The best men’s white T-shirts we tested
Best men’s white T-shirt: Buck Mason Field-Spec Cotton Heavy Tee
Best budget men’s white T-shirt: Uniqlo U Crew Neck T-Shirt
The best white T-shirt is the one that goes from the top of your drawer to the bottom of the washing machine and back in record time. It’s packed in your suitcase on every trip. It’s step one when piecing together a go-to outfit, whether it’s flying solo or layered underneath a flannel or a blazer. Its comfort and versatility are unmatched by anything else in the world of men’s style. It’s not just your favorite white T-shirt; it’s your favorite shirt — period.
But of the seemingly infinite supply of white T-shirts on the market, which truly rises to that high standard? It might seem hard to make a bad white tee, but if you’ve ever bought a multipack for $7.99 at a discount fashion retailer, you know it’s actually quite easy.
So, we did our research and assembled what we deemed the eight best men’s white T-shirts money could buy (within reason, of course. No one wants to pay triple-digit dollars for a T-shirt). Five of our editors — each with their own style and sizing preferences — then overhauled their wardrobes with that octet of elite tees. After weeks of wearing, washing and overanalyzing the fit, feel and durability of each shirt, two emerged as our favorites.
Heavier shirts tend to be rough and oversized, but this premium tee was well worth its price because it is alarmingly soft and had a Goldilocks-perfect fit on nearly all our testers. A subtle ribbing pattern gives it a versatile look that can be dressed up or down.
An affordable staple with a crisp feel and spacious fit, this bestseller outpaced more expensive shirts by achieving a look you wouldn’t expect for $20. It’s the kind of shirt you stock up on because it’s just that much bang for your buck.
Best men’s white T-shirt: Buck Mason Field-Spec Cotton Heavy Tee
The Buck Mason Field-Spec Cotton Heavy Tee checked every box. As its name suggests, it’s the brand’s heaviest T-shirt and was the heaviest of our testing pool. The XL size I tested weighed 12.3 ounces, and Buck Mason says the 100% cotton is 310 GSM (grams per square meter, a fabric heaviness measurement). That’s no pipsqueak — but the shirt’s perfect fit (in XS through 2XL) means all that weight falls in just the right places.
The neckline is about an inch thick and both flat and sturdy. The sleeves extend just beyond the midpoint of your biceps, meaning they aren’t awkwardly long but won’t expose any pit when you reach out. It leans on the wider side but our testers who tend to be between sizes did opt to go bigger and liked it. The shirt is long enough to be tucked in yet looks great hanging out just the same. All these qualities add up for a beefed-up look that doesn’t go all-in on oversized.
As much as we loved the look, Buck Mason’s material might be the real star. I liked something about every shirt we tried, though this was the only one that elicited an audible reaction when I tried it on. Now, this is a shirt. It’s just so soft, plus you’ll never have to worry about it being see-through. A slightly ribbed texture and a creamy tint give you the option of dressing it up or down. It sacrifices some breathability, but that’s to be expected from a heavier shirt. Still, we tested it in New York City a few weeks before the official start of summer and didn’t feel gross.
Despite its premium feel, washing the Buck Mason tee didn’t take anything special, and it can be tumble-dried without fear of shrinking. I got a few drops of hot sauce on it, and one of my colleagues feared the worst after he wore it out to a nice dinner and tarnished it with pasta sauce. Both colorful stains came out easily, which was a welcome surprise considering we were nervous the top-notch material would require special care to retain its glory.
The price is the only drawback of our favorite white T-shirt: It’s $55 and you don’t save anything by buying more than one. So, while it might not be affordable enough to stock up on multiples or all 10 colors available as of this writing, it’s absolutely worth it for anyone looking for a premium white T-shirt.
Best budget men’s white T-shirt: Uniqlo U Crew Neck T-Shirt
To say the Uniqlo U Crew Neck T-shirt is a dupe of our Buck Mason favorite would be selling it short. That said, it shines in many of the same areas and for a much more palatable price. My XL size was an ounce lighter than the Buck Mason, yet still heavier than the other shirts we tested.
Uniqlo may have perfected the fit for those who like an oversized look. The collar here is chunky and durable too, about an inch thick. The sleeves extend closer to the elbow but not to the point where it’s a half sleeve, and they are wider than some of the competition (our smaller testers chose to cuff their Uniqlo sleeves). There’s ample room in the chest and gut, which our bigger testers appreciated, and the extra length at the waist is flattering for anyone with a bit of a belly.
