If you wash your cotton shirts in hot water, they will shrink by up to 5% from their original size. ... Cotton tees shrink because of the way they are built. Hot water does not mix well with this material, so be sure to wash it in cold water if you don't want your clothes to shrink down in size.

How much do 100% cotton shirts shrink?

Most cotton shirts, not pre-shrunk, will only shrink about 20% from its original size. The best way to shrink a shirt, is the old fashioned way, to wash it incorrectly.

Does 100% cotton always shrink?

Yes, 100% cotton can shrink if you don't wash it properly. Pre-shrunk cotton can shrink up to 2-5% or more and if it is not pre-shrunk it can shrink up to 20%. If you want to shrink 100% cotton, wash it in hot water, if not, wash with cold water.