Family Reunion Shirts: Designs, Sizing and Ordering for a Crowd

Family reunion shirts have a specific problem no other group order has: you are buying for toddlers and grandparents at the same time, and both have to want to wear it.

Designs that work across generations

• The family name and year, in a clean bold typeface. Boring is safe here, and safe is right.
• A family tree as simple line art — works better than photographs, which print poorly and date quickly.
• The town or state everyone comes from, drawn as a simple landmark.
• An in-joke that predates everyone under 30. Ask the oldest person present; there is always one.
• The original ancestors' names as a small list on the back.

Avoid dense photo collages. They look fine on screen and turn to mud at chest size, particularly on darker fabric.

Collecting sizes without chaos

Send one message asking for chest measurement, not size letters. People are wrong about their own size and confidently so.

Remember unisex blanks run roomier than women's sizing, and size up one for anyone ordering a hoodie or sweatshirt since those go over another layer. Our size guide has the measuring method.

Print on demand or bulk printer?

• Under 20 people: print on demand. No minimum, no setup fee, mixed sizes at no extra cost, and each shirt can ship to a different address — useful when relatives are scattered.
• Over 25 people, simple design, one delivery address: a screen printer will be cheaper per shirt.

That last point matters more than price for a lot of families. If cousins are in four states, individual shipping beats one box you then have to redistribute.

Timing

Start eight weeks out. Two to three weeks to collect sizes from a large group, four for production and delivery, and a buffer for the two relatives who reply late.

Frequently asked questions

How much do family reunion shirts cost?

$20–25 each for small groups via print on demand, or $7–13 each at 50+ from a screen printer.

Can I ship to different addresses?

With print on demand, yes — place separate orders per household. Bulk printers ship one consignment to one address.

Do kids' sizes cost the same?

Sizing availability varies by supplier. Wearlie's staple tee runs XS to 5XL; check the range on each product page.

How far ahead should I order?

Eight weeks for a large family group.

Start at custom shirts and t-shirts, or read the custom shirts guide.