Uniqlo’s 100% cotton material is crisper than Buck Mason’s, though it’s not at all scratchy. One of our testers, Kevin, said it feels like a hug. Don’t worry about sheerness, however, this shirt won’t win any awards for its breathability.
Uniqlo’s site claims “jersey fabric feels dry to the touch and gains character after each wash,” which sounds dramatic but has been true in my experience. I own six of these shirts in various colors, and they’ve held up remarkably well over the years with no special care or treatment. Wash cold, tumble dry low, repeat.
Surely a shirt this nice that will last for years will come at a cost, right? Wrong. At $20, the Uniqlo U Crew Neck is a steal. We preferred it over almost every other shirt we tried, some of which cost more than double. Plus, during our work on this article, a sitewide sale had the price down to $15. That’s cheap enough that you could stock your entire basics drawer.
Technically a unisex offering, the U Crew Neck is available in XXS to 3XL. No shirt we tested had a wider range of sizing. It comes in 10 colors as of now, though that does tend to change with the seasons. If you’re looking for an affordable white T-shirt and don’t mind a boxier fit, you won’t find anything better than this.
How we tested
If you want to judge the quality of a shirt, you have to wear it. So we tasked five editors with several weeks of wearing almost exclusively white T-shirts (it became somewhat of a uniform in the office).
Don’t worry — we washed the shirts too. We followed the care instructions as written on each shirt’s tag and treated several for stains because, no matter how carefully you drink your coffee or eat a buffalo chicken wrap, there’s no guarantee a white T-shirt will avoid a little splash of color.
Our panel of five testers comprised four different shirt sizes, various body types and multiple style preferences. The panel included:
- Size S: DaVonne Bachus, strategy and operations manager.
- Size M: Kevin Martinez, associate editor, programming.
- Size L: Rick Stella, senior editor, testing.
- Size XL: Joe Bloss, editorial coordinator.
- Size XL: Andrew Kunesh, senior editor, travel and money
During testing, we kept five key evaluation points in mind. Here’s how they break down:
Size and fit
- We noted each shirt’s comfort and fit in the sleeves, neckline and body.
- We compared each shirt’s fit to other go-to shirts we own of the same size to determine if it fits true to size.
Material and feel
- We observed the softness, breathability, weight and sheerness of each shirt’s material.
Durability
- Between each wear, we washed the shirts according to their respective care instructions, noting any shrinkage, discoloration or signs of wear.
Price and availability
- Based on those primary evaluations, we determined if the price of the shirt matched its quality.
- We accounted for how regularly the shirt was in stock online, how widely available it was in brick-and-mortar stores and if it could be purchased at discount when bundled.
Additional sizes and styles
- We valued how inclusive the sizing of each shirt ranged and if it came in additional widths, lengths or necklines.
- While white T-shirts were the only styles considered for this test, we did acknowledge if the same models were available in additional colors or patterns.
What to consider when shopping for white T-shirts
Your own style
Know what you want. We love our top picks, but if you don’t want a bulkier tee, some of the other shirts we tested might be more in your wheelhouse. Those who live in a warmer climate or want something that could work as an undershirt in a pinch should check out Everlane’s Essential Organic Cotton Crew, which is just as affordable as our budget pick when you buy three or more. If you’re a fitness junkie, Vuori’s Strato Tech Tee and Reigning Champ’s Lightweight Jersey T-Shirt have more athletic cuts.
How much should a white T-shirt cost?
The answer here depends on your budget. We steered clear of shirts that approach $100, but you may still be skeptical of spending $50 to $65 for a single shirt. We get that, and that’s why we were especially fond of the value in Uniqlo’s U Crew Neck and Everlane’s Essential Organic Cotton Crew.
White T-shirt FAQs
Other men’s white T-shirts we tested
While our testers were split on whether it’s worth the money, there’s no denying this lightweight linen tee would make a great addition to any summer wardrobe.
Alex Crane’s breezy Sun Tee was in its own class among this group because of its linen material. It’s super light and comfortable, and I received a few compliments while wearing it. If you’re in the market for a shirt that can elevate a summer look, this is worth considering. It’s worth noting the Bone color we tested is as close as it gets to white, though there are 13 colors and patterns available in total. Sizing ranges from XXS through 3XL.
