For giveaway shirts specifically, let’s think through this based on what actually matters for that use case: broad appeal, decent comfort, and reasonable cost — not necessarily peak performance fabric.

Cotton: The Case For It

• Widely liked, comfortable, breathable — cotton has broad, safe appeal across a general audience, which matters for a giveaway meant for a wide variety of people
• Generally the most affordable blank option, keeping your per-unit cost down across a large giveaway quantity
• Prints well with virtually any method — screen printing, DTG, DTF all perform excellently on cotton

Best for: general-audience giveaways where broad comfort and cost efficiency matter most

Polyester: The Case For It

• More durable and wrinkle-resistant than cotton, holding up well even with less careful handling
• Better suited to athletic or outdoor events, where moisture-wicking properties add real functional value
• Can be more budget-friendly at the blank level in some cases, though this varies by supplier

Trade-off: requires more careful ink/printing considerations (dye migration risk with screen printing) and doesn’t always have the same broad “soft, familiar” appeal as cotton for a general audience

Best for: athletic events, races, outdoor festivals, or any giveaway where the audience skews toward active use

Cotton/Poly Blends: The Case For It

• A practical middle ground — softer and more breathable than pure polyester, while offering better durability and wrinkle resistance than pure cotton
• Slightly lighter weight, which some people prefer for casual wear
• Generally reliable across most printing methods, similar to cotton

Best for: giveaways wanting a slightly more premium feel than basic cotton, without committing to polyester’s more athletic positioning

A Simple Decision Framework

• General corporate or community event, broad audience: Cotton — safe, comfortable, cost-effective, universally appealing
• Athletic event, race, outdoor festival: Polyester or a poly-heavy blend, prioritizing moisture management
• Wanting a slightly elevated feel without much extra cost: Cotton/poly blend

Cost Consideration

For large giveaway quantities, even small per-unit cost differences between fabric types add up meaningfully across the total order — worth getting quotes on your top one or two fabric choices before finalizing, rather than assuming cost differences are negligible.

The Bottom Line

For most general-purpose event giveaways, standard cotton remains the safest, most broadly appealing, and most cost-effective choice. Reserve polyester specifically for athletic or outdoor event contexts where its functional properties genuinely add value, and consider a blend if you want a slight step up in feel without a major cost or positioning shift.