Best Custom Shirt Websites 2025: An Honest Comparison

I searched "best custom shirts" and found 10 articles comparing the same 5 companies.

They compare fabric counts. Algorithm accuracy. Remake policies.

Nobody asks the obvious question: Why do we need remake policies at all?

Think about it. Every major custom shirt company expects a percentage of orders to come back. They've built entire systems around fixing fit problems after the fact. Free remakes. Unlimited alterations. Full refunds if it's still wrong.

That's not confidence in their fit. That's damage control.

The System Everyone Uses

Here's how every major online custom shirt company works:

1. You enter measurements (or let an algorithm guess)
2. They cut your fabric
3. You hope it fits
4. If it doesn't → remakes, alterations, refunds

The fabric is already cut before you try anything on. Your $150 shirt was made based on numbers you entered—or a prediction from photos you uploaded.

Even the best algorithms are still guessing. And guessing with a customer's money.

The Competitors (Fair Credit Where Due)

Let's look at what each company does well. These aren't bad companies—some are excellent at what they do. But they all use the same fundamental approach.

Proper Cloth — $80-190

The best algorithm in the business. Their Smart Sizes system uses 16 fit points, and their fit accuracy is genuinely impressive.

Strengths:
- 600+ fabric options, best selection online
- Excellent education content—they teach you about fabrics
- 2 free remakes plus full refund option
- 2-week turnaround with great communication
- 5-star Trustpilot rating (548 reviews)

Limitation: Still algorithm-based. No physical verification before cutting.

Best for: Tech-savvy buyers who trust data and want maximum fabric choice.

Ratio Clothing — $125+

The human touch approach. Each customer gets a dedicated fit advisor who guides them through the process.

Strengths:
- Personal fit advisor for every customer
- "Answer a few questions" system works well
- Curated fabric selection that stands out
- Generally positive customer reviews

Limitations: Higher price point. Production moved to Asia. Still no test garment.

Best for: Those who want hand-holding without visiting a tailor in person.

Tailor Store — $79+

The budget-friendly entry point with a safety net.

Strengths:
- Free remake guarantee (and you keep the original)
- Good website UX, easy customizer
- Accessible price for first-time buyers

Limitations: Email-only support. No dedicated fit advisor.

Best for: Budget buyers willing to risk one remake round.

Hockerty — $89+

Speed is the selling point here—15 days claimed turnaround.

Strengths:
- Fast delivery
- Wide selection including casual styles

Concerns: 1.7-star rating on Sitejabber. Fit issues and quality complaints. Customer service problems reported.

Best for: Experienced MTM buyers who already know their exact measurements.

Proceed with caution. Check recent reviews.

iTailor — $49+

The lowest prices in the market. Hard to beat on cost.

Strengths:
- Entry-level pricing
- 4.7-star Trustpilot rating
- Responsive customer service, will remake if issues

Concerns: Quality concerns in reviews ("material like toilet tissue" mentioned). You get what you pay for.

Best for: Testing the waters. Not for investing in longevity.

The Pattern Nobody Talks About

Notice something? All five companies use the same fundamental approach:

1. Algorithm or self-measurement
2. Cut fabric before you try anything
3. Remake/refund as safety net
4. Hope as a fitting strategy

Even Proper Cloth—objectively the best in the business—expects some percentage of remakes. It's built into their model. Their excellent 2-free-remakes policy isn't confidence in perfect fit. It's acknowledgment that the system has inherent uncertainty.

The question isn't "who has the best algorithm?"

The question is "why are we guessing at all?"

What $3,000+ Bespoke Tailors Do Differently

Walk into any Savile Row tailor or high-end bespoke house. Here's what happens:

They don't cut your expensive fabric first.

They make a test garment—called a "toile" or "basted fitting." Plain cotton or muslin. They put it on you. They see how it actually fits on your actual body. They mark adjustments in chalk.

Then—and only then—they cut your premium fabric.

Why doesn't anyone online do this?

Economics. It's slower. Costs more. Requires two rounds of production instead of one. The math doesn't work for companies optimizing for volume and speed.

Until you decide it's worth it.

Our Approach: Draft Fitting

We make that test garment.

Before we touch your Italian cotton, we send a draft shirt in fitting fabric. You try it on at home. Take photos. Send feedback. Tell us where it pulls, where it's loose, what needs adjustment.

We refine your pattern based on real fit on your real body.

Then we cut your fabric.

Price: $115-120

Trade-off: 2-3 weeks extra upfront. First order takes longer.

Result: Fit verified before we commit your fabric. No hoping. No algorithm predictions. No remake lottery.

The Comparison

Who Should Use What

Choose Proper Cloth if:
- You trust algorithms and data
- You want 600+ fabric options
- Speed matters more than certainty
- You're comfortable with potential remake rounds

Choose Ratio if:
- You want personal guidance from fit advisors
- You prefer curated over overwhelming choice
- Budget isn't the primary concern

Choose Tailor Store if:
- You want the lowest-risk entry point
- You're fine with email-only support
- One remake round is acceptable

Choose Us if:
- You've been burned by online MTM before
- This is your first custom shirt (zero guessing)
- You value fit certainty over speed
- You want the bespoke process at MTM prices

Choose iTailor if:
- You just want to try custom for cheap
- You're not investing in longevity
- You already know your measurements cold

The Honest Truth

We're not the cheapest. We're not the fastest. We don't have 600 fabrics.

We have 82 patterns in premium 190gsm Italian cotton. We take longer on first orders. We cost more than budget options.

But we're the only ones who verify fit before cutting your fabric.

Every other company bets on their algorithm. We let you try it first.

Read about our draft fitting process →

After the First Order

Here's where the math changes.

That 2-3 extra weeks? That's only the first time. Your verified pattern gets stored. Second order? No draft needed. Ships in standard time.

Same fit. Any of our 82 patterns. No re-measuring. No hoping.

The initial investment in time pays off in certainty—forever.

How pattern storage works →

The Bottom Line

Most comparison articles tell you which algorithm is best. Which company has the nicest website. Who ships fastest.

We're asking a different question: Should you be gambling on algorithms at all?

If speed and selection matter most, Proper Cloth is excellent.

If personal service matters, Ratio delivers.

If certainty matters—if you want to know it fits before your fabric is cut—there's only one option.

See Our Premium Cotton Shirts →