14 Best Knit Polo Shirts 2025, According to GQ Editors
Shopping14 sweater-shirt hybrids to frame your chest (and warm the rest).By Rob NowillFebruary 12, 2025Save this storySaveSave this storySaveAll products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.There's a reason fitness-minded guys love a knit polo: it's universally flattering, bicep-enhancing, and shoulder-broadening. But over the last couple of years, regardless of workout regimen, the knit polo has reasserted itself as a core element of the modern wardrobe, and with good reason.Its appeal lies in its ability to perform double duty: when you’re at work, you can pair it with tailored pants, or use it to loosen up your regular suit. But then at the weekend, it’ll partner brilliantly with straight-leg jeans or Dickies. A lighter-weight style will work just as well on vacation, too. Really, the challenge is finding a place where you can’t wear it.Knit styles are more versatile than their pique counterparts largely because they hang better: while they’re every bit as comfortable as a t-shirt, they feel more elevated, more considered, and less sloppy. Which means you can deploy them for everything from job interviews to date night. This is the kind of top that will make friends easily. With brown corduroy pants? Sure! Beneath a denim jacket? Absolutely. Put simply, you’ll wear this. A lot. Broadly speaking, you should consider investing in a plainish style in both long and short-sleeve, and then if there’s room, adding one with a little more flair: maybe a retro detail, or an unexpected colour.Wear them tucked in, wear them tucked out. Leave a button or two open, with or without a tee underneath. Just maybe try to keep your collar folded down.The Best Men’s Knit Polo Shirts, According to GQThe Best Short-Sleeve Knit Polo: J. Crew Cashmere Short-Sleeve Sweater Polo, $148Best Knit Polo For Dressing Up: Todd Snyder Silk Cotton Ribbed Polo, $248Best Long Sleeve Knit Polo: Buck Mason California Cashmere Polo, $248Best Everyday Upgrade Knit Polo: John Smedley Cotswold Wool Polo Sweater, $340Best Knit Polo for Fashion Guys: Auralee Super Kid Mohair Polo, $555Looking for something specific?AccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevronMore Knit Polos We LoveHow We Test and Review ProductsHow We Make These PicksThe Best Short-Sleeve Knit Polo: J. Crew Cashmere Short-Sleeve Sweater PoloJ. CrewCashmere Short-Sleeved Sweater Polo$148 J. CrewPros & ConsAccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevronProsRelaxed and flattering fitExtremely well priced for pure cashmereConsA little high maintenance: it’s hand-wash onlyCashmere can pill over timeIf you’re looking for an all-rounder, here’s an excellent place to start. Great fabrication, good price, smart shape: these kinds of clothes are J.Crew’s bread and butter, particularly since Brendon Babenzien began his tenure at the helm.With knitwear or wovens of any kind, it’s worth paying closer attention to the fabrication, as it’ll make a huge impact on how the garment hangs on your frame. Here, the relaxed shape is offset by the luxurious nature of the fabric, which makes the whole shirt hang elegantly, without the creases or bunching of cotton. Not to mention that quality cashmere for under $150 is a rare thing – particularly when it’s made using more sustainable production methods. So you can feel good (in multiple ways) while wearing it.Best Knit Polo For Dressing Up: Todd Snyder Silk Cotton Ribbed PoloTodd SnyderSilk Cotton Ribbed Polo$248 Todd SnyderPros & ConsAccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevronProsSubtle texturePrecise and slimming fitConsSilk cotton can be delicate to washTodd Snyder excels at clothes that signal style, but not capital-F fashion. This polo is no exception: it should occupy space at the end of your closet marked “What I wear when I need to look kind of fancy, but don’t want to look overdressed”.Note the fit: the ribbed sleeves and hems mean this will hold its shape more, and won’t wrinkle or sag around your waistline. That ribbing is extended as a design detail on the front, too – it’s a sharper, smarter option than others on the list, which will neatly skim your frame. It’s worth noting too that this is cut to a slimmer block, meaning it’ll layer well and slip perfectly under suits, but won’t look quite as relaxed as a roomier-cut style. (With that in mind, a higher-rise pair of pants would work best here: anything sitting too low risks an unsightly glimpse of belly hair.)Best Long Sleeve Knit Polo: Buck Mason California Cashmere PoloBuck MasonCalifornia Cashmere Polo$248 Buck MasonPros & ConsAccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevronProsProperly, lovingly madeLonger fibres and hand-linked seams means it’ll look better for longerConsA paler color: any stains or spills could be ruinousSlightly less versatile than others on this listIf you’re the kind of guy who wants his clothes to speak softly, this is the pick for you: it’s free from bells and whistles, but that Oatmeal-y shade is distinctive enough to comm
All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
There's a reason fitness-minded guys love a knit polo: it's universally flattering, bicep-enhancing, and shoulder-broadening. But over the last couple of years, regardless of workout regimen, the knit polo has reasserted itself as a core element of the modern wardrobe, and with good reason.
