Gildan 5000 Blank T-Shirt for DTF Printing
The Gildan 5000 Heavy Cotton T-Shirt is the most widely used blank in custom apparel production, and for good reason. Its 5.3 oz 100% pre-shrunk cotton construction delivers a thick, stable print surface that holds DTF transfers, screen prints, and heat transfer vinyl cleanly across the full color range. DTF Jersey stocks the Gildan 5000 in sizes S through 5XL across 24 solid colorways — making it the right blank for bulk orders, mix-and-match runs, and any production situation that demands a consistent result at every size.
Key Features of the Gildan 5000
-
5.3 oz 100% preshrunk cotton construction (Sport Grey and Dark Heather are 50/50 cotton-polyester)
-
Taped neck and shoulders for structural stability and consistent shape through production runs
-
Seamless double-needle 7/8" collar for a clean, durable neckline
-
Double-needle sleeves and bottom hem for long-lasting finish
-
Quarter-turned body eliminates center fold crease for cleaner print placements
-
Preshrunk fabric for reliable sizing across large bulk orders
-
Available in 24 colorways: Black, White, Navy, Sport Grey, Red, Royal, Sand, Natural, Charcoal, Purple, Dark Heather, Forest Green, Military Green, Safety Green, Ash Grey, Safety Pink, Light Pink, Light Blue, Orange, Gold, Maroon, Yellow, Dark Chocolate, Corn Silk
-
Sizes S through 5XL
The Blank of Record for Custom Apparel Production
The Gildan 5000 earns its place as the default blank for high-volume custom apparel programs because it removes variables. The weight, shrinkage behavior, and surface consistency are predictable run after run — which is what bulk production actually requires. For organizations ordering 50 shirts or 500, that reliability translates directly into finished goods that look the same at size S as they do at 3XL.
The quarter-turned body eliminates the center crease that runs down tubular blanks, leaving a flat, clean surface for front chest and full-front DTF transfer placements. Whether the order is a single color left-chest logo or a detailed full-color graphic across the full front, the Gildan 5000 delivers a surface that holds the transfer without interference.
Compatible Printing and Decoration Methods
The Gildan 5000 accepts all major decoration methods:
-
DTF transfers and direct-to-film printing
-
Screen printing
-
Heat transfer vinyl (HTV)
-
Direct to garment (DTG) printing
-
Embroidery
-
Sublimation (on white/light polyester blends)
Order Gildan 5000 Blank Tees at DTF Jersey
DTF Jersey carries the Gildan 5000 in all 24 colorways across the full S through 5XL size run. Order blanks for your own decoration program or pair with our in-house DTF transfer printing service. Serving New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, and the full Northeast.
All Blank orders of $200 or more are shipped FREE same day via UPS Ground. Blank orders under $200 will qualify for the following shipping options:
UPS Blank Apparel Shipping (2-4 Business Days): $9.95
UPS Ground (1-2 Business Days): $16.95
UPS Standard Overnight (1 Day): $39.95
Read our Shipping Policy for more information.
Fill out the Blank Apparel Return Form within 45 days of receiving your order to submit a request for a refund or return.
Note: All blank orders shipped outside of the continental US are not eligible for return, exchange, or refund.
Warm your heat press to 280-300 F / 155-160 C
Medium pressure for 9-13 seconds.
Pressure 6 KG
Allow 10 seconds to cool before peeling
Cold Peel / Hot Peel
For more questions: FAQs
Choose options
Gildan 5000 Heavy Cotton Blank T-Shirt
A 5.3 oz 100% US cotton tee in a classic fit, S to 5XL. A long-standing favorite for custom apparel, team shirts, events, and bulk printing, designed to provide a stable, dependable surface for repeat bulk orders.
What colors does the 5000 come in?
Twenty-four colorways stocked at DTF Jersey, from the core Black, White, and Navy to Sand, Natural, and the safety and heather options. Most are 100% US cotton, but several are cotton-poly blends, so check the fiber note before pressing.
Fiber note: Most Gildan 5000 colorways are 100% US cotton, but several are cotton-poly blends. Sport Grey and Antique Cherry Red are 90/10, Ash Grey is 99/1, and Dark Heather, Safety Green, and Safety Pink are 50/50 cotton and polyester. Blends can respond differently to heat, so test press settings on those colors. Natural is undyed, so specks of fiber and cotton seed are normal. Swatch colors shown here are approximate.
Special order: Beyond the 24 colorways stocked at DTF Jersey, the Gildan 5000 is offered in more than 70 colors. Fiber content varies by color, with heather, safety, and antique shades running as cotton-poly blends. These colors are not held in regular stock. Contact us to confirm current availability and lead time before ordering.
The blank that removes the variables.
High-volume programs need predictability more than novelty. The 5000 is a default blank precisely because it is a dependable, familiar base that decorators know well, so a 50-piece order and a 500-piece reorder can be handled with confidence, with proper testing across colors and sizes.
Sturdy cotton, built to be dependable.
At 5.3 oz the Gildan 5000 offers a substantial everyday weight without the extra bulk of ultra-heavyweight tees. The 100% US cotton is spun to 20 singles and remastered for improved printability, giving a thick, stable surface that holds transfers cleanly. Note that several colorways are cotton-poly blends rather than 100% cotton.
The cut is a classic unisex fit with a classic-width rib collar, taped neck and shoulders for shape retention, and double-needle stitching throughout. The construction is designed to provide a stable, dependable surface for custom printing and repeat bulk orders.
How the 5000 takes ink, transfers, and heat.
The 5.3 oz cotton gives transfers a thick, stable base, and quarter-turned construction means no center crease through a full-front print. Heather and safety colors are cotton-poly blends and respond differently to heat, and safety colors in particular can scorch if dryer temperatures run high, so test those before a full run. More help in the DTF Jersey FAQs.
