| Cart Total | White | Gray | Color |
| $99 | $3.74 21% off | $5.68 21% off | $5.68 21% off |
| $150 | $3.74 21% off | $5.68 21% off | $5.68 21% off |
| $250 | $3.65 23% off | $5.54 23% off | $5.54 23% off |
| $500 | $3.56 25% off | $5.39 25% off | $5.39 25% off |
| $1,000 | $3.46 27% off | $5.25 27% off | $5.25 27% off |
| $1,750 | $3.41 28% off | $5.18 28% off | $5.18 28% off |
| $3,800 | $3.37 29% off | $5.10 29% off | $5.10 29% off |
Gildan G540 - Unisex Heavy Cotton™ Long-Sleeve T-Shirt - Safety Orange
Selected Color: Safety Orange25 colors
Choose Size
Description
The Gildan G540 is the Heavy Cotton Long-Sleeve Tee, the long-sleeve companion to the workhorse short-sleeve G500 in the same 5.3 oz 100% cotton Heavy Cotton body. The weight is the point: at 5.3 oz it runs opaque and durable in a long-sleeve cut with 1x1 ribbed cuffs and a seamless collar, on the same Heavy Cotton colour card and carded open-end body as the G500. That makes it the long-sleeve a shop reaches for when a program wants a value 100% cotton long-sleeve body that matches a G500 short-sleeve order, the default for school spirit and team long-sleeves, cooler-weather event and fundraiser runs, layering and uniform programs, and any high-volume long-sleeve order where a proven value cotton body and a printable sleeve decide it over a premium ring-spun blank.
The G540 prints like the short-sleeve G500: a true 100% cotton tee on its solid colours, with the carded open-end face running slightly coarser than a ring-spun blank, and the long-sleeve adds the cuff and full sleeve as extra print real estate. For screen printing, the heavy cotton face holds bold spot colour and the 5.3 oz body is opaque enough to print straight on the light solids and lay a white underbase on the darks, and because the open-end knit is coarser than ring-spun, favour bold artwork over the finest halftone detail; the full sleeve takes a sleeve print or cuff hit cleanly. For water-based and discharge, the 100% cotton solids strip the dye and lay the ink into the cotton for a soft, no-hand print, ideal for an all-over or sleeve-length discharge run. For DTF, the transfer bonds to the cotton face at standard heat-press settings across every colour, the most consistent single method on Sport Grey and the safety colours as well as the solids. For DTG, the cotton pre-treats and prints on the solids, a touch less crisp than ring-spun but clean. For embroidery, the 5.3 oz body takes a left-chest or sleeve design with a cut-away backing. For vinyl and HTV, solid heat-transfer vinyl presses clean on the cotton face. The caveat is the heathers and safety colours: Ash is a 99/1 and Sport Grey and the antiques are 90/10 that behave close to a solid, but Dark Heather and the Safety colours are 50/50 blends, where the polyester migrates and discharge fades to a tonal result, so treat those like a blend with a grey poly-block underbase on the darks and a lower cure. Sublimation does not apply, since the cotton-dominant body is not a polyester sublimation substrate.
- Brand: Gildan
- Style: G540 (Gildan Heavy Cotton Long-Sleeve T-Shirt, also catalogued as 5400)
- Fabric: 100% cotton carded open-end; Ash 99/1; Sport Grey and antique colours 90/10; Dark Heather and Safety colours 50/50 cotton/polyester
- Weight: 5.3 oz/yd2
- Construction: Carded open-end cotton jersey. Seamless rib collar. 1x1 ribbed cuffs. Taped neck and shoulders. Double-needle bottom hem. Removable tag.
- Fit: Unisex classic fit
- Sizes: S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL
- Colors available: 25+ colours across solids, heathers and safety shades (check current availability on the product page)
- Ordering: available by the piece or by the case; confirm current packing per case for your colour and size before a large order
- Care: Machine wash cold. Tumble dry low.