Its appeal lies in its ability to perform double duty: when you’re at work, you can pair it with tailored pants, or use it to loosen up your regular suit. But then at the weekend, it’ll partner brilliantly with straight-leg jeans or Dickies. A lighter-weight style will work just as well on vacation, too. Really, the challenge is finding a place where you can’t wear it.
Knit styles are more versatile than their pique counterparts largely because they hang better: while they’re every bit as comfortable as a t-shirt, they feel more elevated, more considered, and less sloppy. Which means you can deploy them for everything from job interviews to date night. This is the kind of top that will make friends easily. With brown corduroy pants? Sure! Beneath a denim jacket? Absolutely. Put simply, you’ll wear this. A lot. Broadly speaking, you should consider investing in a plainish style in both long and short-sleeve, and then if there’s room, adding one with a little more flair: maybe a retro detail, or an unexpected colour.
Wear them tucked in, wear them tucked out. Leave a button or two open, with or without a tee underneath. Just maybe try to keep your collar folded down.
The Best Men’s Knit Polo Shirts, According to GQ
- The Best Short-Sleeve Knit Polo: J. Crew Cashmere Short-Sleeve Sweater Polo, $148
- Best Knit Polo For Dressing Up: Todd Snyder Silk Cotton Ribbed Polo, $248
- Best Long Sleeve Knit Polo: Buck Mason California Cashmere Polo, $248
- Best Everyday Upgrade Knit Polo: John Smedley Cotswold Wool Polo Sweater, $340
- Best Knit Polo for Fashion Guys: Auralee Super Kid Mohair Polo, $555
The Best Short-Sleeve Knit Polo: J. Crew Cashmere Short-Sleeve Sweater Polo
If you’re looking for an all-rounder, here’s an excellent place to start. Great fabrication, good price, smart shape: these kinds of clothes are J.Crew’s bread and butter, particularly since Brendon Babenzien began his tenure at the helm.
With knitwear or wovens of any kind, it’s worth paying closer attention to the fabrication, as it’ll make a huge impact on how the garment hangs on your frame. Here, the relaxed shape is offset by the luxurious nature of the fabric, which makes the whole shirt hang elegantly, without the creases or bunching of cotton. Not to mention that quality cashmere for under $150 is a rare thing – particularly when it’s made using more sustainable production methods. So you can feel good (in multiple ways) while wearing it.
Best Knit Polo For Dressing Up: Todd Snyder Silk Cotton Ribbed Polo
Todd Snyder excels at clothes that signal style, but not capital-F fashion. This polo is no exception: it should occupy space at the end of your closet marked “What I wear when I need to look kind of fancy, but don’t want to look overdressed”.
Note the fit: the ribbed sleeves and hems mean this will hold its shape more, and won’t wrinkle or sag around your waistline. That ribbing is extended as a design detail on the front, too – it’s a sharper, smarter option than others on the list, which will neatly skim your frame. It’s worth noting too that this is cut to a slimmer block, meaning it’ll layer well and slip perfectly under suits, but won’t look quite as relaxed as a roomier-cut style. (With that in mind, a higher-rise pair of pants would work best here: anything sitting too low risks an unsightly glimpse of belly hair.)
Best Long Sleeve Knit Polo: Buck Mason California Cashmere Polo
If you’re the kind of guy who wants his clothes to speak softly, this is the pick for you: it’s free from bells and whistles, but that Oatmeal-y shade is distinctive enough to communicate that you know your stuff. Buck Mason has quite rightfully gained a menswear-nerd following for its thoughtfully designed staples, which look simple enough online but impress even more with its quality up close. That tracks here, in details like the heavier gauge cashmere jersey, which gives this top a pleasing amount of heft, and means it’ll be less likely to wrinkle or crumple. Plus, the substantial rib on the sleeves means you can push them up without them quickly slipping back down to your wrists.
An added bonus: As this is a little thicker than other styles, it’ll sub in for most of your regular sweaters, and will stand up well during tricky transitional weather – not least because the longer fibres used in the fabrication will make it less likely to pill.
Best Everyday Upgrade Knit Polo: John Smedley Cotswold Wool Polo Sweater
The British clothing brand John Smedley is one of those mainstays that might not knock you sideways with excitement, but quietly makes some of the most consistent and wearable menswear on the market—and has done since (get ready) 1784. What they don’t know about knitwear isn’t worth knowing.
