# why are most t-shirts printed on "beefy t's" **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 26, 2004, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-most-t-shirts-printed-on-beefy-ts/242020 "2004-04-26T03:30:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sandlegs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@Sandlegs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sandlegs)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2004, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-most-t-shirts-printed-on-beefy-ts/242020/1 "2004-04-26T03:30:27Z")
That’s it really. I noticed that most commercial screen printing on to shirts are printed onto heavier t-shirts. does more fabric hold the print better? just wondering. ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2004, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-most-t-shirts-printed-on-beefy-ts/242020/2 "2004-04-26T03:39:50Z")
Beefy Ts are a lot better for wearing as actual outerwear, as opposed to your average tshirt, which are thinner, and less practical apart from underwear uses. I wouldn’t spend the money on a screenprinted shirt if it came on a tshirt meant as underwear. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2004, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-most-t-shirts-printed-on-beefy-ts/242020/3 "2004-04-26T03:45:39Z")
As someone who used to print his own T-shirts (long before it became commonplace) I can think of three reasons to use heavier shirts. First is that they feel more substantial and thus are perceived by the customer as a better value. The thickness also makes them seem more like outerwear and less like underwear. Finally, as you guessed, the thickness does make it less likely the ink will bleed through the material and feel stiff and blocky. ---
**Author:** ![Ross](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e274bd/32.png) [@Ross](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ross)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2004, 10:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-most-t-shirts-printed-on-beefy-ts/242020/4 "2004-04-26T10:12:09Z")
Also, almost everybody can get into a bigger shirt. Start faffing around with smaller sizes and you’d still have to print to bigger ones for the sake of that section of your buyership, so it’s all the easier just to do one big batch. I suppose. I had actually assumed that the above was the only reason for the beefiness of the ts. You live and learn. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2004, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-most-t-shirts-printed-on-beefy-ts/242020/5 "2004-04-26T13:07:23Z")
> [@Ross](#): > > Also, almost everybody can get into a bigger shirt. Start faffing around with smaller sizes and you’d still have to print to bigger ones for the sake of that section of your buyership, so it’s all the easier just to do one big batch. > > I suppose. I had actually assumed that the above was the only reason for the beefiness of the ts. You live and learn. As you may have figured out, “Beefy T” refers to the fabric used, not the size of the garment. Your comments do relate to the scarcity of smaller sizes in many shirt offerings, but that’s a separate issue. ---
**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2004, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-most-t-shirts-printed-on-beefy-ts/242020/6 "2004-04-26T13:15:25Z")
My sister works for a company that prints college-licensed clothing, including T-shirts. I believe she would agree with **commasense** ’s explanation, with the addition that, as she says, “We have fewer misprints with the heavier tees.” I think she means that their machines don’t hold the thinner fabrics as well during the print process. ---
**Author:** ![Ross](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e274bd/32.png) [@Ross](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ross)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2004, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-most-t-shirts-printed-on-beefy-ts/242020/7 "2004-04-26T13:23:23Z")
> [@Gary T](#): > > As you may have figured out, “Beefy T” refers to the fabric used, not the size of the garment. Your comments do relate to the scarcity of smaller sizes in many shirt offerings, but that’s a separate issue. Ah. I knew that. I was just testing your reflexes. 😛