GSM Fabric Guide

What Is GSM in Clothing?
And Why It Defines
Your Product.

GSM is the single most important spec on any garment. It tells you how heavy the fabric is, how it drapes, how it holds up over time, and what it signals to the customer the moment they pick it up.

The basics

GSM stands for grams per square meter.

It measures how much a fabric weighs per unit of area. The higher the number, the denser and heavier the fabric. A 480 GSM hoodie has more than three times the fabric mass of a 150 GSM tee.

Weight affects everything: how the garment feels in hand, how it drapes on the body, how well it holds a print, how it survives repeated washing, and what price point it can credibly occupy. Most brands discover this too late, after the first reorder, when the product no longer feels like what they approved.

100 GSM 220 GSM 300 GSM 480 GSM 500+ GSM
The market operates at
160–220 GSM
Most brands, most blank suppliers. Adequate for merchandise. Not a foundation you build a brand on.
We operate at
300 & 480 GSM
Every blank we offer starts where premium begins. No filler weights, no entry-level options dressed up as premium.
GSM reference

The Full GSM Spectrum

From fast fashion basics to premium heavyweight garments — and where each level fits.

GSM
Typical use
How it feels
100–160
Fast fashion basics, mass retail tees
Lightweight, semi-transparent, low cost
Thin, almost papery. You can see through it in light.
160–220
Standard merchandise, entry-level brands
Adequate, forgettable. The majority of the market.
Soft but limp. No structure. Loses shape after a few washes.
220–280
Mid-weight tees, entry-level hoodies
Feels better than basics. Not yet premium.
Noticeably better hand-feel, but still lacks real presence.
300 ✦
Premium heavyweight t-shirts
Structure, drape, print performance. Our standard for t-shirts.
Solid, structured. Holds its shape. Feels like a considered product the moment you pick it up.
380–440
Mid-weight hoodies, fleece
Substantial, but not premium heavyweight
Has real weight but still feels a little hollow. Doesn't drape with volume.
480 ✦
Premium heavyweight hoodies, crewnecks, sweatpants
French Terry. Real weight, real presence. Our standard for French Terry.
Dense, substantial. Drapes with volume. The kind of weight a customer notices and remembers.
500+
Outerwear, heavy fleece, technical garments
Beyond apparel basics, into outerwear territory
Very heavy. Closer to a blanket or jacket. Not practical for most apparel basics.
300 GSM heavyweight blank t-shirt by René Bassett
300 GSM

Why 300 GSM Is the Minimum for a Premium T-Shirt

Most blank t-shirts sit between 160 and 220 GSM. At 300 GSM, the experience is different. The fabric has real structure. It holds its shape across washes, holds graphics without distortion, and communicates quality the moment someone touches it.

This is not about warmth or thickness for its own sake. It is about what the fabric signals. A 300 GSM t-shirt feels like a considered product. A 160 GSM tee feels like a promotional item.

100% cotton jersey, pre-shrunk and garment dyed
0–3% shrinkage tolerance across washes
Screen print, DTF, DTG and embroidery compatible
No MOQ on in-stock colours
View 300 GSM T-Shirt
480 GSM

Why 480 GSM French Terry Defines the Premium Hoodie

Most hoodies sit between 280 and 380 GSM. At 480 GSM French Terry, the experience is different. Real weight in hand. A loopback interior that holds its form across seasons. A fit that drapes with volume rather than collapsing.

This weight is not about warmth. It is about presence. It is why brands use our hoodies as hero pieces — the kind of garment a customer remembers and comes back for.

100% cotton French Terry, loopback construction
0–3% shrinkage tolerance across washes
Screen print, DTF, DTG and embroidery compatible
No MOQ on in-stock colours
View 480 GSM Hoodie
480 GSM heavyweight French Terry blank hoodie by René Bassett
Go deeper

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Feel the Difference Yourself

Order a sample of our 300 GSM t-shirt and 480 GSM hoodie before placing a bulk order. Most brands decide within 24 hours of holding the product.