Hoodie weight is the number that decides how a screen print sits, and how warm the shirt is. Catalogs in the US list it in ounces per square yard. GSM (grams per square metre) is the same number in metric: multiply ounces by 33.9 and round. An 8 oz fleece is about 271 GSM. There is no single best GSM. The right weight is the one that matches the season and the art.
Weights in the blank catalog
These are fleece styles already on this site. The GSM column is ounces times 33.9, rounded. Fabric is the catalog description. This page does not list prices.
| Style | Weight | About GSM | Fabric |
|---|---|---|---|
| Port & Co PC78H | 7.8 oz | 264 | 50/50 cotton/poly fleece |
| Gildan 18500 | 8.0 oz | 271 | 50/50 cotton/poly. Heathers are listed as 60/40 poly/cotton. |
| District DT6100 | 8.3 oz | 281 | 65/35 ring spun cotton/polyester, 3-end fleece |
| Champion S700 | 9.0 oz | 305 | 50/50 U.S. grown cotton/poly |
| CornerStone CS620 | 12.0 oz | 407 | 60/40 cotton/poly, heavyweight full-zip with a thermal lining |
A 5.5 oz hoodie is also in the catalog (CornerStone CSF01). It is a smooth 100% polyester enhanced-visibility fleece, not a lighter cotton team hoodie. See the full set on the hoodies and sweatshirts page.
What weight changes on a screen print
Screen printing puts ink on the face of the fleece. Weight changes three practical things:
- Body under the art. Most team pullovers here sit at 7.8 to 9 oz (about 264 to 305 GSM). That is enough fabric that a large front or back mark is not printed on a thin panel. A 12 oz hoodie is warmer. It is not automatically a sharper print.
- The light end is a different shirt. Dropping GSM only helps if the fabric is still the fleece you meant to order. The 5.5 oz style above is an enhanced-visibility polyester fleece.
- Blend, especially heathers. Gildan 18500 solids are 50/50 cotton/poly. The heathers are listed as 60/40 poly/cotton. Polyester-rich fleece can let dye move into a white or pale print. Name the garment color and the ink colors on the quote so the proof is the shirt you approved.
Screen printing on tees and hoodies starts at 24 pieces, sizes mixed in one run. A left-chest logo on a polo or a cap is embroidery, from 12 pieces — that choice is the print vs embroidery guide, not a lighter hoodie.
How to pick for a team order
- A mark that has to read across a gym, in mild weather. An 8 oz 50/50 pullover (Gildan 18500 or Port & Co PC78H) is the usual team blank.
- A hoodie worn as a jacket. Look at 9 oz (Champion S700) or the 12 oz CornerStone zip.
- Names or numbers under a logo. Say so on the quote. A second print location is priced on the proof, not guessed from a weight chart.
Naperville, Wheaton, and the rest of DuPage County use the same blanks. Custom screen printing in Naperville and team hoodies in Wheaton are the local pages. The job is printed locally in Addison, IL — made in DuPage County — then delivered to you.
Questions
How much does a hoodie weigh?
In the blank catalog on this site, fleece hoodies run from 5.5 oz (an enhanced-visibility polyester fleece) to 12 oz (a heavyweight zip with a thermal lining). Most team pullovers sit at 7.8 to 9 oz, about 264 to 305 GSM.
What GSM is an 8 ounce hoodie?
About 271 GSM. Multiply ounces per square yard by 33.9 and round. Ounces and GSM are the same measurement in two units.
Does a heavier hoodie screen print better?
A mid-weight fleece, around 8 oz, gives a large print more fabric behind it than a thin panel does. Heavier is warmer, not automatically sharper. Blend matters too: polyester-rich heathers can let dye move into a light print. The proof shows the garment color you approved.
How do I order custom team hoodies?
Quote online or call (630) 324-4372. Screen printing starts at 24 pieces. The work is printed locally in Addison, IL, made in DuPage County, then delivered to you. You approve a free proof before you pay.