Cotton vs. Polyester - Which is better, polyester or cotton t-shirts?

Cotton vs. Polyester. Which is better, polyester or cotton t-shirts? We dive in to discuss all the factors that go into deciding whether a cotton or polyester t-shirt is best for you in this video.
To get the answer of whether cotton or polyester is better, we need to consider what you’re using it for because that makes a huge difference.
Let’s discuss the pros and cons of cotton first. Cotton t-shirts are strong, soft, and breathable. If comfort is your one and only goal in a t-shirt, cotton is the way to go. Cotton is also currently cheaper than polyester and biodegradable.
Some of the negatives of cotton are that it’s a water-intensive crop, and the cotton industry is heavily dependent on pesticides. Another con is the fact that dyed Cotton fades faster than any other dyed fabric.
Moving on to polyester: Polyester is a petroleum-based synthetic fiber, aka its plastic based. Initially polyester’s plastic base was one of its major negatives but some manufacturers have started using recycled plastic bottles to create polyester t-shirts, which is a huge plus.
Polyester t-shirts rank high on the durability scale, meaning they hold up better to wear tear compared to cotton. Polyester also dries quickly and wrinkles less and is stain resistant.
As we’ve broken down the positives and negatives of both polyester and cotton, you can see how the decision of which fabric is better can be highly subjective. And to make things even more complicated, we’ve got an extra twist to throw into the debate.
In a way, you can have the best of both worlds. Manufactures have begun to combine the two. Creating several variations of cotton to polyester blends within t-shirts. Poly-cotton blended shirts don’t shrink, keep their shape and color for extended periods of time, they are affordable and still have the softness you are looking for in a cotton tee.
If you’re a garment decorator, we cover the basis for you at the end of the video or you can read more about it in depth on our blog here: www.shirtspace.com/blog/which...
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[@jrh8393]

100% cotton is more ideal with long sleeved work shirts that require a lot of wear and tear, and it breathes a lot more in hot conditions. Polyester work shirts caused my skin to get a lot of acne because the polyester did not breath well.

[@Shirtspace]

We are so happy that you have found a great option for your work shirts!

[@aygulmemet4201]

I buy most of my clothes online. The polyester shirts are ALWAYS the cheapest. Compared to cotton it's thinner and doesn't have structure, like some ugly wrinkly swimsuit. Therefore, it looks super low quality. After a few wears it looks so bad that I wear it as pajamas instead. Hear me out, polyester is only good for sportswear and over-all prints!

[@Shirtspace]

I think many people would agree with you.

[@omens3403]

Cotton poly blend is the best imo, or cotton elastane blend

[@hauntedsunshinegirl]

Back when I printed on shirts I wish i had known this!

[@quann06]

Yes! Screen printed shirts aren’t as durable as sublimation printed shirts on polyester either.

[@EmmaochKonrad]

Thanks for the info! great video!!

[@jprakash7245]

As a sweaty person, from a hot & humid place South India... I felt Polyester is better.

[@naveenjain9942]

We sweat less in humid conditions

[@nizarmehemmed9062]

thanks for the effort . keep the good work.

[@Neji513]

at least show us examples. defeats the purpose of explaining the difference in a video vs reading it on google.

[@Shirtspace]

Thank you for the feedback!

[@williamjefferson5400]

Polyester fabric is airtight, but durable and sunscreen. Pure cotton fabric is breathable and comfortable, but it is not wearable and easy to pilling. It has its own merits. I prefer mixed materials, just as many big brands use mixed materials to make clothes, such as CK, Tommy and smaconsum

[@yoriichi3347]

Like Cotton Blends?.

[@omens3403]

@@yoriichi3347yes

[@raineyday9066]

Thank you for being succinct and not meandering at the beginning of the video!

[@Shirtspace]

Glad it was helpful!

[@YujiChampion]

Im a guy who has never cared for brand, i been buying goodwill casual clothes since i can remember and only when i need to, today i saw a really cool shirt on ebay thats polyester and i was like what is that, so i came to this video and i got lost after 30 seconds. I will just keep blindly till i die. Thank you.

[@Mote.]

I think cotton mixed with polyester is the best of both worlds. Shrinks less than 100% cotton. While still having the soft cozey comfort of cotton.

[@Mote.]

I have some all cotton shirts, but apparently for going outside in winter, polyester is better for if you ever sweat or get damp. In new york the winters are cold so i do purposely try to buy some polyester shirts

[@Mote.]

I never have problems with polyester. Doesn't feel unbreathable to me personally. Its nice in my opinion

[@Shirtspace]

Such great insight on these fabrics!!

[@RaMMy96]

​​​@@Mote.wait until you find out Polyester clothes can cause health issues in some individuals, like tyroid issues or infertility. 🥹

[@nicholashagen3295]

Cool info!

[@Shirtspace]

We think these are great hoodies! Thanks for watching!

[@charicetvnews234]

Polyester is so comfortable with skinny guy like me.

[@darnleyvanbooker1426]

amazing information.

