The Boys Need Some Basics: The Polo Shirt Roundup

Solid colors, stripes, little guys, big guys…there’s a polo shirt for everyone.

Updated for 2025

The girls have their uniforms, and now it’s time to get the boys their shirts for school. Many boys schools require boys to wear shirts with collars. And while button-down shirts work, polo shirts are much comfier, don’t need to be ironed, and they look neat whether they’re tucked or untucked. They’re usually the go-to school attire for boys under bar mitzvah age.

You can find our recommended weekday pants for boys here.

Here are some of our favorites.

Basic Solids

Zara basic piqué polo shirt is our overall favorite. Slim and nice fit….and the price is unbeatable at $12.90. Pair up solid and solid like navy with navy pants for a neat crisp look. While there are very few color choices (navy, white, and light blue), they’re all the colors you want.

You can find a similar fit with more color choices at J Crew, also with a nice slim fit (at a higher cost). Primary.com as well as an endless amount of color choices in both pique cotton and a heavier interlock cotton. Lands End also upgraded their polo fabric with a new “interlock” cotton that doesn’t shrink, pill, or fade. But we’ve yet to try so we’re unsure if they run full or slim.

There are also cheaper options (when using discount codes) and a bigger color selection at Old Navy and Gap, but the fit will be looser (great for fuller boys – also available in plus and husky).

Looking for Extra Comfort?

These Polos at J Crew Factory and these striped polos Primary.com are made from a soft jersey fabric, not the usual pique, they’re extra comfier and breathable, and that’s a big plus. The J Crew shirts are slim, but Primary shirts will look good on bigger boys too; just size up one size.

Polo Shirts with Some More Style

Tottini has so many polo shirt styles to choose from! There’s a wider range of striped polos than you’ll find anywhere, along with solid-colored polos in pique, knits, sweatshirt, and more in both basic and seasonal colors.

3 Buttons is a really cute brand, designed by mothers of boys who saw the need for a well-fitting polo. We received great feedback on Three Button shirts! They’re great quality, really comfortable fabric, have a nice fit—and they happen to look really cute too.

Lil Legs also makes beautiful polos for boys in a variety of fabrics. Check them out!

Target usually has a very nice and affordable line of polos. See here for what’s currently available.

New from Quince are these pique polos in three basic colors. They come in both toddler and kids sizes and are great for when you just want to keep things simple. We haven’t tried them yet to be able to give sizing feedback, but Quince quality is usually spot-on.

Beyond Basics: Color Blocks and Other Styles

You might also like the stylish selection at Mayoral. They’re pricier, but great quality with a little bit of twist.

Finally, Abercrombie Polos are sure to be a favorite but the full long sleeve selection is not yet available. Later in the season nice, thicker polos made of a sweatshirt material are usually available. 

Active Polos

Boys now love sport/active fabrics, and there’s lots available with a collar too. While there’s more selection of this type in short-sleeves for the summer, we’re still awaiting the long-sleeved versions. J Crew usually has a nice selection of solids and stripes in performance fabrics. More colors and styles are expected to come.

For Big Guys:

Gap Husky has solid long sleeve polos. Grab them when you see them as they always seem to be out of sizes.

Brooks Brothers is usually a good option for the huskier or bigger sizes. The fall selection is not in yet, check back later in the season.

Which polos are your fav?