T-Shirt Fabric Weight: 170, 200, 220 or 237 g/m²?
, by Marius Grozavu , 3 min reading time
A t-shirt's weight in g/m² tells you more than the label on the collar. What 170, 200, 220 and 237 g/m² feel like, how each one fits, and which to wear when.
Most t-shirts sold today weigh between 140 and 160 g/m². They feel fine in the shop, then lose their shape after a few washes, go see-through at the shoulders and twist at the side seams. Fabric weight is the quickest way to know what you are buying before you touch it, which is why we put it in the name of every tee we make.
What g/m² means on a t-shirt
Grams per square metre is the weight of one square metre of the fabric. On a t-shirt it tells you three practical things: how opaque the fabric is, how it falls from the shoulder, and whether the collar and hem keep their shape. It does not measure softness. A well-made 237 g/m² tee in combed ring-spun cotton can feel softer than a cheap 150 g/m² one.
Our four weights, side by side
| Weight | Tee | Feel and fit | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 170 g/m² | Boxy Tee | Light, opaque, boxy body with dropped shoulders | The hottest weeks of summer |
| 200 g/m² | Oversized Organic Tee, Men's Wide Collar Tee | Organic cotton, enough body to hang straight | All-round, from May to October |
| 220 g/m² | Garment-Dyed Oversized Tee | Textured surface, colour with a lived-in depth | Spring and autumn |
| 237 g/m² | Oversized Heavyweight Tee, Icons Box Tee | Dense, structured, stands away from the body | Layering and cooler days |
Which weight for which season
In a Spanish summer, 170 to 200 g/m² is the comfortable range: light enough for 35 °C, heavy enough not to cling. From late September, and again in spring, 220 to 237 g/m² comes into its own. It is warm enough to wear on its own on a mild day and holds its shape under an open shirt or a jacket in winter without bunching.
How weight changes the fit
A heavier fabric keeps the volume an oversized cut is designed to have. At 237 g/m² the tee stands slightly away from the body and the drop shoulder hangs straight instead of collapsing. At 170 g/m² the same cut drapes closer and looks smaller. If you are unsure which size to take, our guide on how to choose your size in oversized clothing covers it step by step.
Heavier is not always better
A heavyweight tee in August is hard work, and the heaviest fabrics take longer to dry. The right weight depends on when you will wear the piece. A practical setup is two: a 200 g/m² tee for summer and a 237 g/m² tee for the rest of the year.
Looking after the weight
All our tees are washed at 30 °C. Follow the care instructions on each product page: washing cool and drying low, or on a line, keeps the fabric dense and the collar flat for longer.
The short version
Under 160 g/m² is a disposable tee. 170–200 g/m² is a good summer tee. 220–237 g/m² is a tee that keeps its shape year-round. For hoodies and sweatshirts, our plain guide to fabric weight covers the heavier ranges, and the Heavyweight 300+ collection brings together everything we make at 300 g/m² and above.
