Guide to the Best Scrub Material for Function and Comfort
If you spend your days on your feet in scrubs, the fabric matters. The right scrub material makes a clear difference during long shifts, constant movement and frequent wash cycles. Comfort, durability, stretch and breathability all come down to what your uniform is made of and how well that material holds up on the job.
This guide breaks down the most common scrub fabrics and explains what makes each one worth considering. If you’re shopping for yourself or sourcing uniforms for a team, knowing your fabric options helps you make a decision that holds up under pressure.
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Why Scrub Fabric Matters
Scrubs don’t get a break. They’re expected to keep up through 12-hour shifts, high-paced environments and industrial laundering. For healthcare professionals, that kind of wear means the fabric has to hold its shape, stay comfortable and let you move without restriction. If it doesn’t, you’ll feel it and not in a good way.
Around-the-Clock Performance
Beyond softness and stretch, scrub fabric determines how breathable healthcare uniforms feel in a packed ER, how well they dry after a spill and how long they last after dozens of wash cycles. It affects how polished your team looks and how confident you feel when the pace picks up. Materials that don’t perform end up in the back of the closet. The ones that do get worn again and again.
That’s why fabric is the first thing to pay attention to when choosing scrubs. Get that right, and the rest follows.
Most Common Scrub Materials Explained
Before you pick a pair of scrubs, you need to know what they’re made of. Fabric affects everything: comfort, durability, breathability, mobility and how your uniform handles daily wear. If you’ve ever asked, “What are scrubs made of?” or wondered what to look for in the best fabric for scrubs, this breakdown covers the materials you’ll run into most often.
Cotton & Cotton Blends
Cotton offers a soft, breathable feel that’s great for sensitive skin and long hours. It’s naturally cool and absorbent, which helps during warmer shifts or under PPE. But keep in mind that 100% cotton tends to wrinkle and shrink, and it doesn’t always dry quickly.
That’s where cotton blends come in. Combining cotton with polyester or spandex creates a more practical fabric: soft but stronger, less prone to shrinking and better at holding color. This makes them ideal for outpatient clinics, general practice settings and anyone looking for easy wear and care.
Polyester
Polyester brings strength to the table. It holds up well in commercial laundry settings, resists wrinkles and doesn’t fade easily. While it’s not as breathable as natural fibers, blending polyester with cotton or spandex boosts comfort while keeping durability high.
If your team needs uniforms that can take a beating and still look sharp, polyester-heavy scrubs are a practical choice. They’re especially useful in high-turnover environments like ERs or trauma units, where uniforms face everything from spills to quick turnaround laundering. Lands’ End’s partnership with Wink® delivers women’s scrubs and men’s scrubs in an ideal polyester blend designed to hold up under pressure.
Spandex & Stretch Fabrics
Scrubs need to move with you. That’s where spandex and stretch blends shine. A small percentage of spandex (usually 3% to 5%) makes a huge difference in flexibility without giving up structure. You get a uniform that bends, reaches, lifts and moves through rounds without feeling tight or stiff.
Wink uses stretch fabric strategically in key styles to deliver ease of movement without compromising shape retention. These fabrics are a go-to for physical therapists, techs and nurses who are constantly on the move. If your role involves frequent bending, lifting or adjusting patients, stretch fabric is worth prioritizing.
Moisture-Wicking Fabrics
Fast-paced shifts don’t leave time to cool down. Moisture-wicking fabrics pull sweat away from the skin and dry quickly, helping regulate body temperature and reduce cling. This keeps you more comfortable during long procedures, in warm facilities and through layered PPE use.
The best scrub material for high-activity roles often includes moisture-wicking performance. Wink’s scrub designs at Lands’ End include options with quick-dry properties that hold up wash after wash. They work well in urgent care, surgical units or any high-intensity setting where you can’t afford to overheat.
Each material serves a purpose. Being able to answer the question, “What material are scrubs made of?” helps you make a smarter choice based on your role, pace and environment.
What to Look for in Scrub Fabric
Choosing scrubs goes beyond style and fit. Scrub fabric needs to match your work demands. The right material keeps you comfortable, moves with you and stands up to frequent washing. Different types of scrubs work better in different types of settings. Here’s how to make a smart call based on your role, environment and daily routine.
Match Fabric to Your Role
Start with what your workday looks like. If your job involves constant movement—bending, reaching, lifting—look for stretch blends with spandex. These fabrics flex without losing structure, giving you full mobility. Nurses, physical therapists and techs tend to rely on this kind of material.