The reorder note specific to this style: the solids run a true 100% cotton while Ash, Sport Grey and the antiques are cotton-rich and Dark Heather and the Safety colours are 50/50, so confirm whether your colour is a solid or a blend before a repeat run, because the 50/50 colours will not discharge to the same soft result as the solids and need a poly-block underbase. Pair the G540 with the short-sleeve Gildan G500 to run the same Heavy Cotton body and artwork across long and short sleeves, and cross-shop the Fruit of the Loom 4930 HD Cotton Long-Sleeve when a job wants a value long-sleeve alternative. TheClothingSpace stocks the G540 at wholesale pricing with bulk discounts that increase as case and unit quantities rise, among the lowest prices online for this style, with fast US shipping on stocked colours.
Running a long and short sleeve program on one artwork? Browse all wholesale blank t-shirts.
Features
- 100% preshrunk cotton
- Made with sustainably and fairly grown USA cotton
- Seamless rib at neck
- Taped shoulder-to-shoulder
- Double-needle stitching throughout
- Tear-away label
- Quarter-turned to eliminate center crease
- 7/8" collar
- Classic fit
Shipping & Returns
All Blank orders of $59 or more are shipped FREE same day via UPS Ground. Blank orders under $59 will qualify for the following shipping options:
- USPS Blank Apparel Shipping (2-4 Business Days): $4.99
- UPS Ground (1-2 Business Days): $8.99
Read our Shipping Policy for more information.
Fill out the Blank Apparel Return Form within 30 days of the order date to be eligible for a refund or return.
Note: All blank orders shipped outside of the continental US are not eligible for return, exchange, or refund.

Decoration Method Compatibility
How this blank performs across popular decoration methods.
| Method | Compatible | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Screen Print (Plastisol) | ✓ | the heavy cotton face holds bold spot colour; the 5.3 oz body is opaque enough to print straight on light solids and lay a white underbase on darks, and because the open-end knit is coarser than ring-spun, favour bold artwork over the finest halftone detail; the full sleeve takes a sleeve print or cuff hit cleanly |
| Screen Print (Water-based / Discharge) | ✓ | the 100% cotton solids strip the dye and lay the ink into the cotton for a soft no-hand print, ideal for an all-over or sleeve-length discharge; the 50/50 Dark Heather and Safety colours will not discharge and need a poly-block |
| DTF Transfer | ✓ | bonds to the cotton face at standard heat-press settings across every colour, the most consistent single method on Sport Grey and the safety colours as well as the solids |
| DTG | ✓ | the cotton pre-treats and prints on the solids, a touch less crisp than ring-spun; favour the solids and the cotton-rich Ash and Sport Grey over the 50/50 blends |
| Embroidery | ✓ | the 5.3 oz body takes a left-chest or sleeve design with a cut-away backing |
| Vinyl / HTV | ✓ | solid heat-transfer vinyl presses clean on the cotton face at standard settings |
| Sublimation | ✗ | the cotton-dominant body is not a polyester sublimation substrate |
How Does the Gildan G540 Compare?
| Spec | Gildan G540 (Heavy Cotton Long-Sleeve) | Gildan G500 (Heavy Cotton) | Fruit of the Loom 4930 (HD Cotton Long-Sleeve) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting At | $4.74 | $2.05 | $5.93 |
| Weight | 5.3 oz | 5.3 oz | 5.0 oz |
| Yarn / Fabric | 100% carded open-end cotton | 100% carded open-end cotton | 100% HD Cotton |
| Fit | Unisex, classic | Unisex, classic | Unisex, classic |
| Construction | Long-sleeve Heavy Cotton, ribbed cuffs | Same Heavy Cotton body, short sleeve | Value HD Cotton long-sleeve body |
| Best For | Value 100% cotton long-sleeve tee | Short-sleeve version on the same artwork | Value long-sleeve cross-shop |
Fabric Blend by Color Group
Not all colorways share the same fabric composition. Check the blend before ordering for decoration jobs where substrate matters.
| Color Group | Blend | Print Consideration |
|---|---|---|
| Solid colours | 100% cotton (carded open-end) | Best discharge and DTG result; print straight on lights, white underbase on darks, no migration to manage |
| Ash, Sport Grey and antique colours | 99/1 and 90/10 cotton/polyester | Cotton-rich, behaves close to a solid; print near-solid with only slight discharge muting and minimal migration |
| Dark Heather and Safety colours | 50/50 cotton/polyester | Poly-rich; the polyester migrates and discharge fades to a tonal result, so use a grey poly-block underbase on darks and the lowest effective cure |




