Tencel vs cotton
Tencel (lyocell) is cooler, smoother and wicks better, with a cleaner production. Cotton is cheaper and more abrasion-resistant.
Choose tencel
Bedding, shirts, hot weather
Choose cotton
Workwear, jeans
Tencel
- Traceable, cleaner production
- Breathable and strong
- Pricier than plain viscose
Cotton
- Breathes and absorbs moisture
- Hypoallergenic, good for sensitive skin
- Washes easily, even hot
- Creases
- Shrinks in heat, especially jersey
- Slow to dry
| Tencel | Cotton | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Regenerated (from cellulose) | Natural plant fibre |
| Made from | Lenzing's lyocell and modal. | The fluffy fibre around cotton plant seeds. |
| Feel | Smooth, cool and soft. | Cool, dry and kind to skin; softens with age. |
| Shrinks? | A little: tencel can shrink 1–2%, mostly in the first wash. | Yes – cotton shrinks in hot water and the dryer, especially as a knit. Wash at 30 °C and dry without heat. |
| Used for | Shirts, dresses, denim, bedding. | T-shirts, shirts, jeans, underwear, bedding. |
More comparisons
Questions and answers
Frequently asked
01Which is better, tencel or cotton?
Tencel (lyocell) is cooler, smoother and wicks better, with a cleaner production. Cotton is cheaper and more abrasion-resistant.
02Which is more breathable?
About the same.
03Which creases less?
Tencel creases less.