The T-shirt isn't just a bona fide menswear icon, it's an avatar of American cool that's managed to catapult beyond its humble beginnings. Show me one person you know without at least one T-shirt in their rotation, and I will show you someone who is lying to you, my guy. And when it comes to tees, there is no version more elemental, more perfectly distilled, than the plain white T-shirt.
Best Cult-Classic White T-Shirt
Comfort Colors Short-Sleeve T-Shirt
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Most Comfortable White T-Shirt
Standard Issue Standard Tee (3-Pack)
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Best White Pocket T-Shirt
Mott & Bow Heavyweight Pocket Tee
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Best Everyday White T-Shirt
Lululemon The Fundamental T-Shirt
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Best Basic White T-Shirt
Uniqlo Supima Cotton Crew Neck Short-Sleeve T-Shirt
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All of which is to say, if you're one of those people who considers himself somehow above or beyond the white tee, you might want to reconsider. Simply consider the utility of the white T-shirt in your wardrobe and realize, yeah, it might be good to have one—or a few!—of those in rotation. After all, the options when it comes to this particular garment at this particular point in time are pretty much endless. There's pocket tees and curved-hem tees and boxy tees and organic cotton tees and good-old-fashioned crewnecks at your disposal, so you really should be able to find something that strikes your fancy.
In fact, there's so much going on in the white-T-shirt world right now that the biggest hurdle might not be deciding that you want one but deciding which one you want. That's where the list below comes into play. Whatever you're looking to buy, though, start here, with the 16 best white T-shirts.
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Best Curved-Hem T-Shirt
Buck Mason Slub Curved Hem Tee
Best Curved-Hem T-Shirt
Buck Mason Slub Curved Hem Tee
Buck Mason is beloved by T-shirt enthusiasts (a particularly opinionated group) for its precisely cut, curved-hem tee, typically rendered in a slub cotton you'd swear has been broken in for years.
| Material | Cotton |
|---|---|
| Fit | Rounded |
| Sizes | XS-2XL |
Most Comfortable White T-Shirt
Standard Issue Standard Tee (3-Pack)
Most Comfortable White T-Shirt
Standard Issue Standard Tee (3-Pack)
Standard Issue's tees are immediately identifiable by the feel of the hefty cotton the brand uses and the craftsmanship that goes into each and every (made-in-the-USA) style.
| Material | Cotton |
|---|---|
| Fit | Classic |
| Weight | 10 oz |
| Sizes | XS-2XL |
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Best Organic White T-Shirt
Everlane Organic Cotton Crew
Everlane specializes in wardrobe staples, so it should come as no surprise that the DTC darling does one hell of a white tee. The latest version of the brand's core style is made from organic cotton and cut to skim (not strangle) your torso.
| Material | Cotton |
|---|---|
| Fit | Slim |
| Sizes | XS-2XL |
Best White Pocket T-Shirt
Mott & Bow Heavyweight Pocket Tee
Mott & Bow's tees fit just like the brand's jeans (that's to say, pretty damn perfectly).
| Material | Cotton |
|---|---|
| Fit | Regular |
| Weight | 8.3 oz |
| Sizes | XS-2XL |
Best Classic White T-Shirt
Velva Sheen Regular Tee
Best Classic White T-Shirt
Velva Sheen Regular Tee
Sure, Velva Sheen's tees are made using tubular-knit construction, a costly and somewhat technical process that yields a shirt with no side seams (a throwback to an earlier era of manufacturing), but all you really need to know is that they're some of the comfiest you've ever felt.
| Material | Cotton |
|---|---|
| Fit | Regular |
| Sizes | S-XL |
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Most Durable White T-Shirt
Reigning Champ T-Shirt (2-Pack)
Most Durable White T-Shirt
Reigning Champ T-Shirt (2-Pack)
Reigning Champ consistently churns out some of the sturdiest tees around. A pack of two is double the fun.
| Material | Cotton |
|---|---|
| Fit | Straight |
| Sizes | XS-2XL |
Best Everyday White T-Shirt
Lululemon The Fundamental T-Shirt
Best Everyday White T-Shirt
Lululemon The Fundamental T-Shirt
Reading is what? Fundamental. And so is this aptly titled shirt from the always-dependable Lululemon.
| Material | Cotton, nylon, lyocell, lycra |
|---|---|
| Fit | Classic |
| Sizes | XS-5XL |
Best Basic White T-Shirt
Uniqlo Supima Cotton Crew Neck Short-Sleeve T-Shirt
Best Basic White T-Shirt
Uniqlo Supima Cotton Crew Neck Short-Sleeve T-Shirt
When it comes to basics, Uniqlo is the all-time pro. And, really, what's more basic than a plain white tee?
