Screen printing cost comes down to the garment, the quantity, and the artwork we are printing. A one-color front on 72 tees is a different order from front-and-back graphics on 36 hoodies. Start with the full order total and what it includes.
At Imprint, our screen printing minimum is 36 pieces per design. Send the quantity you need, the garment you have in mind, and your artwork. We will review the print details and quote the actual order.
Check whether the garment is included
A price for printing alone cannot be compared directly with a price for finished shirts. Some price sheets cover decoration on garments the customer supplies. Others include the blank garment. Screen setup, additional locations, tax, and delivery or shipping may be listed separately.
When comparing quotes, put the same details next to each other:
The exact garment brand, style, color, and sizes.
The number of finished pieces, grouped by design.
The print locations and artwork for each location.
Screen setup and any other fees.
The total, including applicable tax and any delivery or shipping charge.
Divide that complete total by the quantity to see what each finished piece costs. Keep the total in view too: a lower price per shirt can still mean spending more on an order you do not need.
A hypothetical example: subtotal and price per shirt
Suppose you are comparing a quote for 72 identical white tees with a one-color screen print on the front. All 72 use the same artwork and print size, with sizes split across the run. There is no back or sleeve print.
Every dollar amount below is made up to show the math. This is not an Imprint quote, starting price or estimate.
Illustrative item | Assumed amount | Subtotal |
|---|---|---|
Garments | 72 × $6.00 | $432.00 |
One-color front printing | 72 × $3.00 | $216.00 |
One setup charge | 1 × $36.00 | $36.00 |
Illustration subtotal | $684.00 |
For this illustration, $684 ÷ 72 = $9.50 per shirt before any applicable tax and delivery or shipping charges. No separate artwork or rush fee is assumed here. Add any applicable charges to the total before calculating a final all-in amount per shirt.
Your actual quote may combine garments, printing and setup into one per-piece price. Check what is included so you count each charge once. The garment and artwork review determines the real quote.
What changes the price per shirt?
The garment
A basic tee, a heavier retail tee, and a hoodie start at different prices before printing. Size and color options can also affect the garment price or availability. If the budget is tight, ask for another garment option with the same artwork so you can see what that choice changes.
The quantity
Artwork preparation and press setup happen before the run. More pieces spread that preparation across a larger order. For a useful comparison, ask us to quote two quantities using the same garment and print details.
The ink colors and locations
Additional ink colors add production work. A second print location adds another part of the job. Screen setup is one part of the quote; printing more colors also affects the work done throughout the run.
You do not need to count the ink colors yourself before contacting us. Send the artwork. We will check it against the garment color and the result you want.
A close look at a DMG School Project shirt. The artwork and garment color are reviewed together before pricing.
A one-color front and a two-color back are two locations
That order includes one print setup on the front and another on the back. The back has its own artwork and two ink colors to print. Describing it only as a “three-color shirt” leaves out where those colors go.
For a clear quote, write “one-color front, two-color back” and send both designs. Include the approximate print size if you know it. That gives us the right starting point for reviewing the screens and printing involved.
Dark garments can also change how we build the print. Depending on the artwork and ink coverage, a white base layer or another print pass may be needed. The production plan should be checked before the price is confirmed. Ryonet explains the different approaches to printing on dark garments.
How to bring the order closer to your budget
Give us your target budget before you spend time changing the design. We can compare choices that make sense for the actual job:
Compare garments: keep the print the same and price a different tee or hoodie.
Compare placements: see the difference between one location and front-and-back printing.
Review the artwork: a simpler ink palette may help when it still gives you the design you want.
Plan a useful quantity: include genuine staff or event needs together when they share a compatible design and setup.
Ask to see the new total after a change. Buying extra pieces only to reach a cheaper rate is useful when you will actually use those pieces.
What if you need fewer than 36?
Tell us the quantity you need. We can review DTF apparel printing for smaller orders or detailed artwork. We apply the print to the garments and confirm the finished-order price.
There is no single quantity where one method is always cheaper. The artwork, garment, print size, locations, and quantity need to be compared together. If both methods suit your order, we can explain the options with the quote.
Get a quote you can actually plan around
Send the garment style and color, quantity and size breakdown, artwork for each location, and the date you need the order in hand. If you are still choosing a garment, tell us what it will be used for and your budget.
Standard screen printing takes 10–14 business days after mockup approval and payment. Rush availability, the completion date, and any rush fee must be confirmed for the order.
Request your quote with those details. We will help work through the garments and printing so you can review the full price before moving ahead.
Have something in mind?
Tell us what you’re making. We’ll help work out the garments, artwork, and next step.