Yes — most custom shirts shrink slightly after washing, particularly 100% cotton garments, which can shrink 3–5% on the first few washes. Polyester and poly-blend shirts shrink significantly less, since synthetic fibers are more dimensionally stable than natural cotton fibers.
Why Shrinkage Happens
Cotton fibers relax and contract when exposed to heat and moisture, especially in a hot wash or dryer cycle. Most of this shrinkage happens in the first one to three washes, after which the fabric tends to stabilize. This is a property of the fabric itself, not something caused by the printing process.
Shrinkage by Fabric Type
- 100% cotton — most prone to shrinkage, typically 3–5% in the first few washes
- Cotton/poly blends (50/50, tri-blend) — shrink noticeably less than 100% cotton, since the synthetic fiber content resists shrinking
- 100% polyester — minimal shrinkage, generally the most dimensionally stable option
- Pre-shrunk cotton — treated during manufacturing to minimize additional shrinkage after purchase, though it’s not entirely shrink-proof
Does Printing Affect Shrinkage?
The printing process itself (screen printing, DTG, DTF) doesn’t meaningfully cause additional shrinkage beyond what the blank garment would experience anyway. However, heat curing during printing is similar to a hot dryer cycle, so some of a shirt’s “first shrink” may effectively already happen during production before the customer even washes it.
How to Minimize Shrinkage
- Wash in cold water rather than hot
- Air dry or use a low-heat dryer setting
- Choose a poly-blend rather than 100% cotton if minimal shrinkage matters for your use case (e.g., fitted team uniforms)
- Order pre-shrunk cotton blanks when available, especially for designs printed at exact size specifications
What This Means for Sizing
If you’re ordering shirts for a specific fit purpose — team uniforms, fitted event shirts — it’s worth accounting for some shrinkage in your sizing decisions, or choosing a poly-blend fabric to minimize the variance. For general casual wear, standard cotton sizing with normal shrinkage expectations is usually fine.
The Bottom Line
Some shrinkage after washing is normal and expected, especially with 100% cotton garments. It’s not a defect or printing issue — it’s simply how natural cotton fiber behaves. If shrinkage is a concern for your specific use case, choosing a poly-blend fabric or pre-shrunk cotton, and following cold-wash, low-heat-dry care instructions, will minimize the effect.
