In this guide, we highlight our experience and share tips for selecting the best concealed carry shirt.
I have found that selecting the right shirt is crucial for concealing my handgun. If certain details are overlooked, my handgun may “print,” making it obvious that I am carrying it.
Our team has over 30 years of experience in carrying concealed. While it seems like any old shirt will do, depending on our body shape (some of us have experienced a few different “shapes” over the years), we have found a few that work particularly well.
Keep reading to find out our top picks and tips we have learned along the way. Also be sure to check out our full Concealed Carry Guide and our Best Concealed Carry Pants guide after you read this one. Getting the right shirt is only part of the battle, after all.
Quick Summary of Our Favorite CCW Shirts
Arrowhead Tactical EDC ConcealTee
Good Fit
Conceals Well
Discrete
MSRP: $39.99
Save 10% at Arrowhead Tactical Apparel with code “Survivalstoic”
Arrowhead Tactical Concealment Hoodie
Discrete
Unique Pocket
Comfortable
MSRP: $87.99
Save 10% at Arrowhead Tactical Apparel with code “Survivalstoic”
Best Shirts for Concealed Carry
Arrowhead Tactical EDC Concealtee T-Shirt – Best T-Shirt
Save 10% at Arrowhead Tactical Apparel with code “Survivalstoic”
- Material: 60% Cotton/40% Polyester
- Pockets: None
- Colors Available: 5 Solids + 3 Graphic
- MSRP: $39.99
The Arrowhead Tactical Concealtee T-shirt is one of the best concealed carry T-shirts we have found.
It is specifically made for concealed carry and covers everything I look for, as I discuss in my tips below.
The material holds its shape well and is not too stiff or light. I like how it breathes and does not feel like a heavy shirt when it is hot outside.
The top of the shirt around my shoulders and arms is more of an athletic fit. It is not baggy at all. At the same time, the bottom flares out some and is not tight around my waist. This helps to conceal my handgun better.
The length is perfect for me. I can repeatedly pull it up to draw my handgun, and it is not too short, either.
Five colors are available, but they are mostly black, grey, or white. The logos and designs on the sleeves are subdued so as not to draw attention. It doesn’t scream, “I’m carrying a gun.” I personally like the Smoke color.
Overall, this is my favorite concealed carry T-shirt. I can tell it is specifically designed for those who carry in the appendix position in warm weather.
Sizing:
I normally wear a large shirt, and an XL worked best for me. I recommend ordering one size up from what you normally wear.
Recommended for:
The Arrowhead Tactical Concealtee T-Shirt is for anyone who wants to carry concealed in the appendix position with only a T-shirt.
5.11 Tactical Wyatt S/S Shirt – Best Casual
- Material: 60% Cotton/40% Polyester
- Pockets: 1
- Colors Available: 4
- MSRP: $48.00
The 5.11 Tactical Wyatt Short Sleeve Shirt is one of the best concealed carry button up shirts we have found.
The most unique feature of this shirt is instead of buttons, it has snaps. At first, I wondered why it would really matter. After I started drawing from the appendix position, I found out why.
During an aggressive draw, the snaps allow the shirt to come unbuttoned. I find that shirts with buttons do not come unbuttoned and can inhibit my draw. This is especially true if I am in an awkward position or moving. With this shirt, I could draw from any position without the shirt getting caught.
5.11 Tactical calls this their Rapidraw feature, and I think it is a great idea and works well.
The fit is good as well. The top part of the shirt is not too baggy, and the bottom flares out. I feel like it may flare out a little too much, but it is not too baggy on me.
It is also discrete and only has a small 5.11 logo on the pocket. It is a good-looking casual shirt that I can really wear anywhere.
The material of this shirt is not super heavy, but it is not vented and is not really a hot weather shirt. It’s brother, the 5.11 Tactical Ellis Button Up shirt is up next, and it is great for hot weather.
I also find that this shirt does not need to be ironed after I wash it, which I love.
Sizing:
I normally wear a large shirt, and the large size in this shirt works well for me.