It stands to reason, then, that their iteration of the knitted polo is a workhorse. You could comfortably sub it in for any button-down shirt in your regular rotation and it’ll hold its own. It’s made from merino wool, which is well-worth looking out for: it’s breathable and highly durable (although, fair warning: moths love it, too). Lastly, its lighter fabrication and subtle buttoning means it’s also great for layering: beneath a cardigan, beneath an overshirt, even beneath a crew-neck knit.
Best Knit Polo for Fashion Guys: Auralee Super Kid Mohair Polo
Of all the designer labels menswear guys are likely to get misty-eyed about, Auralee sits close to the top of the list. The Tokyo-based brand has quickly become known for elevated, perfectly considered, and meticulously detailed versions of the things you wear every day.
It follows that their take on the knitted polo is a premium affair: made from kid mohair, it’s softer and more comfortable than regular wool, with a distinct fuzzy texture that sets it apart. Sure, it comes with a price tag to match, but it’s plain enough that you’ll get a lot of use from it. The natural slouchiness also means it’ll only look better as it wears in, when it’ll pick up the patina of a great vintage find. As for how to wear it? It’d look cool with browns, navy blues, or other neutrals, and would really kill under a classic denim jacket.
More Knit Polos We Love
Our Legacy are masters of making an otherwise challenging colour easy to wear. Don’t be daunted by the pastel shade: an injection of pale blue will perk up everything else you own.
A cashmere-silk blend gives this otherwise simple polo a pleasing luster, and makes it entirely appropriate for the evening as well as daytime. The price is hard to argue with, too.
You probably know them for their swimwear, but Brazilian brand Frescobol Carioca has been putting out some solid clothing, too. This one is probably for weekends and vacation only (though hey, we don’t know where you work).
The long-sleeved brother to our favorite polo overall, acquiring just the two J.Crews on this list would be an exceptional strategy here.
Mr. P—the in-house line from Mr Porter—has a smart way with menswear perennials: Take the honeycomb knit here, a neat departure from the ordinary.
The Irish knitwear brand Inis Meáin has become a favourite of male clothing enjoyers for its thoughtful and sustainably-produced collections. Which is doubly nice when the result is this open-placket, summery knit.
The young American designer Carter Young mixes his Americana riffs with grunge and western influences. Here, it’s the football panelling around the shoulders that stands out. (Ignore that it’s in the women’s section of SSENSE, that’s a very rare error on the retailer’s part.)
If you prefer a slouchier, more relaxed fit, this cotton-blend style from tennis-inspired Palmes has you covered. It’s designed to slope from the shoulders, and pairs brilliantly with oversized denim.
Finally, here’s a budget-friendly stalwart in a denser weave, which means it looks more expensive than it is. Best worn over a white tee, in place of your usual sweater.
How We Test and Review Products
Style is subjective, we know—that’s the fun of it. But we’re serious about helping our audience get dressed. Whether it’s the best white sneakers, the flyest affordable suits, or the need-to-know menswear drops of the week, GQ Recommends’ perspective is built on years of hands-on experience, an insider awareness of what’s in and what’s next, and a mission to find the best version of everything out there, at every price point.
Our staffers aren’t able to try on every single piece of clothing you read about on GQ.com (fashion moves fast these days), but we have an intimate knowledge of each brand’s strengths and know the hallmarks of quality clothing—from materials and sourcing, to craftsmanship, to sustainability efforts that aren’t just greenwashing. GQ Recommends heavily emphasizes our own editorial experience with those brands, how they make their clothes, and how those clothes have been reviewed by customers. Bottom line: GQ wouldn’t tell you to wear it if we wouldn’t.
How We Make These Picks
We make every effort to cast as wide of a net as possible, with an eye on identifying the best options across three key categories: quality, fit, and price.
To kick off the process, we enlist the GQ Recommends braintrust to vote on our contenders. Some of the folks involved have worked in retail, slinging clothes to the masses; others have toiled for small-batch menswear labels; all spend way too much time thinking about what hangs in their closets.
We lean on that collective experience to guide our search, culling a mix of household names, indie favorites, and the artisanal imprints on the bleeding-edge of the genre. Then we narrow down the assortment to the picks that scored the highest across quality, fit, and price.
Across the majority of our buying guides, our team boasts firsthand experience with the bulk of our selects, but a handful are totally new to us. So after several months of intense debate, we tally the votes, collate the anecdotal evidence, and emerge with a list of what we believe to be the absolute best of the category right now, from the tried-and-true stalwarts to the modern disruptors, the affordable beaters to the wildly expensive (but wildly worth-it) designer riffs.
Whatever your preferences, whatever your style, there's bound to be a superlative version on this list for you. (Read more about GQ's testing process here.)
