Charles Tyrwhitt vs. Bonobos: Which brand should you buy? [2026]

Charles Tyrwhitt is a classic British menswear brand known for high-quality, traditional dress shirts and formal suits, ideal for corporate environments. Bonobos, an American brand, focuses on modern, versatile business casual and casual wear with an exceptional emphasis on perfecting fit for a wide range of body types, especially with their popular chinos.

Let's compare these two brands to help you decide which one best suits your wardrobe and style.

Charles Tyrwhitt: The Home of Classic British Tailoring

Charles Tyrwhitt is a destination for the professional man who values timeless style and quality craftsmanship. Founded in 1986, the brand specializes in traditional office wear, offering a polished look rooted in British tailoring. Their main customer is looking for durable, well-made staples - think crisp non-iron dress shirts and perfectly tailored suits - for a formal to business-casual workplace.

• Product mix: The core of their collection is formal dress shirts, available in numerous collar styles, cuff options, and fits. They also offer a full range of suits, blazers, trousers, ties, shoes, and casual shirts.
• Price point: Mid-range, with frequent multibuy offers. Dress shirts are typically $80-$120 but can often be purchased for less in bundles. Suits range from $400 to $900.
• Quality: Known for using high-quality materials like Egyptian cotton and fine wools. Their non-iron shirts are particularly popular for their performance and durability.
• Fit & Sizing: Offers traditional sizing, including specific collar and sleeve length measurements. Fits include Classic, Slim, and Extra Slim, catering to different preferences but generally maintaining a structured, tailored silhouette.
• Style: Unquestionably classic and refined. The aesthetic is perfect for corporate law, finance, and other formal professional settings where a suit and tie are the standard.
• Return policy: Offers a generous return policy and free shipping on many orders, emphasizing risk-free online shopping.

Charles Tyrwhitt is the go-to for building a professional wardrobe grounded in proven, high-quality, and classic styles that will not go out of fashion.

Shop Charles Tyrwhitt: charlestyrwhitt.com

Bonobos: Modern Fit for the Modern Man

Bonobos was born online in 2007 with a mission to solve a common problem for men: finding pants that actually fit. The brand built its reputation on versatile chinos available in an extensive range of sizes and fits. Their target audience is the style-conscious man who wants comfortable, well-fitting clothes for a smart-casual office, weekends, and everything in between.

• Product mix: While famous for their chinos, Bonobos offers a complete menswear line, including dress shirts, casual button-downs, sweaters, blazers, and even golf wear. The emphasis is on versatility.
• Price point: Mid-range and comparable to Charles Tyrwhitt on shirts and pants. Chinos run from $80-$120, and shirts are typically $70-$110. Blazers and suiting are more accessible, often priced between $150 and $300.
• Quality: Focuses on comfortable, easy-care fabrics like stretch cotton and performance blends designed for movement and all-day wear.
• Fit & Sizing: This is their primary advantage. Bonobos offers an industry-leading range of fits (Slim, Athletic, Straight) and sizes, including precise waist and inseam combinations that are hard to find elsewhere.
• Shopping Experience: Primarily an e-commerce brand with a user-friendly website. They also operate "Guideshop" locations where you can get fitted by a stylist, try on a wide range of sizes, and have your order shipped to your home.
• Style: The aesthetic is modern, relaxed, and American. It's clean, approachable, and less formal than Charles Tyrwhitt, ideal for today's more casual workplaces.

Bonobos offers stylish and remarkably well-fitting casual and business casual clothing that bridges the gap between work and leisure.

Shop Bonobos: bonobos.com

Charles Tyrwhitt vs. Bonobos Comparison

Price & Value

On paper, both brands occupy a similar mid-range price point, especially for shirts. Charles Tyrwhitt offers significant value through its frequent multibuy deals (e.g., 4 shirts for a fixed price), which dramatically lowers the per-item cost. Their suits, beginning around $400, represent a higher upfront investment but provide excellent quality for formalwear. This value is centered on longevity and timeless style.

Bonobos also runs regular sales, but their value comes from fit and versatility. Paying around $100 for a pair of their chinos might seem high, but the custom-like fit often saves on tailoring costs. Their more casual blazers and suits are more affordable than Charles Tyrwhitt's, making them a great entry point for men building a modern, flexible wardrobe.

