A heavyweight tee is a cotton T-shirt made from fabric of about 200gsm (6 oz/yd²) or more. A regular tee usually sits around 140 to 180gsm (4.1 to 5.3 oz/yd²). The heavier fabric feels denser, shows less skin through light colors, and hangs straighter off the body, but it holds more heat and dries more slowly in humid weather.
Key facts
- Heavyweight tee: about 200gsm (6 oz/yd²) or more; regular: about 140 to 180gsm (4.1 to 5.3 oz/yd²).
- Conversion: 1 oz/yd² = 33.9gsm. Guides often draw the regular/heavyweight line near 200gsm.
- Culture Shock Club graphic tees sit around 200gsm; the Vintage Washed Tee is about 300gsm.
- Hot or humid days: prefer about 140 to 180gsm. Everyday shape most of the year: about 200 to 230gsm. Cool weather or opaque light colors: 260gsm+.
- Prices in the table are common US Amazon or brand-direct ranges (Oct 2026).
What gsm is a heavyweight t-shirt?
GSM is the weight in grams of one square metre of fabric, and oz/yd² is the same measurement in US units. One oz/yd² equals 33.9gsm, so a 5.3 oz tee is about 180gsm and a 6.1 oz tee is about 207gsm. There is no official cutoff between regular and heavyweight. Most fabric guides draw the line near 200gsm, call 140 to 180gsm the normal range for basic tees, and often call 300gsm and up super heavyweight. The full scale, with a way to weigh a shirt at home, is in What a 100% cotton graphic tee actually feels like.
Heavyweight t-shirt brands compared by gsm and oz
These are the weights each brand publishes, shown in both gsm and oz/yd², sorted heaviest to lightest. Uniqlo does not publish a gsm for the U Crew Neck or the Supima tee, so those rows use estimates from weigh-ins and shirt weight. H&M, Shein, and Temu each get their own typical range because the catalogs differ. Prices are common US Amazon or brand-direct figures in October 2026.
| Tee | Fabric weight | Fit (brand's word) | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Culture Shock Club Vintage Washed Tee | ~300 gsm (8.8 oz/yd²) | Slightly oversized | $27 |
| AS Colour Heavy 5080 | 280 gsm (8.3 oz/yd²) | Boxy, oversized | ~$21 to $32 |
| Carhartt K87 Pocket T-Shirt | 6.75 oz (229 gsm) | Loose | $20 to $25 |
| Los Angeles Apparel 1801 | 6.5 oz/yd² (220 gsm) | Spacious in sleeves and torso | $26 |
| AS Colour Classic 5026 | 220 gsm (6.5 oz/yd²) | Relaxed | ~$16 to $25 |
| Uniqlo U Crew Neck T-Shirt | ~190 to 250 gsm est. (5.6 to 7.4 oz/yd²) | Relaxed | $19.90 |
| Hanes Beefy-T 5180 | 6.1 oz/yd² (207 gsm) | Relaxed | ~$7 to $10 |
| Comfort Colors 1717 | 6.1 oz/yd² (207 gsm) | Relaxed | ~$10 to $16 |
| Culture Shock Club graphic tee (e.g. Sad Meow Tee, Remix) | ~200 gsm (5.9 oz/yd²) | Relaxed everyday | $32 |
| H&M Basics | ~170 to 220 gsm typ. est. (5.0 to 6.5 oz/yd²) | Listing-dependent | ~$10 to $25 |
| Gildan Heavy Cotton 5000 | 5.3 oz/yd² (180 gsm) | Classic | ~$4 to $6 |
| AS Colour Staple 5001 | 180 gsm (5.3 oz/yd²) | Regular | ~$13 to $22 |
| Uniqlo Supima Cotton T-Shirt | ~150 to 160 gsm est. (4.4 to 4.7 oz/yd²) | Balanced, not oversized | $24.90 |
| Shein basics | ~140 to 160 gsm typ. est. (4.1 to 4.7 oz/yd²) | Listing-dependent | ~$5 to $12 |
| Temu cotton tees | ~110 to 150 gsm typ. est. (3.2 to 4.4 oz/yd²) | Listing-dependent | ~$3 to $8 |
When a listing gives gsm or oz per square yard for an H&M, Shein, or Temu tee, place that shirt on this table instead of the typical band. Skip a weight for the whole finished garment alone, because total shirt weight changes with size.
Hand feel, opacity, and drape
More cotton in the same area makes the knit denser. A heavyweight tee feels thicker in the hand and keeps its shape through the shoulders and body, while a regular tee follows the body closely and moves more easily. Softness comes from the yarn and the knit more than the weight, so two tees at the same gsm can feel very different. Many heavier cotton tees feel firm at first and soften with wear and washing.
Denser fabric usually shows less skin through white and light colors. Fit changes that, though. A stretched, fitted 180gsm tee can show more than a looser shirt of a similar weight, so look at customer photos of the exact color before you buy.
Are heavyweight t-shirts good for summer?
They run warmer. Heavier cotton holds more heat, and cotton absorbs sweat and dries slowly, so a 280 or 300gsm tee can feel heavy and damp on a humid afternoon. A tee near 200gsm is the common middle ground, with enough body to hold a chest print and light enough for warm days. For long hours outside in humid heat, a regular tee at 180gsm or under is the easier choice.
Shrink and print feel
Weight does not decide shrinkage. Cotton knit shrinks when the loops relax in water and then dry, and pre-washing or garment dyeing does much of that before you buy. Comfort Colors describes the 1717 as having minimal shrinkage, and Los Angeles Apparel calls the garment-dyed 1801 virtually shrink-free. Read the wash notes as well as the weight. For printed tees, a heavier, tighter panel gives a large graphic a steadier base and folds less through the image as you move.
Two weights in our own lineup
Every Culture Shock Club tee is 100% combed ring-spun cotton and pre-washed. Our short sleeve graphic tees, such as the Sad Meow Tee, Remix, sit around 200gsm, which keeps the print steady and still feels good on a warm day. The Vintage Washed Tee is a short sleeve at about 300gsm, a denser, slightly oversized blank for cooler weather. Our long sleeves are also about 300gsm, as How a 300gsm long sleeve sits explains. Sleeve length and fabric weight are separate choices, so check both.
Which should you pick?
- For hot, humid days or a layer under a button-up, pick a regular tee around 140 to 180gsm, such as the Gildan 5000 or AS Colour Staple.
- For one everyday tee that holds its shape most of the year, pick an entry heavyweight around 200 to 230gsm, such as the Comfort Colors 1717, Hanes Beefy-T, Los Angeles Apparel 1801, Carhartt K87, or a 200gsm graphic tee. The Uniqlo U Crew Neck is a popular pick too; its weight is estimated above because Uniqlo does not publish one.
- For a structured, boxy shape in cool weather, or a light color that stays opaque, pick 260gsm and up, such as the AS Colour Heavy 5080 or a 300gsm tee like the Vintage Washed Tee.