Custom T-Shirts in the UK: Delivery, Duties and Sizing Explained
A cartoon football design printed on a white t-shirt, popular with UK buyers
Ordering custom t-shirts from an international print-on-demand service is usually cheaper than a UK screen printer for small quantities — but only if you understand the delivery window and the duty position before you order. Here's the honest picture.
How long delivery actually takes to the UK
Two separate clocks. Production takes 5–7 working days, because nothing exists until you order it. Delivery to the UK then takes a further 7–14 working days.
In practice that means three to four weeks door to door. If you need shirts for something happening in ten days, use a UK printer with a rush service and accept the higher price.
Import duty and VAT
This is the part people get caught by. Goods entering the UK from outside can attract import VAT and, above certain thresholds, customs duty. These charges are set by HMRC, not by the retailer, and they're the customer's responsibility.
For a single t-shirt the amount is usually small or nil, but it's worth knowing it can happen rather than being surprised by a carrier handling fee on the doorstep. If certainty on landed cost matters more than price, a UK-based printer avoids the question entirely.
UK sizing versus unisex sizing
Most custom t-shirts are printed on American unisex blanks, which are cut differently from UK high-street sizing.
- Unisex blanks are cut on a men's block — straighter through the body, wider at the shoulder
- If you normally buy UK women's sizes, the same nominal size will feel noticeably roomier
- Many people who wear a UK women's 12 prefer a unisex small rather than a medium
Ignore the letter on the label and compare chest measurements instead. Measure a t-shirt you already own: lay it flat, measure armpit to armpit, double it. Full method in our size guide.
Cost compared with a UK printer
Rough guide for a detailed, full-color design:
- 1–5 shirts: print on demand wins clearly. A UK screen printer's setup fee alone often exceeds the total cost of the shirts.
- 12–25 shirts: roughly even. Depends on how many colors are in the design.
- 25+ shirts: a UK screen printer wins on both price and speed.
When to use a UK printer instead
Use a local printer if you need shirts inside two weeks, you're ordering more than about 25, you need an exact Pantone-matched corporate logo, or you want zero uncertainty about duty. We'd rather say that plainly than take an order we're the wrong fit for.
Frequently asked questions
How long do custom t-shirts take to arrive in the UK?
Around three to four weeks in total — 5–7 working days production plus 7–14 working days delivery.
Will I pay customs charges on a custom t-shirt?
Possibly. Import VAT and duty are set by HMRC and are the customer's responsibility. On a single shirt the amount is usually small.
Is shipping to the UK free?
At Wearlie, yes — shipping is free worldwide with no minimum spend. Duty, where it applies, is separate.
What size should I order if I wear UK sizes?
Compare chest measurements rather than letter sizes. Unisex blanks run roomier than UK women's sizing.
Can I order just one shirt to the UK?
Yes. Print on demand has no minimum order.
Browse custom shirts and t-shirts, or read the full custom shirts guide.
