Our product picks are editor-tested, expert-approved. We may earn a commission through links on our site. Why Trust Us?
The 18 Best T-Shirts for Men, According to Style Editors
Buck Mason and Merz B. Schwanen came out on top in our testing.
NO DOUBT, T-SHIRTS are the Alpha and Omega of men's wardrobe. And the best t-shirts for men should be a mixture of style, comfort, and versatility. Whether it’s moisture-wicking fabrics or burly heavyweight cotton, great tees are made from materials that ensure durability and long-lasting comfort. Maximizing versatility with solid neutral colors, the best t-shirts for men will seamlessly transition from casual outings to semi-formal gatherings, making them ideal for everyday wear or layering. From vintage-inspired boxy cuts, to physique flattering slim fits, your new go-to t-shirt is somewhere on this list.
Best T-Shirts for Men
Every guy needs some graphic-less tees in their wardrobe, but how you wear them goes a long way in deciding how much you should spend. If your t-shirts typically play a supporting role, standing as a clean background for more complex garments, or hidden all together as a base layer, then budget-friendly options will do the trick. Simplified construction and bare bones detailing is all you need. For gentlemen who place their t-shirts in a staring role that can carry an entire outfit, a steadily growing trend these days, then shelling out for fancier fabrics and upgraded manufacturing is a good idea. Clothing brands have been paying more attention to this often overlooked garment, and some of the best t-shirts for men now feature fabrics and detailing once reserved for sweaters and button down shirts.
Read More: How to Choose the Perfect T-Shirt
What to Consider
Fit
In a plain tee, the only thing that makes you “look good” is the fit. While it’s easier for athletic guys to look great in all kinds of T-shirts, men of any shape and body type can also look just as good, if they’ve found the right fit—such as slim, classic, relaxed, etc. For slender bodies, a slim fit will make you look more tailored. If you’re a big dude, a roomy fit will flatter you. If a tee fits tight around your chest, your chest will look big. Lastly, the best T-shirts shouldn’t cover your butt, so choose one that reaches just a tad below your waist.
Material
100% cotton tees are often the gold standard for every day tees, but cotton often doesn’t perform the best, which is why tech, blended fabrics can give useful feats like moisture-wicking, four-way stretch, breathability, or even temperature regulation. Hence, if you're an athletic or active guys, or maybe you sweat a lot naturally, or are looking for tees for going out, ditch the full cotton and opt for blended fabrics.
Style
Different styles of tees work best for different occasions—don’t let anybody tell you otherwise. A V-neck T-shirt, for instance, works best as an undershirt and can make your neck look longer. A crewneck is your everyday kind of tee that’s great for layering or on its own. Garment-dyed tees look lived-in for a vintage style. And if you want to look dressy in T-shirts, ditch the plain-looking ones that look like undershirts and go for a pocketed tee instead. Better yet, opt for graphic tees to really make a style statement that is true to you.
Length and hem
These are two indicators on whether your t-shirt can—or should—be tucked in or left untucked. With a curved hem, then the tee is best left untucked; it'll probably look better that way. A straight hem can do both, depending on the length. That is to say, a longer length is thus best left tucked in, unless you've got the height or the style magic to offset any disproportion.
How We Selected
To find the best t-shirts for men, our style team, led by fashion director Ted Stafford, have personally tried on over 60 different options since 2020 and tested each of them for at least two weeks by wearing them on different occasions. We vetted our tested options by taking notes of their style, type, comfort, fit, price point, versatility, and performance such as stretch, moisture-wicking, and breathability.
We examined whether they fitted well and true to size, whether their fabric could withstand hours of movement in different temperatures, and whether they could be worn for more than one occasion. We also tested these t-shirts on different body types, from slim to athletic to buff, to ensure the most unbiased results.
Specifically, we're looking for t-shirt styles that are not trendy or trend-chasing (so no funky graphics, baggy fits, or holes here and there); instead, our picks of the best t-shirts for men all fit great even on buff guys, provide a ton of value at reasonable price points, and come in styles that will look great years from now. Keep reading to see our sweet 16.
Ted Stafford is the Fashion Director of Men’s Health. He oversees all style and fashion content for the brand, and also styles their fashion stories. His active lifestyle informs his passion for translating great designs into real-life style, a favorite part of his job. Prior to joining Men’s Health he worked at GQ magazine and Calvin Klein
![best workout shirts lululemon license to train short sleeve best workout shirts lululemon license to train short sleeve](https://cdn.statically.io/img/hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/mhl-wshirts-lululemon-0189-66b3e1320a5ec.jpg?crop=0.659xw:0.988xh;0.106xw,0&resize=360:*)
The Best Workout Shirts for Men in 2024
![cole haan august sale cole haan august sale](https://cdn.statically.io/img/hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/cole-haan-sale-66b4d523b9e9d.jpg?crop=0.502xw:1.00xh;0.498xw,0&resize=360:*)
Explore Amazon's Cole Haan Sale
![best boxers for men best boxers for men](https://cdn.statically.io/img/hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/boxers-for-men-66b2590d9daf3.jpg?crop=0.502xw:1.00xh;0.250xw,0&resize=360:*)
The Best Boxers for Ultimate Comfort and Support
![best jeans for men best jeans for men](https://cdn.statically.io/img/hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/mhl-052324-jean-opener-2076-66acf6900d29d.jpg?crop=0.503xw:1.00xh;0.205xw,0&resize=360:*)
The Best Jeans for Your Budget and Style