T-Shirt Tech Pack Template
A tech pack built for one garment: the crew-neck T-shirt. Thirteen points of measure instead of the usual seven, the neckline and hem details a tee is judged on, and a complete filled-in example. Free as a PDF or an Excel file, with no email required.
Our general tech pack template works for any garment. This version is for T-shirts only: the size chart lists the 13 points a T-shirt is measured on, and the materials, construction, label and packaging tables already name the parts of a T-shirt, so you fill in values rather than work out what to ask for. The sections and their order are the same, so any factory reads it the usual way.
The PDF is the blank form, three A4 pages to print and fill in by hand, with a light outline of a T-shirt in the sketch boxes to draw over. The Excel file is the same form with every box already filled in for an invented brand, in grey italics to type over. We publish it as a factory that reads these documents every week; our T-shirt manufacturing page covers fabrics and minimums.
What the template looks like
Three A4 pages, shown here in full. Nothing is hidden behind a form.
T-shirt size chart example
The example in the Excel version is a classic-fit crew-neck tee with a set-in sleeve, 2 cm 1x1 rib neckband and side seams. Here is the part a factory reads most closely, graded from XS to 2XL. The brand and the numbers are invented to show the level of detail; measure a T-shirt you like and use your own.
| Point of measure | Tol. (+/-) | XS | S | M | L | XL | 2XL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chest width (2.5 cm below armhole) | 1 | 46 | 48.5 | 51 | 53.5 | 56 | 58.5 |
| Body length (HPS to hem) | 1 | 68 | 70 | 72 | 74 | 76 | 78 |
| Shoulder width | 1 | 41 | 43 | 45 | 47 | 49 | 51 |
| Armhole (straight) | 0.5 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
| Bicep (2.5 cm below armhole) | 0.5 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 |
| Sleeve length (shoulder point) | 0.5 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 |
| Sleeve opening | 0.5 | 16 | 16.5 | 17 | 17.5 | 18 | 18.5 |
| Neck width (seam to seam) | 0.5 | 17 | 17.5 | 18 | 18.5 | 19 | 19.5 |
| Front neck drop (HPS) | 0.5 | 8 | 8.5 | 9 | 9.5 | 10 | 10.5 |
| Back neck drop (HPS) | 0.3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Neckband width | 0.2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Bottom hem width | 1 | 46 | 48.5 | 51 | 53.5 | 56 | 58.5 |
| Hem depth (body and sleeve) | 0.2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Measured flat, in centimetres. Fill the sample-size column (M here) first; the tolerance is the +/- the factory may vary by.
How to measure each point
Lay the garment flat, smooth it without stretching it, and measure with a soft tape in centimetres. The grade is how much each point grows from one size to the next in this example.
- Chest width (2.5 cm below armhole)
- Straight across from side seam to side seam, 2.5 cm below the bottom of the armhole.ExampleM 51 cm · ±1 cm · grade 2.5 cm a size
- Body length (HPS to hem)
- From the high point of the shoulder, where the shoulder seam meets the neckband, straight down to the hem edge.ExampleM 72 cm · ±1 cm · grade 2 cm a size
- Shoulder width
- Straight across the back from one shoulder seam point (where the sleeve is set in) to the other.ExampleM 45 cm · ±1 cm · grade 2 cm a size
- Armhole (straight)
- In a straight line from the shoulder point down to the bottom of the armhole, along the sleeve seam.ExampleM 22 cm · ±0.5 cm · grade 1 cm a size
- Bicep (2.5 cm below armhole)
- Across the sleeve, at right angles to its top fold, 2.5 cm below the bottom of the armhole.ExampleM 19 cm · ±0.5 cm · grade 1 cm a size
- Sleeve length (shoulder point)
- From the shoulder point along the top fold of the sleeve to the sleeve hem edge.ExampleM 21 cm · ±0.5 cm · grade 1 cm a size
- Sleeve opening
