A decorator-first comparison of the two most-asked-about blank t-shirt brands in Canada. We carry both at Blank Garment and the data below is drawn from spec sheets, our own QC notes on how each style prints, and feedback from Calgary-area screen printers and DTF shops.
Updated 2026-05-23 · By the Blank Garment team
| Attribute | Gildan 5000 | BELLA + CANVAS 3001 |
|---|---|---|
| Reference style | Gildan 5000 | BELLA + CANVAS 3001 |
| Fabric weight | 5.3 oz / 180 gsm | 4.2 oz / 142 gsm |
| Yarn | Open-end 100% cotton | Combed ringspun 100% cotton |
| Fit | Classic / straight cut | Tailored modern, side-seamed |
| Per-piece price (S–XL) | Lower | Higher (~30-50%) |
| Color range | 60+ stock colors | 70+ stock colors |
| Print surface | Slightly rougher (open-end) | Smooth (ringspun) |
| Best for halftones / fine detail | Good | Excellent |
| Best for plastisol high volume | Excellent | Good |
| Shrinkage (first wash) | ~5% | ~3% (pre-shrunk) |
| Tear-away tag | Standard label | Tear-away available |
| Sizing run | XS – 5XL | XS – 4XL |
| Made / finished | Honduras, Bangladesh | LA finishing, US sewing |
| Brand HQ | Montreal, Quebec | Los Angeles, California |
The biggest practical difference between the two is yarn construction. Gildan 5000 uses an open-end yarn, which means the fibers are bonded without combing — durable, denser, slightly rougher to the touch. BELLA + CANVAS 3001 uses a combed ringspun yarn, where short fibers are removed and the remaining long fibers are spun into a smoother, finer thread. The ringspun surface holds halftone dots more cleanly, which matters for designs with gradients, photo-realistic prints, or fine line work under 1.5 pt.
For plastisol screen printing at volume, Gildan 5000 is still the industry workhorse — denser fabric means less ink bleed, less fibrillation, and easier consistency across a 200+ piece run. For DTF transfers and DTG, BELLA + CANVAS 3001 typically pulls a sharper image because the smoother surface accepts the transfer without fiber pop.
Gildan 5000 has a classic straight cut — the silhouette your customer remembers from event shirts in the 2000s. It's roomy through the chest and waist with no side seams. BELLA + CANVAS 3001 is tailored and side-seamed, with a more contemporary fit that follows the body. Customers who care about how a shirt looks on its own (without a print) typically prefer the 3001; customers who care about how many shirts they can buy for a $X budget typically prefer the 5000.
At Blank Garment, Gildan 5000 typically lands about 30-50% lower per piece than BELLA + CANVAS 3001 in equivalent quantities and colors. The exact gap varies by color (white is cheapest for both; specialty colors like heather and tri-blend variants close the gap) and by size break (the gap widens at 144+ and 288+ pieces). Live per-piece pricing for both brands across every color and size is on the catalog pages: /products?brand=Gildan and /products?brand=BELLA + CANVAS.
For corporate event apparel where some customers will keep the shirt and others won't, decorators often run the Gildan 5000 for staff and volunteers (durable, cheap, recognizable feel) and the BELLA + CANVAS 3001 for VIP attendees and merch tables (retail-feeling shirts that customers actually want to wear after the event). No order minimum at Blank Garment makes splitting an order across both brands easy — the bulk-tier pricing applies per style, not per overall cart.
Both print well. Gildan 5000 (heavy cotton) is the industry workhorse for plastisol screen printing — denser fabric, fewer fibrillation issues, lower per-piece cost. BELLA + CANVAS 3001 (combed ringspun) gives a smoother print surface, sharper halftone resolution, and a more retail-feeling shirt at a higher per-piece price. For high-volume team or corporate orders where cost matters, choose Gildan 5000. For boutique apparel, fashion-conscious customers, or detailed designs, choose BELLA + CANVAS 3001.
Gildan 5000 is a 5.3 oz heavyweight 100% cotton open-end yarn tee with a classic straight cut. BELLA + CANVAS 3001 is a 4.2 oz lightweight 100% combed and ringspun cotton tee with a tailored modern fit, side-seamed construction, and a smoother surface. The 3001 typically runs about 30-50% higher per piece in Canada but feels softer and prints sharper.
Gildan 5000 is cheaper per piece across all standard sizes (S to 2XL) at Blank Garment and at most Canadian wholesale suppliers. The price gap is roughly 30-50% depending on color and size break point. Current per-piece pricing for both is visible on each style page at blankgarment.ca/products.
BELLA + CANVAS designs and finishes garments in Los Angeles. The brand emphasizes ethical manufacturing and uses sustainable practices including recycled water systems at its LA facilities. Some greige (raw) fabric is sourced internationally then knit, cut, and sewn domestically. Gildan is headquartered in Montreal, Quebec and manufactures across Honduras, Bangladesh, and other facilities.
Gildan 5000 typically shrinks ~5% in length after the first wash on warm settings. BELLA + CANVAS 3001 is pre-shrunk during manufacturing and shrinks closer to ~3% on the same wash cycle. For team orders or uniforms where size consistency matters, BELLA + CANVAS 3001 holds dimensions slightly better wash-to-wash.
Buying Bulk? 