Comfort Colors Size Chart: 1717 Tee Measurements

The Comfort Colors size chart maps each size of the popular 1717 tee to a real garment measurement, so you can order a relaxed, garment-dyed shirt that fits your team before you decorate it. The 1717 is the go-to blank for premium merch and gifts because of its heavy feel and soft, broken-in look, but that relaxed cut catches people out if they size by label alone. This guide gives you the exact measurements, shows you how to size for the garment-dyed fit, and explains the shrinkage so your order lands right the first time.

At Arklavo we have printed and embroidered Comfort Colors tees for hundreds of brands and crews, and the 1717 is the piece people reach for when they want merch that feels like a keeper. Below are the manufacturer measurements, sourced from the published spec sheets, plus the sizing advice we give every customer ordering this blank.

The Comfort Colors 1717 adult size chart (S to 3XL)

The Comfort Colors 1717 is sold from small through 3XL, with body length running 27 to 33.75 inches and chest width running 18.5 to 28.5 inches. These are the manufacturer measurements published on the 1717 spec sheet and mirrored by major wholesalers.¹ Chest width is the flat measurement taken one inch below the armhole, so the figure below is half the garment. Double it for the full circumference around the body.

Most garment makers allow one to three inches of variation on these listed dimensions, and a garment-dyed tee like the 1717 carries a touch more variation than a standard tee because of the dye process, so treat the chart as a close guideline.² For how the 1717 stacks up against every other blank tee, our ultimate t-shirt size chart guide lines them up side by side.

How to measure for a Comfort Colors tee

To size the 1717, measure a shirt that already fits you flat and match its chest width and body length to the chart, rather than guessing from your usual label. Because the 1717 is cut relaxed, your normal label size will often feel bigger here than it does in a slim tee, which is exactly why a flat measurement beats a guess.

For chest width, lay the shirt flat, smooth it out, and measure straight across from one underarm seam to the other about one inch below where the sleeve joins the body. That number matches the chest width column. For body length, measure from the highest point of the shoulder by the collar straight down to the bottom hem. Match both numbers to the chart and pick the row that fits the wear you want. Since the 1717 already runs roomy, size down one if you prefer a closer fit, or stay true for the relaxed drape the blank is known for. Our free unisex size converter helps translate men's, women's, and unisex sizing across a whole group.

How the Comfort Colors 1717 actually fits

The 1717 is a relaxed, classic-fit tee made from heavy ringspun cotton and finished with garment dyeing, so it wears looser, softer, and more lived-in than a standard tee. This is not a slim or fitted cut. The body is full, the fabric is weighty in the hand, and the garment-dye finish gives each piece a slightly washed, broken-in look the moment it arrives. That combination is the whole appeal for premium merch and gifts: the shirt feels like something people keep, not a throwaway.

Because it runs roomy, the most common sizing decision is whether to lean into the relaxed look or pull it in. For an oversized, vintage feel, order true to size. For a closer fit, size down one. If your group wants a soft tee that still sits trim, a lighter ringspun blank is the better base, and our custom Bella and Canvas t-shirt guide covers that option. When you are ready to design the 1717 itself, our custom Comfort Colors t-shirt guide walks through colors, decoration, and ordering.

Shrinkage and care for a garment-dyed tee

The 1717 is heavy ringspun cotton with a garment-dye finish, so it can shrink on the first wash, mostly in length, and the safest move is to wash cold, dry low, or size up one if you want to keep a longer fit. Garment-dyed cotton is more prone to a little movement than a synthetic blend, and the published charts note that post-wash measurements are not guaranteed.² The shrinkage is modest on a quality tee, but it is real, and people who order this blank for the long body should plan for it.

To protect both the fit and the soft, faded color, wash in cold water, turn the shirt inside out to guard the print, and tumble dry low or hang to dry. High heat is the enemy of a garment-dyed tee: it tightens the cotton and dulls the finish. If your run includes anyone who is precise about length, telling them to size up one is the simplest hedge. These care notes matter most on a decorated shirt, since a hot dryer is harder on a print than on the fabric.