Our panel didn’t align with the fit of the Alex Crane tee. A few found it too long and could only wear it tucked in. I typically wear an XL, but the width of this XL had me feeling like a flying squirrel with how much material was in the underarms. And while the linen’s breathability is a plus, the delicate fabric has its drawbacks. It became scratchy when sweaty and loose throughout the day. I had an issue where it held an awkward shape after I pulled on the front (I might have to test out a TC Tugger next).
This soft, light tee from a brand that has mastered the basics fit true to size with our testers across the board.
American Giant’s Classic Cotton Crew fit everyone on our panel well and looked great tucked or untucked. It’s a thin, light shirt that’s a step above an undershirt. It held up fine after washing. Sizing only runs from small to 2XL and we’ve seen some of those out of stock recently, but you can pick from a crew neck or a V-neck on the same page. That’s a nice touch.
For $40, we think you can do better, though bundling to save 20% on three or more brings the price down to $32 per tee. That’s a solid deal if you need to restock your basics.
This one was the most undershirt-like shirt of everything we tested — but not in a bad way. Bundling three or more of the Everlane Essential Organic Cotton Crew drops the price to a bargain of $20 each.
Not to undersell the physical qualities of this shirt — it’s one of the lightest and softest we tested — but the true strength here is the price tag. $30 on its own and $20 when bundling three or more (of any color), Everlane’s Essential Organic Cotton Crew is simply a terrific deal. The discounted price is the same as our budget pick from Uniqlo. If that price sounds right to you and you want something lighter than Uniqlo, this could be the move.
When we say Everlane is the most undershirt-like pick from our candidates, that’s not a knock. If anything, it gives the shirt a little more versatility. Its lightweight build is enough on its own in warmer weather, or it’s the right layer beneath something like a sweater when it’s chilly.
This premium shirt comes at a premium price but its midweight, feel helps it stand out among its expensive peers.
When Lady White Co. launched in 2015, this shirt was its bread and butter, and that level of refinement shows. It has a stiff collar that’s thin but defined. It’s heavier than the lightweight shirts we tested but not nearly as heavy as our top two picks (my XL shirt weighed in at 8.1 ounces, 3.1 ounces lighter than the Uniqlo and 4.2 ounces lighter than the Buck Mason). Personally, it was an ideal fit in every dimension. I’ll consider buying more from the 14 available colors, including a few off-white tones.
Not everyone on our panel agreed with me, though. The shirt didn’t layer well under a button-down for one tester, and there were mixed thoughts on the fact it took a few washes to feel broken in. Of the eight shirts we tested, Lady White Co. has the most limited sizing (small to XL) and the true white color we tested is only available in two-packs that are $110. If you want one shirt, you’ll have to settle other colors at $65 each — though any of the individual shirts can be bundled into custom two-packs for a 10% discount at checkout.
Reigning Champ offers the best option if you want an athletic fit. It’s especially neat that fans of the white tee can come back for the same shirt in 17 additional hues.
There’s a lot to like in the Reigning Champ Lightweight Jersey T-shirt. It has a snugger, athletic cut than the competition, and that’s a flattering look if you’ve got the body to match. Even though it’s quite breathable and on the lighter side (only Everlane and Vuori came in at lower weights), it has a tough neckline usually seen on heavier models. Sizing runs from XS to 2XL, and if you try the white and like it, there are a whopping 17 more colors where that came from. Most of the competition gives you choices but not quite to the extent Reigning Champ does.
If you prefer lighter shirts and want something suited for casual outfits and trips to the gym alike, you’ve got something here. But if weight is all that matters, we feel you get a lot more bang for your buck from Everlane. And if $55 ($100 for two) is no problem, we prefer the heavier feel from Buck Mason at the same price.
Sheerness concerns didn’t help the case of Vuori’s signature tee in this round of testing, but other colors should fare better in this ultra-light option from an emerging athleisure brand.
We all know white T-shirts and moisture don’t always play nicely together, and our experience with Vuori’s Strato Tech Tee reminded us why. One of our testers wore it while boxing, and it became completely see-through when drenched in sweat. Another tester’s chest hair clumped underneath the shirt’s clingy material, which is 96% polyester and 4% elastane.
But the brand’s bestselling tee comes in 15 other colors as of this writing, and its inclusive sizing (XXS to 3XL) accommodates a wide range of bodies. It has a slightly athletic fit, plenty of length in the waist (I had to tuck mine in) and was the lightest shirt we tested (an XL weighed 5.5 ounces). If you’re just here for good shirts and not good white shirts, the Strato Tech Tee can still live up to its popularity.
