Specs at a glance
- Brand
- Bella+Canvas
- Style
- 3001
- Fabric
- 100% cotton (Airlume combed and ring-spun); Ash is 99/1 cotton/polyester. Heathers are now a separate style, the 3001CVC (mostly 52/48 cotton/polyester)
- Weight
- 4.2 oz (the maker gives no metric figure)
- Yarn
- Combed and ring-spun cotton, 32 singles
- Fit
- Classic fit, unisex sizing
- Sizes
- XS–5XL
- Colors
- The product page cites 86 colors and the 2026 catalog 96; heathers now sit under the 3001CVC
- Construction
- Side-seamed body; Shoulder taping; Crew neck
Specs per Bella+Canvas 3001 Unisex Jersey Short Sleeve Tee product page, checked 2026-10-04. Makers change colors and details; check the current spec before ordering.
Decorating it
| Method | What to know |
|---|---|
| DTG Printing | Combed, 32-singles cotton gives DTG a fine, even face that holds small type and photo detail. Stick to the solid colors, pretreat darks evenly and cure the print fully. |
| Screen Printing | Light fabric rewards soft inks: water-based, discharge on colors that test well, or thin plastisol. A heavy white underbase on a dark 3001 can feel stiff. |
| Embroidery | Possible for small chest marks with a soft mesh backing. Keep density low and avoid large fills, which pull a 4.2 oz jersey out of shape. |
| Retail Finishing | A retail cut and slim profile pair well with a printed neck label, a hang tag and a polybag when the shirt is sold under your own brand. |
The 3001 is Bella+Canvas's best-known shirt and the template for the modern retail blank: lightweight combed cotton, side seams and a trim unisex cut. Online band stores, creator shops and print-on-demand catalogs all lean on it, so your customers may already know how it fits.
One change matters before you order. Bella+Canvas now sells the 3001 heathers as their own style, the 3001CVC, and the 3001 page points heather shoppers there. The plain 3001 covers the solid colors. Older spec sheets and distributor listings may still show heathers under 3001, so confirm the style number with whoever is buying your blanks.
Who the 3001 suits
It is built for merch that people choose to wear: clothing brand basics, creator and podcast stores, band webstores, coffee shop and gym retail. The cut flatters more body types than a boxy promo tee, and the color list is long enough to match most brand palettes. It is a poor fit for jobs that need a thick, structured shirt or a very low cost per piece.
Fabric, weight and feel
Solid colors are 100% cotton that has been combed (short fibers brushed out) and ring-spun into 32-singles yarn, a fine yarn for a T-shirt. Ash is the one solid with a trace of polyester (99/1). Bella+Canvas calls its yarn Airlume. The result is a smooth, soft, slightly drapey jersey; see combed cotton and ring-spun vs open-end cotton for why that yarn feels different.
The maker states the weight as 4.2 oz with no unit area or metric figure, which places it in the lightweight band of T-shirt weights. Light jersey breathes well and drapes close to the body, but it also shows a heavy print more and is less opaque in white than a midweight.
The body has side seams, so it hangs straight and is less prone to the twist that tubular tees can develop in the wash. Shoulder taping and a simple crew neck finish it.
Decorating the 3001
DTG
The 3001 is a favorite DTG blank because its tight cotton face soaks up ink evenly and keeps edges crisp. Dark colors need pretreatment and a full cure. Stay on the solid 3001 colors for the brightest results; the 3001CVC heathers print with a more muted, vintage cast.
Screen printing
Soft inks match a soft shirt. Water-based ink sinks into the cotton and almost disappears to the touch on light colors. Discharge ink can give the same soft feel on darks, but how far a color discharges varies between colors and dye lots, so ask for a test. Plastisol works fine, though a thick white underbase plus several colors can make a large print feel stiff on 4.2 oz fabric. On the 3001CVC heathers, the polyester share brings dye migration risk with light inks.
Embroidery
Small, light chest marks are doable with a soft mesh backing and a low stitch density. Large filled logos distort thin jersey; move those to a heavier tee or a sweatshirt.
Sizing notes
The measurement sheet runs from XS (16 1/2 inch flat chest, 27 inch length) to 5XL (32 inch chest, 35 inch length), adding two inches of chest and an inch of length per size from Small up. Those numbers match many classic-fit tees, but the light fabric makes the shirt read closer to the body. Women who want a closer fit often size down one; publish the flat measurements on your product page so customers can compare with a shirt they own. T-shirt size charts shows how.
Bella+Canvas also makes youth (3001Y), toddler (3001T) and infant (3001B) versions in the same fabric, which helps when a brand wants matching family merch.
Alternatives
- The closest rival in weight, yarn and build: the Next Level 3600, compared in Bella+Canvas 3001 vs Next Level 3600.
- A tubular Softstyle option: the Gildan 64000, compared in Bella+Canvas 3001 vs Gildan Softstyle 64000.
- More weight in a regular fit: the AS Colour Staple Tee.
- A heavy garment-dyed shirt: the Comfort Colors 1717.
Because the 3001 is so popular, some colors sell through at busy times of year. Blank colors, stock and sold-out risk covers how to plan a backup.
Sources
- Bella+Canvas 3001 product page, checked 2026-10-04
- Bella+Canvas 3001 measurement specification (PDF), checked 2026-10-04
- Bella+Canvas 3001CVC product page, checked 2026-10-04
- Bella+Canvas 2026 catalog (PDF), checked 2026-10-04
Useful for: clothing brands, creators, bands, coffee shops.