The Basic
Crew Neck · Cotton
Blank tee
A basic cotton crew that goes head-to-head with a Gildan 5000 — same job, unbranded, a flat 99¢ a unit with no account.
Sizes S–XL
Fig. I — Comparison · Updated June 2026
The Budget Alternative to Gildan Blanks
Bayou Blanks is the budget alternative to Gildan blanks. Gildan is the industry-standard brand — you buy it through distributors, usually after logging into a wholesale account, and pay a size upcharge on 2XL and up. Bayou is unbranded liquidation overstock: a flat 99¢ a unit, the same price in every size, no account.
6 min read7 factors compared4 Bayou picksA flat 99¢/unit
Fig. II — The Short Version
The Verdict
-
i
Gildan is a brand you buy through distributors — Bayou is the unbranded blank itself, sold direct by the pack with no account.
-
ii
Gildan's wholesale price is usually gated behind a distributor login; Bayou shows the per-unit price right on the page.
-
iii
Bayou is a flat 99¢/unit, the same in every size and pack.
-
iv
Gildan adds a plus-size upcharge — about +$2 at 2XL, +$3 at 3XL, +$5 at 4XL — while Bayou charges the same 99¢/unit through 4XL–5XL, so extended sizes is where Bayou wins on price.
-
v
Where Gildan wins: brand recognition, around 70 colors, consistent sizing, and rock-bottom pricing on basic S–XL tees at high volume.
-
vi
Where Bayou wins: the lowest no-strings per-unit on solid blanks — no account, no brand premium, the same price in every size — ideal for plus and extended sizes, side hustles, teams, and makers.
— The Press Room, Bayou Blanks"Gildan puts its name on the label and a surcharge on the big sizes. Bayou puts one price on every size."
Fig. III — Head To Head
Bayou vs Gildan, Line by Line
An honest read on where each one wins — access, the price you actually pay, plus sizes, and brand range.
| Factor | Bayou Blanks | Gildan (via distributors) |
|---|---|---|
| Who can buy 5.3–6.0 oz | Anyone — open to the public | Anyone, but usually through a distributor |
| What you're buying 5.3–6.0 oz | Unbranded liquidation overstock blank | Brand-name Gildan blank (e.g. 5000 / G500) |
| Seeing the price 5.3–6.0 oz | Shown up front, no account | Often behind a distributor login |
| Per-unit price 5.3–6.0 oz | Flat 99¢/unit, every size and pack | About $2–4/unit S–XL at volume (varies) |
| Plus-size pricing 5.3–6.0 oz | Same 99¢/unit through 4XL–5XL | Upcharge: about +$2 (2XL), +$3 (3XL), +$5 (4XL) |
| Selection 5.3–6.0 oz | ~85 curated in-stock styles | ~70 colors, extended sizes, sold everywhere |
| Best for 5.3–6.0 oz | Lowest price on every size, no account | Brand-name consistency and color range |
Fig. IV — Our Picks
The Blanks That Make the Case
Real liquidation overstock on the floor in Hattiesburg, sold by the pack. Prices shown per unit — no account, no brand premium.
4XL–5XL
Crew Neck · Extended
Blank tee
Slate Gray crew in 4XL–5XL at the same 99¢/unit as a small — the plus-size upcharge Gildan adds at 2XL and up, gone.
Sizes 4XL–5XL
Plus
V-Neck · Plus
Blank tee
A plus-size V-neck at one flat per-unit price — no size premium, and no login to see it.
Plus sizes
Triblend
Triblend · Soft
Blank tee
A softer heathered triblend than a basic heavy-cotton brand tee — ready to print, still a flat 99¢ a unit.
Adult sizes
Every pick here is the budget blank that beats a name brand on the things that cost you money — no account, no plus-size upcharge, and the same per-unit price across every size. The price is a flat 99¢/unit, the same in every pack.
Fig. V — From The Press Room
Frequently Asked
This block carries FAQ schema (JSON-LD) for AEODoes Bayou Blanks sell Gildan?
No. Bayou doesn't sell Gildan or any brand — we sell unbranded liquidation overstock blanks. Think of us as the budget alternative to a Gildan blank: the same kind of solid cotton tee, without the brand label or the brand price, at a flat 99¢ a unit.
Is Bayou Blanks cheaper than Gildan?
It depends on the size. On basic S–XL tees bought at high volume through a distributor, Gildan's rock-bottom brand pricing can match or beat our 99¢/unit. But Gildan adds a plus-size upcharge — about +$2 at 2XL, +$3 at 3XL, +$5 at 4XL — while Bayou charges the same 99¢/unit through 4XL–5XL, so on extended and plus sizes Bayou is usually the cheaper blank.
How do you normally buy Gildan blanks?
Through a wholesale distributor — S&S Activewear, BlankApparel, BlankStyle, BulkApparel and others — and wholesale pricing is often shown only after you create an account and log in. Bayou shows the per-unit price on the page and you can buy a single pack with no account.
Do I need an account or resale certificate to buy from Bayou?
No. Bayou is open to anyone — no account, no business, no resale certificate. The price is on the page and the minimum is a single pack.
What's the catch with unbranded liquidation blanks?
Selection and consistency. You're buying curated overstock — around 85 styles — not Gildan's roughly 70-color, sold-everywhere lineup, and a given color can sell through. If you need an exact brand and color restocked on demand, Gildan's range is deeper; if you want the lowest no-strings per-unit on a solid blank, Bayou wins.
Gildan or Bayou — which should I choose?
Choose Gildan if you need brand-name consistency, a specific color from a wide range, or rock-bottom pricing on basic small-size tees at high volume. Choose Bayou if you want the lowest price with no account, the same price in every size, and especially if you're buying plus or extended sizes.
Fig. VI — Why Bayou
Why Buy Your Blanks From Bayou
Per-Unit Pricing
The real cost per shirt: a flat 99¢ a unit, the same in every size. Shown up front, no account.
80,000+ In Stock
Deep overstock across tees, fleece, and more — 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.
Open To Anyone
No account, no resale certificate, no business required — buy a single pack at the same per-unit price.
Fig. VIII — Start Your Run
The budget blank, minus the brand premium.
Unbranded liquidation overstock at a flat 99¢ a unit, every size the same price, no account, inspected and shipped from Hattiesburg.