At French Press Custom in Santa Fe Springs, a custom crewneck usually costs less than the matching hoodie. 50 black Gildan 18000 crewnecks with a 1-color screen printed front are $21.83 each; the same print on the Gildan 18500 hoodie is $29.47. In five of six matched pairs the hoodie costs $2.03 to $12.17 more per piece.
Every price on this page comes from the same pricing engine as our quote calculator, per piece, before sales tax, sizes S to XL. Screen print setup is inside the per-piece price; embroidery adds a $45 digitizing fee once per design. For hoodie prices alone, see our custom hoodie cost guide. This page is about choosing between the two.
How much more does a hoodie cost than a crewneck?
We priced six crewnecks next to the hoodie from the same fabric family, each with a 1-color screen printed front on black (Comfort Colors on Pepper, because it has no black). The decoration price is identical on both garments, so the whole gap is the blank.
| Pair (crewneck / hoodie) | Crewneck, 50 pcs | Hoodie, 50 pcs | Hoodie costs this much more |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gildan 18000 / Gildan 18500 | $21.83 | $29.47 | $7.64 |
| Hanes P160 / Hanes P170 | $21.83 | $29.47 | $7.64 |
| Independent SS3000 / Independent SS4500 | $28.10 | $30.13 | $2.03 |
| Lane Seven LS14004 / Lane Seven LS14001 | $25.27 | $24.22 | $1.05 less |
| Independent IND3000 / Independent IND4000 | $33.96 | $40.26 | $6.30 |
| Comfort Colors 1566 / Comfort Colors 1567 (Pepper) | $44.11 | $56.28 | $12.17 |
Two results stand out. At current catalog prices the Lane Seven Premium crewneck is $1.05 more than the Lane Seven Premium hoodie, so a crew is not automatically the lower-priced pick. Blank prices follow the supplier catalog and can change, so check the calculator for today's number. And the Independent pair is only $2.03 apart, so if you like the SS4500 hoodie, its SS3000 crew saves very little. The gap stays the same at 100 pieces (for example $19.77 vs $27.41 on the Gildan pair), because the volume discount applies to the print, not the blank.
For a 50-piece order, the Gildan gap adds up: 50 crewnecks come to $1,091.50 before tax and 50 hoodies to $1,473.50.
Crewneck and hoodie prices at 24, 50 and 100
Screen printing starts at 36 pieces per design, so at 24 pieces the printed price below is a full-color DTG front, which has no minimum. From 50 pieces it is a 1-color screen print.
Printed
| Garment | 24 pcs, DTG front | 50 pcs, 1-color screen print | 100 pcs, 1-color screen print |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gildan 18000 crew | $35.36 | $21.83 | $19.77 |
| Gildan 18500 hoodie | $43.00 | $29.47 | $27.41 |
| Independent SS3000 crew | $41.63 | $28.10 | $26.04 |
| Independent SS4500 hoodie | $43.66 | $30.13 | $28.07 |
| Lane Seven LS14004 crew | $38.80 | $25.27 | $23.21 |
| Lane Seven LS14001 hoodie | $37.75 | $24.22 | $22.16 |
| Comfort Colors 1566 crew (Pepper) | $57.64 | $44.11 | $42.05 |
| Comfort Colors 1567 hoodie (Pepper) | $69.81 | $56.28 | $54.22 |
Embroidered left chest (up to 5,000 stitches)
| Garment | 24 pcs | 50 pcs | 100 pcs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gildan 18000 crew | $24.99 + $45 once | $23.24 + $45 once | $21.92 + $45 once |
| Gildan 18500 hoodie | $32.63 + $45 once | $30.88 + $45 once | $29.56 + $45 once |
| Independent SS3000 crew | $31.26 + $45 once | $29.51 + $45 once | $28.19 + $45 once |
| Independent SS4500 hoodie | $33.29 + $45 once | $31.54 + $45 once | $30.22 + $45 once |
| Lane Seven LS14004 crew | $28.43 + $45 once | $26.68 + $45 once | $25.36 + $45 once |
| Lane Seven LS14001 hoodie | $27.38 + $45 once | $25.63 + $45 once | $24.31 + $45 once |
| Comfort Colors 1566 crew (Pepper) | $47.27 + $45 once | $45.52 + $45 once | $44.20 + $45 once |
| Comfort Colors 1567 hoodie (Pepper) | $59.44 + $45 once | $57.69 + $45 once | $56.37 + $45 once |
Embroidery starts at 24 pieces per design. Spread over 24 pieces, the $45 digitizing fee brings the embroidered Gildan 18000 to $26.86 per crew. We keep the stitch file, so a reorder of the same logo has no digitizing charge.
