At French Press Custom in Santa Fe Springs, DTG printing has no minimum and no setup fee. One black Bella+Canvas 3001 with a full-color front print costs $32.39 before tax, 12 shirts cost $27.39 each, and 50 shirts cost $22.39 each. On a white shirt the same print is $27.39, $22.39 and $19.39.
Every price on this page comes from the same pricing engine as our instant quote calculator, using live supplier blank prices. Prices are per shirt, printed, before tax, for sizes S to XL. Sizes 2XL and up cost more, and we show how much below.
How much does DTG printing cost per shirt?
DTG price depends on four things: how many shirts, whether the shirt is light or dark, how many sides you print, and which blank you pick. Color count does not matter. A one-color logo and a full-color photo cost the same.
Bella+Canvas 3001, price per shirt
| Quantity | White, front only | White, front + back | Black, front only | Black, front + back |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $27.39 | $47.39 | $32.39 | $57.39 |
| 6 | $27.39 | $47.39 | $32.39 | $57.39 |
| 12 | $22.39 | $37.39 | $27.39 | $47.39 |
| 24 | $22.39 | $37.39 | $27.39 | $47.39 |
| 50 | $19.39 | $31.39 | $22.39 | $37.39 |
Gildan Softstyle 64000, price per shirt
| Quantity | White, front only | White, front + back | Black, front only | Black, front + back |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $24.58 | $44.58 | $30.19 | $55.19 |
| 6 | $24.58 | $44.58 | $30.19 | $55.19 |
| 12 | $19.58 | $34.58 | $25.19 | $45.19 |
| 24 | $19.58 | $34.58 | $25.19 | $45.19 |
| 50 | $16.58 | $28.58 | $20.19 | $35.19 |
Prices are per shirt for sizes S to XL, before tax. Sales tax applies to the blank shirt only, not the printing. A single black 3001 with a front print comes to $33.17 with tax. Twelve of them are $328.68 before tax, and 50 are $1,119.50.
Where the price drops
Our DTG print rate steps down at 12, 31 and 51 pieces. That is why 6 shirts cost the same per piece as 1, and 24 cost the same as 12. If you are at 10 or 11 shirts, adding one or two to reach 12 lowers the price on every shirt in the order. At 100 shirts, a black 3001 front print is $17.39 and a white one is $15.39.
2XL and up
Bigger sizes carry a supplier upcharge on the blank. A black 3001 in 2XL with a front print is $35.00 for one, $30.00 each at 12, and $25.00 each at 50. A black 64000 in 2XL is $32.73, $27.73 and $22.73. The calculator prices every size in your mix for you.
Is there a minimum or setup fee for DTG?
No to both. DTG starts at one piece, and our pricing engine charges $0 in setup for DTG. There is no per-order fee or small-order charge in the quote either. The price is the shirt plus the print, and that is the whole number.
That is different from the other methods we run. Screen printing starts at 36 pieces per design, DTF transfers at 12, and embroidery at 24. Our guide to custom shirt minimums by print method lays them all out. If you only need a few shirts, DTG is the method built for it.
Why does a dark shirt cost more?
On a black, navy or other dark shirt, the printer lays down a layer of white ink first so the colors on top stay bright. That white layer is extra ink and an extra step. Our print rate on a dark shirt is $25 per side for 1 to 11 pieces against $20 on a light shirt, and $15 against $12 at 31 to 50 pieces.
A back print is a second full pass, so it is priced as a second print. That is why front + back roughly adds the print rate a second time rather than a small add-on.
Is DTG printing good quality?
Yes, on the right shirt. DTG prints like an inkjet, so gradients, photos, fine lines and many colors all come out the way they look on screen, with no color separation. The ink goes into the fabric, so the print feels soft rather than sitting on top as a thick layer.
The shirt matters most. Both blanks on this page are ring-spun cotton, which gives DTG a smooth surface to print on:
- Bella+Canvas 3001: 4.2 oz, 100% Airlume combed and ring-spun cotton, 32 singles, retail fit. Sizes XS to 5XL, 96 colors in our catalog. (Bella+Canvas 3001)
- Gildan Softstyle 64000: 4.5 oz, 100% ring-spun cotton, 30 singles, modern classic fit. Sizes XS to 5XL, 77 colors. (Gildan 64000)
Specs are from the S&S Activewear catalog descriptions. The Gildan 5000 Heavy Cotton is a sturdier 5.3 oz tee with a coarser 20 singles yarn. It prints fine, but the finer knit of a 3001 or 64000 holds small detail better.
Durability depends on care. With a cold wash inside out and a low dryer, we tell customers to expect 50+ washes with minimal fading, as our DTG printing page explains. We put our own prints through the washer in Is DTG printing good quality? We wash-tested it.
When does screen printing cost less than DTG?
