The Gildan 5000 is a heavier 5.3-ounce cotton tee with a classic fit, and the Bella+Canvas 3001 is a lighter 4.2-ounce tee in combed, ring-spun cotton with side seams and a finer yarn. Choose the 5000 when your buyer wants a sturdy shirt at a lower price, and the 3001 when they expect a soft, light shirt with a more fitted look.
Both blanks are staples of print-on-demand catalogs, so you will meet them on your first day of listing. It is easy to pick one out of habit and use it for everything. The buyer, though, notices the difference the moment the parcel opens: the weight in the hand, the softness, the way it hangs. Choosing by buyer rather than by habit means fewer "not what I expected" messages.
The spec sheets side by side
Here is what each brand's own documents say. Gildan figures come from Gildan's US spec sheet for the 5000 and its Europe spec sheet. Bella+Canvas figures come from the 3001 product page.
| Spec | Gildan 5000 | Bella+Canvas 3001 |
|---|---|---|
| Fabric (main colours) | 100% US cotton | 100% Airlume combed and ring-spun cotton |
| Weight | 5.3 oz (US sheet), 180 g/m² (Europe sheet) | 4.2 oz |
| Yarn | 20/1 (Europe sheet) | 32 singles |
| Body | Classic fit, knit as a tube with no side seams | Side-seamed, unisex sizing XS to 5XL |
| Neck and shoulders | Taped neck and shoulders | Shoulder taping |
| Exceptions | Ash 99/1, Sport Grey and Antique colours 90/10, heathers 50/50 | Ash 99/1, other heathers sold as style 3001CVC |
| Colour range | Check your provider's colour list | 86 colours listed by Bella+Canvas |
Fabric and feel
Both shirts are all cotton in most colours, so the difference sits in the yarn and the weight. The 3001 uses combed and ring-spun cotton at 32 singles, a finer yarn that makes a smoother, lighter fabric. The 5000 is Gildan's Heavy Cotton tee, at 5.3 ounces with a 20/1 yarn, so it feels thicker and more substantial in the hand.
Neither is better in the abstract. A buyer ordering shirts for a work crew or a family reunion often values the sturdier feel and the lower price. A buyer ordering a gift, or something to wear out, often expects the softness of a fashion tee. If your copy promises "super soft", the 3001 keeps that promise more easily.
Two other blanks sit on either side. The Gildan 64000 Softstyle is a 4.5-ounce ring-spun cotton tee, compared in our guide to the Gildan 64000 and the 5000. For a heavier, garment-dyed look, see Comfort Colors 1717 vs Bella+Canvas 3001.
Fit and construction
Gildan describes the 5000 as a classic fit with a body knit as a tube, so there are no side seams, plus taped neck and shoulders. The 3001 is side-seamed with shoulder taping and comes in unisex sizes from XS to 5XL. A side-seamed tee is cut from front and back panels, which lets it follow the body more closely, while a tubular body tends to hang straighter.
Buyers cannot try a shirt on, so publish the size chart for the exact blank you sell rather than a generic one, and say in the description that the shirt is a unisex fit. Our guide to unisex vs women's sizing shows how to explain fit to buyers who usually shop women's sizes.
Colours and heather blends
Heathers change the fabric. On the 5000, Gildan lists Ash as 99/1 cotton/polyester, Sport Grey and the Antique colours as 90/10, and heathers such as Dark Heather and Graphite Heather, along with the Safety colours, as 50/50. On the 3001, Ash is 99/1 and the other heathers are sold as a separate style, the 3001CVC.
This matters for your listing. If your copy says "100% cotton" and the buyer picks Dark Heather on a 5000, the claim is wrong for that shirt, and Etsy Purchase Protection does not cover an item that doesn't match the listing description. Since Etsy removed the Materials tag field in March 2026, materials are set only as an attribute, so set it to match what you actually ship.
The print method matters here as well. DTF prints on cotton, polyester and blends alike, while DTG needs 100% cotton or high-cotton garments, so a 50/50 heather is a better match for DTF. For choosing the colours themselves, see which shirt colours to offer on Etsy.
Cost and which buyer each suits
The 3001 costs more as a blank. On the Alomations catalog, the Gildan 5000 starts from $6.89 and the Bella+Canvas 3001 from $8.40 (prices read on October 17, 2026, with shipping quoted separately), so a listing on the 3001 needs a retail price that carries the difference.
Choose the Gildan 5000 when:
The buyer is ordering several shirts at once, for a team, a reunion or an event.
Your design suits a sturdy, classic tee, such as workplace humour or bold graphics.
Price is the main reason someone picks your listing over another.
Choose the Bella+Canvas 3001 when:
The buyer expects a soft, light shirt, for example a gift or a fashion design.
You want a more fitted look in a unisex size range up to 5XL.
Your photos and copy sell comfort and feel.
Setting up both in Alomations
The Alomations catalog carries both blanks, alongside the Gildan 64000, 18000, 18500 and 5400, the Bella+Canvas 6400 and the Comfort Colors 1717 and 1566. Apparel is printed with DTF, and production for US orders is in the US.
A template holds everything a blank needs: product and category, price, sizes and colours, materials, SKUs, and the shipping, return and processing profiles. Build one template per blank and arrange prices across sizes, so the 3001's higher cost carries through to every size. On paid plans you can save your size and colour sets as variation profiles and reuse them in every template. When a run uses the template, the fabric claims in the copy match the template's materials, so set those carefully if you offer heathers. Our guide to building your first listing template walks through it.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Bella+Canvas 3001 softer than the Gildan 5000?
It is generally the softer of the two, because it uses combed, ring-spun cotton at 32 singles against the 5000's heavier 20/1 cotton. Feel is personal, so order a sample of each before you decide.
Is the Gildan 5000 100% cotton in every colour?
No. Most colours are 100% US cotton, but Gildan's spec sheet lists Ash as 99/1, Sport Grey and the Antique colours as 90/10, and heathers such as Dark Heather as 50/50 cotton/polyester.
Which one runs bigger?
Brands cut their sizes differently and neither document we read compares measurements, so use each brand's own size chart in the listing. The 5000 is a classic fit and the 3001 a side-seamed unisex fit.
Can I sell both in my shop?
Yes. Use a separate template for each, name the blank in the description so the buyer knows what arrives, and price each listing for its own blank cost.
Try the free plan to set up a template for either blank and publish your first design on it.