How Screen Printed T-Shirts are Priced
Not sure where to start with ordering t-shirts for your business? With thousands of brands, styles, ink options and prices, it can become overwhelming in a hurry. This article will breakdown how most companies in the industry price screen printed t-shirts to their customers. Understanding the pricing structure can eliminate confusion, save your company money and help with making branding decisions.
The first factor that affects pricing is how many ink colors you would like on your t-shirts - the more ink colors, the higher the price. Screen printing gets its name because of the mesh screens that are used to produce the products. Ink is pushed through one or many mesh screens, each held by a frame, depending on how many ink colors are used in the design. For each ink color you choose to have on your t-shirts, another screen has to be produced (sometimes two screens for one ink color, but we will keep this conversation simple).
Because each screen takes hours to produce, most print shops have minimum order quantities. For example, our minimum order quantity for screen printing is 12 items. However, we still have printing options with no minimums, such as heat press (a different process with a similar outcome).
Obviously, with more ink colors equaling more money, you may be inclined to settle for fewer colors. Before you do, don’t be afraid to ask about the cost difference - it may not be as much as you think. Additionally, consider your company’s branding and how fewer colors may affect your overall look or design. More colors may really help the shirts to draw attention and “pop!”
Secondly, the type of t-shirt (or tote bag, sweatshirt, etc.) you are printing on, of course, affects the price. Here are three top selling t-shirt styles:
Gildan G800 - loved for its low cost and variety of colors, this 50/50 blend shirt won’t shrink. Just your basic t-shirt.
Bella and Canvas 3001C - available in tons of colors and a nice fitting, super soft cotton, this pre-shrunk beauty is a crowd favorite for a reason, but at a slightly higher price.
Next Level N6210 - this soft shirt is a cotton/polyester blend with great fit, and a slightly heavier weight than the lightweight Bella and Canvas 3001C. This one is a few cents more than the 3001C, but still is considered a reasonably priced t-shirt.
Look for a future blog on customer favorite sweatshirts, hoodies and more.*
When considering the style of t-shirt, consider your audience.
Yes, you can also choose to buy your own t-shirts and bring them to the print shop. However, most printing companies have wholesale accounts with distributors that allow them to purchase t-shirts for less than you may be able to purchase them on your own.
Third, graphic design fees can affect your grand total.
Do you or someone in your organization know graphic design? If so, you can save money by sending over a high-resolution pdf of your artwork.
If not, most print companies employ or know quality graphic design professionals that can help. Though, graphic designers need to eat, too (if you catch my drift). You will likely see a graphic design fee on your bill for their services. Typical graphic design fees for a t-shirt design can range anywhere from $30 to $250 per design. However, if you choose to make a lot of changes on your design, this can increase, depending on the graphic design or printing company you’re using. Often, printing companies will charge less for design work if you’re getting your products printed there too.
It is important not to skimp on quality artwork. Remember, you’ll be wearing and represented by what’s on these for years to come.
Lastly, quantities can affect price. Most companies charge less for buying more.
It’s popular in the printing industry to use a graduated pricing scale. This means: the more you buy, the less you pay per item. For example, we have price breaks at 50, 75, 150, 300, 500 and more. Ask about price breaks and large quantity discounts, especially if buying thousands of t-shirts for your company or event.
12/30/22