From 36 shirts up, for most designs. Screen printing cannot start below 36 pieces per design, but once you get there, its per-shirt price usually beats DTG. Here is a 3-color front design on both methods, price per shirt before tax:
| Shirt and color | Method | 36 shirts | 50 shirts | 100 shirts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bella+Canvas 3001, white | DTG | $19.39 | $19.39 | $15.39 |
| Bella+Canvas 3001, white | Screen print, 3 colors | $18.05 | $14.90 | $12.43 |
| Bella+Canvas 3001, black | DTG | $22.39 | $22.39 | $17.39 |
| Bella+Canvas 3001, black | Screen print, 3 colors | $19.52 | $15.94 | $13.07 |
| Gildan 64000, white | DTG | $16.58 | $16.58 | $12.58 |
| Gildan 64000, white | Screen print, 3 colors | $15.24 | $12.09 | $9.62 |
| Gildan 64000, black | DTG | $20.19 | $20.19 | $15.19 |
| Gildan 64000, black | Screen print, 3 colors | $17.32 | $13.74 | $10.87 |
Screen print setup is already inside these per-shirt prices, and the black-shirt rows include the white underbase screen we add on dark garments.
The gap opens fast. At 50 black 3001s, it is $15.94 a shirt for screen printing against $22.39 for DTG.
The exception: designs with many colors
Screen printing needs one screen per ink color, so a busy design costs more to set up. With a 6-color front at 36 shirts on a 3001, screen printing is $22.45 on white and $23.91 on black, while DTG stays at $19.39 and $22.39. DTG wins that one. By 50 shirts, screen printing is back ahead at $18.01 on white and $19.05 on black.
So the rule of thumb is simple. Under 36 shirts, DTG. At 36 or more with a design of 1 to 3 colors, screen printing. At 36 to 50 with a photo or a design with many colors, price both. Our screen printing vs DTG page goes deeper on look and feel.
What about DTF?
DTF transfers start at 12 pieces and work on polyester and nylon, where DTG does not bond well. On cotton tees in small runs, DTG is usually the softer print. If you are choosing between the two digital methods, read DTG vs DTF, side by side.
Our take
DTG is the right call for samples, small team or family orders, and brands testing a design before a bigger run. We often print one shirt first so a customer can check the color and fit before ordering the rest, and at $32.39 for a black 3001 that sample costs less than a wrong guess on 50.
One shop-floor detail that saves headaches: check the fabric of the color you pick. On the Gildan 64000, heather colors are 65/35 polyester/cotton, according to the S&S description. We print DTG on 100% cotton or blends that are at least 50% cotton, so for a heather look on DTG, ask us which colors qualify, or pick a solid. On the 3001, Ash is 99/1 cotton/polyester and prints like cotton.
Also send the biggest file you have. DTG prints exactly what you give it, so a small, blurry image comes out small and blurry. Our artwork check will tell you if a file is print-ready.
Ordering from Los Angeles or Orange County
- Where we are. 14130 Rosecrans Ave, Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670, serving Los Angeles and Orange County. Pickup is free, or we ship by UPS or FedEx anywhere in the US.
- Minimum. None for DTG. One shirt is a real order.
- Proof first. Every order gets a free digital proof, and production starts only after your written approval.
- 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.
Price your DTG shirts now, or see our full DTG printing cost guide.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get just one custom shirt printed with DTG?
Yes. DTG has no minimum at French Press Custom. One Bella+Canvas 3001 with a full-color front is $27.39 on white or $32.39 on black, before tax, with no setup fee.
How much does DTG printing cost for 12 shirts?
On a Bella+Canvas 3001, 12 shirts with a front print are $22.39 each on white and $27.39 each on black. On a Gildan Softstyle 64000, they are $19.58 and $25.19. Add a back print and the 3001 goes to $37.39 white or $47.39 black.
How much is DTG for 50 shirts?
A front print on 50 Bella+Canvas 3001 tees is $19.39 each on white and $22.39 each on black, before tax. At 50 shirts, though, a 3-color screen print costs less: $14.90 on white and $15.94 on black.
Is DTG less expensive than screen printing?
Under 36 shirts, DTG is the only one of the two we can run, since screen printing starts at 36 per design. From 36 up, screen printing usually costs less for designs of 1 to 3 colors. For a 6-color design at 36 shirts, DTG still costs less.
Does DTG printing have a setup fee?
No. Our pricing engine charges $0 setup for DTG, and there is no per-order fee. You pay for the shirt and the print.
Why is DTG more expensive on black shirts?
Dark shirts need a layer of white ink under the design so the colors stay bright. Our DTG print rate on a dark shirt is $25 per side for 1 to 11 pieces, against $20 on a white shirt.
How long does DTG printing last?
With a cold wash inside out and a low dryer, expect 50+ washes with minimal fading. Our wash test shows what the print looks like after repeated washes.
