11 Best Heavy Duty Canvas & Twill Cotton Work Shirts

The toughest jobs require the toughest gear, and sometimes you need a heavy duty work shirt to stand up to the rigors of a hard work day. If you need a heavy duty canvas or cotton twill work shirt, the good news is you have several options from major workwear brands.

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These are our choices for the best heavy duty work shirts:

Some heavyweight work shirts will be a canvas cotton, while others will be a twill cotton. In my opinion, canvas can be a bit more durable, but it’s very close.

The more important thing to consider is the actual weight of the fabric. This usually has the biggest impact on how durable a work shirt is.

All the shirts on this list are heavier in weight than typical shirts, and built to take on a tough work day. Let’s start by discussing five things to consider when selecting a work shirt.

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5 Things to Consider When Buying Work Shirts

Weight of Material

The weight of the material is usually what impacts the durability of a work shirt the most. Most heavy duty work shirts will be in the 6-8 ounce range, but some shirts can be 10 ounces, or even heavier.

Obviously, the tougher your job, the tougher you will need the material to be. But I would caution against overkill. Extra weight can add toughness, but it can also make the work shirt feel heavy and stiff, and can trap extra heat.

I use a 7-ounce material, and it does the job. It’s also worth considering field shirts as work shirts. Most of these shirts have a durable, rugged design built for outdoor environments.

Stretch Material

Do you want a work shirt that moves as you move? Some heavy duty cotton work shirts will have a little bit of spandex added to the material to give the shirt some flexibility.

If there’s one knock against heavyweight work shirts, it’s that they can be a bit stiff. This can help remove that issue. If you like a flexible fabric, the Carhartt Rigby shirt on our list has a flex blend. Also, I’d recommend considering a moleskin work shirt that can be a bit more comfortable than canvas.

Length

One thing you’ll want to consider about sizing is the length of a work shirt. Many work shirts have extra length so that they can be tucked in.

If you plan to wear your shirt untucked, just make sure to consider the length when choosing a size. For example, here’s my Wrangler work shirt compared to a same-sized t-shirt:

USA

Unfortunately today, most workwear is imported, including work shirts. If you want to buy a heavy duty work shirt that is made in the USA, we discuss your options later in the article.

Buttons

One thing that gets overlooked at times are the buttons on a work shirt.

Traditional buttons can be hard to button, especially while wearing work gloves. If you wear work gloves a lot, a snap-button front will make it easier for you.

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Best Heavy Duty Work Shirts

Wrangler Riggs Men’s Logger Twill Work Shirt

Wrangler actually has a specific line of clothing dedicated to workwear, called Riggs Workwear. As you would expect, they offer a wide variety of work clothing, including heavy duty work shirts.

Here’s what this Wrangler Riggs Workwear Men’s Work Shirt look like:

This is the current price of this Wrangler Riggs heavy duty cotton twill work shirt available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Here’s what you need to know about this shirt:

• Material – The 100% cotton, 7-ounce construction of this shirt is sturdy enough to withstand your workday.

• Pockets – Two chest pockets with button closures are the ideal spot to stash your wallet or cell phone.

• Fit – This shirt is garment washed so that although it is a heavy duty cotton fabric, it won’t feel stiff against your skin.

• Front Closure – A classic button-front closure lends this shirt versatility. Wear it for work or layer it over a t-shirt for a relaxed weekend style.

This is one of my favorite work shirts. It is very durable, but doesn’t feel stiff, which I like.

One very important detail for this Wrangler Riggs work shirt is it has triple-stitched main seams to help it hold up over the long run:

Some describe the fit of this shirt as “relaxed”, but to me it is a standard fit. Not too tight or too loose. I order my normal sizing.

One thing I will point out is it does have plenty of length. For me, at 6’3″, that’s a positive, but for some who want to wear a work shirt untucked, it might be too long.

Here I am wearing a size medium (6’3″ 200 pounds):

It’s hard to go wrong with Wrangler workwear. Again, this material has a durable feel to it, but it doesn’t feel stiff when you wear it.

For me, this shirt is perfect for what I’m looking for.

Click here to buy this Wrangler Riggs cotton twill work shirt available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). This shirt is machine washable.

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Carhartt Men’s Rugged Flex Rigby Button Work Shirt

Carhartt is very famous for heavy duty workwear, including work shirts. This shirt has a little bit of spandex added to the cotton fabric to give this shirt some stretch.

Here’s what this Carhartt work shirt looks like:

This is the current price of this Carhartt work shirt available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Here’s what you need to know about this shirt:

• Shell Material/Weight – This is a 6.5-ounce, cotton/spandex blend gives you a work shirt that is durable, but also flexible. This isn’t a stiff work shirt. It will move as you move.

• Seams – Yes, this shirt has triple-stitched main seams to help it hold up over the long run.

• Pockets – Two chest patch pockets with button closures in addition to a pencil slot provide ample storage. The left chest pocket has an extra panel for added storage space.

