At a glance
| Bella+Canvas 3001 | Gildan 64000 | |
|---|---|---|
| Fabric weight (as stated) | 4.2 oz | 4.5 oz/yd² |
| Fiber on solid colors | 100% cotton, combed and ring-spun (Ash 99/1) | 100% ring-spun cotton (Sport Grey and Antiques 90/10) |
| Yarn | 32 singles | Ring-spun; singles count not stated |
| Heathers | Separate style, 3001CVC: mostly 52/48 cotton/poly | Same style; most heathers 65/35 poly/cotton |
| Body | Side-seamed | Tubular, no side seams |
| Collar and shoulders | Crew neck, shoulder taping | 5/8 in rib collar, taped neck and shoulders |
| Fit name | Classic fit, unisex sizing | Modern classic fit |
| Sizes | XS–5XL | XS–5XL |
| Flat chest, S / M / L | 18 / 20 / 22 in | 18 / 20 / 22 in |
| Colors listed | 86 on the product page | 75 |
The Bella+Canvas 3001 and the Gildan Softstyle 64000 are frequently weighed against each other when a merch order should feel like retail clothing rather than a giveaway. They overlap more than they differ, so the decision usually turns on four things: yarn, side seams, heathers and budget.
What each shirt is
The 3001 is Bella+Canvas's core unisex jersey tee. Solid colors are 100% cotton that has been combed and ring-spun into 32-singles yarn, which the maker brands Airlume; Ash is the only solid with polyester, at 99/1. The maker states the weight as 4.2 oz. The heathers are no longer part of the 3001: they now sell as a companion style, the 3001CVC.
The 64000 is the core tee of Gildan's Softstyle line, listed on Gildan's wholesale site as the 64000 Adult T-Shirt. Most colors are 100% ring-spun cotton at 4.5 oz/yd², and Gildan says the fabric is knit at a high stitch density for a smooth print surface. Sport Grey and the Antique colors are 90/10, Graphite Heather is 50/50, and most other heathers are 65/35 with polyester in the majority.
Yarn and hand feel
Both use ring-spun cotton, so both feel softer than budget open-end tees. The 3001 adds combing, which removes short fibers before spinning, and it states a fine 32-singles yarn. Gildan does not publish a singles count for the 64000. In the hand, the 3001 tends to feel a touch silkier and drapier, partly because it is also the lighter of the two. The guide to ring-spun vs open-end cotton explains why yarn changes feel and print surface.
Construction
The 3001 has side seams; the 64000 is knit as a tube. Side-seamed tees hang straighter and hold their shape through washing, while tubular jersey can twist slightly at the sides over time. If your artwork is centered, that rarely shows; if it wraps toward the sides, it can. The 64000 has a narrow 5/8 inch rib collar and double-needle sleeves and hem; the 3001 lists a crew neck and shoulder taping.
Heathers
This is the difference most buyers miss. On the 3001 side, heathers now have their own style number, the 3001CVC: most are 52/48 cotton/polyester, Athletic Heather and Black Heather are 90/10, and the Heather Prism colors are 99/1. On the 64000, heathers sit inside the same style, and most are 65/35 polyester/cotton. More polyester means more drape, more risk of dye migration with light plastisol inks, weaker discharge and duller DTG. When you quote a heather, confirm the style number and the fiber content of that exact color.
Fit and sizing
On paper the fit is nearly identical. Both makers' charts give flat chest widths of 18, 20 and 22 inches for Small, Medium and Large, rising two inches per size to 32 inches at 5XL, and both start at XS (16 1/2 inches on the 3001, 16 on the 64000). Body lengths match too. Gildan calls its cut a modern classic fit; Bella+Canvas calls the 3001 a classic fit with unisex sizing. Customers who know one will usually take the same size in the other.
Printing
For DTG, both cotton faces work well; the 3001's combed, fine yarn is especially forgiving with small type and photographic detail. For screen printing, both are light enough that a thick plastisol block can feel heavy, so soft-hand or water-based inks suit them. Discharge on the cotton colors of either is a test-first proposition. Embroidery on either should stay small and light.
Cost and stock
Prices are not listed here, but the pattern is familiar: the 64000 usually quotes below the 3001, and Bella+Canvas's larger palette (86 colors on the product page against Gildan's 75) is one reason brands accept the difference. Both are carried by major distributors. Popular colors of either can sell through during busy seasons, so name a backup.
Which to choose
- Choose the Bella+Canvas 3001 when hand feel and a straight, side-seamed drape matter most, when you need a specific color from a very long palette, or when DTG detail is the priority.
- Choose the Gildan 64000 when the budget is tighter but you still want ring-spun softness, or when you want polyester-rich heathers for drape.
- For heathers that will be DTG printed or discharged, the 3001CVC's higher cotton share is the safer start.
- When either is out of stock, the other is a reasonable substitute for solid colors, since the size charts line up.
Sources
- Bella+Canvas 3001 product page, checked 2026-10-04
- Bella+Canvas 3001CVC product page, checked 2026-10-04
- Bella+Canvas 3001 measurement specification (PDF), checked 2026-10-04
- Gildan 64000 Adult T-Shirt product page, checked 2026-10-04
- Gildan Softstyle 64000 spec sheet (copy hosted by BlankStyle), checked 2026-10-04
Useful for: clothing brands, creators, bands, companies.