| Cart Total | White | Gray | Color |
| $99 | $3.77 21% off | $5.00 21% off | $4.96 21% off |
| $150 | $3.77 21% off | $5.00 21% off | $4.96 21% off |
| $250 | $3.67 23% off | $4.87 23% off | $4.84 23% off |
| $500 | $3.58 25% off | $4.75 25% off | $4.71 25% off |
| $1,000 | $3.48 27% off | $4.62 27% off | $4.58 27% off |
| $1,750 | $3.43 28% off | $4.56 28% off | $4.52 28% off |
| $3,800 | $3.39 29% off | $4.49 29% off | $4.46 29% off |
Hanes 5286 - Essential-T Long Sleeve Tee - Carolina Blue
Selected Color: Carolina Blue23 colors
Choose Size
Description
The Hanes 5286 Essential-T is a 5 oz 100% cotton long sleeve tee at 22 singles, the long-sleeve counterpart to the Hanes 5280 Essential-T short sleeve. The Essential-T line replaced the older Hanes ComfortSoft and Tagless lines with a simplified construction that keeps the cotton hand and preshrunk stability while adding a tear-away label for cleaner relabeling on decorated programs. At the 5286's price point, it is the value long sleeve blank for school spirit programs, church events, corporate outings, and seasonal merchandise runs where the buyer needs a cotton substrate with full-length sleeves at the lowest unit cost in the Hanes lineup.
The cotton face on most 5286 colourways simplifies the decoration decision. For DTF transfers, the cotton surface bonds cleanly with transfer adhesives at standard heat-press settings and the 5 oz weight sits flat on the platen. For screen printing, plastisol prints with reliable holdout on the cotton face. On most solid colours the 100% cotton composition means zero dye migration risk, which lets a shop cure at normal temps without poly-blocking. On the 50/50 Charcoal Heather and Oxford Gray, use a poly-blocking underbase and cure at the minimum effective temperature. On the 90/10 Light Steel, migration risk is minor but test on darker ink colours at high cure temps. For embroidery, the 5 oz jersey is a standard substrate weight for left-chest placements. Use a tear-away backing for clean registration. For vinyl/HTV, the cotton surface holds vinyl at standard time and temperature.
- Brand: Hanes
- Style: 5286 (Hanes Essential-T Long Sleeve T-Shirt)
- Fabric: 100% US-grown cotton, 22 singles (Ash 99/1; Light Steel 90/10; Charcoal Heather and Oxford Gray 50/50 cotton/polyester)
- Weight: 5 oz/yd2
- Construction: Set-in 1x1 rib crewneck. Self-fabric neck tape. Double-needle sleeves and hem. Quarter-turned body. Tear-away label. Preshrunk.
- Fit: Unisex, classic fit
- Sizes: S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL
- Colors available: 23+ colours (check current availability on the product page)
- Care: Machine wash warm. Tumble dry medium.
The 5286 competes with the Gildan G240 Ultra Cotton Long Sleeve and the Hanes 5586 Authentic-T Long Sleeve. The 5286 is the lightest of the three at 5 oz and typically the lowest-priced, which makes it the value entry point for cotton long sleeve programs. The Gildan G240 runs heavier at 6 oz on 100% cotton for a fuller body. The Hanes 5586 is the heaviest at 6.1 oz with the same Hanes construction platform. Cross-shop on weight, hand feel, and unit cost for your program. TheClothingSpace stocks the 5286 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.
Comparing blank long sleeve tees for your program? Browse all wholesale blank long sleeve 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 |
|---|---|---|
| DTF Transfer | ✓ | cotton surface bonds cleanly with transfer adhesives at standard heat-press settings; 5 oz weight sits flat on the platen |
| Screen Print (Plastisol) | ✓ | 100% cotton face gives reliable ink holdout on most colours with zero migration risk; poly-block only on 50/50 Charcoal Heather and Oxford Gray |
| Screen Print (Water-based / Discharge) | ✓ | 100% cotton colourways take water-based and discharge inks; not recommended on the 50/50 Charcoal Heather and Oxford Gray |
| Embroidery | ✓ | 5 oz jersey is standard substrate weight for left-chest placements; use tear-away backing for clean registration |
| Vinyl / HTV | ✓ | cotton surface holds vinyl at standard time and temperature |
| DTG | ✓ | 100% cotton colourways pre-treat and print; lighter weight than heavyweight tees but viable for short-run full-colour work |
| Sublimation | ✗ | cotton-dominant fabric does not hold sublimation dye; route to a 100% polyester blank for sublimation |
How Does the Hanes 5286 Compare?
| Spec | Hanes 5286 Essential-T LS | Gildan G240 Ultra Cotton LS | Hanes 5586 Authentic-T LS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting At | $4.77 | $5.69 | $5.56 |
| Weight | 5 oz | 6 oz | 6.1 oz |
| Yarn / Fabric | 100% cotton, 22 singles | 100% cotton | 100% cotton |
| Fit | Classic unisex | Classic unisex | Classic unisex |
| Construction | Set-in sleeves, quarter-turned, tear-away label | Taped neck and shoulders, double-needle hems | Coverseamed neck, shoulder-to-shoulder tape |
| Best For | Lowest-cost cotton long sleeve blank | Heavier 6 oz cotton long sleeve with fuller body | Heaviest Hanes long sleeve with coverseam construction |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Standard solid colours (White, Black, Navy, Athletic Red, etc.) | 100% US-grown cotton, 22 singles | Cotton face gives full ink holdout; zero migration risk, standard plastisol settings, water-based and discharge compatible |
| Ash | 99/1 cotton/polyester | Negligible poly content, prints like 100% cotton |
| Light Steel | 90/10 cotton/polyester | Minor migration risk at high cure temps on dark inks; test before full run |
| Charcoal Heather and Oxford Gray | 50/50 cotton/polyester | Higher poly content; poly-blocking underbase and minimum effective cure temperature required, discharge not recommended |
Size Chart
Measurements in inches. Source: Jiffy / Hanes spec
| Size | Chest (inches) | Length (inches) |
|---|---|---|
| S | 18 | 28 |
| M | 20 | 29 |
| L | 22 | 30 |
| XL | 24 | 31 |
| 2XL | 26 | 33 |
| 3XL | 28 | 34 |




