Nylon vs. Polyester Spandex: Which Fabric for Your Activewear Line?
Nylon/spandex holds compression and stretch recovery better and costs more; polyester/spandex is lighter, dries faster, and costs less. Use nylon/spandex for leggings and compression wear, polyester/spandex for tops, tanks, and looser-fit garments.
The Core Tradeoff
Nylon/spandex (typically 80/20) has better stretch recovery — it snaps back to shape after being stretched, which matters most on high-compression, close-fit garments like leggings and sports bras. Polyester/spandex (typically 88/12) has slightly less recovery but dries faster and costs less per yard, making it the more common choice for training tops, tanks, and looser-fit pieces where compression recovery matters less.
Cost Difference
[需人工核实] Exact per-yard cost difference between the two blends fluctuates with raw material pricing — ask ClothReady for current pricing on your specific GSM and quantity rather than relying on a general "nylon costs more" rule for budgeting.
Which One for Which Garment
- Leggings, compression tights, high-impact sports bras: nylon/spandex - Training tees, tanks, matching sets, joggers: polyester/spandex - Sustainable lines: recycled polyester/spandex is a middle path — comparable performance to virgin polyester with a sustainability story (see our Recycled Polyester fabric page)
What This Means for Your MOQ Order
Both fabrics are available at ClothReady's standard MOQ of 50 pieces per style per color, with samples in 7–15 business days. The fabric choice doesn't change your MOQ — it changes your cost per unit and how the finished garment performs.
FAQ
Related
Ready to Talk Specifics?
Share your project details and our team will review the best way to move forward.
Start Your Project