[@Shirtspace]

Thank you for watching!

[@slambangwallop]

I have mutated mucous membranes and a benign tumour in my oesophagus so I'm afraid to breathe in little plastic particles, especially when washing items. I'd like to figure out if polycotton hoodies use polyester on the outside or inside, as if it is on the fuzzy hoodie inside it wouldn't be good to breathe it in.

[@amirfatemi8317]

Go hiking with cotton clothing and you will have an rough experience! It sucks in your sweat in and swells and your cloths stay soaked and you feel cold the whole time. Polyester on the other hand drys out quickly.

[@Shirtspace]

Very true!

[@JohnJohn-zn8ib]

It’s a crappie material polyester, not even fit for a rag, designers have become lazy and rely on a cheap man made fibre for business.

[@ViburaBlanca]

@@JohnJohn-zn8ibyou understand how much water it takes to grow cotton right?

[@JohnJohn-zn8ib]

@ViburaBlanca so what????, you want everything for free, what the hell is wrong with you, some dickhead decided to use crappie polyester because it’s cheap then they put a big dollar on it and it’s not worth a cent, go wear your plastic mate because the quality is crap.

[@ember5935]

For some reason I like cotton than polyester because it’s warm inside

[@Shirtspace]

We all have our own personal tastes! Cotton is great!

[@fordman7479]

I have dogs some of my tee shirts the dog hair clings too and barley comes off even with a lint roller, some of my tee shirts it will just dust off by hand. as I rip all my tags off I have no clue what fabric they are so I was hoping for answers here lol

[@ejikeonwunabonze]

what spec and brand were you wearing?

[@CelestiaGem]

I was actually thinking after I heard about polyester being toxic I've had second thoughts about buying it. I haven't had any allergic reactions with any fabric but I'm just wondering if I should buy some.

[@Shirtspace]

Hello! Polyester is a synthetic fiber, so it does pose a strain to the environment due to its inability to break down easily over time. With that said, many brands are looking to use recycled polyester in their fabrications to lessen this impact. Check out these styles that utilize recycled poly! www.shirtspace.com/search?search=recycled+polyester

[@lavanyashrivastava9260]

Polyester feels very uncomfortable when living in hot city or hot area

[@karlusarn]

Very wouldnt reccommend if ur from a tropical place

[@gwenworld6840]

But people see pure cotton more of original why they see polyester as fake especially in Nigeria. But please how do I identify the thickness of a polo before buying it.please reply

[@BB-br4qh]

The editing of this video must have took forever

[@gojenson]

There are so many cuts. Mercy

[@AtheistCook]

what about rayon and microfiber tshirts?

[@Shirtspace]

Good idea.

[@sweetbeep]

Yah but it seems like the poly cotton blend gets bally very quickly. Cotton doesn't seem to do that

[@jamesfowler5100]

You didn't mention the number con for polyester is. Roughly half the world's population is allergic to polyester.

[@Shirtspace]

Half? Really?

[@jamesfowler5100]

@@Shirtspace, I might be over-exaggerating a little. I do know it is a huge margin.

[@ddennis2430]

Cotton is too itchy for me. But my polyester shirts hold way too much static. I can't get it out. I've tried everything

[@Shirtspace]

Hello! Not all cotton is created equally. If you are finding that cotton is too itchy for you, try searching for shirts that are "combed and ringspun" cotton. It could also be that you are sensitive to or allergic to cotton. You can try organic cotton, for fabric that does not have impurities and chemicals that are used to normally grow cotton. In that case, you can try another fabrication. For example, modal fabric if made from Beech trees and might be less irritating to your skin.

[@Igor-ug1uo]

My problem with polyester t-shirts is that they get ruined in a few months. My cotton t-shirts last for much longer.

[@Shirtspace]

That is an interesting observation, since synthetic materials typically take much longer to break down than natural fibers like cotton. Do they stain easier for you, or snag? We would love to hear more on this.

[@CJBM318]

I hate polyester...it develops fuzz balls after a few washes...and looks super cheap

[@Shirtspace]

It certainly can! There are actually varying degrees of quality with polyester that can make a difference.

[@CJBM318]

@@Shirtspace That will explain why certain of my polyester clothings develop more fuzz balls that others. Thanks for your clarification

[@georgepierre3594]

Triblend>Cotton>PolyBlend>Polyester

[@Shirtspace]

We can definitely see that! Although sometimes a nice, 100% cotton shirt is SO comfy, better for people with sensitive skin, and best for tie-dye.

[@loverlands6583]

i bought a bunch of shirts from shirtspace some of them had yarns coming out of it also i brought a pants which was baggy and i return it back ever since they havent gave back my money i contact them never respond i call them they dont answer.

[@Shirtspace]

We are so sorry to hear about your experience. We would love to be able to help assist you with this. Please contact us so we can try to help! www.shirtspace.com/contact-us

[@Bluegreenred]

So which is better 100% cotton boxers or 100% polyester boxers?