Recommended For:
The 5.11 Tactical Wyatt Button Up Shirt is for anyone looking for a casual, button up concealed carry shirt.
5.11 Tactical Ellis S/S Shirt – Best Warm Weather
- Material: 100% Polyester
- Pockets: 2
- Colors Available: 3
- MSRP: $58.00
The 5.11 Tactical Ellis Button-Up Shirt is a brother to the Wyatt shirt above.
The biggest difference in this shirt from the Wyatt is the material. It is lightweight, moisture wicking, and actually has small vent holes made into the fabric. I found I didn’t need to iron it either.
When I hold this shirt up to light, I can see the small vent holes. When I wear it, though, it is not see-through at all. (I know what you are thinking, so don’t worry!)
This makes this shirt a perfect casual shirt for hot weather. I have also worn an undershirt with this shirt when it is cooler. This is a good way to wear it if I want a shirt between my body and my holster.
It has the same Rapidraw snaps down the front as the Wyatt, so drawing is positive no matter where or what position I am in. I did find the snaps on this shirt a little harder to snap and unsnap though.
The top button is also not a snap but a regular button. I usually leave this unbuttoned anyway, making the shirt look like it has all buttons. I like this better than the Wyatt, which is all snaps.
It also has two front pockets, whereas the Wyat only has one. It also has a pen pocket on the left front pocket.
It looks great but is also discrete, with only a small 5.11 logo on the back right seam.
The fit is good, but since the material is lighter, it doesn’t feel like it flares out as much as the Wyatt around my waist. It still conceals my handgun well.
Sizing:
I normally wear a large shirt, and the large size in this shirt works well for me.
Recommended For:
The 5.11 Tactical Ellis Button-Up Shirt is for anyone looking for a casual button-up shirt for concealed carry when the weather is hot. It also works well with an undershirt.
Off The Grid Surplus Tucson 2.0 T-shirt
Save 15% with code “affiliate15” at Checkout!
- Material: 100% Cotton
- Pockets: None
- Colors Available: one
- MSRP: $35.00
I like most of the pants and shirts that Off the Grid Surplus has, so when I saw that they had redesigned their Tucson T-shirt, I bought one to try.
The material and fit of this shirt stand out to me.
Most T-shirts are thin and too tight around my midsection and don’t work well for concealed carry. This shirt is made from medium weight combed cotton. It is very soft, but still holds its shape well.
Even though the material is heavier weight, it is still surprisingly cool in hot weather. I was surprised on a recent trip to Florida when I wore it.
The fit of this shirt is just what I look for in a T-shirt. It fits my upper body without being too big and has extra room around my waist. The length of it is perfect, it stops right around the palm of my hand. This allows me to easily clear my holster when I draw.
The combination of the material and the fit allows me to conceal a Walther PDP in the appendix position. The extra room, plus the weight of the material, allows this shirt to flow right over the grip and doesn’t print.
Sizing:
I normally wear a large shirt, and the large size in this shirt works well for me.
Recommended For:
The Off the Grid Surplus Tucson 2.0 T-shirt is for anyone looking for a concealed carry T-shirt. I really like the feel of the material and the design.
Arrowhead Tactical Concealment Hoodie
Save 10% at Arrowhead Tactical Apparel with code “Survivalstoic”
- Material: Outer is Polyester/Spandex, Inner is Cotton
- Pockets: One Front Pass Through
- Colors Available: 4
- MSRP: $87.99
The Arrowhead Tactical Concealment Hoodie is one of my favorite hoodies for concealed carry.
Typically, I find wearing a hoodie and carrying a handgun to not work very well. Most hoodies are long in the front, and it is hard to draw from the appendix position. They also do not work very well for other carry positions unless they are a full zip hoodie (which is really a jacket).
This hoodie solves that problem with a unique zipper pocket in the front pass-through pocket. I can unzip the zipper to allow me to access my handgun in my appendix holster without having to raise my shirt. I can literally have my hand on the grip of my gun without anyone knowing it.
