Heavyweight vs Midweight Tees: The GSM Guide
“Heavyweight” gets printed on half the product pages you will ever see. The actual number almost never does. That number — GSM, grams per square metre — is the honest one: it decides how see-through a tee is, how it drapes, and how long it survives. Here is what GSM means, where cotton tees really sit, and the exact weights of the two blanks we print on.
What GSM Actually Measures
GSM stands for grams per square metre: how much one square metre of the fabric weighs. More grams per square metre means more fibre under your print — denser fabric, less see-through, a fuller drape, and more washes before it degrades. For cotton t-shirt jersey, the honest rule of thumb looks like this:
- Under 150 GSM — lightweight. Soft out of the bag, promotional-grade; goes see-through in direct light and degrades fast.
- 150–180 GSM — midweight. What most quality retail tees are cut from: everyday weight that drapes well and survives real wear.
- 200+ GSM — heavyweight. Substantial, structured, warm; you feel it go on.
These ranges are a rule of thumb, not a law — knit density and fibre quality matter too — but they are the fastest honest signal a product page can give you.
Our Two Blanks, Side by Side
Every Areezz piece is printed to order on a traceable blank. These are the two garments we print on, with their actual specs:
| Unisex tee — Gildan 64000 | Heavy Blend hoodie — Gildan 18500 | |
|---|---|---|
| Fabric | Pre-shrunk combed cotton | 50% cotton, 50% polyester |
| Weight | 180 GSM (midweight) | 8.0 oz/yd² ≈ 271 g/m² (heavyweight fleece) |
| How it wears | Opaque enough for rich print; ribbed crew neck; double-stitched hem | Dense, structured fleece; air-jet spun yarn resists pilling; double-lined hood; front pouch pocket |
| Best for | Everyday wear, warmer days, layering | Cold days, oversized fits, travel |
| Care | Cold wash inside out · hang dry or low tumble · no bleach · iron off the print | Same routine — heat is the enemy of both |
Reading the table: our 180 GSM combed-cotton tee (the Browse current graphic pieces is a good example) is a solid midweight — the everyday workhorse. If you want the heavyweight experience, that lives in fleece territory: the Wolf graphic hoodie at about 271 g/m².
Why We Say Midweight, Not Heavyweight
Plenty of brands write “heavyweight” on the label and never print the number anywhere. We would rather stay measurable: our tee is 180 GSM — a true midweight with real body, not a thin blank leaning on a bold word. The heaviest thing we make is honestly labelled too: 8.0 oz/yd² fleece, roughly 271 g/m². If a brand says heavyweight without a number, ask for the number.
Weight Only Lasts if You Wash It Right
Fabric weight is not magic — heat is what degrades cotton and print alike. Wash cold and inside out, hang dry or tumble on the lowest setting, skip the bleach, and never run an iron over the graphic. Do that and the fabric keeps its drape and the lines stay sharp for years: our graphic tee care guide has the full routine. And if the weight question ties into fit for you, measurement — not guessing — is in our guide to finding your perfect t-shirt size.
Printed to Order, Both Weights
Original graphics on midweight cotton tees and heavyweight fleece hoodies — made for you, never stocked.
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