| Material | Cotton |
|---|---|
| Fit | Regular |
| Sizes | 2XS-3XL |
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Best Regular-Fit White T-Shirt
Kotn Essential Crew T-Shirt
Best Regular-Fit White T-Shirt
Kotn Essential Crew T-Shirt
If you like your T-shirts fitted—but not in the constricting way, of course—Kotn's white T-shirt, a regular-fit style made of cotton jersey (a fabric with natural elasticity), is just what you need.
| Material | Cotton |
|---|---|
| Fit | Regular |
| Sizes | 2XS-3XL |
Chicest White T-Shirt
Cuts Trim Fit Crewneck Cotton Blend T-Shirt
Chicest White T-Shirt
Cuts Trim Fit Crewneck Cotton Blend T-Shirt
With a curved hem, this classic crewneck is a little bit chicer and classier.
| Material | Polyester, cotton, spandex |
|---|---|
| Fit | Rounded |
| Sizes | S-2XL |
Best 'Yes Chef' White T-Shirt
Merz b. Schwanen 215 LoopWheeled T-Shirt
Best 'Yes Chef' White T-Shirt
Merz b. Schwanen 215 LoopWheeled T-Shirt
Go for the exact tee Carmy wears in The Bear. Yes, chef.
| Material | 100% organic cotton |
|---|---|
| Fit | Regular |
| Sizes | S-2XL |
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Best Antimicrobial White T-Shirt
Mack Weldon Silver V-Neck T-Shirt
Best Antimicrobial White T-Shirt
Mack Weldon Silver V-Neck T-Shirt
There are just instances when you're in the same tee for longer than you might want to be. And when you find yourself in that predicament, you're going to need a white T-shirt that's comfortable and antimicrobial—two qualities that Mack Weldon does best.
| Material | Cotton, polyester, lycra |
|---|---|
| Fit | Slim |
| Sizes | S-2XL |
Best Lightweight White T-Shirt
James Perse Combed Cotton Jersey T-Shirt
Best Lightweight White T-Shirt
James Perse Combed Cotton Jersey T-Shirt
A cotton-jersey blend makes this shirt extra comfortable for all day wear. Layer it under a jacket or wear it on its own.
| Material | Cotton |
|---|---|
| Fit | Regular |
| Sizes | S-2XL (1-5) |
Best Athletic White T-Shirt
Alo Yoga Conquer Reform Crewneck Short Sleeve
Best Athletic White T-Shirt
Alo Yoga Conquer Reform Crewneck Short Sleeve
Upon first glance, it's just another white T-shirt. But it's breathable material makes it perfect for workouts, summer heat, and everyday errands.
| Material | Poly-spandex |
|---|---|
| Fit | Regular |
| Sizes | S-2XL |
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Best Heavyweight White T-Shirt
Carhartt Heavyweight Pocket T-Shirt
Best Heavyweight White T-Shirt
Carhartt Heavyweight Pocket T-Shirt
If you're looking for a tee that can stand up to anything you throw at it (in a perfectly loose fit), look no further. Carhartt has you covered.
| Material | Cotton |
|---|---|
| Fit | Loose |
| Sizes | XS-5XL |
What To Look For
Cut: From big and beautifully boxy to long and slender, white T-shirts come in a range of silhouettes. If you like cling, slim cuts are for you. If you like loose, wear loose. It really all boils down to personal preference, your body type, and the kind of vibe you want to emit.
Material: Standard white T-shirts are made of cotton, of which there is a variety: organic, jersey, and, in some instances, sateen. There are also some options with linen blends, and others with tech fibers built for performance. Depending on what you're doing a where you're going, some of these options are better than others.
Weight: The choice in material will also determine the weight. If you like things light and breezy, cotton jersey and linen hit those targets. But if you like a bit of heft, look for styles with a thicker and tighter weave, which also tend to be the most flattering on the body.
Why You Can Trust Esquire
We’re not going to say something is great unless it’s actually great. Every product in Esquire’s round-ups is carefully curated by our fashion and e-commerce teams.
When it comes to a classic white T-shirt, you can rest assured that we’re hand-selecting styles that we’ve personally tested, tried, and loved, along with styles that the rest of our stylish colleagues here at Esquire endorse. With endless options on the market, we’ve had to go through a lot of trial and error, and we narrowed it down to these white tees that are simply the best.
Every pick on this list (and our other lists!) comes from years of wearing different things, seeing what we love and what we don’t, and going from there. No two tastes are the same, and no two men are the same. Your proverbial mileage may vary. But if you’re looking for the right place to start, with advice from folks who and care (possibly too much!) about this sort of stuff, this is the place to be.