If there is a threat, I can draw through the pocket and act much quicker than having to deal with clearing it before drawing.
However, I found that drawing through the pocket only worked well with smaller handguns like the Sig P365 or the Glock 43X. Larger full-size handguns were hard to get through the pocket. For example, my Walther PDP with a red dot was harder to draw. So, the gun size that can be drawn is limited to smaller sub-compacts.
I really like how this hoodie feels. The inside is 100% cotton, making it feel like a comfortable T-shirt. While the hoodie itself is warm, the inside of the hood is not lined, so it is not very warm in the wind.
The pattern on the outside of the hoodie tends to help conceal better than just a solid pattern. I also found that wearing a size larger than I normally do gives me more room and helps conceal my handgun.
Sizing:
I normally wear a large shirt, and the XL hoodie worked best for me. I recommend ordering one size up from what you normally wear. This also gives me more room for an undershirt.
Recommended For:
The Arrowhead Tactical Concealment Hoodie is for anyone that likes to wear a hoodie in cooler weather and carry concealed.
Howitzer Clothing T-Shirt
- Material: 100% Cotton or Blend, depending on color
- Pockets: None
- Colors Available: A Bunch
- MSRP: $32.95
Howitzer has a bunch of T-shirts that have both patriotic and competitive shooting designs as well as more discrete ones.
When I say a bunch, there are hundreds. I can’t even count them all on their website. That’s what I like about them: there is a huge selection.
The material depends on the color of the shirt. I have colors that are 100% cotton and others that are a blend (Howitzer has the material of each color in the Fabric Guide on their site.)
I like the fit of these shirts. They fit well around the shoulders without being baggy and flare at the bottom to help conceal my handgun. The length is just right for me. I can clear it easily when I draw; it is not too short, either.
They are also very comfortable, with a tag less design. I like the feel of the material as well.
The 100% cotton material shrinks when washing it, and they fit a little smaller. Be sure to order a size larger than normal.
Sizing:
I normally wear a large shirt, and an XL worked best for me. I recommend ordering one size up from what you normally wear for the 100% cotton colors. For the 50/50 blend go with the normal size.
Recommended For:
The Howitzer clothing T-shirt is for anyone that wants a concealed carry T-shirt with a lot of options. They have a ton of colors and designs.
Off-Grid Supply Squirrely Dan Button-Up Shirt
Save 15% with code “affiliate15” at Checkout!
- Material: 100% Polyester
- Pockets: 4 + Pen Pocket
- Colors Available: 3 patterns
- MSRP: $62.50
Off Grid Supply makes my favorite shorts, so I thought I would also try their shirts. (See my best concealed carry shorts review for those!)
A few months ago, I picked up the Squirrely Dan button up to try out. It has a few unique things that I have not seen in any other shirt.
The most unique feature is the pockets. It has two breast pockets and two more hidden ones. Plus, a small pen pocket is just behind the right front breast pocket.
One of the hidden pockets is a zipper pocket that is just behind the right front pocket. It is fairly large, and a great place to hide light weight items like my wallet or passport. It also acts like a vent since the inside of the pocket is a mesh material.
The second is on the back of the shirt and kind of unusual. It is a large pocket with an opening hidden along the seam on the side. I haven’t really been able to find a good everyday use for it, but it does come in handy when I have too much to carry. It only works for lightweight items like a map or trail guide.
The fit is good for concealed carry. The upper part is not too baggy while the lower part of the shirt flares. However, I find that the length of the shirt is a little too long for me. If I button it all the way down, it is hard to pull it up when I draw. I find that if I leave the bottom button loose, it is much easier and works better.
The material is lightweight and perfect for hot weather. It is made from 100% polyester and has a UPF 30 rating. It not only has the front vent I mentioned but the center of the shirt down the back is also vented. When it is hot out, it is the one I reach for.
I also like that I don’t have to iron it after I wash it!
Sizing:
I normally wear a large shirt, and the large size in this shirt works well for me.
