The Best Black T-Shirts for Men Are Your Sneaky-Flattering Secret Weapon

A lot of ink has been spilled about the importance of a good white T-shirt, but the best black T-shirts for men? Those are the unsung heroes of your drawer. Unlike the always-approachable, laid-back white tee, black tees are sexier, sleeker, and more direct, all without trying too hard. (And they’re slimming, which never hurts.)

Some quick history: Back in the 1950s, guys like Marlon Brando and James Dean turned the white tee into a symbol of clean-cut rebellion. But the black tee didn’t really get its own moment until the ’70s and ’80s, when punks and metalheads adopted it as a de facto uniform. Think Lou Reed wearing his black T-shirt like a piece of armor–cool, confrontational, and generally uninterested in your approval.

The point is, a black tee can say a lot by doing very little. When wearing one, you’re never overdressed, and when styled right —perhaps with a suit—you’re rarely underdressed, either. And yet, for something so simple, finding a good one can be weirdly tricky. Fit and fabric matter. A lot. The fit is up to you, of course. As for fabric, stick with 100% cotton if you want something that breathes well and actually gets better with age.

The good news? There’s no shortage of excellent black tees out there—many of them made in the USA. We’ve sorted through the noise and picked out some of the best black T-shirts at a range of price points to help you stay cool (and look even cooler) as the heat ticks up.

The Best Men’s Black T-Shirts, According to GQ

Best Black T-Shirt Overall: Uniqlo U Crewneck T-Shirt

No surprises here! Uniqlo U, the menswear cheat code, remains undefeated as usual. The whole line that always makes it easy to look put together without spending a lot, and this time, you can get a Christophe Lemaire-designed crewneck tee for just $20. The design boasts all the hallmarks of a counterpart quadruple the price—it’s cut relaxed from a hefty cotton with a reinforced column, and remains a total standout in every color it comes in—which makes the already-approachable asking price feel like even more of a steal. Stock up.

Best Value Black T-Shirt: Kirkland Signature T-Shirt (6-pack)

The thing about Costco’s in-house label Kirkland Signature—whether it’s making T-shirts, olive oil, or booze–is that it’s just quietly excellent. It’s why it has a loyal following among those who are both unpretentious and surprisingly discerning. These T-shirts are a perfect example: made from combed cotton and coming in at a legit heavyweight 205 GSM, they manage to be soft, sturdy, and satisfyingly substantial. The relaxed, classic fit is as crowd-pleasing at the $1.50 hot dog combo, whether you’re a Costco dad or just raiding dad’s drawer. And six tees for $25? That’s a flex in its own right.

Softest Black T-Shirt: Sunspel Classic Cotton T-Shirt

If hand-feel is your number one criteria, then Sunspel’s signature model is a runaway winner. All of the tees on this list are varying degrees of soft, but this one competes with newborn lambs and kitten bellies in the department. It’s cut from a crisp, luxurious long-staple Supima cotton that drapes gracefully across the torso and feels like wearing a cool breeze.

This is all no surprise: Sunspel knows its way around luxurious knits. The brand’s been in the game since 1860, originally making upscale undergarments, and it’s only improved since then—so much so that Daniel Craig wore their Polo shirts as Bond in Casino Royale.

Best Black T-Shirt to Buy in Twos: Velva Sheen T-Shirt (2-pack)

Velva Sheen started making T-shirts and sportswear in 1932 in Cincinnati, Ohio, supplying knitwear to the military and college athletics programs. Today, the Japanese company that revived it (with serious care and respect) honors those original cuts, for a truly vintage look and feel. Now based in California, Velva Sheen still produces its classic 1950s and ’60s-style tees using American-grown cotton and tubular knit construction (no side seams!), delivering the same quality and attention to detail as its mid-century heyday. The fit is cropped in the body, the sleeves hug the arms just right, and the details—overlock stitching, a narrow collar, and a spot-on retro silhouette for those who want to go Full Brando—are enough to make you give the rest of your collection away.

Best American-Made Black T-Shirt: American Giant Heavyweight Pocket T-Shirt

Made in America. It’s a phrase that’s been getting a lot of attention lately. Unlike many tees on this list, American Giant isn’t a “heritage” brand and wasn’t rescued by a Japanese revival. It was founded in 2012 with a mission to bring back the kind of American-made apparel the founder, Bayard Winthrop, grew up with. A noble pursuit—and not an easy one. Winthrop and his team have built a domestic supply chain from the ground up, and the result is a heavyweight black tee you can be proud to support. The fit is a no-nonsense take on the style: made from 6.2 oz cotton, it has a regular fit and a sturdy collar that sits just right—not too loose, not too tight.

Best Heavyweight Black T-Shirt: 3sixteen Heavyweight T-shirt

As we’ve said before, 3sixteen really knows its way around a pair of hardwearing jeans, but their tees are no slouch either, cut with the same rugged mindset. Made from a soft but hefty cotton jersey, each one features what they call a “Never Sag” collar, reinforced with triple-needle stitching to keep it tight around the neck, wear after wear.