T-Shirt Color Palette: Shades of Blue

There are a lot of shirt options to pick from out there. Like, a LOT, a lot. And with that being the case, if you're looking for something simple for your next custom t-shirt order— like, say, a blue shirt—choosing between one of the hundreds of blue shirts can be challenging.

To help, here's a list of some of our favorite blue t-shirts and the closest Pantone color match for each one.

Next Level Apparel 3600: Light Blue

The Next Level Apparel 3600 Premium Short Sleeve Fitted Crew is one of the most popular t-shirts we print on and has many color options. Light Blue has a cool, ice-y look we love.

Closest Pantone Match: 9400 U

Next Level Apparel 3600: Tahiti Blue

The Next Level Apparel 3600 Premium Fitted Short Sleeve Crew in Tahiti Blue is a shirt color that adds some pop. This shirt also has some hints of green, giving it a unique look.

Closest Pantone Match: 3115 C

Bella + Canvas 3001CVC: Heather Aqua

The Bella + Canvas 3001 CVC Unisex Heather Short Sleeve Tee has a soft look, just like its feel. This shirt is made of a polyester/cotton blend and has subtle, light heathering.

Closest Pantone Match: 298 XGC

Next Level Apparel 3600: Turquoise

The Turquoise colorway on the Next Level Apparel 3600 Premium Fitted Short Sleeve Crew lives somewhere between a true royal blue and the Tahiti Blue listed above. This color is bold and vibrant.

Closest Pantone Match: P 112-6 C

Next Level Apparel 6010: Vintage Royal

The Next Level 6010 Men's Triblend Crew in Vintage Royal will be a great color option for vintage-style designs. The shirt is a tri-blend, meaning it's made of cotton, polyester, and rayon. The shirt is incredibly soft and is going to have a lot of light heathering to it.

Closest Pantone Match: 2718 U

Next Level Apparel 3600: Cool Blue

Cool Blue from Next Level couldn't have a more accurate name. It's very close to Royal Blue but a bit softer on the eyes, giving it not quite as loud of a look.

Closest Pantone Match: 2145 XGC

Next Level Apparel 3600: Royal

The Next Level Apparel 3600 Premium Fitted Short Sleeve Crew in Royal is what you think of when you think of royal Blue. It's loud, it's proud, and it's a rich, deep blue.

Closest Pantone Match: 2728 C

Bella + Canvas 3413: True Royal Tri-blend

The Bella + Canvas 3413 Unisex Triblend Tee in True Royal looks like the vintage version of the royal blue shirt above it. The polyester and rayon in the material give the garment a naturally faded look. If you're looking for a more traditional blue but one that isn't too bright, this shirt is for you.

Closest Pantone Match: 2718 C

Bella + Canvas 3413 in Denim Tri-blend

The Bella +Canvas 3413 Unisex Triblend Tee in Denim is undoubtedly on the more muted end of the blues. The heathering in the shirt gives it some shades of grey even.

Closest Pantone Match: 302 UP

Bella + Canvas 3001: True Royal

The Bella + Canvas 3001 Unisex Jersey Short Sleeve Tee in True Royal is another good option for a basic blue t-shirt. It's comparable to the Next Level 3600 in Cool Blue, so choosing between the two may come down to fit—both feature slim, retail fits. However, Canvas' is a little longer in the body and sleeves.

Closest Pantone Match: 2387 XCG

Canvas 3413 in Steel Blue Tri-blend

The Canvas 3413 in Steel Blue gives off almost an ocean look. The shirt is a tri-blend, which would be great for vintage-style prints.

Closest Pantone Match: 2383 UP

Next Level 6010: Indigo Tri-blend

The Next Level Apparel 6010 Men's Triblend Crew in Indigo is a dark blue with slight hints of purple.

Closest Pantone Match: 10253 C

Don’t feel blue—wear it.

We hope you enjoyed this deep dive into popular blue t-shirt options!

For our entire archive of blue t-shirts, head to our product page to enjoy a sea of Blue. Pretty cool. Custom t-shirts are all the rage, you know. 

Check out our T-Shirt Buyer’s Guide to learn everything you need to know before ordering custom tees; it’s a free resource here to help you!

Of course, if you want to talk to a real person about some shirts, that’s also an option. 

Catch you on the flip side.

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Originally Published 02/04/2021 | Updated 06/13/2023