- Straight across the sleeve hem, edge to edge.ExampleM 17 cm · ±0.5 cm · grade 0.5 cm a size
- Neck width (seam to seam)
- Straight across the neck opening, from the neckband seam at one high point of the shoulder to the other.ExampleM 18 cm · ±0.5 cm · grade 0.5 cm a size
- Front neck drop (HPS)
- From an imaginary line between the two high points of the shoulder, straight down to the neckband seam at centre front.ExampleM 9 cm · ±0.5 cm · grade 0.5 cm a size
- Back neck drop (HPS)
- From the same line between the high points of the shoulder, straight down to the neckband seam at centre back.ExampleM 2 cm · ±0.3 cm · same in every size
- Neckband width
- The finished height of the rib, from the neck edge to the seam that joins it to the body.ExampleM 2 cm · ±0.2 cm · same in every size
- Bottom hem width
- Straight across the bottom edge, side seam to side seam.ExampleM 51 cm · ±1 cm · grade 2.5 cm a size
- Hem depth (body and sleeve)
- From the folded hem edge to the line of stitching, on the body and on the sleeve.ExampleM 2 cm · ±0.2 cm · same in every size
Materials and construction example
The bill of materials and the construction table from the same example. A factory buys fabric against composition and weight, and sews to the stitch named for each seam, so these two tables decide most of the price and most of the finish.
| Material | Placement | Composition | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main fabric | Body and sleeves | 100% combed cotton, single jersey | 180 GSM |
| Neck rib | Neckband | 95% cotton, 5% elastane, 1x1 rib | 220 GSM |
| Neck tape | Back neck, shoulder to shoulder | Cotton herringbone tape, 1 cm | — |
| Thread | All seams | 100% polyester, core-spun | — |
| Print ink | Front chest | Water-based screen-print ink | — |
| Area | Stitch / seam | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Neckline | Rib attached with 4-thread overlock, then coverstitched, 12 SPI | 1x1 rib, 2 cm finished; rib cut shorter than the neck opening so it lies flat |
| Back neck | Taped, single-needle topstitch, 12 SPI | Herringbone tape covers the seam shoulder to shoulder |
| Shoulder seam | 4-thread overlock, 12 SPI | Taped so it does not stretch |
| Sleeve attach | 4-thread overlock, set-in, 12 SPI | Sleeve eased into the armhole |
| Side seam | 4-thread overlock, 12 SPI | Side-seamed body, not tubular |
| Sleeve hem | 2-needle coverstitch, 12 SPI | Hem depth 2 cm |
| Body hem | 2-needle coverstitch, 12 SPI | Hem depth 2 cm |
SPI is stitches per inch. Labels: main / neck label (centre back neck, sewn under the neck tape); care + content label (left side seam, 8 cm above the hem); size label (under the main label); hang tag (looped through the main label); print / embroidery (front chest, 8 cm below the neck seam at centre front, centred).
What a T-shirt tech pack needs that a general one skips
The neckline, in four numbers
A tee is judged at the neck first. Give the neck width, the front and back neck drop, the neckband width and the rib it is made from. Leave them out and the sample comes back with our standard crew, which may sit higher or lower than you meant. If the neckband must not ripple after washing, say so: it is set by how much shorter the rib is cut than the opening.
Fabric weight and yarn, not just “cotton”
Write the composition, the knit and the weight: 100% combed cotton single jersey, 180 GSM. Weight changes drape, opacity and price; we make tees from 140 to 240 GSM, and 180 is the everyday middle. Combed or ring-spun yarn gives a smoother face than carded, and the difference shows in a print.
Side-seamed or tubular
A tubular body has no side seams and is cheaper to sew, but it can twist after washing, so the side seam ends up crossing the front. A side-seamed body is cut flat and holds its shape. State which you want, and if twist matters, ask the factory what limit it works to.
