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Long-sleeved T-shirts are an underrated wardrobe staple. As stylist and fashion designer Jordan Page of @veryadvanced points out, the humble long-sleeved tee can look “classier than short-sleeved ones” by making an outfit a tad more formal — even if, at the end of the day, it’s still a T-shirt. And the versatility is truly unbeatable: A long-sleeved T-shirt can be layered under itchy sweaters or lightweight cardigans and, of course, worn on its own, whether for hitting the gym or running around town.
As I’ve learned from testing and reporting on many wardrobe staples, the available options are abundant, and not all basics are created equal — long-sleeved T-shirts included. To help you narrow your search, I consulted a panel of stylists, fashion designers, and all-around cool people to find the best long-sleeved T-shirts for men. I also tapped several of my Strategist colleagues to tell me about their go-to tees and, of course, tried out a few recommendations for myself — all of which you’ll find detailed here. If you’re looking for more menswear intel, check out our buying guides to functional white T-shirts and oxford button-downs you can wear with a tie or untucked.
Update on December 16, 2024: Removed Lululemon’s Heavyweight Cotton Jersey Long-Sleeve Shirt; updated prices and checked stock for all products.
What we’re looking for
Fit and sizing
As I compiled this list, I looked for a wide range of available sizes as well as different fit options to suit people of all proportions, whether they prefer a slimmer, tighter fit or a looser, boxier fit. I also looked at whether each brand offers longer-length shirts for guys who are tall or who have long torsos.
Neckline and style
A variety of details will determine the overall look of a long-sleeved T-shirt, starting with the neckline. The most common neckline is the classic crewneck, but there are also V-neck options and the henley style, which usually has three buttons at the chest, as worn by Ryan Gosling in the film Drive. The sleeves may have cuffs for a snugger fit at the wrists, as well as staying power if you like to wear them pushed up onto your forearms. Or they may be hemmed looser and more open so they have a French sailor shirt kind of vibe, as seen on Pablo Picasso and Andy Warhol in the 1950s and ’60s. Finally, some long-sleeved T-shirts have a chest pocket; some don’t. We’ve noted all these details for the shirts listed below, along with how many colors each shirt comes in, so you can find one that suits your personal taste.
Fabric material and weight
Most of the options on this list are made of cotton, which is comfortable and breathable as well as machine washable and durable. The weight and type of cotton will determine how heavy or airy the shirt feels and how smooth it looks. Slub cotton, for example, has a bit of a lumpy texture due to how it’s woven, but is extra lightweight and breathable, making it great to wear in warm weather. Ring-spun cotton will be a heavier weight than slub cotton but softer than regular cotton. Regular cotton will be one of the heaviest weights and rougher in feel, but it will also be more durable.
Some long-sleeved T-shirts are made with a blend of materials, incorporating synthetics like spandex for added stretch, modal for extra softness, polyester for more strength, or linen for extra breathability. I’ve also included one hemp-blend option, as hemp is a sustainable, natural fiber that can be grown almost anywhere, so it has less environmental impact than cotton. It is also more durable than cotton and gets softer over time, but it comes with a heftier price tag.
Best long-sleeved T-shirt overall
Sizes: S–5XL | Neckline and style: Crew neck with cuffs | Material: 100% cotton (a few colors are a cotton-polyester blend)
Gildan’s basic long-sleeved tee is versatile, available in a wide range of sizes and colors, and affordable, which is why I crowned it the best long-sleeved T-shirt overall. I have owned a range of Gildan tees over the years, and I’m always impressed by the softness of their material and how it stands up to daily wear and regular washing. This one in particular is impressive: The 100 percent cotton feels substantial without being too thick for layering, and thanks to the tapered neck and shoulders, plus the well-proportioned sleeves, I was able to wear it under jean jackets without too much added bulk. Other features I loved: a side-seam-free torso and wide wrist cuffs that stayed in place whether I was lounging at home or going to the gym.
But don’t just take it from me: New York Times pop-music critic Jon Caramanica (the paper’s former “Critical Shopper” columnist) is also a fan. He says this tee is not only durable, with an “unflappable” crewneck, but its “personality begins to emerge” after a couple of washes. And as Strategist columnist Chris Black puts it, the Gildan is a seasonless wardrobe staple that looks good with almost anything: his navy pants, Levi’s 501s, or even five-inch Patagonia Baggies in the summer.
Best pocket long-sleeved T-shirt
Sizes: XS–2XL | Neckline and style: Crew neck with cuffs and a pocket | Material: 100% open-end cotton
Jared Johnson, co-founder of Season Three, favors Los Angeles Apparel’s pocket shirt because the heavyweight cotton doesn’t stretch out after several wears, making it worth the price. It has a relaxed fit throughout the chest and arms, according to Johnson, who typically styles his with sneakers and a pair of vintage Levi’s. He owns multiples — some of which date back to 2017 (and are still in wearable shape) — in black, navy, and a custom forest-green dye for his brand’s shirts. When asked why Season Three chose Los Angeles Apparel as their wholesale supplier, Johnson replied, “We felt like we couldn’t make shoes in Italy and print our tees on Gildan quality.” And the pocket was “especially necessary to fit with our utilitarian aesthetic.”
