What Does 300GSM Mean — and Why It Matters for a T-Shirt
GSM explained in plain terms, why heavyweight tees drape instead of cling, how they fit compared to a standard tee, and how to wash one so it stays boxy.
GSM is grams per square metre — how much a square metre of the fabric weighs. It's the single most useful number on a t-shirt and almost nobody prints it.
The scale
- 120–150GSM — lightweight. Promo tees, summer basics. Sheer-ish, clings when it's humid.
- 160–200GSM — standard. Most high-street tees. Fine, forgettable.
- 220–260GSM — heavyweight. Structured, holds a print well.
- 300GSM+ — very heavy. Drapes like a knit, boxy by nature, keeps its shape wash after wash. This is where KRYPTAA tees sit.
Why weight changes the fit
A heavy tee doesn't follow the body — it hangs from the shoulders. That's why a 300GSM drop-shoulder tee looks oversized even when it's the "right" size: the fabric has enough weight to fall straight instead of curving around you. It also means the print stays flat and sharp because the cloth isn't twisting.
How to size a 300GSM tee
True to size gives the intended oversized fit. Size down one if you want it closer to the body. Don't size up — the shoulder seam drops too far and it starts to look like a nightgown.
Washing
Cold, inside out, hang dry. A hot tumble dry will shrink any 100% cotton tee, and on a heavyweight the shrink shows up in the length first. Hung dry, a 300GSM tee stays boxy for years.
Ours
Four in Drop 001 — Medusa Serpent, Angel of Death, Broken Skull, Need Some Money. All 300GSM, 100% ring-spun cotton, drop-shoulder box cut, S–2XL.
