Custom Shirt Pricing FAQ — What Does Custom Apparel Printing Cost?

Custom Shirt Pricing FAQ — What Does Custom Apparel Cost?

Custom apparel pricing is genuinely complex — it depends on print method, quantity, number of colors, garment choice, and print locations. This page explains how pricing works honestly, so you understand what drives cost before you ask for a quote.

Main Street Shirt Company offers screen printing, DTF printing, and embroidery. We quote based on your actual order, not generic price sheets.

Why Doesn’t Custom Apparel Have Simple Pricing?

Custom apparel pricing isn’t like buying a product off a shelf because every order is different. The variables that affect price include:

  • Print method — Screen printing, DTF, and embroidery each have different cost structures
  • Quantity — More pieces = lower per-unit cost for screen printing; less impact with DTF
  • Number of ink colors — Each color adds a screen in screen printing; doesn’t affect DTF cost
  • Number of print locations — Front only vs. front + back vs. sleeve adds are each priced separately
  • Garment choice — A Gildan Softstyle and a Comfort Colors shirt have meaningfully different blank costs
  • Size run — 2XL and above typically carry a $2–3 upcharge per garment

Screen Printing Pricing: How It Works

What makes screen printing cheaper at higher quantities?

Screen printing has a fixed setup cost (making screens, mixing ink, configuring the press) that is the same regardless of how many shirts you print. On a 12-shirt run, that setup cost represents a large fraction of the total. On a 100-shirt run, it’s negligible. This is why the per-shirt price drops significantly as quantity increases.

Typical screen printing price ranges

Rough ballpark ranges for a standard one-location, 1-color screen print on a Gildan Softstyle t-shirt:

  • 12–23 pieces: higher per-unit cost due to setup
  • 24–47 pieces: meaningful drop in per-unit price
  • 48–71 pieces: further reduction
  • 72+ pieces: significantly lower per-unit cost
  • 144+ pieces: most efficient tier for large runs

Adding colors, additional print locations, or dark garments (which require an underbase) increases the price. Contact us for an exact quote based on your specific order.

Does adding a back print double the price?

No — but it does add to the price. A back print requires an additional screen setup and press pass for each color in the back design. The garment cost is the same; the decoration cost increases. For a simple front + back, expect the print cost to be 1.5x to 2x a front-only print depending on the back design complexity.

DTF Pricing: How It Works

How is DTF printing priced?

DTF pricing is based primarily on the print area (size of the transfer) and quantity. Color count does not affect DTF pricing — a full-color photo print costs the same as a single-color design at the same size. This makes DTF predictable and efficient for small runs with complex artwork.

Is DTF cheaper than screen printing?

For small quantities (under 12 pieces) and complex artwork, DTF is typically more cost-effective. For larger quantities with simple designs, screen printing is usually cheaper per piece. The break-even point varies by order — see our full DTF vs. Screen Printing comparison for guidance.

Embroidery Pricing: How It Works

How is embroidery priced?

Embroidery pricing is based on stitch count — the number of stitches the design requires. A simple 5,000-stitch left-chest logo costs less than a complex 25,000-stitch design. Pricing also includes a one-time digitizing fee for new artwork. Contact us for a stitch count estimate and quote on your specific design.

Garment Cost: How Blank Choice Affects Price

What is the cheapest shirt option?

Gildan Heavy Cotton and Gildan Softstyle are the most economical blank options. They produce good print results and are widely used for event shirts, fundraisers, and large-volume orders where cost per unit matters most.

What is the cost difference between Gildan and Comfort Colors?

Comfort Colors blanks typically cost $3–6 more per piece than comparable Gildan blanks. For a 100-shirt order, that’s a meaningful difference. Whether the upgrade is worth it depends on your audience and budget — Comfort Colors has a significantly softer feel and a more premium look that may justify the cost for some applications.

How much do 2XL and larger sizes cost?

Most garments in 2XL and above carry a $2 per-piece upcharge on the blank cost due to additional fabric. This is standard across the industry and applies across virtually all brands.

Spirit Store Retail Pricing

Main Street Shirt Company’s spirit store retail prices reflect the print method, garment, and margin needed to sustain the spirit store program. Typical retail price ranges on our stores:

  • T-shirts: $20–$25 (S–XL)
  • Long sleeve tees: $25–$30
  • Crewneck sweatshirts: $30–$42
  • Hoodies: $35–$55
  • Caps and beanies: $18–$22

How to Get an Accurate Quote

The most accurate way to get a price is to contact us with:

  1. The item(s) you want (t-shirt, hoodie, cap, etc.)
  2. Your estimated quantity and size breakdown
  3. Your artwork or a description of it (how many colors, what style)
  4. How many print locations (front, back, sleeve)
  5. Your deadline

Email info@mainstreetshirtcompany.com and we’ll respond with a specific quote.