Top 10 Best Boys’ Basic T-shirts

Old Navy Softest Crew-Neck Tee

Old Navy has two outstanding options for tees. One is the Ultra-Soft Breathe tee, which is more of an athletic style that is so soft and comfy that lots of kids love to wear it as an everyday option.

They also have the popular, yet more traditional  Softest Crew-Neck Tee, which is a classic cotton blend crewneck that comes in a bunch of fun colors. You can’t go wrong with either of these picks as they are both soft, durable, and look great.

Available from Old Navy

Boys’ Short Sleeve T-Shirt – Cat & Jack™

The Boys’ Short Sleeve T-Shirt from Cat & Jack™ is a great basic design that can’t be topped as far as price goes. These usually cost around $4 and are a fantastic versatile style. The fabric is a breathable, midweight cotton polyester blend that is excellent quality and soft to the touch. It is a regular fit, so it will work well for most kids, regardless of body type.

Available from Target

PACT Everybody’s Friend Tee

A wonderful and affordable organic cotton option is PACT’s Everybody’s Friend Tee. The colors are fun, and they start out super soft and get softer the more you wear them. They won’t fade with washing, and the fabric is neither too light nor too heavy, so they work well for a lot of different situations. They are also known for being very comfortable and not overly expensive for an organic option.

Available from PACT

French Toast Short Sleeve Crewneck Tee

The French Toast Short Sleeve Crew Neck Tee is a high-quality 100% cotton top that is made to last. Since they are a classic style, they work equally well for boys or girls, so they make great hand-me-downs.  The fabric is soft and pleasant to wear, although some parents find the sizing runs a little small, so if you are interested in it, you may want to consider sizing up.

This tee may also shrink a little bit in the wash as it isn’t prewashed, and 100% cotton quite often shrinks upon first laundering. The fabric is known for being strong, durable, and somewhat thick.

Available from Amazon

Uniqlo Kids Cotton Color Crew Neck Short-sleeve T-shirt

The Uniqlo Kids Cotton Color Crew Neck Short-sleeve T-shirt is a solid and durable 100% cotton option that is soft to the touch.

This is quite a loose-fitting design that is made-for-play, is easy to move around in, and will remain comfy all day. This Uniqlo design has a casual look to it that can work well for school or lazy days at home.

Available from Uniqlo

Tucker + Tate Essential Heathered T-Shirt

If you love a designer brand, you could try the Tucker + Tate Relaxed Pocket T-Shirt. It is slightly pricier than other options on this list, but it is a nice shirt with a classic silhouette in a modern heathered cotton blend. The material is a very soft 100% cotton that is durable and adventure-ready.

Available from Nordstrom

Gap Kids Pocket Short Sleeve T-Shirt

The Gap Pocket Short Sleeve T-Shirt is a simple design that has the added detail of the chest pocket. It comes in a soft knit in a great selection of colors that are perfect for a hot summer day. This 100% cotton pick is a little on the thin side, but it is super soft and lightweight, making it an excellent classic T-shirt.

Available from Gap

Russell Athletic Big Boys’ Basic Cotton Blend T-Shirt

Another very popular budget option is the Russell Athletic Big Boys’ Basic Cotton Blend T-Shirt. It is a cotton-poly blend, and it is available in youth sizing, so this is a style for tweens and teens rather than younger kids. The fit runs a little narrow, and a lot of people recommend sizing up or just being careful with the sizing if you are ordering online (double-check the Russell Athletic sizing guidelines).

It is available in bold, bright colors that won’t fade after washing.  The material is quite sturdy, and most parents love the quality making this an excellent basic tee at an affordable price that works well for ‘big boys.

Available from Amazon

H&M 3-pack T-shirts

You can usually find pretty good quality plain shirts at H&M for the whole family. They have a line of ‘Conscious’ t-shirts that are made from a soft organic cotton jersey. The available colors are usually pretty simple but suitable for most body types.

You can often buy them in multiple packs that work out to just a few dollars for each shirt. If you are looking for a plain white or black design for an undershirt, the H & M tees work well for that purpose. Overall these are an excellent 100% soft organic cotton with a modern fit for a reasonable price.

 Available from H&M

Bright Basics Pima Tee

On the opposite end of the color spectrum from the H & M pick is The Bright Basics Pima Tee from Hanna Andersson. This shirt does come in a few basic colors like black and white but also vibrant green, red and blue.  This is another design that has a handy chest pocket that adds a nice detail. The fabric is an ultra-soft Peruvian Pima cotton that has been certified STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX®.

Available from Hanna Andersson

Bonus Pick: Arizona Little Kid / Big Kid Boys Short Sleeve T-Shirt

If you are looking for a v-neck (which can be pretty hard to find in kids sizing), check out the Arizona Little Kid / Big Kid Boys Short Sleeve T-Shirt. This tee is a 60% cotton and 40% polyester blend that comes in a huge assortment of colors.

This top can also make an excellent option for girls who are looking for a v-neck with a looser fit since a lot of the colors would be appealing for both boys or girls. Overall, this is a good basic tee that you can find at a great price.

Available from JC Penny