Your Search for the Best White T-Shirt Ends Here

The quest for the Holy Grail has nothing on my search for a truly great white T-shirt. Over the years, I’ve spent hundreds (*cough* thousands) of dollars on dozens of tees in an effort to find one that’s not too tight, too cropped, or too sheer; one that stays white and continues to look crisp through sweaty summer days and months of washing; one that’s soft and drapey, but doesn’t look like pajamas. Does such a garment exist only in my imagination? I don’t—won’t—believe it.

I enlisted the SELF team to help me put shirts from popular brands like Athleta, Madewell, Aritzia, Abercrombie & Fitch, and more to the test—and I’m thrilled to report that we found some absolute bangers. Your perfect white T-shirt is on this list, guaranteed.

Best Overall: Aritzia Babaton Function T-Shirt
Runner Up: Athleta Essential Tee
Best Budget: Uniqlo Mini T-Shirt
Best Baby Tee: Aritzia Sunday Best BestHug Little Ribbed T-Shirt
Best for Layering: Lululemon Organic Cotton Straight-Hem Crewneck T-Shirt
Best Oversized T-Shirt: Abercrombie & Fitch Essential Premium Polished Relaxed Tee
Best for Workouts: Under Armour Meridian Short Sleeve

Here are some criteria to keep in mind while sifting through the gazillions of white tees available.

We read through customer reviews, message boards, and online product recommendation lists to find top-rated brands and styles for testing. Then, each SELF tester wore—and washed—their tees for at least a month before rendering their verdict. They tried the shirts in multiple scenarios (working out, wearing to work, bopping around town) and with different undergarments to check their level of see-through-ness (unofficially known as the “black bra test”).

Without further ado, here’s the cream of the crop (top).

• Pima cotton feels smooth and substantial
• Drapes nicely
• Hip-grazing length

• Some reviewers report that the shirt shrunk when they followed the label’s wash instructions; I recommend machine-washing in cold water and hanging to dry
• Limited size range

This is it, friends: the white tee that dreams are made of. Slightly boxy fit—check. Medium-thick fabric that has a pretty drape (perfect for that French tuck I can’t let go of), but isn’t see-through—check. A just-right amount of roominess around my biceps—check again. This Babaton top from Aritzia now has a place of honor in my T-shirt drawer; it’s just too good to be relegated to undershirt duty, so I reach for it to wear under an open blazer or with a pair of jeans.

After three months of living in (and washing) this tee, it’s showing minimal signs of wear. The Pima cotton is still silky-smooth, and I’m only seeing the slightest gray tinge in the armpits. In order to avoid any shrinkage in the wash (a common complaint of Aritzia reviewers), I only wash this shirt in cold water and never put it in the dryer.

Abbey is wearing a size L T-shirt (pictured above)

• Bright white color
• Elastane gives it more stretch
• Fabric feels lightweight and breathable; you can work out in this

• Narrow collar band and cropped fit might not be everyone’s preference

Immediately out of the bag, I noticed how white this tee is—it’s a crisp, printer-paper white that looks clean and polished, even after months of being in heavy outfit rotation. Compared to the Aritzia Babaton tee’s thick Pima cotton, the fabric used for this Athleta style is lighter, thinner, and has more stretch—but a nude bra is still invisible underneath it. (Black, however, isn’t, so wear at your own risk.)

I prefer a T-shirt that skims my silhouette rather than a form-fitting top, so I love this tee’s boxy shape. The length is perfect for me too; it hits at my hip bone, meaning it’s just long enough to tuck into the front into my jeans. Another nice detail: the center seam down the shirt’s back.

Abbey is wearing a size M T-shirt (pictured above)

• Under $20
• Thick cotton feels high-quality, despite the low price

• Sweat shows through the underarms (but goes away when you wash)

It’s hard to go wrong when you’re stocking up on basics from Uniqlo; the Japanese brand is known for its timeless designs, quality fabrics, and wallet-friendly prices, so it’s not really a surprise that the global powerhouse makes a solid white tee. This pick—a fave of SELF’s senior commerce editor’s—has a fitted, ’90s silhouette with a hem that grazes the top of your high-waisted pants.

“I’m super impressed by how thick and nice the fabric feels, for the price,” our senior commerce editor says. “I also love that it has a wider, ribbed collar—it looks put-together peeking out of sweaters and hoodies.”

Sarah is wearing a size S T-shirt (pictured above)

• Snug fit with plenty of stretch
• A long-sleeve version is available

• Too short to tuck in to most bottoms
• Reviewers say you might want to size up

“This is, not to be dramatic, my favorite white tee I've ever owned. It's such great quality: buttery soft and nice and thick without being bulky at all,” says SELF’s editorial assistant. “Fitted T-shirts can get uncomfortable, especially under the arms and around the neck, but this one has a great stretch and is so, so soft.”

She says the slim, baby-tee style makes this shirt great for layering and notes that the cotton-blend fabric is opaque enough to keep most bras invisible. If you want a little something extra, check out the cutie embroidered versions of this top—you can get a white tee jazzed up with a sweet bunny, fawn, or bear detail.

Grace is wearing a size M T-shirt (pictured above)

• Made from organic cotton with four-way stretch
• Classic t-shirt cut and length
• Breathable fabric makes this a good pick for workouts

• Size up if you want a looser fit
• Some reviewers say the sleeves are tight

This shirt has become my go-to for wearing with sweaters because its slimmer cut means it won’t bunch or bulk up under my layers. Its hip-length is also just right for tucking into trousers (and staying put).

