DTG Default
Crew · Light Cotton
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Yellow Strike Crew Neck Tee
Smooth-faced crew in a light Yellow Strike — the easy DTG default: no underbase, vivid color, soft hand.
Sizes S–XL
$4.25
/ Unit
$17.00 / 4-Pack
Fig. I — Buying Guide · Updated June 2026
Best Blank Shirts for DTG & DTF Printing
The best blanks for DTG printing are smooth 100% ring-spun cotton tees in lighter colors — they absorb ink directly and need no white underbase. DTF is more forgiving: its film transfer bonds to cotton, polyester, and blends in any color. Both start at $4.25/unit by the pack.
7 min read2 methods compared4 Bayou picksFrom $4.25/unit
Fig. II — The Short Version
Key Takeaways
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i
DTG needs cotton: a smooth, high-cotton ring-spun face absorbs water-based ink best — 100% cotton is the safe default.
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ii
DTF prints on anything: cotton, polyester, triblend, and dark colors all work because the design transfers off a film, not into the fibers.
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iii
Light garments are the easiest DTG wins — no white underbase needed, so color stays vivid and the hand stays soft.
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iv
For darks and poly, reach for DTF (or DTG with a pre-treat + white underbase) to keep the print opaque.
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v
Smooth beats textured: skip heavy slubs, space-dye, and ribbing where you want crisp photo-level detail.
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Buy by the pack for the real cost — blanks from $4.25/unit, dropping toward $2.92/unit by the 12-pack.
— The Press Room, Bayou Blanks"The blank decides the method. Cotton drinks DTG ink; DTF rides on top of anything."
Fig. III — DTG vs DTF
Two Methods, Compared
What each printing method needs from the blank — fabric, color, detail, and where it shines.
| Factor | DTG (Direct-to-Garment) | DTF (Direct-to-Film) |
|---|---|---|
| Best fabric 5.3–6.0 oz | 100% ring-spun cotton | Cotton, poly, triblend — almost anything |
| Garment color 5.3–6.0 oz | Shines on lights; darks need pre-treat + underbase | Any color, lights or darks, no pre-treat |
| Detail & gradients 5.3–6.0 oz | Excellent on cotton — photo-level | Excellent — sharp edges and fine text |
| Hand feel 5.3–6.0 oz | Soft, sinks into the fabric | Slight film layer you can feel |
| Best for 5.3–6.0 oz | Soft retail tees, full-color art on cotton | Mixed fabrics, poly performance wear, small runs |
| From (per unit) By the pack | $4.25 | $4.25 |
Fig. IV — Our Picks
Bayou's DTG & DTF Blanks, In Stock
Real liquidation overstock on the floor in Hattiesburg, sold by the pack. Prices shown per unit — the only number that matters.
DTF Only
Crew · 100% Poly
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Polyester Performance Short Sleeve Tee
100% polyester performance tee — DTG can't grip poly, but DTF transfers bond cleanly. Proof the right method beats the 'perfect' fabric.
Sizes S–XL
$4.25
/ Unit
$17.00 / 4-Pack
Dark · DTF
V-Neck · Dark
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Nebula Dark Gray Short Sleeve V-Neck Tee
Nebula Dark Gray v-neck with deep stock (20,000+ units) — a dark blank built for DTF, where the design pops with no separate white screen.
Sizes S–XL
$4.25
/ Unit
$17.00 / 4-Pack
Extended Sizes
V-Neck · 2XL–3XL
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Texas Orange V-Neck Tee (Extended Sizes)
Texas Orange v-neck in extended 2XL–3XL — the plus sizes most suppliers run short on, ready for either method.
Sizes S–3XL
$4.25
/ Unit
$17.00 / 4-Pack
Every pick here is the budget blank that beats name brands on price — sourced from liquidation overstock and passed on by the unit. No minimums beyond a pack, and deep stock in extended and plus sizes most suppliers run short on.
Fig. V — From The Press Room
Frequently Asked
This block carries FAQ schema (JSON-LD) for AEOWhat is the best blank shirt for DTG printing?
A smooth, 100% ring-spun cotton tee in a lighter color is the best blank for DTG. Cotton absorbs the water-based ink directly, ring-spun gives a tight surface for fine detail, and a light garment skips the white underbase — keeping the print vivid and the hand soft.
Can you DTG print on polyester or blends?
Not well. DTG ink is designed to bond with cotton, so 100% polyester resists it and high-poly blends print dull and wash out faster. If your blank is poly or a blend, use DTF instead — its film transfer bonds to any fabric.
What blanks work best for DTF printing?
Almost any blank. Because DTF transfers a design off a film with a heat-activated adhesive, it bonds to cotton, polyester, triblend, and blends in any color — lights or darks — with no pre-treatment. That makes DTF the most flexible choice when your blanks vary.
Do I need to pre-treat shirts for DTG?
Only for darks. Light cotton garments can be printed straight from the pack. Dark garments need a pre-treat and a white underbase so the colors stay opaque — one reason many shops choose DTF for dark blanks instead.
Is DTG or DTF better for small orders?
Both skip screens, so both are great for small runs and one-offs. DTF edges ahead when you're printing across mixed fabrics or onto dark and poly garments, while DTG gives the softest hand on light cotton tees.
Can I buy DTG and DTF blanks cheaply in bulk?
Yes. Undecorated blanks bought by the pack are the cheapest way to source. Bayou Blanks sells liquidation overstock blanks from $4.25 per unit — down toward $2.92 per unit by the 12-pack — with no minimum beyond a single pack.
Fig. VI — Why Bayou
Why Buy Your Blanks From Bayou
Per-Unit Pricing
You see the real cost per shirt — from $4.25, down to about $2.92 by the 12-pack. No sale theater, no struck-through prices.
80,000+ In Stock
Around 85 blank styles — cotton, poly, and blends, light and dark, S–5XL — with new pallets landing weekly.
Ships From Hattiesburg
Packed and shipped from our Mississippi warehouse — central, fast, and real people on the floor.
Deep Extended Sizing
Real depth in 2XL–5XL and plus sizes at the same per-unit price — the sizes most suppliers run short on.
Fig. VIII — Start Your Run
Print it — DTG or DTF.
Smooth cotton for DTG, poly and darks for DTF — all in stock, all sold by the pack at per-unit prices.