Gildan Plus Size T-Shirts: A Buying Guide for Decorators

Adding extended sizes to your print or embroidery lineup means understanding a few things that don't come up with standard S–XL runs. Here's what to know before you order.

Sizing Isn't Just "Bigger"

Plus-size Gildan tees are graded with proportional increases in chest width, body length, and sleeve length — not a uniform scale-up. That means print placement that looks great on a Large may sit differently on a 3XL. Always order a sample in your largest offered size and test your print or stitch placement before running a full batch.

Fabric Weight Still Matters

The same fabric-weight logic from standard sizing applies here: heavier cotton (5.3–6 oz) holds bold screen prints and structured embroidery, while lighter blends drape more naturally for a relaxed, everyday fit. Order a size run across a couple of fabric weights to see what your customers respond to.

Print & Stitch Placement Tips

• Screen printing: Scale your design proportionally with size, or use a centered chest placement that reads well across the whole size range.
• Embroidery: Denser stitch counts can pull at lighter-weight plus-size fabrics — test on your actual blank, not a swatch.
• DTF transfers: A safe bet for extended sizing since transfers can be sized per garment without new screens.

Building a Size-Inclusive Product Line

Start by stocking your best-selling design in 2XL through 5XL alongside your standard run. You don't need a separate design for plus sizes — you need the same design, properly placed, on a properly fitted blank.

Order Without Overcommitting

Halo26's Gildan plus-size tees are sold by the dozen with no minimums, so you can test extended sizing on your bestsellers without tying up cash in inventory you're not sure will move.

Shop Gildan Plus Size Tees → · See Full Gildan Size Chart →

Shop the blanks in this guide: Gildan G500 Heavy Cotton Tee · Gildan G200 Ultra Cotton Tee · Gildan G640 SoftStyle Tee

Related reading: Why Plus Size Blanks Are a Business Opportunity · Gildan Sizing Guide (Regular & Plus)