Set-in or dropped shoulder
The shoulder seam position decides the whole silhouette. On a set-in sleeve the seam sits on the shoulder bone; on a dropped shoulder it falls down the arm, which changes the shoulder width, armhole and sleeve length in the chart. Mark it on the sketch and the chart reads correctly.
Print area measured from the neck seam
State the print's maximum size and its position from a fixed point: 8 cm below the neck seam at centre front, centred. A position measured from the hem moves with every size, so most brands measure from the neck. If the print is graded by size, say so; most are not.
Measurements before or after washing
Cotton jersey shrinks a little on the first wash. Say whether your chart is the garment as it leaves the factory or after a wash, and if you have a washed garment whose fit you like, measure that one. Otherwise the sample can be right on the table and short after the first wash.
For the fabric side, read what jersey fabric is, rib knit for neckbands and combed, carded or ring-spun cotton. To work out how much fabric an order needs, try the fabric consumption calculator.
Templates for other garments
- Hoodie tech pack template
- Jogger tech pack template
- General tech pack template, for any other garment
- Tech pack checklist, if you prefer a tick-list
Frequently asked questions
What should a T-shirt tech pack include?
Nine sections, the same as any garment, with the details a tee is judged on filled in. A style summary with the fit and the sample size. A front and back flat sketch that shows the neckline shape and the shoulder seam position. A bill of materials naming the main fabric by composition, knit and weight, such as 100% combed cotton single jersey at 180 GSM, plus the neck rib, tape and thread. Colourways with Pantone TCX references. A size chart: our template has thirteen points, including front and back neck drop, neckband width and hem depth, because those decide how a tee looks. Then construction, with the stitch for each seam, labels and print placement measured from the neck seam, packaging, and the order split by size and colour. Fill in what you know and send it; a factory helps you complete the rest during sampling.
How do I measure a T-shirt for a tech pack?
Take a T-shirt whose fit you like, ideally one that has been washed, and lay it flat on a table without stretching it. Use a soft tape and centimetres. Measure the chest straight across 2.5 cm below the armhole, and the body length from the high point of the shoulder, where the shoulder seam meets the neckband, down to the hem. Then the shoulder width from seam point to seam point, the sleeve length along the top fold, the sleeve opening, the neck width, and the front and back neck drop from a line between the two high points of the shoulder. Write these in the sample-size column of the chart and measure each point twice. You do not need to grade the other sizes yourself: in our example the chest grows 2.5 cm a size and the length 2 cm, and a factory can propose the grade from your one size.
What GSM should a T-shirt tech pack specify?
The weight you actually want, as a number, because words such as lightweight or heavyweight mean different things to every supplier. We cut and sew tees from 140 to 240 GSM. Around 140 to 160 GSM gives a light, drapey tee for summer or for layering. About 180 GSM is the everyday middle, opaque in pale colours and comfortable to wear, which is why our example uses it. From 200 to 240 GSM the tee feels structured and premium and holds a large print well. Write the weight beside the composition and the knit, for example 100% combed cotton single jersey at 180 GSM, and give a tolerance if it matters to you. If you are not sure, post us a tee you like and we will weigh it and work from that. Our GSM converter gives the equivalent if a supplier quotes ounces.
How is this different from your general tech pack template?
The general template is built to work for any garment, so its size chart has seven points and its sections stay broad. This one is only for crew-neck T-shirts. Its chart has thirteen points, adding armhole, bicep, front and back neck drop, neckband width and hem depth, which are the measurements a tee is judged on. The construction table lists every seam on a tee, from the rib attach and back neck tape to the side seams and coverstitched hems, and the example is a classic-fit 180 GSM tee rather than an oversized heavyweight one. Use this version if you are making tees. Use the general template for anything else, or our hoodie and jogger versions for those garments. All of them share the same nine-section structure, so a factory reads them in the same way, and all are free to download in PDF and Excel.
Download the T-shirt template (PDF)Download the Excel version (.xlsx)Send us your tech pack