Custom Screen Printed Style Hoodies, Polos, and Tank Tops: Which Blanks Work Best

A first custom shirt order almost always starts with a tee, but most shops end up expanding into hoodies, polos, and tanks within the first few months. Each of those pieces behaves a little differently for a bold, screen-print-style logo or graphic. Here is a working guide to what fits each product, pulled from the Bear Grips Pro Shops catalog, so a first-time shop owner does not have to guess.

Hoodies: Best for Bold, Single-Color Graphics

Piece	Brand	Best for	VIP base
Comfort Soft Hoodie	Bear Grips	Daily wear, mid-weight, soft hand feel	$36.88
Unisex Champion Performance Hoodie	Champion	Heavyweight, cold-climate, longest-lasting print surface	$45.88
Classic Zip-Up Hoodie	Gildan	Layering piece, back-only or left-chest design	$41.88

A thick fleece surface holds a bold, high-contrast logo the way a traditional screen printed look reads: crisp edges, no bleed into the fabric weave. Avoid tiny fine-line detail on hoodies, since fleece texture softens fine edges more than a smooth cotton tee does.

Polos: Left-Chest Logos for a Professional Finish

Piece	Brand	Best for	VIP base
Men's Performance Polo Shirt	Sport-Tek	Hot weather, customer-facing, sweat-friendly	$34.88
Men's Premium Cotton Pique Polo	Gildan	Office, classic look, weekend wear	$34.88
Women's Premium Cotton Pique Polo	Gildan	Same fabric, women's cut	$34.88

Polos read best with a small, 2-4 inch left-chest logo, not a full front graphic. A bold single or two-color mark in that placement looks closer to an embroidered, established-brand finish than a busy full-chest print does.

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Tank Tops: The Warm-Weather and Gym Option

Piece	Brand	Best for	VIP base
Performance Workout Tank	Bella+Canvas	Gym, athletic, sweat-friendly	$19.88
Ladies Racerback Tank	Next Level	Women's athletic fit	$19.88
Women's Premium Triblend Racerback Tank	Next Level	Softer triblend fabric, lifestyle wear	$25.88
Mens Cut-Off Tank	AS Colour	Training, gym-brand casual	$24.88

Tanks carry both a large front graphic and a back design, since there is no sleeve to interrupt the print field. A bold chest logo plus a back callout (business name, tagline, location) is the most common working layout.

Design Tips That Work Across Hoodies, Polos, and Tanks

• Bold, single or two-color logos read the cleanest on every fabric type, closest to a classic screen-printed look.
• Fine detail and thin lines lose definition on textured fabrics like fleece hoodies. Keep those designs on smooth cotton tees instead.
• Left chest for polos and hoodies, full front or back for tanks. Match the placement to the garment.
• There is no color-count surcharge on any piece in the catalog, so a two or three-color design costs the same as a single color.

Building a Shop Around These Three Pieces

Most vendors start with one tee, add one hoodie for cold months, and round out with a polo or tank depending on the audience (polo for customer-facing businesses, tank for fitness brands). All three list in the same shop with no minimum order and no setup fee. Start building at shops.beargrips.com.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are hoodies more expensive to print than tees?

The base price is higher because the blank garment costs more (hoodies run $36.88-$45.88 VIP base vs $19.88 for a basic tee), but there is no setup fee difference and no minimum order on either.

What is the best fabric for a bold screen-print-style logo?

Smooth cotton and cotton-blend surfaces (tees, polos) reproduce crisp edges the cleanest. Fleece hoodies also hold bold graphics well but soften very fine detail.

Can I print on both sides of a tank top?

Yes. Front and back printing is available at no extra setup fee, which works well on tanks since there is no sleeve interrupting either print area.

Do polos and tanks come in women's sizing?

Yes. The catalog includes women's-specific cuts for both polos (Gildan premium cotton pique) and tanks (Next Level racerback and premium triblend racerback).