To the touch, this tee feels more like activewear than a traditional cotton jersey—it’s stretchy (thanks to Lycra) and on the thinner side—and to put it to the test, I wore it while exercising. During a super-sweaty hot yoga class, it did a solid job of pulling moisture away from my skin in a desperate attempt to keep me cool. But you should be warned that, once soaked, the fabric became almost transparent.

Abbey is wearing a size L T-shirt (pictured above)

• Low price ($25 but currently on sale for $15)
• Holds its shape after multiple washes

• While the brand claims this shirt has a relaxed fit, Abercrombie reviewers recommend sizing up for an oversized look
• Some bras are visible through the shirt

SELF’s commerce writer says this shirt became an instant fave (she calls it “T-shirt goals”) because it’s made of a heavier-weight fabric that provides some structure, but still feels pajama-soft. “I’d happily wear it to bed but I like the look and feel of it so much that I want to wear—and appreciate—it during my waking hours,” she says.

She also applauds the shirt’s durability, saying: “I've found that cotton, boxy tees like this usually lose their shape after one wash. The collar will stretch out and the sleeves and hem line will look like they've shriveled up. But with this shirt, all of these troublesome spots have stayed flat, which makes it look so much sharper.”

Jessica is wearing a size L T-shirt (pictured above)

• Material feels soft and high-quality
• Four-way stretch moves with you
• Dries quickly

• Our tester says the thicker fabric might be too warm for super-sweaty workouts
• If you want a tight fit, size down or opt for the “fitted” version
• Pricey

Admittedly, $60 is pretty steep for a plain white tee, but SELF’s director of food and fitness attests that this style from Under Armor feels “rich.” “I think a lot of athletic tees can feel kind of cheap, but this had a nice heft to it without feeling bulky,” she says. “The material is way different from most T-shirts. It feels like ‘buttery soft leggings,’ but in shirt form.”

Designed to be performance-wear, this is the only non-cotton tee on our list; it’s made from a polyester and elastane blend, which, as SELF has previously reported, is more sweat-wicking than cotton. The material has a four-way stretch that allows for freedom of movement through every vinyasa flow.

Christa is wearing a size XS T-shirt (pictured above)

The below tees fell just shy of our top picks—for our testers, they fell into a “close, but no cigar” category. But depending on which qualities you think are important to have in a T-shirt, they might be ideal for you.

The good: This 100% cotton tee has a nice weight to it; it doesn’t feel too thin or cheap—despite the low price. I also find the boxy fit flattering and love how size-inclusive Old Navy is.

The drawbacks: You can plan on replacing this T-shirt every few months. It starts to turn a dishwater gray/yellow after repeated wearing and washing.

The good: “The tee is thick, yet flowy; warm, yet breezy,” says SELF’s social video producer. “It screams high quality.”

The drawbacks: That “luxury” feel comes with a high price tag (when it’s not on sale, which it currently is!). Also, our tester has this shirt in multiple colors, and while she reaches for the black one all the time, she says the white one is too see-through to wear without a cardigan or blazer on top.

The good: If your idea of a great T-shirt is one with a lot of structure, this is for you. The cotton weave on this Cos tee is thick—it’s by far the heaviest on this list—which gives the shirt an “I’m-a-grownup” aesthetic.

The drawbacks: The sizes here are limited; the largest is an XL, and considering I’m about a size 10 and wear a size L…well, XL won’t cut it for many folks.

The good: Buck Mason’s tees have a cult following (Mark Zuckerberg has been known to wear the brand) and I get it: The Supima cotton fabric feels as soft as your favorite sheets. And at $45, it’s moderately priced.

The drawbacks: The material is too thin for me. The shirt also has a baby-tee fit (with a cropped length and sleeves that hit up high on my upper arm, just a smidge longer than a cap sleeve), which isn’t my preferred look. That being said, I do have this shirt in multiple colors and regularly wear it to sleep in.

The good: Madewell reviewers rave about this tee on the site, and I spied it on a few other “best T-shirt” lists. It’s well-priced (under $20) and has a nice, worn-in texture.

The drawbacks: This shirt feels very similar to the Buck Mason one, and shares its downsides: It’s a bit flimsy and overly cropped. I wear this T-shirt to bed or under sweaters, but not on its own.

The good: I’m a big fan of AYR’s elevated basics and denim—it’s almost embarrassing how many of the brand’s jeans and tees (and blazers and trousers…) I own. This shirt’s Pima cotton (the same material used in our top pick) hangs nicely, and the cropped length feels modern.

The drawbacks: If you’re gonna pay $65 for a T-shirt, you’ve got to love it. And to be honest, this particular style didn’t blow me away. While soft, the fabric is too thin for my taste, and I find the sleeve length a little long; it hits just above the elbow. (The sleeves look better when you cuff them, IMO, but they tend to roll down.)

The good: “This tee is breezy, loose, cropped, and super soft—it's clearly made of activewear-type material, but it’s cut as a casual piece,” says SELF’s senior commerce writer.

The drawbacks: “The fabric is on the sheer side (if you're wearing a dark bra, it's pretty visible through the shirt), which pretty much guarantees I’ll only wear it around the house,” says our tester. “It's comfy and cute, but it's not going to be my go-to white tee.”

Related:

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• After Testing Dozens of Pairs, We’ve Found the Very Best Leggings for Exercise
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