Just 14% Can Figure Out the Correct Number of Holes in a T-Shirt
A Simple Puzzle That Exposes How the Human Brain Really Thinks
At first glance, it looks like a children’s riddle. No math formulas. No advanced logic. No trick wording—at least none that’s obvious.
And yet, according to countless online polls, classroom tests, and social media challenges, only about 14% of people correctly answer this question:
How many holes are there in a T-shirt?
Most people answer confidently.
Most people are wrong.
So what’s really going on here? Why does such a simple question trip up so many intelligent people? And what does it reveal about the way our brains process everyday objects?
Let’s break it down.
The Viral T-Shirt Puzzle
The puzzle usually appears like this:
“A standard T-shirt has holes in it.
How many holes are there?”
Sometimes there’s an image. Sometimes there isn’t. Sometimes it’s presented as a trick question with a timer ticking down to increase pressure.
The most common answers people give are:
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2 holes
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3 holes
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4 holes
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5 holes
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More than 5
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It depends
Only one of these answers is correct.
Why This Puzzle Is So Deceptive
The difficulty of this puzzle doesn’t come from complexity. It comes from assumptions.
Your brain sees the word T-shirt and immediately fills in missing details based on experience. You stop analyzing and start recognizing.
This is called top-down processing—your brain relies on memory and expectations rather than fresh observation.
That’s exactly where things go wrong.
Step One: What Most People Count First
When asked about holes in a T-shirt, most people instinctively count:
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One hole for the head
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Two holes for the arms
That leads to an answer of 3 holes, which is one of the most common incorrect responses.
Some people go a step further and add:
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One hole at the bottom of the shirt
That leads to 4 holes, which feels even more reasonable.
But it’s still wrong.
The Critical Mistake: Ignoring Layers
Here’s the key insight most people miss:
A T-shirt is a three-dimensional object with two layers of fabric—front and back.
When there is an opening that goes all the way through the shirt, it creates a hole in both the front and the back.
That changes everything.
Let’s Count the Holes Properly
Now let’s carefully and correctly count every hole in a standard T-shirt.
1. Neck Opening
The neck opening goes through:
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The front layer
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The back layer
That means:
👉 2 holes
2. Left Sleeve Opening
The left sleeve also passes through:
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The front
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The back
👉 2 holes
3. Right Sleeve Opening
Same logic:
👉 2 holes
4. Bottom Opening
The bottom of the shirt is open and also goes through:
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The front
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The back
👉 2 holes
Final Count
Let’s add them up:
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Neck: 2
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Left sleeve: 2
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Right sleeve: 2
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Bottom: 2
✅ Total = 8 holes
The Correct Answer: 8 Holes
And that’s why only a small percentage of people get it right.
Why 86% of People Get This Wrong
1. We Think in Labels, Not Structures
When we hear “neck hole,” we think of it as one thing, not two physical openings.
Our brains compress information to save energy. That shortcut usually works—but not here.
2. We Ignore Depth
Humans are surprisingly bad at mentally accounting for depth unless forced to.
Even though we live in a 3D world, we often think in 2D concepts.
3. We Rush to Answer
Many versions of this puzzle include:
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A timer
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A competitive score
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A claim like “Only geniuses get this right!”
This pressure encourages fast answers instead of careful reasoning.
4. Overconfidence Kills Accuracy
Because the question seems easy, people don’t double-check their thinking.
Ironically, the easier a problem looks, the more likely we are to get it wrong.
What This Puzzle Teaches Us About the Brain
This T-shirt riddle is more than a trick question—it’s a demonstration of how human cognition works.
Mental Shortcuts (Heuristics)
Your brain uses shortcuts to save time and energy. These are helpful in daily life but dangerous in puzzles.
Perceptual Assumptions
We assume:
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A hole is “one thing”
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Clothing is flat
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Familiar objects don’t need analysis
All false assumptions in this context.
Attention Blindness
You focus on where holes are instead of how many openings exist physically.
Why This Puzzle Works So Well Online
This question thrives on social media because it triggers:
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Confidence (“This is easy.”)
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Shock (“Wait, that’s not right?”)
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Debate (“No way it’s 8.”)
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Engagement (comments, arguments, shares)
It’s the perfect viral formula.
Common Wrong Answers Explained
❌ “3 holes”
Counts head + two arms
Ignores depth and the bottom opening
❌ “4 holes”
Counts head, arms, bottom
Still ignores front/back layers
❌ “5 holes”
Often includes seams or fabric gaps
Invents holes that don’t exist
❌ “More than 8”
Overthinking—counting imaginary or stitched openings
Variations of the Puzzle
This puzzle often appears with twists:
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“A T-shirt with two extra holes—how many now?”
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“A shirt hanging flat on a wall—count the holes.”
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“A damaged T-shirt with tears.”
The key rule always stays the same:
If you can pass something through and it exits somewhere else, that’s two holes.
Try This Experiment at Home
Grab a real T-shirt and lay it flat.
Put your finger through:
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The neck
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Each sleeve
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The bottom
Notice how each opening clearly has two distinct sides.
Seeing it physically often causes an instant “aha” moment.
Why This Puzzle Is Used in Education
Teachers and psychologists love this question because it tests:
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Critical thinking
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Attention to detail
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Spatial reasoning
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Willingness to challenge assumptions
It’s not about intelligence—it’s about how you think.
Final Thoughts
The T-shirt hole puzzle proves one powerful idea:
Simple questions are often the most revealing.
Only about 14% of people pause, visualize, and reason carefully enough to arrive at the correct answer.
And now you’re one of them.
So next time you see a “simple” problem, slow down. Look again. Question your assumptions.
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