Gildan Hoodie Heavy Blend Unisex Sweatshirt

Product Details

Gildan 18500 at a glance.

A compact guide to the fabric, fit, sizing, color, and production details decorators need before ordering Gildan 18500 Heavy Blend hooded sweatshirts.

Gildan 18500

The Heavy Blend pullover hoodie.

Built for DTF transfers, screen printing, and custom merch. An 8 oz 50/50 cotton-polyester Heavy Blend fleece pullover hoodie at 20 singles, with a double-lined hood, front pouch pocket, and a classic fit. Sold blank and ready for decoration; DTF transfers are available separately.

8 ozHeavy Blend Fleece

XS–5XLSize Range

ClassicFit

50/50Cotton/Poly

Key Specs

✦ Fast product check

Quick product details decorators check before ordering.

✿

Fabric50/50 cotton/polyester Heavy Blend fleece

⚖

Weight8 oz / yd²

❋

Singles20 singles, Heavy Blend fleece

👕

FitClassic fit, pullover hoodie

◡

HoodDouble-lined with color-matched drawcord

▣

Trim1x1 rib cuffs and waistband with spandex, front pouch pocket

🎨

FinishSmoother face yarn, recycled tear-away label

✦

Size RangeXS to 5XL (available to order)

50/50 Heavy Blend

8 oz Fleece

An 8 oz fleece at 20 singles in 50% cotton and 50% polyester, made with finer yarns and MVS Air spinning technology for a smoother printing surface and reduced pilling.

Fabric Varies

Heather Color Fabric Exceptions

Most colors are 50/50 cotton-polyester. Heather Dark Green, Heather Dark Maroon, Heather Dark Navy, Heather Deep Royal, and Heather Scarlet Red are 60/40 polyester/cotton. Exact composition may vary by color.

Classic Fit

Seamless Body

A classic fit with a double-lined hood, color-matched drawcord, front pouch pocket, and 1x1 rib cuffs and waistband with spandex, built as a durable fleece hoodie blank.

Note: The 50% polyester content generally helps the 18500 hold its shape and can reduce shrinkage compared with many all-cotton fleece garments, though some dimensional change may still occur. It has a classic fit, a double-lined hood with a color-matched drawcord, a front pouch pocket, 1x1 rib cuffs and waistband with spandex, double-needle stitching, and a recycled tear-away label for easy rebranding. Most colors are 50% cotton and 50% polyester at 20 singles. Heather Dark Green, Heather Dark Maroon, Heather Dark Navy, Heather Deep Royal, and Heather Scarlet Red are 60/40 polyester/cotton. The Safety Green color meets ANSI / ISEA 107 high-visibility color requirements per the supplier. Exact composition may vary by color.

8

HEAVY BLEND HOODIE · 8 OZ

8 oz of 50/50 cotton and polyester fleece at 20 singles, made with finer yarns and MVS Air spinning technology. A durable, low-pill pullover hoodie built for custom fleece and merch.

Shop All Colors →

Why Decorators Pick This Blank

Why brands rely on the Gildan 18500.

Six reasons the Heavy Blend hoodie is a go-to fleece blank for custom merch, DTF transfers, and screen printing.

🧥Heavy Blend

8 oz fleece

An 8 oz 50/50 cotton-polyester fleece at 20 singles gives a warm, substantial hand that holds up as a bulk merch blank.

8 oz, 20 singles
Heavy Blend fleece

🪢Double-Lined Hood

Hood with drawcord

A double-lined hood with a color-matched drawcord gives a clean, finished look and extra warmth over a crewneck.

Double-lined hood
Color-matched drawcord

🖨️Smooth Face

Finer face yarn

Finer yarns and MVS Air spinning create a smoother printing surface and reduce pilling versus a standard fleece blank.

Reduced pilling
Smooth print surface

👝Pouch Pocket

Front kangaroo pocket

A front pouch pocket adds function and a classic hoodie look, so keep lower-front prints above the pocket line.

Front pouch pocket
1x1 rib cuffs and waistband

🦺Hi-Vis Option

Safety Green hi-vis

The Safety Green color meets ANSI / ISEA 107 high-visibility color requirements per the supplier. Check applicable workwear requirements before use.

