Best Fabric for Shirts: Top Choices Compared

The best fabrics for shirts are poplin, cotton and tencel (lyocell). The right choice depends on the look you want, the season and how much care you can give it. This guide explains the options and what to watch for.

Top fabrics for shirts

Poplin: Crisp, smooth and breathable, easy to stitch and press. Keep in mind: creases without a blend, and has little drape. See our poplin or the poplin guide.
Cotton: Breathable, comfortable and easy to wash. Keep in mind: can shrink and crease, so pre-wash before cutting. See our cotton or the cotton guide.
Tencel (lyocell): Soft, smooth and breathable with a lovely drape. Keep in mind: costs more than rayon and cotton. See our tencel (lyocell) or the tencel (lyocell) guide.
Linen: Airy and cool with a natural texture. Keep in mind: wrinkles easily, and is not for a crisp look.
Rayon (viscose): Soft, cool and drapes beautifully at a friendly price. Keep in mind: can shrink and weakens when wet. See our rayon (viscose) or the rayon (viscose) guide.
Crepe: Crisp but fluid, resists creasing and drapes without clinging. Keep in mind: heavier crepes can feel warm in peak summer. See our crepe or the crepe guide.

How to choose fabric for shirts

A shirt needs a crisp, breathable fabric that holds a collar. Poplin and cotton are the standard choices.

What to avoid

Slippery fabrics such as satin are harder to sew into crisp collars.

Which fabric for which season?

Cotton and linen are best for summer. For hot weather, the best picks for shirts are poplin, cotton, tencel (lyocell). For cold weather, try poplin, cotton, tencel (lyocell).

Find shirts fabric in stock

Use our fabric finder to filter by season, look and budget and see what we have in stock. You can also match a shade with the colour finder, or work out quantity with the fabric calculator.