Best less expensive long-sleeved pocket T-shirt
Sizes: S–3XL | Neckline and style: Crew neck with cuffs and a pocket | Material: 100% cotton (a few colors are cotton-polyester blend)
At a fraction of the price, this Hanes option also has a handy front pocket and comes recommended by Mark Miguez, a co-owner of the Friend of a Barber barbershop. The fit is “boxy but sits on the body,” according to Miguez, adding that it gets better with every wash. It’s available in 14 colors; Miguez owns it in black and gray and says he wears both “all the time: at work with jeans and sneakers, on the beach with shorts, and dressed up with a leather jacket.”
Best heavyweight long-sleeved T-shirt
Sizes: S–3XL in regular length; sizes M–3XL in tall length | Neckline and style: Crew neck with cuffs | Material: 100% ring-spun cotton with cotton-elastane–blend cuffs
L.L.Bean has long been a Strategist-favorite brand, and Andrew Favorito, a senior public-relations director at Christian Dior, says this long-sleeved pocket tee deserves just as much attention as the Maine-based outfitter’s tote bags, slippers, and fleeces. “It’s exactly what you’d expect from L.L.Bean in regard to quality, cost, and styling,” he says. “No frills, no fluff, no ridiculous markup — just a good shirt.” It has a relaxed fit in the arms, shoulders, and chest; comes in 13 colors; and has ribbed cuffs. It’s made of 6.1-ounce double ring-spun cotton, which is heavyweight and meant to resist shrinkage in the wash. Selecting one of the “tall” sizes adds two inches to the shirt’s body length and one inch to the shirt’s sleeves.
Best mid-weight long-sleeved T-shirt
Sizes: XS–XXL | Neckline and style: Crewneck | Material: Cotton-jersey blend
Senior editor Hilary Reid told me that her boyfriend is a big fan of this rugby-inspired crewneck from Buck Mason, largely because its mid-to-heavyweight cotton-jersey fabric makes it incredibly versatile. “It kind of bridges the dressiness gap between a button-down and a T-shirt,” she explains, adding that it works well with lots of different pants. “It was ideal for a somewhat rainy end-of-summer trip to Cape Cod,” she says. The shirt is made from a 310 GSM cotton and has a relaxed fit that makes it as easy to layer as it is to wear on its own.
Best less expensive mid-weight long-sleeved T-shirt
Sizes: XS–2XL | Neckline and style: Crew neck with cuffs | Material: 100% cotton
Keith Nowak, the founder of athletic brand Ten Thousand, says this Reigning Champ long-sleeved shirt is “part of my daily uniform and literally the only thing I wear that isn’t my own brand.” Reigning Champ, he adds, is known for doing classics with a tech angle. This mid-weight jersey tee is thicker than the brand’s basic long-sleeved shirt and has a relaxed fit throughout the arms and body. It also has flatlock seams, which means the fabric doesn’t overlap, to minimize chances of chafing or irritating the skin. Reigning Champ added raglan sleeves with a drop shoulder to reveal an even more relaxed look.
Best supersoft long-sleeved T-shirt
Sizes: XS–2XL in regular fit or slim fit | Neckline and style: Crew neck with cuffs | Material: 100% cotton
Favorito also recommends this Polo Ralph Lauren long-sleeved shirt, which comes in both classic and custom slim cuts. He says it’s supersoft (so soft, in fact, he sometimes sleeps in them), with a fit that’s forgiving but still tailored enough to layer under an “unforgivingly itchy sweater without being bulky.” Plus, a Ralph Lauren tee like this one “truly never goes out of style,” he says, which is why he owns several “in a smattering of classic neutrals, that are in constant rotation.” It has cuffed sleeves, the trademark Ralph Lauren pony logo, and no pocket for a more streamlined look.
Best less expensive supersoft long-sleeved T-shirt
Sizes: S–XXL | Neckline and style: Crewneck | Material: 50% cotton, 50% modal
For less than $25, Quince’s long-sleeved tee, which is made from a blend of breathable cotton and supersoft modal, is a steal. Market editor and Strategist contributor Leon Hedgepeth, who counts this T-shirt among his favorites, says it feels slightly stretchier than most long-sleeves in his collection. “It also has a wide neckline compared to the other shirts and is one I’ll wear more casually to lounge around the house,” Hedgepeth explains. It’s available in four colors with no cuffs at the sleeves.
Best slub-cotton long-sleeved T-shirt
Sizes: S–2XL | Neckline and style: Crew neck | Material: 100% slub cotton
This tee is made with a unique Peruvian slub cotton that allows Donnell Baldwin, a former style director for men’s-fashion online retailer Mr. Porter, to dress it up or down for “whatever needs I have at the moment.” While it is pricey, Baldwin promises that it can be worn year-round, and the worn-in fabric makes it supremely soft from the first wear. Plus, “it gets better with every wash,” he says. It comes in 17 colors with no cuffs at the sleeves and no chest pocket. It also features some distressing at the hem and a bit of sheerness as well as a looser neckline and a soft, free-flowing drape.
