How Printed T-Shirts Are Priced

Printed t-shirt pricing is primarily determined by quantity, design complexity (number of ink colors), and garment brand and quality. Bulk orders significantly lower the cost per unit, often dropping from over $20–$30 for a single shirt to $10–$15 for over 100 shirts. Costs are calculated by adding the blank garment price, printing costs, and overhead/labor. 

Here are the key factors determining the price:

Order Quantity (Bulk Order Discounts): Generally, the more you order, the cheaper each shirt is. Screen printing setups have high initial costs, making them cost-effective for large batches and they generally have a minimum order, while DTF (Direct-to-Film) is better for small, high-detail orders.

Ink Colors & Locations: Printing on both sides (front/back) can add roughly $5 or more to the per-shirt price. In all there are four sides to a t-shirt, so each side will increase the cost of the shirt. Additionally, each additional ink color in silk screen increases the price due to increased setup time.

Printing Method:

• Screen Printing: $10–$15 per shirt for large, one to three color design, with a 24 piece minimum.
• Full Color Digital Silk Screen: $12-$17 per shirt for large, full-color print orders with a 48 piece minimum.
• Direct-to-Film (DTF): $17–$25 for detailed, small-run, or custom orders. No minimum.

Garment Quality & Color: Premium, high-quality, or specific brands of blank shirts increase the base cost compared to standard cotton or basic 50/50 blends. Brands like NextLevel, Comfort Colors, and Bella Canvas will cost more than brands like Gildan, Jerzees, or Port and Company.

Setup Fees: Generally, we don’t charge for screen setup, but there may be additional setup fees depending on if your artwork needs design work or to be vectorized for printing.

Additional Fees: Rush orders, shipping, and complex artwork preparation can add to the total cost. We offer free standard shipping on orders $200+.