Blank Guide & Live Pricing
Custom Printed Hanes 5280 Essential-T Cotton T-Shirt
The Hanes 5280 Essential-T is a no-nonsense 100% cotton tee at one of the lowest blank prices in the catalog. It is the Hanes answer to the Gildan 5000, and a solid pick for giveaways, volunteer shirts and large events.
The Hanes 5280 blank runs $4.39 per piece through our live S&S Activewear catalog at our standard markup, before decoration. Screen printing starts at 36 pieces (about $7.73 per piece for a 1-color print at 36 pieces), DTG has no minimum, and every order includes a free digital proof.
Hanes 5280, from the live S&S Activewear catalog
Get a quote on the Hanes 5280
Hanes
5280 · Hanes 5280 Essential-T Cotton T-Shirt
Blank from $4.39 per piece
Printed, per piece · 1-color front
DTG has no minimum: from $19.39/pc at 12 pcsQuote DTGLive figures: the blank at the current wholesale catalog price with our standard markup, plus decoration from the pricing engine, one location, before tax. Size upcharges apply on extended sizes; your exact quantity, colors and sizes price in the calculator.
The Blank
Hanes 5280 Specs at a Glance
| Fabric | 100% U.S.-grown cotton, pre-shrunk (Ash 99/1; Light Steel 90/10; Charcoal Heather and Safety colors 50/50; Oxford Grey 60/40 cotton/polyester) |
|---|---|
| Weight | 5 oz/yd², 22 singles (heathers and Ash 20 singles) |
| Fit | Classic fit, set-in 1x1 ribbed crewneck, quarter-turned body |
| Sizes | S through 5XL (live from the S&S catalog) |
| Colors | 46 colorways in stock through S&S Activewear |
| Best methods | Screen printing (bold spot-color designs) |
| Blank price | From $4.39 per piece (live wholesale catalog price at our standard markup, before decoration; size upcharges apply on extended sizes) |
For runs where the budget decides the quantity, the 5280 keeps the blank cost down while staying 100% cotton on solid colors. It is pre-shrunk and quarter-turned, so there is no center crease running through a front print.
At 5 oz it is a touch lighter than the Gildan 5000, which many wearers find more comfortable in warm weather.
Decoration
Which Decoration Method Works Best on the Hanes 5280?
Screen printing
The best fit. Bold 1-3 color designs print crisp on the cotton face, and at larger quantities the combined blank and print price is among the lowest we offer.
DTG
Fine on white and light solid colors for small runs (DTG has no minimum), but a ring-spun blank gives sharper full-color detail.
Watch out for
Heathers, Light Steel, Oxford Grey and safety colors contain polyester and will not discharge. For a premium retail feel, step up to a ring-spun tee like the Tultex 202.
Pricing
How Much Does It Cost to Print the Hanes 5280?
Two parts: the blank (from $4.39 per piece, live catalog price) plus decoration from the tiers below. A 48-piece run with a 1-color front print works out around $11.95 per piece before tax, with the screen already inside that figure rather than billed on top.
| Quantity | Per piece (1 color to 3 colors) |
|---|---|
| 36-49 pieces | $7.73 - $10.00/pc |
| 50-99 pieces | $5.43 - $7.04/pc |
| 100-199 pieces | $3.77 - $4.71/pc |
| 200-449 pieces | $2.77 - $3.35/pc |
| 450-999 pieces | $2.17 - $2.55/pc |
| 1000+ pieces | $1.43 - $1.66/pc |
| Under 36 pieces | $12.00 - $25.00/pc DTG (no minimum, no setup fee) |
Minimum 36 pieces. Prices are per piece, decoration only. Blank garment is additional and priced from live wholesale catalogs.
Screen setup is built into the per-piece price: one screen per ink color, plus one more for the white underbase on dark garments, spread across your run, so there is no separate setup line. More colors mean more screens, which is why color count moves the per-piece price and why the same design prices lower on a bigger run. Runs of 24 pieces or fewer also carry film and press setup, included the same way. We keep your artwork on file, so reorders are quick, and a repeat of the same design carries no setup, so it prices lower per piece.
Range shown is a 1-color to 3-color print, one location, with the screens already included. Each additional location is priced separately.
Decoration rates shown are for screen printing this blank; DTG and other methods are priced live in the calculator.
Prices exclude CA sales tax (10.5%), which applies to the blank garment only.
Every line item, including screens and multi-location prints, is explained in our screen printing cost guide.
Go Deeper
Compare Blanks & Related Services
Blank comparison guides
- Bulk T-Shirt Ordering: How to Save Money on Large Custom Orders
- Custom Apparel for Nonprofits: Fundraising and Volunteer Gear Ideas
Compare with
Questions
Hanes 5280 FAQ
Hanes 5280 or Gildan 5000: which budget tee should I pick?+
How much does a custom printed Hanes 5280 cost?+
Does the Hanes 5280 shrink?+
What sizes and colors does the 5280 come in?+
Ready to Print the Hanes 5280?
The calculator opens with this exact blank selected. Pick your colors and quantity and see the live price, then send it to us with your artwork.