Quality & Materials

Charles Tyrwhitt is focused on traditional luxury fabrics. They use 2-ply Egyptian and Supima cotton for their shirts, offering a crisp, substantial feel. The construction is robust, with brass collar stiffeners and strong stitching designed for longevity and a polished appearance. Their suits feature quality wools and classic construction for a sharp drape.

Bonobos prioritizes comfort and practicality. Their fabrics often incorporate stretch for ease of movement, whether in their signature chinos or performance-blend dress shirts. The materials feel softer and more lived-in from the first wear. While the construction is solid, the goal is modern comfort rather than old-world tailoring.

Style & Aesthetic

The style difference is night and day. Charles Tyrwhitt is quintessentially British and formal. Their patterns are classic (gingham, stripes, checks), their collars are structured (spread, cutaway), and the overall impression is of conservative professionalism. It’s the perfect brand for a formal boardroom meeting or a traditional wedding.

Bonobos is modern American smart-casual. Their colors are more varied, their patterns can be more playful, and their silhouettes are softer and more relaxed. It's clothing designed for creative offices, "dress for your day" workplace policies, and weekend events where you still want to look put-together.

Fit & Sizing

This is the most significant point of comparison. Charles Tyrwhitt provides excellent formal shirt sizing with specific collar and sleeve-length combinations, ensuring a proper fit around the neck and arms. However, the body fits (Classic, Slim, Extra Slim) are fairly standard.

Bonobos has made its name on its fit system. You can choose your waist and inseam measurement separately for pants, which is a huge advantage for anyone not of "standard" proportions. Their fits, particularly the Athletic fit, are designed to accommodate different body types (e.g., more room in the seat and thighs for pants, more room in the chest and shoulders for shirts) without being baggy.

Shopping Experience

Charles Tyrwhitt operates a very effective traditional e-commerce store backed by physical retail locations. The online experience is straightforward, focusing on product details and multibuy offers. Customer service is a strong point, with an easy returns process.

Bonobos offers a more guided online experience with detailed fit guides. Their unique "Guideshop" model is a key differentiator. It's not a traditional store, it's a showroom where you get one-on-one help from a stylist to find your perfect sizes across their entire catalog. You try things on, they place the order, and it ships to your door. This eliminates carrying bags and ensures you get the right fit.

Which One Should You Choose?

Both brands offer great products, but they serve two very different men - or different aspects of the same man's life.

Choose Charles Tyrwhitt if:

• You work in a formal office environment that requires suits, blazers, and classic dress shirts.
• You value traditional craftsmanship and high-quality materials like Egyptian cotton.
• You prefer a classic, timeless British aesthetic over modern trends.
• You often buy dress shirts and look for value through bundle deals.

Choose Bonobos if:

• You've always struggled to find pants or shirts that fit your body type well off the rack.
• Your office has a business-casual or smart-casual dress code.
• Comfort and versatility are more important to you than traditional tailoring.
• You want to build a modern wardrobe that works seamlessly for both the office and the weekend.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Charles Tyrwhitt or Bonobos more expensive?

Their shirts and pants are priced similarly on a per-item basis. However, Charles Tyrwhitt's multibuy offers often make their shirts cheaper in the long run. Bonobos suits are generally more affordable, while Charles Tyrwhitt's suits are a higher-end investment.

Which brand is better for suits?

Charles Tyrwhitt is better for formal, traditional business suits. Their focus on classic tailoring and quality wools provides a more structured and professional look.

Which brand has better-fitting pants?

Bonobos is widely considered to have better-fitting pants and chinos due to their vast range of waist/inseam combinations and dedicated fits like Athletic and Slim Taper.

Does Bonobos have physical stores?

Yes, Bonobos has "Guideshops." These are appointment-based showrooms where you can try on their entire collection to find your perfect fit, and then your order is shipped to you.

Are Charles Tyrwhitt shirts good quality?

Yes, they are highly regarded for their quality construction, choice of fabrics, durable stitching, and details like brass collar stays.

What is Bonobos most famous for?

Dramatically changing the way men shop for pants online by obsessing over the perfect fit, and especially their stretch washed chinos with a huge variety of sizing combinations.

Which brand is better for an athletic build?

Bonobos' specifically designed Athletic Fit is an amazing solution for men with broader shoulders and chests or larger thighs and glutes. Their fabrics often include stretch, adding to the comfort for muscular frames.

Do both brands have sales?

Yes, both brands run frequent sales and promotional events year-round, making it wise to sign up for their newsletters to purchase items at a significant discount.