What Is the Best Soft Style Black T-Shirt for the Money? Port & Company PC450 vs. Gildan Softstyle 64000

When customers ask for a soft black t-shirt that still makes sense on price, two blanks come up again and again: the Port & Company Fan Favorite PC450 and the Gildan Softstyle 64000. Both are ring spun cotton shirts aimed at people who want something softer than a basic heavyweight tee without jumping all the way into a more premium fashion blank. On paper, they look pretty close. In real use, though, they feel a little different and fit a little different, which is what really decides which one gives you the better value. The Port & Company PC450 is listed as a 4.5-ounce, 100% ring spun cotton, 30 singles shirt with a 1x1 rib knit collar, shoulder-to-shoulder back neck tape, and tear-away label. The Gildan Softstyle 64000 is also built from ring spun cotton, and Gildan describes it as a modern classic fit with soft ring spun fabric, taped neck and shoulders, and a tear away label. Gildan’s current retail product page lists the solids at 4.3 oz/yd², while distributor listings commonly describe the 64000 as 4.5 oz.; either way, it sits in the same lightweight-soft category as the PC450.

The first thing most people care about is hand feel. If your goal is the softest-feeling black shirt for the money, the Gildan 64000 usually has the edge. Gildan specifically markets the 64000 around its soft ring spun fabric and smoother print surface, and distributor specs also call out its high stitch density, which is one reason printers like it for cleaner-looking decoration. That smoother face can be helpful for screen printing and DTG, especially when you want a more polished print on a lightweight black shirt.

That said, the PC450 is no rough shirt. It is also made from 100% ring spun cotton, 30 singles, which already puts it in a softer category than basic open-end cotton tees. It has a very solid everyday feel and tends to come across as a dependable “soft value” option rather than a super fashion-forward shirt. If someone wants a comfortable black tee that feels nicer than a standard promo shirt without chasing a slimmer boutique fit, the PC450 is a very respectable choice.

Fit is where these two shirts really separate. The Gildan 64000 is described by Gildan as a modern classic fit, and distributor listings note features like a narrower collar, tubular body, and, in some versions of the spec sheet, a fit that leans a little more shaped than an old-school boxy tee. The PC450, by contrast, wears more like a traditional unisex printed tee with a straightforward cut and less of that slightly refined retail silhouette. If a customer wants a blank that feels a little more current and slightly less bulky, the Gildan usually wins. If they want something easy, familiar, and forgiving for group orders, the Port & Company often feels safer.

Sizing and ordering flexibility also matter when you are judging “best for the money.” The PC450 runs from S to 6XL on the Port & Company page, while the Gildan 64000 is commonly listed from XS to 5X. That means the PC450 can be especially useful when you need extended adult sizing in black while keeping the style consistent across a big order. The 64000 does offer the advantage of starting at XS, which can help when you need a smaller adult fit without moving into a separate youth or women’s style.

For printing, both blanks are solid. The PC450’s 30 singles ring spun cotton gives it a smooth enough surface for screen printing and everyday branded apparel, and the Gildan 64000 is explicitly promoted as a smooth fabric that works well for screen print, embroidery, DTG, bleaching, and tie dyeing. If your print shop is producing company shirts, event tees, fundraisers, band merch, or staff apparel, either one can work well. But if the customer is especially sensitive to softness and wants the shirt to feel a bit more like retail merch, the 64000 tends to feel like the better “upgrade without going too expensive” option.

So which one is the best soft style black t-shirt for the money?

For most people, the Gildan Softstyle 64000 is the better overall value if softness is the top priority. It is specifically positioned around softness, has a smoother print-friendly surface, and usually feels a touch more refined in fit. If you are printing merch, brand shirts, influencer tees, or a black shirt that you want to feel a little less basic, it is hard to argue against the 64000 as the stronger buy.

But there is a strong case for the Port & Company PC450 if your version of value is about balancing comfort, broader size availability, and a familiar fit. The PC450 gives you ring spun softness, a clean simple build, and adult sizing up to 6XL. For schools, corporate orders, family reunions, event tees, and customers who do not want a narrower-feeling shirt, the PC450 may actually be the smarter choice.

My practical answer is this: if you want the softest black t-shirt of the two, choose the Gildan 64000. If you want the safest all-around black t-shirt for group printing and broad size runs, choose the PC450. The winner depends on what “for the money” means to you. If it means feel and a slightly more retail vibe, go Gildan. If it means dependable softness, easier sizing for larger groups, and a straightforward classic printed-tee feel, go Port & Company.

For many shops, the smartest move is to offer both. Use the PC450 as the strong value soft tee and the 64000 as the slightly more style-driven upgrade. That gives customers a real choice without pushing them too far up the price ladder.

If you are building a custom apparel lineup and want one simple recommendation, here it is: the Gildan Softstyle 64000 is probably the best soft style black t-shirt for the money overall, but the Port & Company PC450 is one of the best budget-friendly alternatives when fit range and easy wear matter more than having the softest hand.

Written by Lindy Williams, Owner of Accent Promotions and Media, DBA Accent T-Shirts, a Las Vegas custom apparel and promotional products company. Lindy specializes in screen printing, embroidery, DTF printing, DTG printing, event merchandise, convention apparel, and custom branded products for businesses and organizations throughout Las Vegas.