A few more numbers buyers ask about:
- White instead of black. Light garments skip the white underbase screen. 50 white Gildan 18000s with a 1-color print are $17.11, against $21.83 on black.
- Front and back. A 1-color front plus 1-color back on 50 black Gildan 18000s is $27.52. On the 18500 hoodie it is $35.16.
Sizes 2XL and up cost more on hoodies
Big sizes carry a supplier upcharge, and on most pairs it is larger on the hoodie, because a hoodie uses more fabric. At 50 pieces with a 1-color print:
| Garment | Size L | Size 2XL | 2XL adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gildan 18000 crew | $21.83 | $24.45 | $2.62 |
| Gildan 18500 hoodie | $29.47 | $34.83 | $5.36 |
| Independent SS3000 crew | $28.10 | $34.31 | $6.21 |
| Independent SS4500 hoodie | $30.13 | $37.45 | $7.32 |
| Comfort Colors 1566 crew | $44.11 | $50.08 | $5.97 |
| Comfort Colors 1567 hoodie | $56.28 | $68.62 | $12.34 |
The calculator prices every size in your run, so enter your real size split. The Lane Seven LS14004 crew is the outlier: its 2XL adds only $0.11.
Is the fabric different?
Within each pair, no. Each crewneck in this list is cut from the same fleece as its hoodie, per the S&S Activewear catalog listings:
| Pair | Weight | Blend | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gildan 18000 / 18500 | 8 oz/yd² | 50/50 cotton/polyester | Heavy Blend, 1x1 rib with spandex, classic fit |
| Hanes P160 / P170 | 8 oz/yd² | 50/50 cotton/polyester | EcoSmart, low-pill PrintPro XP fabric, classic fit |
| Independent SS3000 / SS4500 | 8.5 oz/yd² | 80/20 cotton/polyester | 100% cotton face on solid colors, classic fit |
| Lane Seven LS14004 / LS14001 | 8.25 oz/yd² | 80/20 cotton/recycled polyester | 3-end fleece, 100% cotton face, regular fit |
| Independent IND3000 / IND4000 | 10 oz/yd² | 70/30 ring-spun cotton/polyester | 3-end fleece, 100% cotton face on solids, generous fit |
| Comfort Colors 1566 / 1567 | 9.5 oz/yd² | 80/20 ring-spun cotton/polyester | Garment dyed, 3-end heavyweight fleece, relaxed fit |
So the warmth through the body is the same. What the hoodie adds is the hood, the drawcords and the front pouch pocket. Heather and specialty colors can use a different blend from the solids, so check the color you pick. A 100% cotton face gives a print a smoother surface, which matters most for fine detail and DTG. Comfort Colors says its garment-dyed styles have minimal shrinkage; we looked at how its tees behave in do Comfort Colors shirts shrink.
Which should you pick: crewneck or hoodie?
Pick a crewneck when
- The budget is tight and the logo is simple. On the Gildan and Hanes pairs a crew saves $7.64 a piece.
- It will be worn indoors or under a jacket. Office teams, front desk staff and anyone layering under a work jacket or vest. A crew sits flat under a collar; a hood bunches.
- You want a bigger front print. A crewneck front has no pouch pocket or drawcords in the way, so there is more open space for a tall front graphic.
- The look is collegiate or retro. Arched varsity lettering and club names sit naturally on a crew.
Pick a hoodie when
- People work or gather outdoors. Field crews, coaches, early morning events. The hood is the point.
- It is merch you are selling. Hoodies are a merch table staple and carry a big back print well.
- You want puff or a streetwear look. Puff ink on fleece is the classic streetwear look. See our puff and specialty inks.