ANSI / ISEA 107 (Safety Green)
Workwear-ready

👖Matching Set

Pairs with 18200

The 18500 hoodie matches the Gildan 18200 Heavy Blend sweatpants, so you can build and decorate a full fleece set.

Matches 18200 sweatpants
Recycled tear-away label

Color Palette

Heavy Blend Colors · Wide Color Range

The Gildan 18500 comes in a wide range of colors. Most are 50% cotton and 50% polyester. Selected Heather colors are 60/40 polyester/cotton, and Safety Green meets ANSI / ISEA 107 high-visibility color requirements per the supplier. Availability varies by color.

White

50/50

Black

50/50

Antique Cherry Red

50/50

Antique Sapphire

50/50

Ash

50/50

Azalea

50/50

Cardinal Red

50/50

Carolina Blue

50/50

Charcoal

50/50

Cherry Red

50/50

Dark Chocolate

50/50

Dark Heather

50/50

Note: Most Gildan 18500 colors are 50% cotton and 50% polyester at 8 oz. Heather Dark Green, Heather Dark Maroon, Heather Dark Navy, Heather Deep Royal, and Heather Scarlet Red are 60/40 polyester/cotton. Some colors are available in full case increments only. The Safety Green color meets ANSI / ISEA 107 high-visibility color requirements per the supplier. Exact composition and color availability may vary by stock level.

Sizing

Adult size chart.

All measurements are laid-flat garment dimensions in inches. The 18500 has a classic fit with a comfortable, roomy silhouette. Check the size chart below for garment measurements. Available XS to 5XL.

Size	Chest Width	Body Length	Sleeve Length
XS	18"	26"	32.5"
S	20"	27"	33"
M	22"	28"	34"
L	24"	29"	35"
XL	26"	30"	36"
2XL	28"	31"	37"
3XL	30"	32"	38"
4XL	32"	33"	39"
5XL	34"	34"	40"

Fit note: The 18500 has a classic fit with a double-lined hood, front pouch pocket, and 1x1 rib cuffs and waistband with spandex. It has a roomy cut typical of Gildan fleece. Review the laid-flat size chart before ordering to confirm the right size.

Measurement note: Chest width is the laid-flat measurement taken below the sleeve, not the full body circumference. Sleeve length is measured from center back. Measurements are approximate and may vary slightly by production run. Available XS to 5XL.

Decoration Methods

Gildan 18500 printing: what works best.

How each major decoration method performs on the 18500. The Heavy Blend face is smooth and low-pill, but the 50% polyester content affects how the fleece responds to heat. The ratings below are the DTF Dallas decoration assessment, not manufacturer ratings, and may vary by ink, transfer, garment color, and equipment. Test one piece before a full run.

DTF (Direct-to-Film)

Excellent

The smooth, low-pill Heavy Blend face holds clean DTF detail across the chest, though the front pouch pocket limits large lower-front prints. Because the fabric is 50% polyester, follow the transfer manufacturer's recommended settings and test one hoodie first to check for dye migration on darker colors.

Best for: Custom merch, team fleece, events

Screen Printing

Excellent

A decorator favorite for fleece. Use a low-bleed or poly white underbase on darker colors, since polyester dye can migrate under cure heat. Safety colors are prone to scorching, so keep dryer temps in check.

Best for: Bulk merch, team orders

Embroidery

Excellent

At 8 oz the Heavy Blend fleece is an ideal embroidery base. Use a proper backing and stabilizer. The dense fleece supports left-chest logos and hood or sleeve designs well.

Best for: Logos, workwear, branded fleece

DTG (Direct-to-Garment)

Very Good

DTG bonds to the cotton content, though a 50/50 blend gives less ink absorption than all-cotton. Expect a slightly softer print and pretreat accordingly. Test the exact color first.

Best for: Small runs, on-demand

Heat Transfer Vinyl (HTV)

Very Good

HTV bonds well to the fleece. Pre-press briefly to flatten and remove moisture, and confirm your vinyl is rated for cotton-poly blends.

