Comfort Colors Khaki is the classic tan of the line, the color of work pants and old army canvas. It is pigment dyed, deeper and warmer than Sandstone, and much lighter than Espresso. Khaki is one of the easiest Comfort Colors to design for because almost every dark ink reads well on it.
- Style
- 1717 tee, 100% ring-spun U.S. cotton, 6.1 oz
- Family
- White and neutral
- Dye type
- Pigment
- Also on
- 6014, 6030
- Look
- Classic medium tan with a washed finish
Describing Khaki without a swatch
Khaki is a medium tan with a yellow-brown base. Think of a pair of chinos or a paper grocery bag after it has been rained on. It is warmer than Sandstone and has more body. It does not lean green the way Hemp does, and it does not lean pink.
The garment wash gives Khaki a slightly mottled surface. Seams, collar, and hem often look a shade darker than the body. If you want a perfectly flat tan, this is not the shirt. If you want a tee that looks like it has been worn on a few camping trips, it is.
Khaki compared to Sandstone, Hemp, and Espresso
Khaki sits in the middle of the brown neutrals. Customers often pick the wrong one from a small screen swatch, so it is worth spelling out.
| Color | Depth | Undertone | When to pick it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sandstone | Light | Gray-warm | A neutral that still reads close to white |
| Khaki | Medium | Yellow-brown | A true tan with presence |
| Hemp | Medium | Olive | Earthy, slightly green, military feel |
| Espresso | Dark | Brown | A dark neutral, takes light ink |
Pigment dye, fade, and reorders
Khaki is a pigment color. Per Comfort Colors' 2026 style and color guide, pigment colors are meant to keep a vintage look for the life of the garment. In practice that means Khaki softens and fades a little with every wash, and the print on top starts to sit in a shirt that looks older. That combination is why Khaki works so well for vintage-style designs.
Pigment lots can vary. A Khaki tee from this month and one from next season may not match perfectly. For a crew or a staff order, buy all the blanks from one shipment.
Art that works on Khaki
Khaki is forgiving. It is light enough that dark ink pops and dark enough that some mid tones still show. A few directions that sell:
- Single-color dark brown or black. The cleanest look. Great for shop logos and text.
- Forest green and cream. National park and trail club designs.
- Navy and red. Americana and small-town event shirts.
- Rust and orange. Hunting season, fall festivals, western graphics.
What to skip: white as the main color, light gray, and pale yellow. They wash out. Khaki also fights with other tans in the art. A tan graphic on a tan shirt rarely looks intentional. Our list of the best shirt colors for DTF has more on contrast.
Which Comfort Colors styles come in Khaki
S&S Activewear lists Khaki on the 1717, the 6014 long sleeve, and the 6030 pocket tee. It was not listed on the 1566 crewneck, the 1567 hoodie, or the 9360 tank when we checked. The 6014 is the best pick for a cold-weather Khaki order.
Who buys Khaki
Khaki is a fall and outdoors color. It moves for hunting and fishing brands, ranches, feed stores, camps, scout troops, landscaping crews, and breweries. Staff shirts are a big use: a Khaki pocket tee with a left-chest logo looks like a uniform without looking like a uniform.
It also works in spring for garden centers and farmers markets. It is less of a summer color, since it reads heavier than White or the pastels.
Pressing DTF on Khaki
Use 300°F, high pressure, 10 seconds, hot peel, and a 5 second post-press. Pre-press for 5 seconds to remove moisture and flatten the heavy jersey. Pocket tees need care: press around the pocket or use a pad so the seam does not lift one side of the platen. Our guide to DTF on pockets walks through it. For staff orders with a logo front and a big back, pressing front and back covers the order of operations.
Pairing Khaki with other colors in one order
Khaki is often the second color in a lineup, not the only one. A few pairings make sense because the same art can run on both with little or no recoloring.
- Khaki and Moss. Same dark brown or cream ink works on both if you adjust one accent. Very outdoorsy.
- Khaki and Ivory. One dark-ink design covers both. Good for staff who want a lighter summer option.
- Khaki and Espresso. Invert the ink: dark art on Khaki, cream art on Espresso. Put both versions on one gang sheet.
Avoid pairing Khaki with Sandstone in the same staff order. They are close enough to look like a mistake.
FAQ
What is the difference between Comfort Colors Khaki and Sandstone?
Khaki is darker and warmer, with more yellow-brown. Sandstone is lighter and grayer. Put them side by side and Sandstone looks almost cream.
Is Khaki good for work shirts?
Yes. It hides dirt better than White or the light neutrals, and it comes on the 6030 pocket tee, which is a common staff shirt.
Does white ink work on Khaki?
Only as an accent. White text on Khaki is too soft to read from across a room. Use dark brown, black, navy, or green for the main color.
Is Comfort Colors Khaki available as a sweatshirt?
We did not find it on the 1566 or 1567 at S&S Activewear. The 6014 long sleeve is the warmest Khaki option we confirmed.
Print your Khaki staff shirts
Khaki and a one-color logo is a hard combo to get wrong. Build a sheet with your front and back art together. Browse the rest of the line on our Comfort Colors color chart.