Design trends

45 Friend shirt ideas to try in 2024

October 2, 2023 10 minutes

You’re starting a t-shirt business and want ideas for niches and designs. What about creating a t-shirt line focusing on friendship and love? 

In this article, we’ll explore the 45 best friend shirt ideas that are perfect for any occasion. From funny and sarcastic to cute and sentimental, we’ve got you covered. So, let’s dive in and explore best friend shirt ideas for your online store.

Best friend shirt ideas

We searched Etsy and selected the best-selling t-shirts with many positive reviews. In addition, we added design ideas with undeveloped potential that can be explored to help your brand grow.

Duos, trios, or groups of friends

1. “I Am That ….. Friend” friend group shirts

One of the most popular best-friend shirts, this category can be sold in sets, bunches, pairs, or trios. “I’m the tall one” and “I’m the short one” are among the best-selling, but customizing merchandise will give your store the edge, as the market is oversaturated with some designs. 

45 Friend shirt ideas to try in 2024 1
Etsy/StarfishUSA

2. Brownie and blondie

Brownie and Blondie best-friend shirts or variants like Brunette and Blonde Boujee are everywhere and within all sub-categories. Don’t miss these to increase your sales. Here is a blondie/brownie crossover with matching bestie 1 and bestie 2 shirts:

45 Friend shirt ideas to try in 2024 2
Etsy/ManyTeesShop

3. The whole bunch

Variations of the “I Am That ….. Friend” shirt with the whole group depicted. Sell in customizable sets and multiply the profit.

45 Friend shirt ideas to try in 2024 3
Etsy/PeppersLoft2

4. Mild one, wild One

45 Friend shirt ideas to try in 2024 4
Etsy/ DOTEE Design

5. Salt, tequila, and lime

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Etsy/JadeAndHarlow

Matching t-shirts

Matching phrases and designs are the most popular friend t-shirts. Many of these tees can only be understood when the people are together. 

This category is so popular that we’ve broken it into smaller categories with many good ideas. Here are some of the best-sellers.

6. Nothing makes sense when we’re apart

Examples of best friend shirts with words scattered between the two shirts. The message only makes sense when the pair is together, perfectly mirroring the phrase’s meaning. 

45 Friend shirt ideas to try in 2024 6
Etsy/QuriousShop

7. Cute matching designs

Similar to whole phrases, use matching designs that complement each other when the shirts are together. They may come together with words or not. Even though cute matching friend ideas are the most common, go further and create designs according to your audience. 

45 Friend shirt ideas to try in 2024 7
Etsy/VivaMake

8. Player 1, player 2, player 3

These tees are intended for a couple waiting for a baby but are a great idea for gamer buddies. Adapt the design for flexible options that also appeal to couples and parents or a mom with a baby.

45 Friend shirt ideas to try in 2024 8
Etsy/AbbysDesignFactory

9. Yin Yang

A Yin Yang pair can be worn and understood alone or with a friend. Change colors, and experiment with variant designs, but keep the symbol recognizable.

45 Friend shirt ideas to try in 2024 9
Etsy/ CreativeDesignCrew

Favorite foods and drinks

10. Burger and fries

45 Friend shirt ideas to try in 2024 10
Etsy/QuriousShop

11. Macaroni and cheese

45 Friend shirt ideas to try in 2024 11
Etsy/spillthebeansetc

12. Boba tee / bubble tee

45 Friend shirt ideas to try in 2024 12
Etsy/ComfyShirtsUS

13. Milk and cookie, BFF

45 Friend shirt ideas to try in 2024 13
Etsy/VivaMake

14. Pizza slice

This design also works with watermelons and anything that slices, with couples or a parent with a child. Those on the nerdy side may enjoy a bookshelf without a book in one shirt and the missing book on the other.

45 Friend shirt ideas to try in 2024 14
Etsy/JuliaShirtDesign

15. Gin tonic

For a target audience of connaisseurs, replace Gin Tonic with Whiskey Sour, Espresso Martini, Corpse Reviver, Mai Tai, or Aperol Spritz – or even consider a whole line of matching cocktail shirts for those who love to celebrate friendship with finesse. 

45 Friend shirt ideas to try in 2024 15
Etsy/DreamOfChameleon

Customized tees

This category can be divisive – while some friends might hate to wear a t-shirt with their own faces printed on it, others may love it. 

Consider offering custom friend t-shirts for a group of friends, duos, or trios, and adding customizable phrases.  