Recommended for:
The Off-Grid surplus Squirrely Dan Shirt is for anyone looking for a concealed carry shirt for hot weather that looks great.
Tips for Choosing the Best Concealed Carry Shirt
There are a few particular things I look for in a shirt to conceal my handgun, especially in the appendix position.
I carry in both the appendix and OWB positions depending on what I am doing and the season. Carrying OWB concealed is much simpler. I usually just wear some type of shirt or jacket. But this is hard to do in the warmer months.
The tips below mainly apply to short sleeve shirts and carrying in the appendix or another IWB position. (To learn more about concealed carry positions see our best concealed carry position guide.)
Fit
Obviously, a tight shirt is not going to conceal a handgun. On the flip side, a big, huge loose-fitting shirt just looks goofy.
Instead of buying just any old shirt a size too big, I look for shirts with this particular fit.
The top portion of the shirt around my shoulders and arms should fit like a normal shirt. That is, the sleeves should stop before my elbows and not appear to “hang” off me. Some call this an “athletic” fit, but I think of it as just a normal fitting shirt. (Or is this XXMedium?)
The lower portion of the shirt should flare out and be a little larger than a normal-fitting shirt. This assumes that I am going to wear my shirt untucked when I appendix carry. I find that shirts that are tapered and smaller around the waist do not work as well.
At the same time, I don’t like shirts that are big and poofy around the middle. So, there is a happy medium here.
Material
I find that there is a difference here for T-shirts versus button ups. For T-shirts, a very light, thin, stretchable material does not work well and “prints” very easily.
When looking at T-shirts, I want material that is on the medium weight side and does not have a lot of stretch to it. While I am not talking about heavy cotton duck material here, it should be able to hold its shape well. This allows it to flow over the grip of my handgun and helps to conceal it.
I like the feel of the popular “Canvas” and “Next Level” brand of T-shirts, but they don’t work well because the material is too light.
For button-up shirts, I find that lighter weight fabric works fine as long as the fit is as I highlighted above. In very warm weather, material that is polyester with vented mesh I find works the best.
Length
I find that the length of the shirt is critical. Shirts that are too long make it hard for me to pull them up and out of the way to draw my handgun. Shirts that are too short may expose my handgun when I reach up for something. I find the best length to be about where my palm is when I rest my arms at my side.
Color/Design
I find when people discuss concealed carry and clothing, the first thing they bring up is a certain color or certain pattern is better. Or maybe it is horizontal lines vs vertical lines or patterns vs solids.
The best print for a concealed carry shirt is a random pattern, much like camouflage. This breaks up any outline of my handgun that may show.
In reality, I find that this is a fine detail that doesn’t matter nearly as much as some think. It is the last thing that I consider. Who wants to wear camouflage or some funky Hawaiian shirt anyway?
First, I make sure I have a proper holster and carry in a position that fits with my body shape. Then I make sure I have a proper concealed carry belt and my shirt is the proper fit, material, and length.
If none of these are considered, it won’t matter what pattern is on my shirt. So, consider the pattern last, not first.
Find your Favorite Shirt for Concealed Carry
Now that you know what to look for, it will be easier to find the best shirt for you.
Instead of just buying any old shirt and hoping for the best (or worse, going out looking for a funky Hawaiian shirt because it has the best “pattern”), consider these shirts instead.
My favorite T-shirt is the Arrowhead Tactical EDC Concealtee and the Off the Grid Surplus Tucson 2.0 T-shirt.
My favorite button-up shirt for hot weather is the 5.11 Tactical Ellis Short Sleeve Shirt.
For cold weather, I like to wear the Arrowhead Tactical Concealment Hoodie.
Now that you have your shirts, make sure to read our Concealed Carry Guide for everything from helpful mindset tips to holsters. It is the most complete reference guide you will find based on real experiences. We have a full guide on the best concealed carry shorts that go great with these shirts.
For those times when carrying off body makes more sense, check out our full guide on the Best Concealed Carry Bags.