Choosing between the relaxed look and a trimmer fit

The single biggest sizing decision on a 1717 order is whether the group wants the relaxed, oversized look or a closer fit, because the answer changes which size each person picks. The blank is built to wear loose, so there is no wrong choice here, only a choice to make on purpose rather than by accident.

For the relaxed, vintage drape the 1717 is famous for, order true to size. The shirt will sit roomy through the body with a longer, broken-in feel that reads premium and casual. For a closer, more tailored look, size down one, which pulls the fit in without losing the soft hand of the fabric. A useful middle path for a mixed group is to share the chart, explain that the tee runs roomy, and let each person decide based on their own measurement. People who like an oversized tee keep their size, and people who want it trim size down. This small bit of guidance up front prevents the most common complaint we hear on this blank, which is that a normal size wore bigger than expected. Set the expectation, and everyone ends up happy with the fit they chose.

How Comfort Colors sizing compares to other blanks

The 1717 fits fuller and heavier than a fashion tee, so a person in a Bella and Canvas medium often wears a Comfort Colors small or a relaxed medium. Knowing where the 1717 sits against the blanks you will be quoted helps you set the right expectation. Comfort Colors is the heavy, garment-dyed, relaxed standard. Bella and Canvas 3001 is lighter and slimmer. Gildan 5000 is a true-to-size heavy cotton tee that sits between the two on feel.

If your merch leans premium and you want the heavy, soft, broken-in look, the 1717 is the natural pick. If you need a closer fit or a lower unit cost, one of the other blanks may suit better. For the full head-to-head on the Gildan side, see our Gildan size chart guide.

Color and the garment-dye finish

The 1717 is famous for its wide range of soft, muted garment-dyed colors, and because the dye is applied to the finished garment, slight shade variation between pieces is normal and part of the look. Garment dyeing soaks color into a sewn shirt rather than dyeing the yarn first, which gives the deep, faded tones the blank is known for. It also means two shirts in the same color can differ a hair, which is a feature for a vintage aesthetic, not a flaw.

For a custom order, pick a color that suits your print. Lighter inks and embroidery pop on the deeper garment-dyed shades, while a tonal print gives a subtle, premium look. Because the finish is soft and slightly washed from the start, the 1717 pairs especially well with a simple, clean logo that lets the fabric do the talking. If color matching across a large run matters for your brand, tell us up front and we will flag the expected variation before you commit.

It also helps to plan color and size together when you order. If your brand palette leans dark, the deeper garment-dyed shades carry a logo beautifully but show a little more of the natural shade variation, so a fit set in your chosen color is doubly useful: it confirms the size and lets you see the real tone before the full run. If you are kitting out a team that spans body types, ordering the same color across a couple of sizes in the fit set also shows how the print scales from a small to a 2XL, since a graphic that looks right on a medium can sit low or tight on the extremes. A few minutes planning this saves a reprint, which is the most expensive mistake a merch order can make.

Sizing a team order with no minimums

The safest way to size a group order in the 1717 is to buy a single fit set first, confirm the run against real bodies, then place the full order with no minimum in the way. Guessing a size spread for a relaxed, garment-dyed tee is riskier than for a standard blank, because the roomy cut and the shrinkage both pull on the fit. A fit set settles it cheaply.

A practical starting spread leans on medium and large, which cover most of a mixed adult group, then adds smalls and extra-larges, with a few 2XL and up based on the actual roster. Collect sizes with a short form rather than assuming, and always share the chart so people self-measure. Because we hold no minimums, you can order one Comfort Colors tee to approve the print, the color, and the fit before the team run, then reorder the exact spread you need.

