Gray Goose with a different label.
Although there's no rumor that the Kirkland Signature Crew Neck 6-Pack repackages $700 Louis Vuitton shirts, you can still be sure that the brand's multipack features high quality, 100-percent heavyweight cotton. And thanks to inclusive sizing that runs up to 3XL with a big and tall option, every man will find the perfect fit.
Best Cheap White T-Shirt: Comfort Colors 1717 Short Sleeve Tee
Comfort Colors 1717 Short Sleeve Tee is an affordable white T-shirt that will last long and feel great.
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If you've ever shopped at a souvenir store or ordered leagues of graphic tees for a family or work function, you might own a
Made from 100-percent ringspun cotton grown in the U.S., you can buy a single white Comfort Colors shirt for less than $10. Despite the low price, you're getting a heavy and durable tee that keeps its original shape for dozens of washes to come.
Best Relaxed White T-Shirt: Uniqlo U Crew Neck T-Shirt
Uniqlo U Crew Neck T-Shirt is the best relaxed white T-shirt for men.
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Talk to any menswear fan about their favorite cheap shirts, and they'll tell you to go to Uniqlo. I reached out to Nolan Hayes, associate designer for Diversified Apparel Group Ltd. and founder of clothing brand Transparent Hotel, a few years ago when I was revamping my wardrobe. His advice? Stock up on
"You get what you pay for with T-shirts," Hayes says, noting that low price is often tied to low quality in the category. "Uniqlo is the exception, you can get a good T-shirt for $25."
The brand's U collection relied on numerous international designers led by artistic director Christophe Lemaire. The resulting clothing is stylish and comfortable yet affordable—and the Uniqlo U Crew Neck T-Shirt is no exception. Made from 100-percent heavyweight cotton in a relaxed cut inspired by vintage military tees, this shirt will look effortless and classic on your body for years and years after purchase.
Best Heritage White T-Shirt: Whitesville Tubular T-Shirt
Whitesville Tubular T-Shirt calls back to heritage Americana menswear.
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Menswear content creator Albert Muzquiz's favorite white T-shirt is Whitesville Tubular T-Shirt, which sells in an aesthetically-pleasing two-pack. These shirts are so well made, he says, that he's had them for years and has never had to buy any more.
Whitesville was a small Americana sportswear brand that went out of business decades ago, but thanks to the resurgence of American heritage wear's popularity in Japan, the country's Toyo Enterprise brought the brand back. As such, the two-pack is made in Japan from 100-percent premium long-staple combed cotton. As a mid-weight shirt, it's perfect for folks who want a product that fits well as both an undershirt and a stand-alone piece. The brand recommends buying a size up.
What to Look for When Choosing the Best White T-Shirts
To pick the best white T-shirts, we considered quality, price, and comfort. Some shirts on the list are comfy and durable, but come at a higher cost. Others might not last as long but are utilitarian necessities for a low price. Here's a detailed list of what to consider when shopping for white T-shirts.
Price
Muzquiz tends to shop for T-shirts is around the $50 mark: "This is probably my sweet spot, where I know the quality is there, and I don't feel guilty about it. But I wouldn't really go higher."
Hayes agrees, stating that he doesn't own any T-shirts over the $65 mark. "T-shirts just get stained, and it sucks," he says. "But that's another reason why you don't spend a ton of money on them."
Therefore, our high-end options sit under $60. We prioritized well-crafted shirts that last long, even if they came at a higher price. But made sure there were good quality inexpensive options for folks who are cost-conscious.
Material
"If you're buying new, you're really going to want 100 percent cotton, or a linen blend or hemp blend," White says. "I would avoid synthetics at all costs." Therefore, we stuck to high quality materials when choosing our favorite white T-shirts.
That's because synthetic fibers are lower quality than cotton, misshaping after wash cycles and tearing easily. Luckily, it's not too hard to draw that line; even the multipacks on our list are fully made of cotton or cotton blends.
Why You Should Trust Me
As senior editor for Men's Journal, I'm constantly testing new menswear products from popular and obscure clothing brands alike. I also have friends and sources connected to the industry who I speak to frequently about the latest trends and enduring classics.
For this article, I also spoke with three menswear experts: content creator Albert Muzquiz, brand consultant and content creator Nolan White, and associate designer for Diversified Apparel Group Ltd. and founder of clothing brand Transparent Hotel Nolan Hayes. They detailed the best ways to shop for quality white T-shirts and shared leads to their preferred brands.
I tested most of the shirts on this list myself, wearing them in a multitude of ways: with jeans, as pajamas, under dress shirts, and during athletic activities. I subjected them to multiple wash-and-dry cycles to ensure durability, and successfully utilized stain removers whenever a spilled drink or sweat stain blemished their pristine surfaces. Whatever shirts I didn't try myself, the menswear experts I consulted have worn over many months and even years.
Prices are accurate and items in stock at time of publishing.
