How Much Do Custom T-Shirts Cost? What Actually Affects the Price?
“How much does it cost to have a custom T-shirt made?”
It sounds like a simple question. But when it comes to custom apparel, the answer is usually:
It depends.
That isn’t because custom printers are trying to make pricing complicated. There are several factors that determine what your finished shirts will cost.
At Stonebridge Print Co., we believe customers should understand what they’re paying for. So, let’s break down some of the biggest things that can affect the price of your custom T-shirt order.
1. The Shirt You Choose
The blank shirt itself is one of the first factors in your final price.
A basic cotton T-shirt will generally cost less than a premium soft-style shirt, performance shirt, long-sleeve shirt, sweatshirt, or hoodie.
Brand, material, style, and size can all affect the cost of the garment.
That’s why two orders with the exact same design may have different prices if they’re being printed on different apparel.
2. How Many Shirts You Need
Quantity can also affect pricing.
Larger orders may allow certain costs associated with producing the order to be spread across more shirts. Smaller orders don’t have that same advantage.
That doesn’t mean you should order more shirts than you actually need, though.
One of the benefits of DTF printing is that it works well for both small and larger orders, so you don’t necessarily need to order dozens of shirts just to have something custom printed.
3. Where You Want the Design
A shirt with one design on the front is usually going to cost less to produce than a shirt that needs printing in multiple locations.
For example, you might want:
- A full front design
- A small left-chest logo
- A large back design
- A front and back design
- Additional sleeve printing
Each additional print location requires another transfer and another application during production.
So when you’re requesting a quote, be sure to tell us where you want your artwork printed.
4. The Size of the Design
A small left-chest logo and a large full-front graphic aren’t the same thing.
Larger designs require larger transfers, which can increase the production cost.
This is especially important when you’re comparing quotes. Two printers may both be quoting “one print,” but the actual size of that print can be very different.
At Stonebridge, we want to know what you’re trying to create so we can recommend a print size that looks appropriate on the garment.
5. Your Artwork
Already have a clean, high-resolution design that’s ready to print?
Great!
If your artwork needs to be recreated, cleaned up, modified, or designed from scratch, there may be additional design costs involved.
For example, sending us a high-quality version of your business logo is very different from sending a tiny screenshot and asking us to turn it into a large shirt design.
We offer graphic design services for customers who need help getting their ideas ready for print.
6. Shirt Sizes Can Matter
This one sometimes surprises customers.
Depending on the brand and style of apparel being ordered, extended sizes may cost more from the apparel supplier.
That means a 3XL, 4XL, or larger shirt may have a different base cost than a small through XL.
When this happens, the difference isn’t about the amount of ink or transfer material we’re using. It’s because the blank garment itself costs more.
7. Special Requests and Rush Orders
Custom printing takes time.
We have to prepare artwork, order or prepare garments, produce the transfers, set up the order, press each item, inspect the finished products, and get everything ready for the customer.
If an order needs to be completed much faster than our normal turnaround time, additional costs may apply when we’re able to accommodate it.
Planning ahead is one of the easiest ways to keep your custom apparel order simple.
Why Can’t You Just Put One Price on the Website?
Because custom means custom.
Imagine two customers each asking for 20 shirts.
One wants a basic T-shirt with a small one-color logo on the front.
The other wants a premium shirt with a large full-color design on the front and another large design on the back.
They’re both ordering 20 custom shirts, but they aren’t ordering the same product.
A quote allows us to look at the actual details of your project instead of building unnecessary costs into a one-size-fits-all price.
Cheapest Isn’t Always the Best Value
Price matters. We understand that.
But when comparing custom apparel quotes, make sure you’re comparing more than the number at the bottom.
Consider the garment you’re receiving, the print size, the number of print locations, artwork preparation, customer service, and the overall quality of the finished product.
A cheaper quote isn’t necessarily a better deal if you’re receiving a lower-quality garment or something that isn’t what you expected.
How Can I Get an Accurate Quote?
The more information you provide, the easier it is for us to give you an accurate price.
When requesting a quote from Stonebridge Print Co., it helps to know:
- Approximately how many shirts you need
- The sizes you’ll need
- Your preferred shirt color
- What type of garment you want
- Where you want the design printed
- Whether you already have artwork
- When you need the order
Don’t know all of that yet?
That’s okay.
You don’t have to understand apparel brands, transfer sizes, or printing terminology before contacting us. Tell us what you’re trying to accomplish, and we’ll help you work through the options.
Ready to Price Your Custom Shirts?
Whether you need shirts for your business, employees, event, school, organization, family, or just because you have an idea you’d love to wear, Stonebridge Print Co. is here to help.
Our goal isn’t to make custom printing complicated.
It’s to help you turn your idea into something you’re proud to wear.
Ready to get started? Request a custom quote from Stonebridge Print Co. today.