Best Linen Shirts For Men 2024

The best linen shirts for men are stylish, naturally absorbent and extremely breathable—making them the perfect solution for summer dressing. While not as formal as a crisp cotton button-down or relaxed as a white tee, linen shirts tow the line between business casual and weekend smart. Plus, linen wrinkles ever-so-slightly, providing a gently laidback vibe for any look.

lightweight and stylishly relaxed.

ILLUSTRATION: FORBES / PHOTO: RETAILERS

So how to find the best linen shirts? There are many different styles out there. Some are made from a linen blend for a stretchier or softer feel while others have a tailored fit and crisp effect. What you ultimately choose depends on your needs, where you’re wearing your linen shirt and what makes you comfortable. Ahead, we pulled together our recommendations for the best linen shirts for men, including our top overall pick from Bonobos and a great affordable option from Quince. You know summer is here when you reach for one of these.

Eton Slim Fit Linen Dress Shirt

Sizes: 13.75 to 19 | Colors: 11 total, including White and Blue | Care: Machine wash cold

A crisp white linen shirt like Eton’s is a must-wear for more formal summer occasions—it feels just right at work or a summer wedding. It’s made from luxe organic linen fabric that’s woven in Italy; specifically, by the artisans at the Albini Mill near Milan. And it comes in a variety of sizes and fits so you can find an option that’s comfortable and stylish.

Editor’s Pick

Sizes: XS to XL | Colors: 21 total, including Snow and Chai | Care: Machine wash cool and hang dry

When it comes to unparalleled quality in a linen shirt, it’s hard to beat Alex Crane’s Playa shirt. Each one is made from sustainably sourced French linen that feels ultra-soft—and it’s easy to care for, no ironing needed. If you love great quality shirts, line your closet with these. There are different colors for almost every day of the month.

Sizes: XS to XXL | Colors: 11 total, including Faded Surplus and Dark Coral | Care: Machine wash gentle

Linen shirts typically drape a little—but if you’re a guy on the slimmer side or like a polished effect, you don’t want to look like you’re always wearing a size too large. Todd Snyder’s shirt has the right mix of an almost-tailored slim fit and ultra-fine quality: It’s made from the linen experts at Baird McNutt, one of Ireland’s oldest and last linen mills.

Sizes: XS to XXL | Colors: 7 total, including Cream Stripe and Black | Care: Machine wash cold with like colors

When the sun’s out, there’s nothing like a relaxed-fit linen shirt to kick back in. Abercrombie’s highly-rated option has a loose fit, and is made from a linen blend that gives this shirt a little extra stretch and softness. The resort-style camp collar and straight hemline adds to the shirt’s chill vibes.

Sizes: XS to XXL | Colors: 12 total, including Light Blue and Natural Linen Beige | Care: Machine wash

Travel can be tricky with any button-down, but Banana Republic’s is cut from naturally lightweight and breathable linen, and has an “untucked” length—in other words, a shorter hemline—which keeps you comfortable when you’re on the go. It’s easy to care for, too: simply machine wash it. This is the ultimate vacation shirt to pack in your suitcase or wear on the plane.

Sizes: S to XXL | Colors: 2 total, including Natural and Marled Blue | Care: Machine wash cold

It’s no secret that linen wrinkles—constantly. If this irks you, then a wrinkle-free style might be the right choice. Huckberry’s bestselling version is made from a specially crafted linen blend that keeps it looking sharp all day long. Throw it on before your next event or keep it at the ready in the office.

Sizes: S to XL | Colors: 6 total, including White and Driftwood | Care: Machine wash cold with like colors

Not all linen is in the $100-range. If you’re on a budget, consider Quince’s long-sleeve option—it’s cut from light, 100% linen and has a classic spread collar. At less than $50, it’s extremely budget-friendly. When summer’s on but you’re not ready to splurge, reach for this style.

Why Trust Forbes Vetted

Every fashion decision is an important one. When it comes to the clothing you wear and the shoes you pull on, there’s no point in buying items that won’t stand up to the test of time and look as good today as they will a few years from now. With that in mind, the Forbes Vetted fashion team carefully researches and evaluates all items that go into your wardrobe to ensure you have the very best advice on what to buy.

Senior fashion editor Kari Molvar has more than 20 years of lifestyle experience, as a journalist, editor and author covering everything from runway fashion to everyday ready-to-wear pieces. In addition, our team consults industry experts with decades of experience in the garment, jewelry and design fields. We also firsthand test many of the items we write about and obsessively read reviews before making any recommendation to our readers. At Forbes Vetted, we take the term “the best” seriously and make sure every item we give that term lives up to the hype.

How We Chose The Best Linen Shirts For Men

To find the best linen shirts out there, we tapped into the expertise of our senior fashion editor who describes herself as a “linen obsessive” and wears linen shirts year-round, no matter the weather or season. We first considered brands who specialize in linen, such as Alex Crane and J.Crew, and then looked at additional top-rated options from a variety of menswear brands that excel in shirting, such as Eton and Todd Snyder. From there, we narrowed down the options based on quality of the linen material, stylishness of the design, versatility of the fit and inclusiveness of the sizes and price points. To ensure this article is accurate, we frequently factcheck and update the picks you see here. This article was last updated in July 2023.