A picture of a memorable trip or custom designs from special moments such as a wedding also makes a terrific t-shirt. 

16. World’s best friend shirt – customized tee

45 Friend shirt ideas to try in 2024 16
Etsy/Ricardo

17. Best friend shirts personalized with namesbest friend shirts personalized with names

45 Friend shirt ideas to try in 2024 17

Family

Family t-shirts in connection with best friend tees are very popular. For many of us, our best friends are our relatives. Create pairs, sets, or offer stand-alone t-shirts.

18. Mom and daughter best friends sweatshirts and shirts

Moms are the first source of love and friendship. Get fresh designs ready to celebrate holidays and mom’s days with matching best-friend shirts.

45 Friend shirt ideas to try in 2024 18
Etsy/PNGpop

19. Dad shirts

Dad friend shirts can benefit from combining with other categories, such as games and hobbies.

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Etsy/Vogue Stuff

20. Grandpa/ma’s t-shirts

Grandparents are more than best friends – they are also partners in crime.

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Etsy/QualiteesGifts

21. Aunt and niece

For many of us, an aunt is an older sister we didn’t have. Make it possible to share this love with a best-friend shirt dedicated to aunties.

45 Friend shirt ideas to try in 2024 21
Etsy/Skywalkersafa

Together we’re trouble / partners in crime

Friends make us happier, stronger, bolder, and noisier. Crossovers with other categories make best-sellers, especially crime partnerships between grandpas or aunts and their kids. 

22. Trouble together

45 Friend shirt ideas to try in 2024 22
Etsy/LiqueTees

23. Partners in crime

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Etsy/FlawlessArtShop

24. Double/trouble

45 Friend shirt ideas to try in 2024 24
Etsy/AlicjaBoutique

25. That’s a terrible idea. What time?

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Etsy/skywalkersafa

26. I get us into trouble / I get us out of trouble

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Etsy/OBPRINTSHOP

27. Good friends Don’t let you do stupid stuff… alone

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Etsy/TedGlobal

Not friends, but sisters

Adapt the idea for aunties, cousins, uncles, or a brother instead of a sister. Consider complementing the design with a shared activity, hobby, sport, or favorite food.

28. Friends Sisters shirts

45 Friend shirt ideas to try in 2024 28
Etsy/Spynta

29. God made us friends because mom couldn’t handle us as sisters

These sister t-shirts work well together with the “We are trouble” category.

45 Friend shirt ideas to try in 2024 29
Etsy/getcustomteez

Pets are the best friends

Dogs, cats, alpacas, sloths, humans, you name it – no best-friend shirt ideas list would be complete without a dedicated category for pets.

30. My best friend

Simple designs with dogs or cats will always appeal to a large customer base. Offer several designs with different pets and breeds for maximizing reach. 

45 Friend shirt ideas to try in 2024 30
Etsy/DesignerAlp

31. Dog fist bump

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Etsy/GarageHigh

32. Meow-chel Angelo

Help your dad with meow and paw puns.

45 Friend shirt ideas to try in 2024 32
Etsy/SansSerifShop

Funny and sarcastic t-shirts

True friendship brings intimacy. A true friend is a person who tells us what we need to hear, not necessarily what we want to hear. On the other hand, with real friends, we can be ourselves and say things honestly. Emphasize that with creative best-friend t-shirt ideas.

33. Are we drunk?

These best friend shirts are funny, but their designs tend to be overused. Create mixed categories with this troublemaker shirt and matching cocktails, trip pictures, and anything else that can be funny to your target audience.

45 Friend shirt ideas to try in 2024 33
Etsy/getcustomteez

34. Cheaper than therapy

This design works individually or for friend group t-shirt ideas. Customize the phrase, replacing it with a “friends’ trip,”  “bros’ night,” and so on, and adjust the idea to range from the ironic to the cute, depending on the niche. 

45 Friend shirt ideas to try in 2024 34
Etsy/SilkywayApparel

35. Friend vs best friend

This category benefits from every best friend t-shirt design idea. Develop the notion “there are friends, and there are best friends” – that can be made from matching friend shirt ideas to ironic and funny designs.

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Etsy/DivineTreasureCrafts

Nerd culture, series, movie, or comic quotes

These friend shirts are for those who love to hang out watching movies or discussing comics,  series, or sympathize with nerd culture without necessarily identifying as nerds.

