Baby Tee vs Crop Top: What's the Difference and Which to Buy?

A baby tee is a short, fitted tee with some stretch in it. A crop top is any top cut above the waist, and it can sit loose. So one word is about the fit and the other is about the length. Want it snug? Buy the baby tee. Want it airy for a hot day? Buy the crop top.

Below, we compare our own baby tees and crop tops with the real numbers from the size charts.

Baby tee vs crop top at a glance

These are the numbers for size M.

• Chest: baby tee 71 cm, crop top 91 cm
• Length: baby tee 38 cm, crop top 44 cm
• Fabric: baby tee is 95% cotton and 5% spandex, crop top is 100% combed cotton
• Weight: baby tee 240 GSM, crop top 180 GSM
• Stretch: baby tee yes, crop top no
• Price: Rs 699 each

The chest is the number to look at. Our crop top is 20 cm wider than our baby tee in the same size, and that's why the two look so different on the body. The length gap is much smaller, and it may surprise you: our baby tee is the shorter one.

The fit is the real difference

People mix these two up because both are short. But a baby tee follows your shape all the way down, with small sleeves that sit close to the arm. It looks like a tee a size too small, on purpose. The 5% spandex is what makes that wearable, because a cut this close would pull every time you moved without it.

A crop top only has to end above the waist. Ours has room in the body and hangs a little away from you. If you've ever taken a normal tee and wished it stopped earlier, that's the crop top.

Neither one is better. They just do different jobs.

Fabric and weight

A baby tee is 240 GSM, which is heavy for such a small top. That weight helps, because thin fabric can turn see-through when it stretches over you.

A crop top is 180 GSM combed cotton with no spandex, so it's lighter and looser. It's also pre-shrunk. On a hot afternoon, that's the one you'll want to be in.

Which one should you buy?

Pick a baby tee if:

• you like a close fit and don't want extra fabric at the waist
• you're wearing baggy jeans or cargos and want the top half to look neat
• you want some stretch, so the tee moves with you

Pick a crop top if:

• you want air around your body in the heat
• you'd rather not have anything tight on you
• you like a boxy shape with high-waist bottoms

Still not sure? Think about the bottoms you wear most. The tighter they are, the more a loose crop top will balance them out. The baggier they are, the better a baby tee will look.

How to pick your size

The two are sized differently, so don't just order your usual letter in both.

For a baby tee, use the "to fit chest" column on the size chart. It goes from 30 inches in XS to 40 inches in XXL. A 34-inch chest is an M. Take your usual size for a snug fit, or go one up for a little more room. The full chart is in our guide to what a baby tee is.

For a crop top, measure a tee you already own from armpit to armpit and double the number. Then match it to the chest row, which goes from 81 cm in XS to 107 cm in XXL.

If you get it wrong, pick "Size doesn't fit" on your order within 7 days of delivery. We'll send the same design in the new size for free, or you can take a full refund.

What to wear with each

The rule for a baby tee is tight on top, loose below. High-waist jeans, cargos, a skirt or wide trousers all work. We've put together 8 baby tee outfits that suit Indian weather.

A crop top is more relaxed, so it takes high-waist straight jeans, shorts and fitted skirts well. The one thing to watch is the waistband. Low-waist bottoms with either top will show more skin than you may have planned.

You can browse both, along with our longer tees, in the women's collection.

Is a baby tee the same as a crop top?

No. A baby tee is fitted all over and usually has some stretch, while a crop top is any top that ends above the waist and can be loose. Ours differ in fabric too: the baby tee is 240 GSM with 5% spandex, and the crop top is 180 GSM pure cotton.

Is a baby tee shorter than a crop top?

Ours is. In size M, the baby tee is 38 cm long and the crop top is 44 cm. Other brands cut these differently, so check the chart before you order.

What's the difference between a baby tee and a regular tee?

Length and fit. Our regular women's tee in size M is 64 cm long and 91 cm at the chest, so it hangs below the waist. The baby tee in the same size is 38 cm long and 71 cm at the chest.

Do baby tees and crop tops shrink?

Our crop tops are pre-shrunk. For both, wash inside out in cold water and dry on low heat.

How much do they cost, and how long does delivery take?

Each one is Rs 699, any 2 are Rs 1,199 and any 3 are Rs 1,749, and you can mix the two styles. Shipping is free in India, and most orders arrive in 5-8 working days.