Custom T-Shirt Printing: How to Choose a Supplier and What It Costs

Custom t-shirt printing suppliers all look similar from the outside and quote wildly different prices for the same job. The difference is almost entirely the printing method, and the right method depends on two things: how many shirts you need and how detailed the design is.

The four methods, in one table

	DTG	Screen print	Vinyl	Embroidery
Minimum order	1	12–24	1	1–6
Setup fee	None	$15–40 per colour	None	$20–60 digitising
Colours	Unlimited	1–6 typical	Limited	Limited
Photo detail	Excellent	Poor	None	None
Cost at 1	$15–30	$50+	$20–35	$25–45
Cost at 100	$15–30	$5–10	$15–25	$18–30

The pattern: screen printing collapses in price with volume, everything else stays flat. They cross at roughly 20–25 shirts.

Choose by your actual job

• 1–15 shirts, any design: DTG print on demand
• 25+ shirts, simple logo: screen printing
• Names and numbers: heat transfer vinyl
• Polos, caps, workwear: embroidery
• Needed this week: local printer with rush service
• No design file yet: a supplier that generates artwork for you

The minimum order trap

Plenty of suppliers advertise "no minimum" and then reintroduce one through fees. Before ordering a small run, ask specifically about:

• Setup or screen fees, charged per colour
• Artwork fees if your file is not print-ready
• Digitising fees for embroidery
• Second-side printing, usually 50–100% of the first side
• Shipping, often free only above a threshold

A $9 shirt with a $35 setup and $12 shipping is $56 for one. Compare total landed cost at your quantity, not the headline price.

Six questions to ask before you pay

1. What is the total cost for exactly the quantity I need, including shipping?
2. What printing method are you using?
3. What is the blank — brand, weight in GSM, cotton or blend?
4. What is the production time, separately from delivery?
5. What happens if the print is faulty?
6. Can I see a sample first, and what does it cost?

Question three matters more than people expect. A supplier who will not name the blank is usually using a cheap one, and the blank is what the customer actually feels.

Turnaround, realistically

Three clocks run: artwork approval, production, then delivery. Domestic printers can manage 3–10 business days end to end with rush options. International print on demand runs 5–7 working days production plus 5–20 working days delivery depending on country.

If your deadline is under two weeks, use a local printer and pay the rush premium. It beats a shirt arriving the day after the event.

Where Wearlie fits

We are a DTG print-on-demand supplier: no minimum, no setup fee, no artwork fee, free worldwide shipping. Printed tees from $19.99, hoodies from $32.84, caps from $19.99, on ring-spun cotton in XS to 5XL.

We are the right choice for 1–15 pieces, for detailed or full-colour designs, and for anyone who has an idea but no design file — describe it in plain English and we generate print-ready artwork at no extra cost.

We are not the right choice for 50 identical shirts with a one-colour logo, for polyester sportswear, or for anything needed inside two weeks. A local screen printer will serve you better and cost less. See the full cost comparison.

Frequently asked questions

How much does custom t-shirt printing cost?

$15–30 per shirt for small quantities via DTG, or $5–10 per shirt at 100+ via screen printing.

What is the best printing method for t-shirts?

DTG for small runs and detailed designs, screen printing for volume and simple designs, vinyl for names and numbers, embroidery for polos and caps.

Can I get one custom t-shirt printed?

Yes, from a DTG print-on-demand supplier. Screen printers usually require 12–24.

How long does custom t-shirt printing take?

Production is typically 3–7 working days, plus delivery. Local printers can rush; international print on demand cannot.

Do I need a design file?

Not with every supplier. Some, including Wearlie, generate print-ready artwork from a written description at no extra charge.