Decoration: how the 1717 takes a logo

The heavy, soft surface of the 1717 takes screen print, direct-to-garment, and embroidery well, and the garment-dyed shades give a decorated piece a premium, broken-in look. A dense cotton face holds ink cleanly, and the muted colors make a simple logo read expensive rather than promotional. For most 1717 orders, a print carries a graphic best, while a small left-chest embroidered mark suits a clean, understated brand piece.

Placement shapes how the design reads on the relaxed cut. A left-chest mark, a centered front graphic, and a back hit are the common choices, and each sits differently on the fuller body. Our t-shirt logo placement guide covers the sizing and position for each, and if you want a stitched mark, the embroidery cost guide explains when thread is worth it on a heavier tee.

Common Comfort Colors sizing mistakes to avoid

Most sizing problems on a 1717 order come from treating it like a standard tee, ignoring the shrinkage, or skipping the fit set, and all three are easy to dodge. The relaxed cut and the garment-dye finish make this blank a little different from a basic tee, so a few habits matter more here.

The first mistake is ordering your normal label size and being surprised it wears big, when the 1717 is meant to. Decide up front if you want relaxed or trim, then size accordingly. The second is forgetting the shrinkage and ordering everyone snug, which leaves the tees tight after the first hot wash. The third is skipping the single sample, which is the cheapest insurance against a wrong run. The fourth is assuming color is identical across every piece, when garment dyeing brings normal, expected variation. Collect real sizes with a short form, share the chart, order one tee to approve fit and color, and the full run lands right.

Putting the Comfort Colors size chart to work on a real order

The fastest way to use this Comfort Colors size chart is to share it on your order form, tell people the tee runs roomy, and order a single sample before the full run. A chart only helps if the group actually uses it, so make it easy to follow. Drop the size table into your form, add the two-line measuring steps, and ask each person for a chest width or a known good size rather than a label guess.

Here is the workflow we recommend for the 1717. First, share the chart and note that the fit is relaxed, so people can decide between true size and sizing down. Second, collect sizes and total them into a spread, flagging anyone between two rows. Third, order one tee in the most common size and color to approve the print, the shade, and the fit in person. Fourth, place the full order in the exact spread, knowing the sample already confirmed it. Because we hold no minimums, that approval step costs almost nothing and removes the two risks that trip up garment-dyed orders, the roomy cut and the shrinkage. For the wider picture of how the 1717 lines up against every other blank tee, keep our t-shirt size chart guide open alongside.

Why customers reach for Comfort Colors

When a customer wants merch that feels premium, the 1717 is almost always the first blank I suggest. The heavy hand, the soft garment-dyed color, and the relaxed drape give it a keep-it quality that a basic tee just does not have. People wear it, and a worn shirt is a working shirt for a brand. The trade is that it asks a little more care on sizing, which is exactly what this guide is for.

The errors I see are predictable. Someone orders by label and is caught off guard by the roomy fit, or ignores the shrinkage, or skips the sample. The chart and the single-sample step here prevent all of them. Confirm the measurement once, approve a real shirt in the color you want, and the team run takes care of itself.

How to order custom Comfort Colors tees with Arklavo

To order, send your design and rough sizes, approve a proof and a single sample, then place the full run, all with no minimum and free shipping over 150 dollars. We decorate the 1717 with screen print, direct-to-garment, and embroidery, and we ship most orders in about two days. New customers can use code FIRST15 for 15 percent off a first order.

Start by browsing the Comfort Colors collection to pick your color, or send your design for a quote and a proof on the real garment-dyed tee. If you want to compare a true-to-size heavy cotton option, the custom apparel collection has the Gildan blanks alongside. Either way, we confirm the fit and color before anything goes to print.

Comfort Colors size chart FAQ

Sources

1. S&S Activewear, Comfort Colors 1717 Adult T-Shirt specification: ssactivewear.com/p/comfort_colors/1717
2. Kerr's Cotton, cotton t-shirt sizing and post-wash variation notes: kerrscotton.com