Best for: Names, numbers, team sets

Sublimation

Color Dependent

Sublimation bonds only to the polyester content, so results on a 50/50 blend look faded by design. This can work as an intentional vintage effect on lighter colors, but it will not match a 100% polyester garment. Test the exact color first.

Best for: Faded vintage effects (test first)

Common Problems & Fixes

Blend, fit, or print questions? Start here.

The 18500 is an 8 oz 50/50 Heavy Blend hooded fleece. Here is how to handle common fabric, fit, print, and wash-care questions.

PressFollow film instructions

Dark colorsTest for dye migration

Safety colorsWatch dryer scorching

Cause

The 18500 is a 50/50 cotton-polyester Heavy Blend. The polyester adds durability and shape retention but responds to heat differently than all-cotton.

Fix

Follow the transfer manufacturer's recommended settings for blends and test one piece first. If you want a cotton-face option, compare with a ring-spun fleece.

Cause

Selected Heather colors (Heather Dark Green, Heather Dark Maroon, Heather Dark Navy, Heather Deep Royal, Heather Scarlet Red) are 60/40 polyester/cotton, not 50/50, so they carry more polyester.

Fix

Check the color before ordering a full run, and test the heather colors separately since higher polyester raises dye migration risk.

Cause

The 50% polyester content means polyester dye can migrate into light-colored ink under press or cure heat, especially on darker colors.

Fix

Test the exact color first. If dye migration appears, use a low-bleed or blocker transfer and follow the transfer manufacturer's settings for blends.

Cause

Safety colors are prone to scorching or blotching if dryer temperatures run too high, which can discolor the fabric.

Fix

Lower the dryer temperature and test one Safety Green piece before a full run. The Safety Green color meets ANSI / ISEA 107 high-visibility color requirements per the supplier.

Cause

The 50% polyester helps the 18500 hold its shape and reduce shrinkage compared with many all-cotton fleece garments, though some change may still occur.

Fix

Follow the garment care label, wash warm inside out, and tumble dry low. Wash-test one piece before a large decorated run.

Cause

The 18500 is a hoodie only. To build a full fleece set, you need a matching bottom in the same Heavy Blend family.

Fix

Add the Gildan 18200 Heavy Blend sweatpants to coordinate the hand and color for a complete decorated set.

Who Orders It In Bulk

Blank hoodies for brands, teams, and merch.

An 8 oz 50/50 Heavy Blend fleece with a classic fit. These blank pullover hoodies are a go-to for merch brands, schools, teams, workwear programs, and print shops.

Brands

Merch Brands

Brands that want a warm, substantial fleece hoodie with a smooth print face for premium custom merch.

Schools

Schools & Spirit Wear

Schools and clubs that need an affordable, durable hoodie in a wide color range for spirit wear and group orders.

Gildan 18000 Heavy Blend sweatshirts for team and club fleece

Teams

Team & Club Fleece

Teams and clubs that want a heavyweight hoodie for sideline and off-season wear, with a matching 18200 bottom.

Workwear

Workwear & Uniforms

Workwear programs that need a durable embroidered hoodie, with Safety Green available for high-visibility requirements.

Print Shops

Print Shops & Studios

Print shops that want a dependable, low-pill fleece blank with a smooth surface for DTF, screen, and embroidery jobs at scale.

Style It With

Complete the look with matching pieces.

Pair the 18500 with the rest of a full look: blank tote bags, t-shirts and tees, joggers, and headwear, so customers can buy a complete set instead of a single hoodie.

TOTE

Complete the Look

Related Styles

Matching Gildan Heavy Blend styles.

Pair the 18500 with the rest of the Gildan Heavy Blend family: the crewneck, quarter-zip, joggers, sweatpants, and youth crew, hoodie, and bottoms, so you can outfit a full fleece lineup across sizes and styles.

18000

Gildan

Heavy Blend Crewneck

18200

Gildan

Heavy Blend Sweatpants

18810

Gildan

Heavy Blend Quarter-Zip

18250

Gildan

Heavy Blend Joggers

18100

Gildan

Heavy Blend Pocket Sweatpants

18400

Gildan

Heavy Blend Open-Bottom Sweatpants

18000B

Gildan

Youth Heavy Blend Crewneck

View product →

18500B

Gildan

Youth Heavy Blend Hoodie

View product →

18200B

Gildan

Youth Heavy Blend Sweatpants

18600B

Gildan

Youth Heavy Blend Full-Zip Hoodie

Compare

Gildan 18500 vs. Hanes P170 EcoSmart.

