Best fabric for volleyball jerseys: what to pick for indoor halls, outdoor courts and sleeveless kits

There are three collections and ten knits. Classic is our everyday match fabric, Jacquard has a texture woven into the cloth, and Signature adds an anti-microbial, UPF 50+ treatment. All of them are polyester built for sublimation.

Prices are per jersey for 1 to 5 pieces with a crew or V-neck, before GST and shipping. Sport necklines add ₹50 and polo collars ₹100. The price drops 15% from 6 pieces, 25% from 26, 35% from 51 and 40% from 100. For how fabrics work across every sport, see the jersey fabrics guide.

Volleyball is short, explosive rallies with the arms above the head, a dive to the floor, then a pause. A jersey that is heavy or clings when it is wet gets in the way. Polyester knits hold far less sweat than cotton, so they stay light and dry faster. Four things help:

• ✓Light weight. 160 GSM is light enough for every knit we suggest here, and Airlite 140 is our lightest micro-mesh.
• ✓Open knits. Dotknit's fine pores and Long Mesh's larger channels move more air than a plain surface.
• ✓Clear numbers. Referees and scorers need to read every number at a glance. A smooth knit such as Classic Plain takes print crisp and clean, and sublimated numbers stay sharp wash after wash.
• ✓Sweat marks. Rise Knit's raised rib hides sweat marks, which is handy for practice sessions.

An indoor hall keeps the sun off, but the air can be warm, still and humid, especially with a crowd in. Pick for airflow: Classic Dotknit 160 for most teams, or Signature Long Mesh 160 and Airlite 140 when the hall gets really hot.

An outdoor court adds the sun. The Signature collection carries a UPF 50+ treatment, worth having when matches run through the afternoon, and it is anti-microbial too, which helps a kit worn for a full tournament day and then packed in a bag.

Volleyball jerseys come sleeveless with a round or V neck, or half sleeve with a round or V neck, in men's, women's and kids' fits. Sleeveless leaves the arms completely free for serving, setting and spiking; half sleeve is the everyday team choice and covers the shoulders.

Half sleeves can be set-in or raglan. A raglan sleeve runs in one piece from the collar to the underarm, so there is no seam on top of the shoulder, which many players find freer for spiking. Raglan and set-in cost the same. More on cuts in how to choose a jersey style for your sport.

The libero wears a jersey in a contrast colour. Make it in the same fabric as the rest of the squad so it feels the same, with the same design, names and numbers. It goes in the same cart, so it counts towards the team's quantity discount.

Every Xipid jersey is fully sublimated. Heat turns the ink into a gas that bonds inside the polyester, so the crest, names, numbers and sponsor logos become part of the fabric. There is no layer on top to crack or peel when a player dives on the court, and nothing extra to block airflow. Read more in sublimation vs screen printing for jerseys.

Need an embroidered or printed logo on top of the sublimated design? Ask us on WhatsApp with your logo and we will quote it as an add-on.

Wash cold and inside out on a gentle cycle with mild detergent, skip bleach and fabric softener, and dry in shade rather than in a hot dryer. Fabric softener can coat performance fabric and reduce breathability. The full routine is in how to wash sublimated jerseys.

Want to see the colours on a jersey first? Design your kit on a 3D model in Kit Studio, order a fabric swatch for ₹500, shipping and GST included, or feel every knit at our three Bangalore stores in Koramangala, Kadubeesanahalli and Electronic City, open every day, 10 AM to 9 PM.

Ready to order? See custom volleyball jerseys for every style, browse volleyball jersey designs, or design your own in Kit Studio.