DTF printing and care for the 5000.
A finished DTF transfer is applied with a heat press. The steps below cover a clean bond on heavyweight cotton, and the care guidance keeps the print and the knit holding form through repeated washing.
Applying DTF transfers to the 5000
General pressing guidance for a clean, durable bond on washed cotton:
- 1Use a flat heat press for even, consistent pressure across the whole design.
- 2Follow the temperature, time, and pressure recommended by your transfer supplier, since settings vary by film and adhesive.
- 3Pre-press the shirt briefly to remove moisture and flatten wrinkles before applying the transfer.
- 4Peel the carrier film as directed only as directed on the instructions supplied with your DTF Jersey transfer, since peel timing depends on the film and adhesive system.
- 5Test heather and safety colorways separately, since their polyester content responds differently to heat than the 100% cotton colors.
The cotton is built to hold up across repeat bulk orders with proper care. Safety colors are prone to scorching at high dryer temperatures, which the manufacturer notes is a known condition of those colors rather than a defect, so keep dryer heat moderate.
Keeping a printed 5000 looking right
To help a DTF-printed Gildan 5000 hold up over time, general care guidance is:
- ✓Wait at least 24 hours after pressing before the first wash.
- ✓Turn the shirt inside out before washing to protect the print surface.
- ✓Follow the garment label: machine wash cold, only non-chlorine bleach when needed. A gentle cycle helps protect the print.
- ✓Tumble dry low or hang to dry, and avoid high heat on the printed area.
- ✓Do not iron directly over a transfer.
The cotton-poly blend can help limit dimensional change, but some shrinkage or variation may still occur, so wash-test a sample when sizing consistency matters. Avoid high-heat drying, which is harder on a lightweight blend than on heavy cotton.
5000 size chart
| Size | Chest Width | Body Length |
|---|---|---|
| S | 18" | 28" |
| M | 20" | 29" |
| L | 22" | 30" |
| XL | 24" | 31" |
| 2XL | 26" | 32" |
| 3XL | 28" | 33" |
| 4XL | 30" | 34" |
| 5XL | 32" | 35" |
Measuring: Approximate laid-flat dimensions in inches, from the manufacturer size chart, with a tolerance of about 1 inch. Chest width is measured pit to pit; length runs from the highest shoulder point to the hem. Fit: The 5000 is a classic unisex cut. Sizes: Made S to 5XL. Availability by size changes, so check the size selector for what DTF Jersey has ready now.
Build the order around the tee.
A custom apparel order rarely stops at the tee. Pair the Gildan 5000 with blank totes, caps, and more apparel from the same warehouse so the whole set ships together, and press everything with one DTF order.
Building a set? Blanks, totes, caps, and DTF transfers all ship from Elmwood Park, NJ in one package. Tell us the pieces and quantities and DTF Jersey will confirm availability.
Shop Blank Apparel →The rest of the Heavy Cotton line.
Related styles from Gildan's Heavy Cotton collection, built on the same 5.3 oz construction across cuts, sleeve lengths, and age ranges. Gildan lists the 5000L, 5000B, and 5100P as direct companions to the 5000; the rest share the Heavy Cotton base. Tell DTF Jersey the style and we will confirm availability.
5000LWomen's Heavy Cotton
Shop style
5V00LWomen's V-Neck
Shop style
5000BYouth Heavy Cotton
Shop style
5100PToddler Heavy Cotton
The toddler cut for the smallest sizes
5400Long Sleeve
Shop style
5400BYouth Long Sleeve
Shop style
5300Pocket Tee
Heavy cotton with a chest pocket
5200Tank Top
The heavy cotton unisex tank
5700Raglan 3/4 Sleeve
Three-quarter raglan sleeve tee
50PLSMAPlasma Print
Heavy cotton with a plasma-print finishLooking for a cut we do not stock? Related Gildan Heavy Cotton styles are available with lead time. Tell DTF Jersey the style code, sizes, and quantities and we will confirm availability.
Contact Us →The default blank for high-volume programs.
Bulk & high-volume orders
The 5000 is built for programs ordering 50 to 500-plus pieces, where a consistent, dependable blank helps the finished goods look the same at every size and across reorders.
Schools, teams & events
The broad size run from S to 5XL and more than 70 colors make the 5000 the practical choice for group orders that need to fit everyone and match a specific color.
Print shops & decorators
A thick, quarter-turned surface that holds DTF, screen, and DTG cleanly, with no minimums so shops can sample before committing a run.
Everyday retail & merch
At 5.3 oz with a classic fit, the 5000 wears well as finished merch, not just a promo giveaway, which keeps a printed logo in regular rotation.
Gildan 5000 vs Comfort Colors 1717.
Two sturdy cotton tees for different priorities. The 5000 is the standard-dyed workhorse built for consistency and volume. The 1717 is garment-dyed for a soft, washed look with a broad palette. The choice comes down to whether you want easier color matching across reorders or a vintage, washed feel.
When you need the same result across a large run and every reorder. A dependable bulk blank that is generally easier to match across repeat orders than garment-dyed apparel, with a broad size and color range.
When the soft, broken-in feel and a garment-dyed palette matter more than exact color matching. Heavier hand, lived-in look, wide range of dyed tones.
Fixes and answers before you press.
Common problems & fixes
Frequently asked
Stocked in Elmwood Park for the Northeast.
Order Gildan 5000 heavy cotton blanks online for local pickup, NJ-area fulfillment, or fast shipping across the region. Pickup is available at 495 Mola Blvd, Unit #8, Elmwood Park, NJ 07407.
We print it too.
The Gildan 5000 shown here is sold blank. For designed, printed, ready-to-wear shirts, head to our custom apparel collection.
Shop Custom Apparel →