For high-pressure environments like the ER, trauma units or surgical teams, durability is key. Scrubs with higher polyester content handle repeated wear and washing without fading, shrinking or breaking down.
In roles with lighter physical demands—like administrative staff or intake coordinators—cotton-rich blends strike a good balance. They feel soft, breathe well and keep a polished appearance throughout the day.
Consider the Season
Hot facilities, layered PPE and packed schedules mean you need fabric that cools and dries quickly. Lightweight, moisture-wicking blends help regulate body temperature and prevent discomfort. Wink’s quick-dry scrubs, available through Lands’ End, are a solid pick for warm conditions or busy surgical floors.
During colder months or in chilly buildings, heavier blends offer a bit more coverage. Cotton-poly fabrics or stretch materials that layer easily can keep you comfortable without adding bulk.
Think About Laundry and Maintenance
Your laundry routine should influence your fabric choice. If your scrubs go through industrial washing or get tossed into the machine at home, you need materials that can handle it. Polyester-based fabrics are easy to manage. They resist wrinkles, hold color and dry fast—no ironing, no special treatment. Cotton-heavy scrubs feel softer but may need lower heat or careful drying to maintain shape.
Understanding what scrubs are made of gives you control. Match the fabric to your workload, climate and care needs, and you’ll get uniforms that deliver shift after shift.
Lands’ End Scrubs: Built for Comfort and Durability
Lands’ End Outfitters takes healthcare uniforms seriously. The fabrics used in our scrubs through our partnership with Wink work in real world conditions. Whether you’re ordering for yourself or outfitting a team, the materials deliver day-in, day-out comfort without sacrificing durability or a clean, professional look.
Shape That Holds Up
Fit matters, especially after 10-plus hours on the job. We build our scrubs to keep their shape over time—no sagging knees, no stretched-out waistbands. Our fabrics bounce back after long shifts and long cycles in the wash. That means you look just as sharp at the end of the day as you did when you walked in.
Breathable Comfort That Works All Day
Heat and sweat slow you down. That’s why Wink scrubs offered through Lands’ End use breathable, moisture-wicking fabrics that help regulate temperature and reduce cling. These materials feel light on the skin and dry fast, especially in high-movement roles where airflow matters.
Made to Work with Embroidery
Need logos, names or department identifiers? Lands’ End Outfitters’ scrub fabrics handle embroidery cleanly and professionally. There’s no puckering or distortion. You simply get smooth stitching that stays crisp over time. This makes our scrubs a strong option for healthcare groups, clinics or hospital departments looking for a unified look.
A Fit for Every Body
Comfort also depends on finding the right size, and Lands’ End offers one of the most inclusive size ranges in the industry. With women’s and men’s scrubs available in regular, petite, tall and plus sizes, teams can order confidently. From solo practitioners to enterprise-level uniform programs, that flexibility makes sourcing simple and consistent. Read our Tips on Sizing Scrubs for more useful information.
When you wear Lands’ End scrubs powered by Wink, you get high-quality, hard-working fabrics.
Find the Scrub Material That Works for You
Long shifts don’t get easier, but your uniform can. Lands’ End Outfitters delivers healthcare scrubs that feel right, move with you and hold their shape no matter how many cycles they go through. Whether you’re buying for yourself or outfitting a full team, you’ll find scrub material options that fit your work, schedule and budget. Explore our collection and order scrubs that do the job every single shift.
Shop Healthcare UniformsFrequently Asked Questions
Understanding scrub material options helps you choose uniforms that fit your role and routine, not just your dress code. Here are answers to common questions that go beyond the basics.
What's the most breathable scrub material?
Look for blends that feature moisture-wicking technology. These fabrics improve airflow and help keep you dry during long shifts.
Which scrub material is best for warm environments?
Lightweight, quick-dry fabrics with a high polyester content are ideal for hot settings or PPE-heavy roles. They help manage heat and dry faster after extended wear.
Are sustainable scrub fabrics available?
Wink includes RENEW, an eco-friendly line that combines environmental responsibility with comfort and durability.
What fabric holds up best to industrial washing?
Polyester blends handle industrial laundering better than 100% cotton. They resist fading, stretching and shrinkage even after dozens of washes.
Can scrub material affect how the uniform fits?
Absolutely. Stretch fabrics contour more closely to the body, while stiff or structured weaves offer a looser fit. Understanding fabric composition can help you pick the right size and cut.