How To Conceal Your Firearm Without Printing (2026)
Quick answer: To conceal a firearm without printing, choose a gun with a short grip, a holster with a claw or wing that tucks the grip into your body, a stiff gun belt, and a cover garment with a pattern, darker color or looser fit. Carry where your body hides the gun best — often appendix or 4 o’clock — and adjust ride height and cant until the outline disappears.
Reviewed and updated October 31, 2026 by Daniel Guerra. General guidance; no new hands-on testing was done for this update.
| Cause of printing | Fix |
|---|---|
| Grip sticking out | Holster claw or wing, forward cant, slightly lower ride height |
| Sagging holster | Stiff gun belt tightened one notch |
| Thin or tight shirt | Thicker, patterned or darker fabric; one size up |
| Large gun | Shorter grip or micro-compact pistol |
| Wrong position | Try appendix or 4 o’clock and check in a mirror while moving |
See our best AIWB holsters, gun belts and carry positions.
Printing is when the outline of your gun shows through your clothing. Most printing comes from five things, which CCS founder Corey Rawlins summarized as the 5 C’s of concealed carry: carry position, clothing, cant, compact size and comfort.
The 5 C’s of Concealed Carry
- Carry position: where the gun sits on your body.
- Clothing: fabric, fit, color and layers.
- Cant: the angle of the holster.
- Compact: the size of the gun, especially grip length.
- Comfort: a setup you will actually wear every day.
1. Carry Position
- Appendix (AIWB): one of the best for concealment; the gun sits in the natural hollow in front of the hip. See best AIWB holsters.
- Strong side, 3 to 5 o’clock: conceals well with the right holster and shirt, but the grip can print when you bend.
- Small of back: hides well standing but is slow, uncomfortable seated and risky in a fall.
- Cross-draw: easier seated, but the grip angles forward and is harder to hide.
- Pocket: very discreet for small guns in a pocket holster, with a slower draw.
Read the Complete Guide to Concealed Carry Positions
2. Clothing
- Fit: slightly looser shirts hide better than tight ones; going up one size often helps.
- Fabric: thicker cotton, denim and flannel drape over the gun; thin performance fabrics cling.
- Color and pattern: darker colors and patterns like plaid break up the outline.
- Layers: an open button-up, light jacket or vest covers a larger gun.
- Belt: a stiff gun belt keeps the holster tight to your body. See best gun belts.
- Tucked shirts: possible with tuckable holsters; see carrying with a tucked-in shirt.
3. Cant
Cant is the holster’s angle. A small forward cant at the hip tucks the grip toward your body and reduces printing when you bend. Common starting points:
- Appendix: straight up or a slight forward cant (about 10 to 15 degrees).
- Strong side: a forward cant of about 10 to 15 degrees.
- Cross-draw: a stronger cant for the draw, at some cost in concealment.
A holster claw or wing does even more: it pushes the grip into your body. Most modern AIWB holsters have one.
4. Compact Size
Grip length causes most printing, more than barrel length. Micro-compact 9mm pistols combine short grips with 10 to 15 rounds:
- SIG Sauer P365 family: 10+1 standard, with longer-grip variants.
- S&W Shield Plus: 10+1 or 13+1 in a slim frame.
- Springfield Hellcat and Hellcat Pro: 11+1 in the standard model.
A very short grip is harder to control, so find the smallest gun you still shoot well. Read Best Micro Compact Guns For Concealed Carry
5. Comfort
An uncomfortable setup gets adjusted all day, which draws attention, or gets left at home. A holster that hugs your body, a stiff gun belt and a position that works seated and standing make concealment easier to sustain. Test each change in front of a mirror while bending, sitting and reaching. See best holsters and tips for comfortable carry.
Related reading: How to Conceal Carry with a Tucked-In Shirt · Concealed Carry in the Summer: Tips for Hot Weather · Concealed Carry at Work: Laws, Policies & Tips
Printing FAQ
What does printing mean in concealed carry?
Printing is when the outline of your firearm shows through your clothing.
Is printing illegal?
In most permit and permitless states, accidental printing is not a crime, but some states have rules on intentional display. Check your state law.
What is a holster claw?
A small wing or claw attached to the holster that pushes against your belt to rotate the gun’s grip toward your body and reduce printing.
What clothes hide a gun best?
Darker or patterned shirts in thicker fabrics, a size looser than usual, and layers like overshirts or jackets.
Conclusion
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To stop printing, work through the 5 C’s: pick a position that suits your body, dress in looser and thicker or patterned layers, set a slight forward cant with a claw, carry a gun with a shorter grip and keep the setup comfortable on a stiff belt. Check it in a mirror while moving.
