The Most Popular T-Shirt Colors: A Guide

By ShirtSpace | Mar 08, 2023 |  Updated Oct 31, 2023

There are t-shirt styles that are popular for a reason. When you are choosing clothes to wear or print on, what do you consider? If you are like most people, you probably consider style, fit, cost, and comfort. These are all extremely important, but there is one thing you can’t forget about. What is that? COLOR!

The color of your clothing plays a significant role in the look and feel you are going for. We know that selecting the right color of clothing can be a little tricky, so let’s go over the most popular colors to help you make your choice a little easier.

When it comes to t-shirt colors, there are always a few that stand out as the most popular among consumers. Additionally, timeless neutrals like black, white, and gray t-shirts are easy to pair with most other clothing items, taking the guesswork out of it and making your life a bit easier. Decorators have also taken notice and bright and vibrant colors are becoming increasingly popular in the screen printing, HTV, DTG, and embroidery worlds. While these colors are a bit trickier to pair with a variety of ink colors, when paired correctly, you can end up with a standout tee. With that in mind, if you are choosing to print or decorate on bright and vibrant tees, choose ink colors that will complement the tee, and don’t be afraid to get creative.

In this blog post, we'll take a look at the top t-shirt colors sold at ShirtSpace and why they are so popular. 

Hero Image shirts Pictured: Fruit of the Loom IC47MR t-shirt in “Military Green Heather” and “Mustard Heather”.

ShirtSpace’s Top-Selling Colors

Black T-Shirts

Image credit: The Creative Exchange

1. Black is a classic color that never goes out of style. It's versatile, easy to match with other colors, and slimming. It's a great option for those who want a simple yet stylish look. Plus, dirt, grease, and sweat stains are less visible on a black t-shirt than on a white or light-colored shirt.

White T-Shirts

Shirt pictured: Just Hoods by AWDis JHA035 long-sleeve t-shirt in “Arctic White”.

2. White is another classic color that's always in demand. With a rich history, white tees have always been a classic. White clothing is a popular choice for summer, as it keeps you cool and reflects the sun's rays. It's also a great option for layering, as it can be paired with other colors to create a more dynamic look. It’s the ultimate closet staple and base of an outfit that can be styled a number of ways. Plus, white tees are a top choice for tie-dyers since it is a blank canvas and allows for the colors to book as vibrant as can be. 

Gray T-Shirts

Shirt Pictured: Bella+Canvas 3001U unisex t-shirt in “Athletic Heather”.

3. Gray is a great neutral color that can be dressed up or down. It's a popular choice for those who want a more subdued look, as it's not as bold as black or white. A gray t-shirt is also a good option for those who want to add a bit of sophistication to their wardrobe. To top it off, gray tees come in a wide variety of shades, including ash, sport gray, athletic gray, charcoal, and graphite, just to name a few. 

Blue T-Shirts

Shirt Pictured: Next Level 2050 raglan t-shirt in the popular color, “Tech Royal”.

4. Blue is a popular color for t-shirts, as it's easy to match with other colors due to its complementary nature, and it can be dressed up or down. Blue colors are known to have a calming affect. It's a great option for those who want a casual, yet stylish look. Blue is another color that comes in a lot of shades. Lighter blues are a popular choice for summer, while navy blue is a common choice for fall and winter. Bright and bold royal blue is a color used year-round for sports teams, schools and in everyday wear.

Red T-Shirts

Shirt Pictured: Champion T525C unisex t-shirt in the popular color, “Red”.

5. Red is a top color sold for t-shirts since it is very eye-catching. Red is a passionate color and therefore is used for many sports teams, charities and schools. Plus, red tees are always a popular choice for a handful of holidays observed in the U.S., such as Valentine’s Day, the 4th of July and Christmas. 

Other Popular T-Shirt Colors

If you are looking for more unique shades, like “blue jean”, “terracotta”, or “mauve”, check out these brands that rise to the occasion when it comes to fun and distinctive colors.

Comfort Colors 

Shirts Pictured: Comfort Colors Color Blast Collection, including the 1745 t-shirt in “Fern” and the 1545CC crewneck sweatshirt in “Citrine”. 

Offering a wide array of colors, Comfort Colors is a pioneer in creating unique, one-of-a-kind hues. Not only is their collection extremely comfortable, but their colors are second-to-none. Don’t believe us? Get ready to choose from variations of garment-dyed blues, greens, oranges, purples, grays, browns, yellows, and more. Check out the impression color selection of the C1717 heavyweight t-shirt, and you’ll be a believer!

Bella+Canvas

Shirts Pictured: Bella+Canvas 3001C unisex tee in the popular colors, “Autumn” and “Dark Gray”

With over 300 colors represented in their collection, Bella+Canvas is known for their trendy colors that bring fashion-forward designs to life! With moody dusty pastels, a prism collection of ultra-light pastels, marbled colors, and seasonal go-to’s like “autumn” and “mustard”, Bella+Canvas is the top brand for unique and stylish color options.  

Which T-Shirt Color is Your Favorite?

When it comes to color — black, white, gray, blue and red are the most popular choices among ShirtSpace consumers. Blank apparel in purples and greens follow. 

These colors are versatile, easy to match with other colors, and can be dressed up or down. Whether you're looking for a classic look or something a bit more trendy, there's a t-shirt color out there for you. Tell us your go-to t-shirt colors and why in the comments! 

Image credit: Parker Burchfield

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