• Cuffs – This shirt has two-button adjustable cuffs and also has a button-down collar. These cuffs can be adjusted up your forearm if needed.

Click here to buy this canvas Carhartt work shirt available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). This shirt is machine washable.

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Wrangler Men’s Western Long Sleeve Snap Work Shirt

Wrangler offers a lot of workwear, and one thing they offer a wide variety of is western-style workwear, including this snap-front long sleeve work shirt.

Here’s what this shirt looks like:

This is the current price of this Wrangler heavyweight work shirt available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Here’s what you need to know about this shirt:

• Material – This shirt is made with extra durable, 7.25-ounce 100% cotton and has a firm finish to give you the toughness you need on the job.

• Design – With its authentic styling, featuring Wrangler’s famous “W” stitching as well as a snap-front closure, this shirt has an abundance of Western flair. The classic front and back yokes are a nod to the ranch wear of decades past.

• Pockets – Two chest flap pockets with snap closures in addition to a pencil pocket provide ample storage.

• Fit – This shirt seamlessly combines fashion and function with a traditional cowboy cut that offers a classic fit throughout the arms and torso.

Click here to buy this Wrangler western heavy duty cotton work shirt available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). This shirt is machine washable. For more western options, visit our article about the best long sleeve western shirts for work.

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Key Apparel Men’s Button Front Hickory Stripe Logger Shirt

Founded in 1908 in Fort Scott, Kansas, Key Apparel has a long history of providing dependable workwear for American workers. Here’s what the Key Apparel Men’s Hickory Stripe Logger Shirt looks like:

This is the current price of this Key Apparel heavy duty work shirt available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Here’s what you need to know about this shirt:

• Shell Material/Weight – This is a 9-ounce, 100% cotton work shirt which gives you a comfortable, but heavyweight work shirt.

• Fit – This shirt has a relaxed fit to ensure you have the freedom of movement needed to work.

• Design – Classic railroad-stripe style with pleated back yoke and a rounded bottom hem.

• Pockets – Two chest patch pockets with button closures in addition to a pencil slot provide ample storage.

• Cuffs – This shirt has two-button adjustable cuffs that can be adjusted up your forearm if needed.

Click here to buy this Key Apparel heavy duty work shirt available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). This shirt is machine washable.

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Ben Davis Half Zip Long Sleeve Work Shirt

Ben Davis is a work clothing brand based out of San Francisco, California. Ben Davis and his father Simon Davis founded Ben Davis Manufacturing in 1935.

This Ben Davis twill work shirt is a half front zip:

This is the current price of this Ben Davis durable twill work shirt available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Here’s what you need to know about this shirt:

• Shell Material/Weight – This shirt has a poly/cotton twill blend that will give it a bit of a different feel than many of the other shirts on this list.

• Design – This is the only shirt on this list that has a half-zip front. Perfect for those who like to easily slip a work shirt on and off without messing with buttons.

• Fit – This shirt has a relaxed fit to ensure you have the freedom of movement needed to work.

• Toughness – This shirt is made with Ben Davis “Plenty Tough” fabric and is double-needle stitched for durability.

• Pockets – Two chest flap pockets with button closures in addition to a pencil slot provide ample storage.

Click here to buy this Ben Davis twill work shirt available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). This shirt is machine washable.

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Premium Canvas Work Shirts Made in the USA

Unfortunately today, most workwear is imported. Yes, American made workwear can be more expensive, but it also will be more likely to hold up and may end up saving you money in the long run as it outlasts the cheaper competition.

If you want to buy a heavy duty canvas work shirt that is made in the USA, I’d suggest these two options:

• Ciano Farmer Denim Co. USA Texas Denim Workshirt – Ciano Farmer Denim Co. is a locally-owned business located in Texas. This premium selvage duck canvas shirt is handmade right there in Texas using heavyweight 12-ounce cotton. If you need an ultra-tough work shirt made with premium material, this is a great option. Click here to view this CFD Co. canvas work shirt.

• Railcar Fine Goods USA Eliminator Duck Work Shirt – Steven Dang founded Railcar Fine Goods in 2010, based in California. Every stage of their manufacturing takes place in-house at their California workshop. They have several button-front work shirts to choose from, including a canvas work shirt. Click here to view the work shirts made by Railcar Fine Goods.

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Best Women’s Heavy Duty Cotton Work Shirt

For women who need a heavy duty work shirt, Carhartt has a nice option. Here’s what the Carhartt Women’s Rugged Flex Hamilton Shirt looks like:

This is the current price of this women’s Carhartt cotton work shirt available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). This moleskin shirt has a small bit of spandex for stretch. It is a 5.5-ounce fabric blend.

If you are looking for a heavy duty work shirt made in the USA, I’d recommend the Red Ants Pants Moleskin Work Shirt (click here to view). Red Ants Pants is based in Montana, and makes premium workwear for women.

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***If you are interested in denim shirts, visit our article about the best denim work shirts. For short sleeve options, visit our article about the best short sleeve button down work shirts.