What GSM is actually heavyweight?

GSM is grams per square meter of fabric. It measures the fabric, not the finished garment, so two 220 GSM tees can feel different depending on the yarn, knit, dye and cut. It's still the best single number for comparing blanks, which is why Blankdex sorts by it. Founders on r/streetwearstartup ask this constantly [source].

Ounces to GSM

US brands usually publish weight in ounces per square yard. To convert, multiply by 33.906 and round: 6.0 oz ≈ 203 GSM, 6.5 oz ≈ 220 GSM. When a manufacturer publishes its own GSM figure we use that instead, and anything converted shows with a ≈ on Blankdex.

One brand's ladder

AS Colour's tee guide is a clean reference: Basic is 160 GSM, Staple 180, Classic 220 and Heavy 280, and the fit moves from regular to relaxed to boxy as the weight goes up [source]. Other Industries, a production shop, says relaxed heavyweight shirts around 6 to 6.5 oz (about 203 to 220 GSM) are common among the retail and fashion clients it sees [source].

The bands Blankdex uses

There's no industry standard for “heavyweight”, so these bands are our own editorial cut points, chosen so that each band holds blanks that feel meaningfully different:

Every tee on the scale

Every hoodie and crew on the scale

Heavier isn't automatically better. A heavier fabric usually feels more structured and drapes less, and it costs more to buy and to ship. Order samples across two or three bands and wear them before choosing.