Top pick
Sunspel Riviera Polo Shirt
The polo the other polos are measured against. A breathable cotton-mesh fabric developed for Daniel Craig's Bond in Casino Royale, made in Portugal, with a slim collar that sits correctly open-necked — which is how polos are actually worn. It reads tailored rather than sporty, and that's the whole point of a great polo.
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The 8 picks, ranked
Sunspel
Riviera Polo Shirt
$155–$155
The polo the other polos are measured against. A breathable cotton-mesh fabric developed for Daniel Craig's Bond in Casino Royale, made in Portugal, with a slim collar that sits correctly open-necked — which is how polos are actually worn. It reads tailored rather than sporty, and that's the whole point of a great polo.
Best for
Smart-casual tailoring, warm-weather polish, the one great polo
Fit
Slim; drapes clean without clinging
Polo Ralph Lauren
Iconic Mesh Polo
$118–$118
The reference American polo, unchanged for good reason: breathable cotton mesh, ribbed collar and armbands, and a cut offered in enough fits (classic, custom slim) that everyone finds theirs. It carries decades of association without trying — the polo that never reads wrong at a country club, an office Friday, or a summer dinner.
Best for
The timeless preppy register, colour range, all-fits sizing
Fit
Multiple fits — custom slim is the modern choice
J.Crew
Cotton Piqué Classic Polo
$55–$55
The honest mid-market pique: proper texture, a collar that holds through the day, and classic colourways (the navy with white tipping is the one) at roughly half the price of the heritage names. Frequent sitewide discounts push it into no-brainer territory for multi-colour buys.
Best for
Building a polo rotation without premium prices
Fit
Classic fit; true to size
Buck Mason
Avalon Knit Polo
$128–$128
A fine cotton-jersey knit polo that behaves like a lightweight sweater — softer collar, richer drape, and a distinctly 60s-Riviera character that pique can't reach. This is the polo that works under a blazer in the evening, in neutral tones that photograph like old money.
Best for
Knitted-polo elegance, blazer pairings, evening smart-casual
Fit
Tailored but forgiving; true to size
Billy Reid
Pensacola Polo
$108–$108
Garment-dyed organic Pima cotton with a lived-in softness and depth of colour that flat-dyed polos don't have, a chest pocket, and the brand's signature stripe tucked into the side vents. A 20-year design that's earned its keep — the polo you reach for on repeat without thinking.
Best for
Daily rotation, garment-dyed character, Southern-Americana register
Fit
Classic fit with straight sleeves
Taylor Stitch
Jacquard Polo
$118–$118
Custom-knit organic-cotton jacquard with genuine surface interest — the textured polo for anyone bored of flat pique but not ready for a full knit. Taylor Stitch's chest-measurement sizing takes the guesswork out of fit, and the responsible-cotton sourcing matches the buy-fewer-better capsule ethos.
Best for
Texture beyond pique, precise chest sizing, organic cotton
Fit
Sized by chest measurement — check the chart
Proof
72-Hour Merino Polo
$98–$98
Merino wool's party trick, in polo form: naturally anti-microbial and moisture-wicking, so it stays fresh through multiple wears between washes — the brand's 72-hour claim is the pitch, and merino's chemistry backs it. One of these covers a week-long trip where three cotton polos would.
Best for
One-bag travel, multi-day wear, temperature swings
Fit
True to size; drapes softer than pique
Mack Weldon
Vesper Polo
$39–$39
A breathable performance-mesh polo named after the Bond cocktail, at a price that undercuts everything else on this list by half. The synthetic-blend fabric wicks and recovers from a suitcase without ironing. It won't age into character like the cotton picks — but at $39 it doesn't need to.
Best for
Budget builds, gym-to-street, low-maintenance care
Fit
Athletic-lean; true to size
How to pick — buyer's guide
Pique vs jersey vs knitted — which polo fabric should you buy?
