Hoodie weight guide: 7.8 oz vs 8.5 oz vs 10 oz
Fleece weight is ounces per square yard of fabric. Heavier means warmer, stiffer and more expensive. Here is how the blanks Battle Born Clothing stocks line up, and which weight fits which order.
Weights of the blanks we decorate
| Blank | Weight | Fabric | Blank price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Port & Company PC78H / PC78ZH | 7.8 oz | 50/50 | Quoted per job |
| Gildan 18500 | 8 oz | 50/50 | Quoted per job |
| Independent SS4500 / SS4500Z / PRM4500 | 8.5 oz | 80/20 | Quoted per job |
| Port & Company PC90H | 9 oz | 50/50 | Quoted per job |
| Champion S700 | 9 oz | 50/50 Powerblend | Quoted per job |
| Independent IND4000 / IND4000Z / IND3000 | 10 oz | 80/20 | $22.75 (IND4000) |
| Carhartt CTK121 | 10.5 oz | 50/50 | Quoted per job |
| Carhartt CT100617 Paxton | 13 oz | Cotton/poly, water repellent | Quoted per job |
How to choose
7.8 to 8 oz: events, fundraisers, spirit wear
Lightest and cheapest. Fine for a hoodie that gets worn to a game or sold at a fundraiser. Prints well. Pilling and shrink are more noticeable over time than on heavier fleece.
8.5 to 9 oz: year-round staff and member gear
The sweet spot for gyms, schools and offices. Comfortable indoors, warm enough for a Nevada fall. The Independent SS4500 is our pick here because the 80/20 blend feels softer than 50/50 at the same weight.
10 oz and up: winter crews and retail merch
Heavy enough for jobsites and cold mornings, and the weight reads as quality on a merch wall. The IND4000 is our hero hoodie for this reason. Carhartt is heavier still and is priced per job.
Cotton/poly ratio matters too
An 80/20 fleece is softer, prints softer with water-based ink and shrinks slightly more than a 50/50. A 50/50 holds its size better through commercial laundering and is usually cheaper. Embroidery is happy on either.
Weight and decoration
- Embroidery: all weights. Heavier fleece hides the back of the stitching better.
- Screen print: all weights. Light 50/50 fleece takes plastisol best; dense 80/20 takes water-based and discharge best.
- DTF: all weights; press settings change, which we handle.
Questions
Will a 10-oz hoodie shrink?
Expect a little on any cotton-rich fleece. Wash cold, dry low. We size orders assuming normal shrink.
Is heavier always better?
No. For an indoor staff hoodie or a summer-event giveaway, 8.5 oz is more comfortable and costs less.