Two popular 50/50 fleece pullover hoodies. The 18500 is the Heavy Blend heavyweight; the Hanes P170 EcoSmart is a lighter value option with recycled content.

8 oz Heavy Blend

Gildan 18500

An 8 oz 50/50 Heavy Blend fleece pullover hoodie at 20 singles, with a double-lined hood, color-matched drawcord, and a front pouch pocket.

VS

7.8 oz EcoSmart

Hanes P170

A 7.8 oz 50/50 EcoSmart fleece pullover hoodie with recycled polyester content, a lighter, value-focused alternative.

Brand & Style	Weight	Fabric	Style
Gildan 18500	8 oz	50/50 Heavy Blend	Pullover hoodie
Hanes P170 EcoSmart	7.8 oz	50/50 EcoSmart fleece	Value hoodie
Gildan 18000	8 oz	50/50 Heavy Blend	Crewneck sweatshirt
Jerzees 996	8 oz	50/50 NuBlend	Pullover hoodie
Comfort Colors 1467	9.5 oz	Ring-spun cotton	Garment-dye hoodie

*Fabric and weight vary by brand. These are hoodie and fleece blanks. The 18500 is the heavyweight Heavy Blend pullover of the group, built for custom merch and screen printing at value.

Quick Rule of Thumb

Choose the 18500 for a heavier 8 oz Heavy Blend hand with a double-lined hood. Choose the Hanes P170 EcoSmart for a lighter, value hoodie with recycled content.

Shop the 18500 →

Looking For Something Else?

Not quite the right blank for your order?

Want a crewneck: try Gildan 18000 for the matching 8 oz Heavy Blend crewneck with a full front print area.

Want matching bottoms: add the Gildan 18200 Heavy Blend sweatpants to build a full fleece set.

Want a youth size: try the Gildan 18500B youth Heavy Blend hoodie in the same fleece.

Want garment dye: try Comfort Colors 1467 for a heavier ring-spun garment-dye hoodie.

Need finished apparel?

Need printed hoodies instead?

Our Gildan 18500 bulk blanks are sold unprinted. For designed, printed, and ready-to-wear hoodies, visit our custom apparel printing service.

Printed & ready to wearGreat for teams, brands & eventsFast custom apparel service

Shop Custom Apparel →

FAQ

What to know before ordering the Gildan 18500.

The Gildan 18500 is a Heavy Blend pullover hooded sweatshirt in 8 oz 50/50 cotton and polyester at 20 singles. The Heavy Blend fleece is made with finer yarns and MVS Air spinning for a smoother printing surface and reduced pilling, with a classic fit, a double-lined hood with color-matched drawcord, and a front pouch pocket. It runs XS through 5XL. See the size chart and color range below to order.

The Gildan 18500 and 18000 share the same 8 oz Heavy Blend 50/50 fleece, but the 18500 is a pullover hoodie and the 18000 is a crewneck. Choose the 18500 when you want a hood and front pouch pocket, and the 18000 for a clean crew with a full front print area. Review both spec sheets before ordering.

No, the Gildan 18500 is a 50/50 blend. Most colors are 50% cotton and 50% polyester at 20 singles. Heather Dark Green, Heather Dark Maroon, Heather Dark Navy, Heather Deep Royal, and Heather Scarlet Red are 60/40 polyester/cotton. Check the color you plan to order before pressing a full run, since polyester content affects heat settings.

Yes, the Gildan 18500 works with DTF transfers. The Heavy Blend face yarn gives a smooth, low-pill surface that can hold clean detail across the chest, though the front pouch pocket limits large lower-front prints. Because the fabric is 50% polyester, follow the transfer manufacturer's recommended settings and test one hoodie first to check for dye migration. DTF Dallas prints custom transfers for the 18500 same-day when ordered before 2:00 PM CT.

