How Much Do Custom Shirts Cost?
What actually drives the price of custom shirts — quantity, colors, garment, and method — plus practical ways to lower your per-shirt cost.
6 min read · Updated July 10, 2026
The honest answer to “how much do custom shirts cost?” is “it depends” — but on a small, predictable set of things. Once you know the four levers, you can estimate your order and, more usefully, bring the price down.
The four things that set the price
Custom apparel pricing comes down to four factors, and understanding them tells you almost everything:
- Quantity — more shirts means a lower price each, especially with screen printing.
- Colors & complexity — each screen-print color adds setup; full-color art leans to DTF/DTG.
- Garment — a premium ringspun tee costs more than a basic blank.
- Method & placement — extra print locations (front + back + sleeve) add cost.
Why quantity matters so much
With screen printing, the setup work happens once and is then spread across every shirt in the run. At the 36-piece minimum each shirt still carries a slice of that setup; at two hundred they barely feel it. That is why the per-shirt price falls as the order grows — and why bumping up to the next quantity break can lower the cost per shirt more than you would expect.
For a single shirt, DTF skips the setup entirely; for a small batch, DTF or DTG is usually the better value.
No setup fees, no surprises
At TeeRabbit there are no setup fees and no hidden charges — the price you are quoted is the price you pay. Send us your design, quantity, garment preference, and how many print locations you want, and you will get a free, itemized quote, usually back within one business hour.
Practical ways to lower your cost
A few levers that reliably help:
- Order a few more — round up to the next price break.
- Simplify colors — fewer screen-print colors, lower setup.
- Print one location — front-only instead of front + back.
- Ask about garment swaps — we can suggest a comparable blank for less.
- Price is driven by quantity, colors, garment, and print locations.
- Screen printing gets cheaper per shirt as quantity rises.
- No setup fees or hidden charges — the quote is the price.
- Fewer colors, more quantity, and one location all lower cost.
Quick answers.
How much does it cost to print custom shirts?
It depends on the quantity, the number of colors, the garment, and the decoration method — and the per-piece price drops as quantity grows. There are no setup fees. Send your details for a free, itemized quote, usually back within one business hour.
How can I make custom shirts cheaper?
Order a few more to reach the next price break, keep the design to fewer colors, print one location instead of two, and ask us about a comparable lower-cost garment. We are happy to suggest options.
Are there setup or hidden fees?
No. TeeRabbit does not charge setup fees, and the price you are quoted is the price you pay.
Ready to put this to work?
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