36. The grammar freaks – shenanigator + shenigatee

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Etsy/LivingLimitless

37. Define ‘bestie’

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Etsy/fashionfortwo

Internal jokes or personal attributes

Everybody has that grumpy friend who can’t function before a morning coffee. Perhaps that’s you. T-shirts with a friend’s notorious characteristics, internal jokes, or secret references are personal and meaningful, as they imply intimate knowledge and friendship.

38. Bearly awake

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Etsy/TechraNova

39. The drama queen and the princess

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Etsy/AbbysDesignFactory

40. Not a hugger

45 Friend shirt ideas to try in 2024 40
Etsy/PassionisDesign

41. Cute but psycho

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Etsy/AnAvidWritersShoppe

Cute friend shirts, not necessarily cheesy or campy

Some friends won’t wear that cheesy tee, but that doesn’t mean they won’t appreciate an ironic or dark-humor t-shirt. 

A cute friend t-shirt with or without smart puns may be the best choice for this friend and will make best-selling items.

42. You are my Palpaca

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Etsy/TechraNova

43. Cute teddy bear

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Etsy/KawaiiScogerArt

44. Sloth besties or couples

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Etsy/VivaMake

45. The cutest kids besties/twins

45 Friend shirt ideas to try in 2024 45
Etsy/InkAndEtchCustom

How to make a friend t-shirt with printify in 4 steps

Now that you have enough friendship T-shirt ideas, it is time to create them for you or for selling in an online store. Printify makes the process easy and quick.

1. Create a Printify account

Create a free account with Printify. Add up to five free stores and have access to more than 900 customizable products, including t-shirts. 

There are no upfront costs. You create your designs for t-shirts with Printify, and once a customer buys a tee from your online store, the order is fulfilled by one of our print providers.

2. Create a storefront and connect it with Printify

Create an online store to sell your designs. Printify easily integrates with the leading eCommerce platforms and marketplaces: 

  • Marketplaces like Etsy or eBay are suitable for entrepreneurs starting in eCommerce. They give access to millions of customers but may charge fees and don’t allow much customization. 
  • Web builders specializing in eCommerce, such as Shopify and BigCommerce, are the best options for those willing to have a stand-alone site with consolidated eCommerce functions. Still, they charge subscription fees and a need to manage content. 
  • All-in-one web builders like Wix and Squarespace are the best option for user-friendly solutions, with eCommerce functions and good content management. Advanced eCommerce functions may require subscribing to higher-tier plans, adding cost. 

Open-source platforms like WooCommerce+WordPress or PrestaShop are the ultimate solution for building an online store, and offering full ownership over the website. They don’t charge subscriptions but require hosting. In addition, many plugins are paid, and may have a steep learning curve. 

3. Pick a t-shirt

Look for best friend shirts in the Printify Catalog. The selection of over 90 t-shirts includes products for WomenMen, and Kids

These are the two best-selling unisex t-shirts that will work with almost every design:

  • The Bella+Canvas 3001 is the best-selling POD t-shirt. Manufactured by Bella+Canvas in sustainable facilities in the US and Bangladesh, this shirt is characterized by its light and comfortable fabric and retail fit.
  • The Gildan 64000 competes with the Bella+Canvas 3001 for the best-selling POD shirt. A socially-responsible manufacturer, Gildan has facilities in Central America and the Caribbean. 

Consider offering best friend shirts in other fits and materials. The popular Gildan 5000 has a tubular construction in medium fabric, fitting most body shapes and making a suitable choice for hobby shirts that may experience more wear, for instance.

4. Design, publish, market, and sell

After you have created a Printify Account and a storefront, and selected the best products for your friendship t-shirt line, comes the fun part. Apply and adjust designs to the tees with our Mockup Generator and see how it will look in realistic settings. 

Once you’re satisfied with the results, edit the descriptions, calculate and set your price, click Publish, and market your t-shirt line

Want to learn more? Check our articles on the most common types of shirt printing and how to come up with a t-shirt business name, and our complete guide on how to start a t-shirt business.

Wrapping up

In this article, you’ve got acquainted with 50 ideas for friend shirts, from the cute to the ironic. Also, you’ve learned how Printify can help you design and sell your tees online.

Now it’s your turn. Select the best design, pick a t-shirt from our catalog, publish it, and profit. 

We wish you luck in your POD journey. 

Create and sell friend t-shirts online today. We handle fulfillment and shipping.

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