List the Gildan 5000 when you want a sturdy, classic tee with a heavier feel, and list the Gildan 64000 when your buyers want a softer, lighter shirt with a more modern cut. The 5000 is Gildan's Heavy Cotton tee and the 64000 its Softstyle tee, and the gap between them comes down to fabric weight, yarn and fit.
This is for print-on-demand sellers choosing which blank to put behind a design, or deciding whether to offer both. The blank is the part the buyer actually touches, so it shapes reviews more than most listing details. The specs below come from Gildan-branded spec sheets hosted by distributors.
Fabric and weight
The Gildan 5000's US spec sheet describes it as "5.3-ounce, 100% US cotton". The 64000's sheet says "4.5-ounce, 100% ring spun US cotton". Gildan's European sheet for the 5000 gives 180 g/m² (175 g/m² for White), and none of the sheets we read gives a g/m² figure for the 64000.
Two practical differences follow. The 5000 is the heavier fabric, so it feels thicker and tends to hold its shape and show less through on light colours. The 64000 uses ring spun cotton, which gives a smoother, softer hand, and its lighter weight drapes more. Neither is better across the board: the heavier tee suits workwear-style designs and everyday gift shirts, the lighter one suits fashion-led designs and warm weather.
Heather and colour exceptions
Both tees are 100% cotton in most colours, but not in all of them. The 5000 sheet lists 99/1 cotton/polyester for Ash, 90/10 for Sport Grey and the Antique colours, and 50/50 for heathers such as Dark Heather and Graphite Heather. The 64000 sheet lists 99/1 for Heather Oatmeal, 90/10 for Sport Grey and some Antique colours, 50/50 for Graphite Heather, and 65/35 polyester/ring spun cotton for many heathers such as Heather Navy and Dark Heather.
This matters in two places. In your listing copy, "100% cotton" is only true for some colours, so name the blend exceptions or keep the claim colour-specific. And if a provider prints with DTG, which needs 100% cotton or high-cotton garments, ask how it handles the polyester-heavy heathers. DTF, which can print on cotton, polyester, nylon, and blends alike, is less sensitive to the blend. If you are still building your colour range, which shirt colours to offer on Etsy helps you choose.
Fit and construction
The 5000 sheet describes a "Classic fit" with a body that has no side seams and "Taped neck and shoulders". The 64000 sheet describes a "Modern classic fit", also without side seams, with a non-topstitched 5/8 inch rib collar. In plain terms, the 5000 is the traditional, boxier unisex tee, and the 64000's "modern classic" cut is the more contemporary of the two.
Fit is the detail buyers cannot judge from a photo, so put a size chart in every listing and name the exact tee. Our guide to building a size chart for Etsy apparel listings shows how, and unisex vs women's sizing helps you explain the cut to buyers.
The spec sheets side by side
| Spec | Gildan 5000 | Gildan 64000 |
|---|---|---|
| Line | Heavy Cotton | Softstyle |
| Weight (US sheet) | 5.3-ounce | 4.5-ounce |
| Fabric (most colours) | 100% US cotton | 100% ring spun US cotton |
| Heathers | 50/50 cotton/polyester | 65/35 polyester/ring spun cotton for many |
| Fit | Classic fit, no side seams | Modern classic fit, no side seams |
| Neck | Taped neck and shoulders | Non-topstitched 5/8 inch rib collar |
| Europe weight | 180 g/m² (White 175 g/m²) | Not given on the sheets we read |
| Price on our catalog | From $6.89 (read October 17, 2026) | Shown as a "from" price on its catalog page |
Which one to list
List the Gildan 5000 when
You want a sturdy base tee with a heavier, thicker feel.
The design is bold and graphic, and buyers expect a solid everyday shirt.
You sell group or event shirts (family reunions, teams, trips) where durability and a forgiving fit matter more than softness.
List the Gildan 64000 when
The design is fashion-led or minimal, and your buyers care about softness.
You sell into warm months or to buyers who layer.
You want a lighter tee that drapes more than a heavy cotton one.
Offer both in one listing
Since the September 2026 update, Etsy lets you add up to three distinct variations, like size, color, and style. One listing can therefore offer both tees as a style option next to size and colour, and because price can vary by variation, each blank keeps its own margin. Make the photos clear about which tee is which. What a variation is on Etsy covers the setup.
Gildan tees in the Alomations catalog
Both tees are in the Alomations catalog, alongside the Gildan 18000 sweatshirt, 18500 hoodie and 5400, the Bella+Canvas 3001 and 6400, and the Comfort Colors 1717 and 1566. Each product shows a "from" price on the page, so you can compare the two Gildan tees directly before you set your own price: the Gildan 5000 started from $6.89 when we read it on October 17, 2026, and the 64000 has its own "from" price on its page. Shipping is quoted separately, apparel is printed with DTF, and production for US orders is in the US. If you are weighing a premium option too, our comparison of Gildan 5000 vs Bella+Canvas 3001 covers the next step up.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Gildan 64000 thinner than the 5000?
Yes. The US spec sheets give 4.5-ounce for the 64000 and 5.3-ounce for the 5000, so the 64000 is the lighter fabric.
Are both shirts 100% cotton?
Not in every colour. Heathers and a few named colours, such as Ash and Sport Grey, are cotton/polyester blends, and each spec sheet lists them colour by colour.
Which one is better for DTF printing?
Both work. DTF prints on cotton, polyester and blends, so the choice comes down to the feel and the fit your buyers want.
Can one listing offer both tees?
Yes. With up to three variation types, you can add the tee as a style option next to size and colour.
Put both tees side by side in a listing on the Free plan.