Why Prices Look So Different
Get three quotes for the same custom shirt order and you might see prices ranging from $8/shirt to $25/shirt. That range is real — and it's not random. Here's what's behind it.
The Biggest Price Drivers
1. Number of Print Colors
Screen printing uses one screen per color. More colors = more screens = higher setup cost. A one-color print is always cheaper than a four-color print, even for the same shirt.
Typical color pricing:
- 1 color: baseline
- 2 colors: +15–25%
- 3–4 colors: +30–50%
- Full color (digital/DTG): priced differently — often higher for small runs, can be competitive at scale
2. Print Locations
Front only is cheapest. Front + back doubles the screen count. A left-chest logo plus a full back design plus a sleeve hit is three separate setups.
3. Quantity
Setup cost is fixed. The more shirts you print, the lower the per-piece price. Printing 24 shirts has the same setup cost as 240 shirts — spread over 240 pieces, the per-shirt price drops significantly.
Example (1-color, front only):
| Quantity | Per shirt |
|---|---|
| 24 | ~$14 |
| 48 | ~$11 |
| 100 | ~$9 |
| 250 | ~$7 |
4. Shirt Quality
A $4 blank and a $12 blank print the same. But they don't feel or fit the same. Cheap blanks work for one-time events. For staff uniforms or retail, pay for the better blank.
How We Compare to Competitors
What to Watch in Quotes
- Does the price include setup fees? Some shops charge $25–$50 per screen on top of the per-shirt price. We include setup.
- Is the mockup free? We send a proof before production at no charge.
- What's the minimum? Our minimum is 24 shirts. Some shops require 48 or 72.
Our Pricing
Use our quote builder for an instant, all-in price — setup included, no surprises.