Best less expensive slub-cotton long-sleeved T-shirt
Sizes: XS–2XL | Neckline and style: Crew neck | Material: 100% slub cotton
For about half the price, consider this slub-cotton option from Alex Mill. It’s been a favorite of Christopher Echevarria, the founder of loafer brand Blackstock & Weber, since 2017, when he bought his in L.A. The shirt stands out for its slub-cotton material, which Echevarria says “gives it the added elements of texture and softness.” Another fan is Hedgepeth, who describes it as “supple and lightweight” and says it has a reinforced neckline for added durability. He finds that it fits slimmer, and the neck band’s binding makes it look a bit less casual. It comes in four colors with no chest pocket and no cuffs on the sleeves, for a looser fit at the wrists than you’ll find on the shirts listed above.
Best performance long-sleeved T-shirt
Sizes: XS–XL | Neckline and style: Crew neck | Material: 94% polyester, 6% spandex
Multiple Strategist staffers and contributors swear by Outdoor Voices sweats, and MichaelAnn Cohlmia, a co-founder of CBD brand WeedSport, feels the same way about the brand’s long-sleeved tee. “I always grab it no matter what I am doing: traveling, hiking, or playing tennis on a winter day in L.A.” Cohlmia says she — yes, she (the savviest shoppers are not restricted by gender norms) — has washed it many times, and it always comes out perfect. “No shrinking or warping, and it’s forever soft,” she says. While she notes that the lightweight fabric is a touch clingy, she says its looser cut ensures it’s still comfortable and looks good. The best feature, she adds, are the thumbholes, which are “like hammocks for your thumbs” and keep the sleeves from rolling up or flapping around. It comes in five heathered colors, and the CloudKnit fabric’s blend of polyester and spandex is stretchy and quick drying.
Best less expensive performance long-sleeved T-shirt
Sizes: S–XXL | Neckline and style: Crew neck | Fabric: 100% polyester ZERO interlock
In Black’s monthly column, he recommended Columbia’s long-sleeved shirt as a stylish hiking essential. He likes that it has a looser fit, “so it hangs in a way that allows for some airflow,” and UPF 30, “so it will not only cover your arms from the sun, but shield its harmful rays, too,” he says. What’s more is that it’s made with the brand’s proprietary Omni-Freeze fabric. Contributor Steven John, who is also a fan of Columbia gear made with this fabric, explains that it’s “basically a matrix of dark dots that, once dampened by your sweat, help enhance your body’s natural evaporative-cooling process, releasing excess heat and helping you stay cooler even as the shirt helps you stay drier.”
Best lightweight performance long-sleeved T-shirt
Sizes: XXS–XL | Neckline and style: Crew neck with cuffs | Material: 84% polyester, 16% elastane
If you’re looking for an option to take you between seasons, try this lightweight tee, which our writer and resident fitness expert Jeremy Rellosa told me about. Compared with other performance fabrics he has tried, which can often “feel like you’re wearing plastic wrap,” this long-sleeved tee is designed with ultrabreathable micro mesh that doesn’t feel clingy on the skin. Rellosa appreciates the smooth, sweat-wicking material as well as the cut: It’s slightly baggy (a fit he prefers for workout clothes) but not so baggy that it billows or looks unflattering. “I’ve worn it on runs at least twice a week for the past six months, so it’s plenty durable,” Rellosa says, “especially after being thrown in the wash all the time.”
Best hemp long-sleeved T-shirt
Sizes: XS–2XL | Neckline and style: Crew neck | Material: 55% hemp, 45% organic cotton
This Jungmaven Jung shirt is made with hemp, a sustainable natural fiber that’s more durable than cotton, even as it gets softer over time. When former Strategist writer Jordan Bowman first saw this tee, he assumed it would look like he was wearing a slub-cotton shirt. But he says it felt more heavyweight and “draped the body in a more appealing way than slub-cotton shirts I’ve worn.” Brand-new, it has a broken-in look “that calls to mind a well-loved vintage tee,” says Bowman, and feels “supersoft and incredible.” Plus, the classic crewneck is available in 16 different colors.
Some Strategist-approved men’s short-sleeved T-shirts
Our experts
• Kyle Andrew, actor and model
• Donnell Baldwin, former style director for Mr. Porter
• Chris Black, Strategist columnist
• Jordan Bowman, former Strategist writer
• Jon Caramanica, pop-music critic at the New York Times
• MichaelAnn Cohlmia, co-founder of CBD brand Weed Sport
• Christopher Echevarria, founder of loafer brand Blackstock & Weber
• Andrew Favorito, senior director of public relations at Christian Dior
• Jared Johnson, Season Three co-founder
• Mark Miguez, co-owner of Friend of a Barber
• Keith Nowak, founder of athletic brand Ten Thousand
• Jordan Page, stylist and fashion designer
• Hilary Reid, Strategist senior editor
• Jeremy Rellosa, Strategist writer
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