[@Shirtspace]

Hi, Afra! Cotton is naturally hypoallergenic. Polyester is not. For athletic situations where you might sweat a lot, it's good to have polyester in there for moisture-wicking properties. If you are going strictly for comfort, cotton is the best. You can always find a blend and get the best of both worlds, too!

[@Jedi_Judo19]

The Polyester clothing I have is way more breatheable than my cotton based clothing. Also cotton industries even "organic" cotton are draining our rivers dry. It takes 21L to produce 1kg of cotton. Also the dyes used in both cotton and polyester are polluting a lot of river systems around the world.

[@Shirtspace]

Shopping sustainable brands is always a great move. Brands that we carry like Allmade, Gildan and and econscious are all brands that make great strides in sustainability. Here are some blogs we wrote about this as well: 1. www.shirtspace.com/blog/allmade-changing-the-industry 2. www.shirtspace.com/blog/gildan-named-32nd-most-sustainably-managed-company-in-the-world

[@Jedi_Judo19]

I want to make my brand sustainable, and I thought it was because the clothing is made from recycled plastic bottles into polyester. So I know that the microplastics in the cloth are bad both for our bodies and for the environment. So I'm trying to find a more eco-friendly material to make my clothes from @@Shirtspace

[@K33pItR33L]

Would an 80/20 Preshrunk Combed Cotton/Polyester hoodie run small or big in sz?

[@rizly7334]

So which one is the softest (AKA feels best to the skin)?

[@Shirtspace]

That's a tough one because there are lots of grades of cotton. If it's combed, ringspun cotton I'd say cotton is softest.

[@shesteppedonabee1363]

For me, Cotton is great. Comfortable, warm and breathable to wear. Polyester causes acne to my skin and it feels like my skin can't breathe in it.

[@kylephan1895]

I’m back after 4 years and my advice for people is just have all 3 in your closet. 100%cotton, 100%poli and 50/50cotton+poli. You will need them eventually

[@Shirtspace]

Glad to hear you are decorating shirts again! Thanks for watching!

[@sangkhanethiangthammavong9905]

Can protect UV

[@Shirtspace]

Yes! Polyester does have UV protecting properties!

[@naturearun4042]

What Best cotton vs polyester

[@Shirtspace]

Well now that is a hot topic! Both cotton and polyester offer unique qualities and satisfy different needs. Check out our T-Shirt Fabric guide to find out which one you think is best for you! www.shirtspace.com/blog/fabric-guide-101

[@Vindaya_]

I love cotton because it won't rip your clothes like the polyester does

[@Shirtspace]

We usually find polyester to be more snag-resistant and durable than cotton, but it can also depend on other factors such as the fabric weight and refining processes.

[@sussanegibbs2444]

THE DAWN OF TIME?!

[@marcusburts9771]

What about 100% polyester sweatpants??

[@Shirtspace]

It really depends, if you are screen printing, stick with a plastisol ink. And watch those heat settings if you are using DTF or HTV. Thanks for watching!

[@marianabernal4859]

Or which one is worst...

[@Shirtspace]

I suppose you could look at it that way.

[@georgebowman1060]

But I found out that polyester is sometimes treated with antimony which is cancer-causing.

[@Shirtspace]

Hi, George! We understand your concerns about the antimony that is in most PET-derived polyester materials. If you love polyester, but are worried about the exposure to antimony, we suggest checking out rpet (recycled polyester) products. The use of non-virgin polyester helps decrease the exposure and possible risk. Also, Repreve material is a great choice for recycled polyester material! Thanks for watching our video!

[@rensdaddy19]

He'll off a set

[@ecodivastv]

Recycled bottle fabric is still a petroleum byproduct and should not be placed against human skin. Pores are like mouths and what you put on them, they eat!

[@Shirtspace]

Thank you for the information on this topic!

[@robertb.3651]

When cotton is wet, it stays wet ☹️☹️☹️☹️👎👎👎👎

[@alexandradelliou]

2020: 2373

[@Mmwindowcleaners]

Cotton is best. Polyester is awful.

[@Shirtspace]

We totally get it! Everyone has a favorite t-shirt feel. Cotton is usually more comfortable for most people, and a natural material. On the flip side, polyester is moisture-wicking and great for athletic clothing. T-shirts like the Jerzees 21M, Gildan G420 and the Sublivie line are made from 100% polyester, but feel more like cotton, and are great for sublimation printing.

[@AzulaAlwaysLies2461]

Polyester sucks.

[@Shirtspace]

Hi, Thomas. It's not our favorite for everyday wear, but it's great for athletics and sublimation printing! Thanks for watching!

[@JohnJohn-zn8ib]

Polyester is rubbish, the worst possible material anyone could wear, no comparison.

[@Shirtspace]

Hi, John. Thank you for your insight about polyester. Polyester isn't great for those with sensitive skin, but it does serve its purpose for athletics and sublimation printing. If curious, we recommend checking out the handful of brands that now offer 100% polyester shirts that feel just like cotton, such as the Gildan G420, Jerzees 21M and Sublivie line of tees.