Pique is the textured, waffle-weave classic (Ralph Lauren, J.Crew): structured, breathable, holds its shape, reads sporty-smart. Jersey and mesh (Sunspel's Riviera) are smoother and drape closer to a fine t-shirt — dressier, cooler in heat, and the best choice under tailoring. Knitted polos (Buck Mason's Avalon) behave like lightweight sweaters, with a soft collar and a 60s-Riviera character that's the current smart-casual favourite. A useful capsule order: one pique for daytime, one jersey or knit for evenings and blazers.
How should a polo shirt fit?
Closer than a t-shirt, looser than a base layer. Shoulder seams on the shoulder bone, sleeves ending mid-bicep with a little room (the ribbed band shouldn't strangle the arm), and the hem hitting mid-fly — polos are worn untucked, and a too-long hem is the most common polo mistake. The collar should sit flat and stay up at the back of the neck. If the placket gapes when you sit, size up; if the sleeves flap, size down or find a slimmer cut.
Can you wear a polo shirt with a blazer?
Yes — it's one of the strongest smart-casual moves, but fabric decides whether it works. A knitted or jersey polo (Avalon, Riviera) under an unstructured blazer looks deliberate and Italian; a sporty pique with a logo under a structured blazer looks like a golf clubhouse. Keep the polo in a solid, muted colour, the collar spread over or neatly inside the lapels, and nothing in the chest-pocket area. Dark polo + lighter blazer is the easiest version to get right.
Polo shirt colours — which to buy first?
Navy first: it flatters every skin tone, hides wear, and works with chinos in stone, olive, and grey alike. White second for summer (accepting it needs replacing more often), then a muted green, burgundy, or grey melange third depending on your palette. Skip loud contrast-tipped collars and big logos in a capsule — they date the shirt and cap how dressed-up it can go. Three well-chosen solids cover the season.
Are performance/synthetic polos worth it?
For specific jobs, yes; as your only polo, no. Synthetics (Mack Weldon's Vesper) resist wrinkles, dry fast, and survive gym bags — ideal for travel and sport. But they pill sooner, hold odour more than natural fibres, and read athletic rather than tailored up close. Merino (Proof's 72-Hour) is the natural-fibre alternative that keeps the travel benefits with a better hand and better odour resistance. Cotton remains the right default for polos you wear to look good rather than to sweat in.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the best men's polo shirts in 2026?
The Sunspel Riviera ($155) is the best overall — the Casino Royale cotton-mesh polo that reads tailored rather than sporty. The Polo Ralph Lauren Iconic Mesh ($118) is the timeless classic, the J.Crew Cotton Piqué ($55) the value pick, and the Buck Mason Avalon ($128) the best knitted polo for blazer pairings.
Are polo shirts business casual?
Yes, in most modern offices — a solid, well-fitted polo in navy, white, or muted tones with chinos or wool trousers sits comfortably inside business casual. Choose a jersey or knitted polo over sporty pique for dressier settings, keep logos minimal, and wear it untucked only if the hem is short and clean. For client-facing formality, a collared button-up still ranks a step above.
Should a polo shirt be tucked in?
Untucked by default — polos are designed with a straight, mid-fly-length hem for exactly that. Tuck only when the trousers are clearly tailored and the setting demands it (some golf clubs and offices), and use a proper military tuck to avoid billowing. If the hem hangs past your fly untucked, the shirt is too long for you, not proof you should tuck it.
What's the difference between a $40 and a $150 polo?
Fabric and collar. Cheap polos use short-staple cotton or rough synthetics that pill, fade, and lose collar shape within a season. At the top end (Sunspel, Ralph Lauren, Buck Mason) you get long-staple or mercerised cotton, knitted-on collars that sit correctly open-necked, and cuts with real pattern-making behind them. The $55–$130 middle (J.Crew, Billy Reid, Taylor Stitch) captures most of that quality; past $155 you're paying mainly for provenance.
How many polo shirts does a capsule wardrobe need?
Two or three in summer-leaning capsules: one navy pique for daytime, one jersey or knitted polo in a muted tone for evenings and blazers, and optionally a white or striped third for holidays. Polos occupy the register between t-shirt and shirt, so they earn their slot hardest in warm months and business-casual offices. Cold-climate capsules can run one polo or none.