How custom merch pricing works

Start with the budget and the brief

Most clients come to us with a budget. We work backward from either a total order amount or a per-piece target, including whether that budget covers shipping. Share your quantity, garment idea, artwork, and in-hands date, and we can make a useful recommendation.

1. 01

   Share the target

   Send your quantity, in-hands date, decoration idea, and either a total budget or per-piece target. Let us know whether shipping is included.

2. 02

   Compare the right tradeoffs

   We match the garment, decoration, and quantity to the goal, then recommend the best quality that fits the budget you set.

3. 03

   Approve a written quote

   You receive the selected specification and total before production starts, so you can make the call with the full order in view.

Small-run examples

Minimums apply per design and color. For example, 3 black shirts plus 3 white shirts meets the minimum. A split of 2 black plus 1 white does not.

These examples show what to specify when requesting a written quote. Delivery and applicable tax depend on the destination.

Compare written quotes line by line

Ask each supplier to show what is included in the total. A lower per-piece figure can leave out costs or use a different garment, print size, or deadline.

• All quoted fees and the decoration locations
• Shipping, plus tax if it applies to your delivery
• Garment brand, style, color, and size mix
• Possible extended-size surcharges
• Artwork, print method, colors, and coverage
• Proof approval date and delivery deadline

Quantity breaks

Larger runs can lower the per-piece price because setup is spread across more items, but the total can still rise. Compare both numbers against your budget.

• 3 pcs
• 12 pcs
• 25 pcs
• 50 pcs
• 100 pcs
• 250 pcs
• 500 pcs

What moves the price

Six things set the number on a custom apparel quote. Each one below says what it does to the price, what pushes it up, and what brings it back down, so you can decide where your budget goes before you ask for a quote.

• Quantity

  Changes the total and often the per-piece cost

  More pieces usually increase the full order total. They can also lower the per-piece cost when a decoration method or supplier has volume pricing, so compare both figures on the written quote.

  Costs more

  Splitting the order across designs or colors. Each design and color needs at least 3 pieces.

  Costs less

  Consolidating into one design and one color, or stepping up to the next break when you will actually use the extra pieces.

• Garment

  Usually the largest single line item

  Brand, fabric weight, fit, and color set the blank cost before anything is decorated. Tees run from about 140 GSM lightweight to 255 heavyweight, and fleece from about 215 GSM up to 500.

  Costs more

  Heavyweight 470-500 GSM fleece, specialty fits, or custom Pantone garment dye (a 500-piece manufacturing program).

  Costs less

  A 330 GSM midweight hoodie instead of 500 GSM fleece, or a crewneck instead of a hoodie. Heavier is not automatically better for the use.

• Decoration method

  Changes what the artwork needs and how cost can scale

  Screen printing can suit simple artwork at higher quantities. DTG and DTF can suit detailed, full-color artwork and smaller runs. Embroidery pricing is influenced by the artwork and stitch count. Your quote confirms the method for the actual garment and design.

  Costs more

  Many ink colors on a short run, or dense, large embroidery on every piece.

  Costs less

  Matching method to run: few colors at quantity goes to screen print, full-color art in small numbers goes to DTG or DTF.

• Artwork

  Changes the decoration work

  Print locations are the places a design appears, such as the left chest or back. More locations, larger coverage, more ink colors, and denser embroidery can change the quote.

  Costs more

  Front, back, and sleeve on the same garment; large full-coverage graphics; dense stitch fills.

  Costs less

  Dropping a secondary location, cutting ink colors, or simplifying embroidery density, which lowers price more reliably than shrinking the logo.

• Timeline

  Standard production costs the least

  Decorated orders run 2 to 2.5 weeks after order confirmation and payment, finalized artwork, and all order details are received, through arrival. Blank-only orders run 1-2 weeks. Rush options can be available in 1 to 5 business days, subject to blank availability and the approved artwork.

  Costs more

  A short deadline can require rush production or expedited shipping, when those options are available.

  Costs less

  Sharing the in-hands date early and sending vector art (AI, EPS, SVG, vector PDF) or a 300 DPI PNG at print size.

• Delivery

  Sits outside the per-piece price

  Shipping depends on the destination, weight, box count, and service level. Individual kitting or delivery to several addresses can also affect the quote.

  Costs more

  Multiple destinations, individually packed and labeled kits, residential delivery addresses.

  Costs less

  One bulk delivery to a single address, distributed internally from there.

How each decoration method is priced

Each method prepares and applies artwork differently. Screen printing can become more economical per piece as a run grows. Digital printing can be practical for detailed artwork or smaller runs. Compare the complete quote for your design and quantity.

Swipe to see every column

The method is confirmed on your written quote against the actual artwork. If two methods both work, we quote the one that fits your quantity and budget better. Screen printing vs DTG and embroidery vs screen printing go deeper.