The 50% polyester content generally helps the Gildan 18500 hold its shape and reduces shrinkage compared with many all-cotton fleece garments. Some dimensional change may still occur depending on washing and drying, so follow the garment care label and wash-test one hoodie before a large decorated run.

The Gildan 18500 has a double-lined hood with a color-matched drawcord and a front pouch pocket. The body is a classic fit with 1x1 rib cuffs and waistband with spandex and double-needle stitching for durability. Keep the pouch pocket in mind when placing lower-front prints. See the product features below for the full construction detail.

The Gildan 18500 comes in XS through 5XL with a classic fit. Chest runs from 18 inches at XS to 34 inches at 5XL laid flat, and body length runs from 26 to 34 inches, with measurements approximate and varying slightly by production run. Available colors and sizes vary by inventory, and DTF Dallas can help source additional 18500 combinations for Richardson pickup. Check the full size chart above before ordering.

Yes, the Gildan 18500 hoodie is designed to pair with the matching Gildan 18200 Heavy Blend sweatpants for a complete set. Both share the same Heavy Blend fleece family, so the colors and hand coordinate. Order DTF Dallas transfers before 2:00 PM CT to decorate the 18500 and build a matching custom fleece set.

DTF Dallas Richardson TX storefront graphic showing local pickup, same-day shipping, locker pickup, and DFW service area for bulk blank apparel orders

Local Shopping & Service Area

Stocked in Richardson, TX for Dallas-Fort Worth orders.

Order Gildan 18500 Heavy Blend hooded sweatshirts. Our main production facility and Richardson pickup location is at 801 Alpha Dr, Ste 112, Richardson, TX 75081. Place your blank apparel order by 2:00 PM CT for free Richardson same-day pickup, available 24/7 through secure lockers once you receive your order-ready notification.

2 PM CTSame-day shipping cutoff

24/7Richardson locker pickup

DFWLocal order support

DallasPlanoGarlandAddisonArlingtonFriscoMcKinneyCarrolltonIrvingMesquiteGrand PrairieLewisville

Gildan 18500 Heavy Blend™ Hooded Unisex Sweatshirt

Bulk Blank Hoodie for Custom DTF Transfer Printing

Key Features of Gildan 18500

The Hoodie Standard for Bulk Events, Branded Programs, and Schools

Compatible Printing and Decoration Methods

Order Gildan 18500 Blank Hoodies at DTF Dallas

Complete Your Order With Ready to Press

Gildan 18500 at a glance.

The Heavy Blend pullover hoodie.

Key Specs

8 oz Fleece

Heather Color Fabric Exceptions

Seamless Body

Why brands rely on the Gildan 18500.

8 oz fleece

Hood with drawcord

Finer face yarn

Front kangaroo pocket

Safety Green hi-vis

Pairs with 18200

Heavy Blend Colors · Wide Color Range

Adult size chart.

Gildan 18500 printing: what works best.

DTF (Direct-to-Film)

Screen Printing

Embroidery

DTG (Direct-to-Garment)

Heat Transfer Vinyl (HTV)

Sublimation

Blend, fit, or print questions? Start here.

Blank hoodies for brands, teams, and merch.

Merch Brands

Schools & Spirit Wear

Team & Club Fleece

Workwear & Uniforms

Print Shops & Studios

Complete the look with matching pieces.

Custom Tote Bags

T-Shirts & Tees

Sweatpants & Joggers

Caps & Headwear

Matching Gildan Heavy Blend styles.

Heavy Blend Crewneck

Heavy Blend Sweatpants

Heavy Blend Quarter-Zip

Heavy Blend Joggers

Heavy Blend Pocket Sweatpants

Heavy Blend Open-Bottom Sweatpants

Youth Heavy Blend Crewneck

Youth Heavy Blend Hoodie

Youth Heavy Blend Sweatpants

Youth Heavy Blend Full-Zip Hoodie

Gildan 18500 vs. Hanes P170 EcoSmart.

Gildan 18500

Hanes P170

Quick Rule of Thumb

Not quite the right blank for your order?

Need printed hoodies instead?

What to know before ordering the Gildan 18500.

Stocked in Richardson, TX for Dallas-Fort Worth orders.