Quick guide
| Your situation | Better pick |
|---|---|
| Office or client-facing team, embroidered logo | Crewneck |
| Field crew, outdoor staff, cold mornings | Hoodie |
| Lowest price for 50 or more with a 1-color logo | Crewneck (Gildan 18000 or Hanes P160) |
| Large front graphic | Crewneck |
| Merch to sell, big back print | Hoodie |
| Mixed group, split preferences | Both: same logo, two designs |
Many groups order both. For screen printing, garments with the same logo count together toward the 36-piece minimum: 20 black Gildan 18000 crews and 16 black 18500 hoodies with one 1-color logo price at $24.56 per crew and $32.20 per hoodie, $1,006.40 before tax for all 36. Ordered with different logos, each would fall short of 36. Embroidery is 24 per design, and DTG has no minimum. Comparing hoodie brands? Our best hoodie blanks guide covers the SS4500, 18500 and Lane Seven LS14001 in detail.
Our take
On a black or dark crewneck, every screen print gets a white underbase screen so your ink stays bright, and the quote adds it automatically. That is why the white 18000 is $17.11 and the black one $21.83 at 50 pieces. If your logo works in a dark ink, a light crew is the lowest price on this page.
For embroidery on fleece, we keep dense fills under control at digitizing so the logo lies flat instead of dimpling the fabric. On a crewneck the chest is a clean, flat area with nothing to stitch around, which is one reason embroidered crews are popular for office teams. More on stitching fleece on our hoodie and sweatshirt embroidery page and in the embroidery cost guide.
Ordering from Los Angeles or Orange County
- Where we are. 14130 Rosecrans Ave, Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670, serving Los Angeles and Orange County.
- Minimums. DTG none, DTF 12, embroidery 24, screen printing 36 pieces per design.
- Timing. About 2-3 weeks after art approval. Rush available depending on the schedule. Tell us your date.
- Contact. Mon-Fri 8am-4pm PT, (562) 407-3800, sales@frenchpresscustom.com.
Every order gets a free digital proof, and production starts only after your written approval. Pickup is free at our Santa Fe Springs shop, local delivery is available for a fee added to the estimate, or we ship by UPS or FedEx. Price crewnecks or embroidered hoodies in the calculator, or see custom hoodies in Los Angeles and screen printing.
Frequently asked questions
Does a crewneck sweatshirt cost less than a hoodie?
Usually. At French Press Custom, 50 black Gildan 18000 crews with a 1-color print are $21.83 each against $29.47 for the 18500 hoodie. But the Lane Seven LS14004 crew is $1.05 more than its LS14001 hoodie, so compare the exact styles.
How much does a custom crewneck sweatshirt cost?
A black Gildan 18000 crew is $35.36 with a full-color DTG front at 24 pieces, $21.83 with a 1-color screen print at 50, and $19.77 at 100. Prices are per piece before tax, sizes S to XL.
Are crewnecks and hoodies made from the same fabric?
In matched pairs, yes. The Gildan 18000 and 18500 are both 8 oz 50/50 cotton/polyester fleece, and the Independent SS3000 and SS4500 are both 8.5 oz 80/20. The hoodie adds the hood, drawcords and pocket.
How much does it cost to embroider a crewneck?
A left-chest logo up to 5,000 stitches on a black Gildan 18000 is $24.99 per crew at 24 pieces and $21.92 at 100, plus a $45 digitizing fee once per design.
Can I order crewnecks and hoodies with the same logo in one order?
Yes. For screen printing the same logo counts together toward the 36-piece minimum, so 20 Gildan 18000 crews and 16 18500 hoodies qualify at $24.56 and $32.20 each. Embroidery needs 24 per design, and DTG has no minimum.
Do bigger sizes cost more on a hoodie than on a crewneck?
On most pairs, yes. At 50 pieces a 2XL adds $2.62 on the Gildan 18000 crew and $5.36 on the 18500 hoodie.
Is a crewneck or hoodie better for a company?
For office and client-facing teams, an embroidered crewneck layers well and costs less. For outdoor crews a hoodie is usually the better gift, and many companies order both.
