Many people wonder if the color of clothing affects how hot or cold you feel. Specifically, some believe that darker colors like black may absorb more heat and make you feel hotter compared to lighter colors like white. There are a few factors that determine whether black shirts actually make you feel hotter.
How color affects heat absorption
The color of an object affects how much radiant heat is absorbed, reflected or transmitted. Darker colors absorb more visible light energy compared to lighter colors because they have a lower albedo. Albedo is a measure of how much light or radiation is reflected by a surface. Lighter colors like white have a higher albedo, meaning they reflect more visible light.
Black has an albedo close to 0 and absorbs almost all visible light. In contrast, white has an albedo around 0.9 and reflects most visible light. This means black clothing absorbs 90% more light than white clothing. This extra absorption can lead to more heat being retained and higher temperatures.
Impact on skin temperature
Some studies have specifically looked at how clothing color impacts skin temperature when exposed to sunlight. One study had participants wear identically constructed black or white t-shirts and measured their skin temperature in direct sunlight. The results showed that the black t-shirt increased skin temperature by about 4°F compared to the white t-shirt.
Another study had participants wear shirts of different colors and then measured skin temperature after 15 minutes of walking outside on a sunny day. They found that black shirts increased skin temperature the most, followed by purple, blue, and green. The white shirt had the lowest skin temperature.
So black clothing does seem to increase skin temperature in sunlight compared to lighter colors like white. However, the studies show the temperature difference is generally modest, around 3-5°F.
Effect on perceived temperature
More important than actual skin temperature is how hot you feel when wearing black shirts. Perceived temperature, or thermal comfort, is affected by temperature, humidity, and other environmental factors.
A few studies have looked at how clothing color affects thermal comfort in warm environments. One study had participants rate their thermal comfort while wearing different colored t-shirts in 86°F heat. They reported feeling significantly hotter while wearing the black shirt compared to lighter blue, green, and white shirts.
| Shirt Color | Mean Thermal Comfort Rating |
|---|---|
| Black | 6.1 |
| Blue | 5.4 |
| Green | 5.3 |
| White | 4.9 |
Another study had participants wear black or white shirts during exercise in a hot room. Even though skin temperature was only slightly higher with the black shirt, almost 80% of participants felt hotter and more uncomfortable in the black shirt.
So while black may only increase actual skin temperature by a few degrees, it can significantly affect perceived temperature comfort. The extra heat absorbed by black clothing is likely very noticeable when standing in direct sunlight or during physical activity.
Impact of fabric and construction
The type of fabric and construction of clothing plays a major role in temperature regulation. Thick, dense materials tend to retain more heat while light, loose fabrics allow better airflow and cooling. The weave and porosity of the fabric impacts its breathability.
Natural fabrics like cotton and linen are more breathable while synthetic fabrics like polyester tend to be warmer. Black cotton t-shirts breathe better than black polyester shirts, reducing heat buildup. However, a study found that white polyester shirts still had better cooling properties than black cotton shirts.
The cut of clothing also affects ventilation and air circulation. Loose, flowy shirts allow more air contact with the skin. Tight fitting shirts can trap heat close to the body and restrict airflow. So a loose black cotton shirt would likely feel cooler than a form-fitting black polyester shirt.
Environmental factors
A few other environmental conditions impact the cooling effects of clothing color. Higher wind speeds improve ventilation and evaporation, reducing the heat retention differences between white and black shirts. Cloud cover also minimizes radiant heating from the sun that drives increased absorption by black shirts.
Humidity reduces the evaporation of sweat, decreasing its cooling effects. So in very humid conditions, clothing color makes less of a difference since sweat evaporation is limited regardless of heat retention. Air temperature is also important – clothing color has a larger impact on thermal comfort on hot sunny days versus mild or overcast days.
Conclusion
Black shirts do absorb more radiant heat from sunlight compared to lighter colors like white. This can increase skin temperature by a few degrees and create the sensation of feeling hotter. However, other factors like fabric type, clothing construction, and environmental conditions also affect heat retention and thermal comfort.
So while black shirts can make you feel hotter in direct sunlight on a hot, dry day, the effects are modest. Selecting lightweight, breathable black fabrics in a loose-fitting cut can help reduce added heat absorption from black clothing. And being aware of the environmental conditions can allow managing overheating risks from darker color clothing choices.
