To the untrained eye, a t-shirt is just a t-shirt — but unless you’d wear a knit polo to the gym or a crop top to the office, you know not all tees are created equal. Elements like sleeve length, cut, material, neckline, and aesthetic features can make a huge difference in a shirt’s look and function.
Whether you’re looking for custom apparel options to use for events, e-commerce, or corporate gifting, our guide to t-shirt styles will help you find the perfect option.
What to Look for in a T-Shirt
The humble t-shirt may be one of the most recognizable, most popular, and most versatile garments in the world — so much so that you’ve probably never thought about what makes a shirt a “t” shirt.
While the classic t-shirt is instantly recognizable by its short sleeves and rounded “crewneck” cut, there are about as many variations of the t-shirt as there are occasions for wearing them. Here are a few features we’ll cover in this guide that’ll vary among the many different t-shirt styles.
- Neck Line: Both the shape and depth of the way the neck opening is cut
- Length: How long the shirt is meant to hang relative to its size
- Width: How wide or narrow the shirt is cut along the midsection
- Sleeves: The presence, absence, or length of the sleeves
- Function: What the shirt is designed to be worn for
- Features: Additional elements like buttons or pockets
Crewneck T-Shirts
When you picture a t-shirt, you’re probably picturing a crewneck. These short-sleeve t-shirts represent the classic tee style that’s become a worldwide wardrobe staple. With its moderate sleeve length, standard rounded neckline, and full-torso length, this shirt is the quintessential company swag idea.
Why choose it: A crowd-pleasing cut that fits just about any brand or body type
Long Sleeve T-Shirts
You might think of a t-shirt as strictly being a short-sleeve garment, but a little extra length in the sleeves doesn’t make it stop being one. Long sleeve t-shirts are lightweight but have just enough coverage to offer a hint of warmth, making them perfect for showing off your custom design during long days in air-conditioned classrooms or for brisk fall afternoon jogs.
Why choose it: A light, versatile alternative to the standard tee
Sleeveless T-Shirts
You can take the sleeves off the tee, but you can’t take the “tee” out of the t-shirt (unless you prefer to call this a tank top or muscle shirt). Available in moisture-wicking materials or the typical cotton or cotton-blend, sleeveless t-shirts keep your custom logo displayed at the gym outdoors, or around town on a hot summer day.
Why choose it: Perfect for athletic or casual wear
Performance T-Shirts
Can you exercise in a standard cotton tee? Sure. Would you choose to exercise in a standard cotton tee when you could do it in a performance t-shirt? Probably not. Made with moisture-wicking materials and featuring UV protection, this t-shirt style is ideal for those who want to expand their workout — or even just yard work — attire.
Why choose it: For a garment that can present your logo outdoors or at the gym
Scoop-Neck T-Shirts
As the name suggests, this style has a rounded neckline that dips (AKA scoops) lower than a standard crewneck tee and often leaves more breathing room around the sides of the neck as well. Cut with a slimming profile, these versatile shirts can be dressed up or down.
Why choose it: Flattering, dynamic, and versatile
Square Neck T-Shirts
The aptly named square neck t-shirt’s main distinguishing feature is (you guessed it) its boxy neckline. Usually relatively low-cut, these necklines generally extend roughly to the collarbone on each side, giving them a casual yet somewhat refined profile. Typically you’ll see these marketed as women’s t-shirts.
Cap Sleeve T-Shirts
There are sleeveless shirts, and there are mostly sleeveless shirts. Cap sleeve tees have just a hint of a sleeve to “cap” the shoulder, giving just a little more coverage than a traditional sleeveless shirt without covering the upper arm.
Why choose it: Offers a little more coverage than a sleeveless shirt
V-Neck T-Shirts
Looking for a slight shift from the usual crewneck? V-necks are essentially exactly the same as a standard t-shirt with one exception: the rounded neckline comes to a point at the center. A standard v-neck offers a similar amount of coverage to a crewneck but is visually a little more dynamic.
Why choose it: A tasteful, slight variation to the crewneck neckline
Deep-V’s
If you want to take the v-neck a step further, a deep-v takes it up (or, more accurately, down) a notch. With a lower-cut neckline but a similar profile that comes to a point at their peak, deep-v’s are casual, often loosely fit tees that can extend down toward the base of the sternum.
Why choose it: A variation on the v-neck with a lower neckline
Pocket Tees
From a profile perspective, there’s nothing notably different about this tee type compared to a standard crewneck tee. The only real difference is a single utility pocket, typically on the left side of the bust. Designed for tiny notebooks and pens, these pockets add a stylishly utilitarian flare even when they’re empty.
Why choose it: More visually dynamic and slightly more utilitarian than a standard tee
Polos
One could reasonably argue that polo shirts are a class of their own, but fundamentally, they’re more like t-shirts than they are different. Featuring a collar and usually two or three buttons at the chest, they’re a bit more formal than a t-shirt but still more casual than a full button-down shirt.
Why choose it: A bump in formality over a standard t-shirt
Ringer Tees
A ringer t-shirt is cut essentially the same as any other crewneck shirt. The difference is that it highlights the neckline and tips of the sleeves with a color that’s distinct from the rest of the shirt. This adds a visually dynamic, retro pop to an otherwise standard t-shirt profile.
Why choose it: A throwback style that stands out
Baseball Tees
For another t-shirt style option that has a bit of a throwback feel and a little more visual intrigue than a single-color crewneck, consider a baseball tee. With three-quarter sleeves featuring a different color from the rest of the shirt, baseball tees are classic, casual, and instantly recognizable.
Why choose it: Another retro option with distinctive three-quarter sleeves
Crop Tops
Another throwback t-shirt style, crop tops represent a slight variation on a standard crewneck: their length. This cut has a long history in Western fashion, going in and out of style since it entered wardrobes in the 1940’s. In the 70’s, cropped tees became a symbol of the feminist movement, permeating into male sports in the 80’s when football players started cutting their jerseys short, leading to renewed popularity in the 90’s with pop culture icons ranging from Jennifer Aniston to Britney Spears to Tyra Banks donning them on screens and stages.
Unsurprisingly, they’ve come back in style today with 90’s nostalgia in bloom. (Yes, that’s a Nirvana reference.) Designed to lay above the waistline with a wider profile, these shirts typically show a hint of midriff and offer a generous width for a comfortable, hyper-casual fit.
Why choose it: Stylish, comfortable, and casual
Henleys
A henley sits somewhere between a polo and a standard crewneck t-shirt — it’s basically a polo without a collar (or maybe a crewneck with buttons). With a henley, you get the option of buttoning down to open things up, similar to a v-neck, or keeping it buttoned up like a true crewneck.
Why choose it: Combines the buttons of a polo with the collar of a crewneck
Picking the Right T-Shirt Style for You
Not sure how to pick from all these different t-shirt styles? At the end of the day, the main differences between them come down to some combination of sleeve length, neckline design, and additional features like pockets, buttons, or collars. Picking the right one is a matter of deciding how much you want it to stand out, whether you prefer a modern or retro look, and what kind of profile works best for you.
Plus, t-shirts are infinitely customizable, with RushOrderTees offering hundreds of personalized tee options. Whether you’re looking for a standard crewneck, a trendy crop top, or a practical performance tee, you can pick the style, color, brand, and design you want with shipping options that fit your needs.
While t-shirts make great promo options, they may not be right for every brand. So if you’re shopping for branded items or giveaway ideas and aren’t sure if t-shirts are right for your market, consider more promotional products.
Bryce Emley
About the Author
Based in New Mexico, Bryce Emley is a seasoned content writer and expert in the realms of custom apparel and eCommerce. Holding an MFA in Creative Writing, he seamlessly blends his passions, specializing in insightful content that bridges the gap between innovative apparel solutions and digital commerce trends. Beyond his professional pursuits, Bryce is an avid creator, channeling his creativity into poetry, screenplays, and creative nonfiction. In his leisure time, he has a penchant for collecting unique, vintage anime t-shirts, showcasing his love for both rare finds and the artistry of apparel design.