How Much Does DTG Printing Cost in 2026?
DTG (direct-to-garment) printing costs $5.00 to $25.00 per print depending on quantity and garment color, with no minimum order and no setup fees. This guide breaks down every factor so you know exactly what full-color custom printing will cost before you order.
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Price by quantity
DTG printing cost per shirt at 1, 12, 24, 48 and 100 pieces
Print only, at the quantity you actually have. One full-color front print, unlimited colors in a single pass. Decoration only, blank garment extra.
1
piece
Light garment
$20.00 /pc
Dark garment, white underbase
$25.00 /pc
Setup
No screens and no setup fee, so the figure above is the whole decoration cost.
1-11 pcs tier
12
pieces
Light garment
$15.00 /pc
Dark garment, white underbase
$20.00 /pc
Setup
No screens and no setup fee, so the figure above is the whole decoration cost.
12-30 pcs tier
24
pieces
Light garment
$15.00 /pc
Dark garment, white underbase
$20.00 /pc
Setup
No screens and no setup fee, so the figure above is the whole decoration cost.
12-30 pcs tier
48
pieces
Light garment
$12.00 /pc
Dark garment, white underbase
$15.00 /pc
Setup
No screens and no setup fee, so the figure above is the whole decoration cost.
31-50 pcs tier
100
pieces
Light garment
$8.00 /pc
Dark garment, white underbase
$10.00 /pc
Setup
No screens and no setup fee, so the figure above is the whole decoration cost.
51-100 pcs tier
Decoration only, blank garment extra. Excludes CA sales tax (10.5%), which applies to the blank garment. No minimum (1 piece).
Prices last updated . Every figure on this page is generated from the same pricing engine our quote calculator runs on, read fresh each time the page is served, so it changes the day our prices do.
Worked example
24 BELLA + CANVAS 3001 tees, full-color front print on a light garment
| Blanks (BELLA + CANVAS 3001)24 x $7.19 | $172.56 |
| Decoration (full-color front print on a light garment)24 x $15.00 | $360.00 |
| Setupnone at this quantity | $0.00 |
| Total for the run | $532.56 |
| Per piece | $22.19 |
No screens, so nothing is spread over the run and the same job prices identically at 1 piece or 24. A dark garment needs a white underbase and prices on the dark line in the cards above.
Blank priced from the live S&S Activewear catalog at our standard markup; size upcharges apply on extended sizes and CA sales tax applies to the blank. Decoration and setup come from the pricing engine at the quantity shown.
2026 Pricing
DTG Printing Cost by Quantity
Decoration cost per print, per piece (does not include the blank garment). Dark garments include the white underbase needed for vivid color.
| Quantity | Light Garment / Print | Dark Garment / Print | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-11 | $20.00 | $25.00 | No minimum - samples & one-offs |
| 12-30 | $15.00 | $20.00 | Small batch runs |
| 31-50 | $12.00 | $15.00 | Small batch runs |
| 51-100 | $8.00 | $10.00 | Most popular for merch drops |
| 101-250 | $6.00 | $8.00 | Best value for full-color |
| 251+ | $5.00 | $6.50 | Best rate available |
* Prices shown are decoration cost only (per print, per location); the blank garment is priced separately from live wholesale catalogs. DTG has no minimum order and no screen/setup fees. All prices exclude CA sales tax (10.5%), which applies to the blank garment only.
Price Factors
What Affects DTG Printing Cost?
Six factors determine your final per-shirt price. Understanding them helps you budget accurately and find savings.
Garment Color (Light vs Dark)
Dark garments need a white underbase layer printed first so your colors stay vivid. That extra ink pass adds $5.00 per print at the smallest quantities and $2.00 at 100 pieces. Light and white garments skip the underbase and print for less.
Print Size & Coverage
DTG is priced per print, so a full-front photographic print and a small left-chest logo fall in the same tier. Larger, ink-heavy designs use more ink but the tier pricing already accounts for a standard full-size print area.
Number of Print Locations
Each print location (front, back, sleeve) is a separate DTG pass and is priced separately. A front-only print is cheapest. Adding a back print roughly doubles the decoration cost since it prints as its own pass.
Garment Fabric
DTG bonds best to 100% cotton, which gives the most vivid, durable results. 50/50 and tri-blends still print well but colors are slightly softer. High-polyester athletic fabrics are better suited to DTF - we will recommend the right method for your blank.
Quantity
Because DTG uses no screens, there is no setup cost to spread out, but the per-print cost still drops with volume: $20.00 to $25.00 each at 1-11 pieces, $15.00 to $20.00 each at 12-30 pieces, and $5.00 to $6.50 each at 251+ pieces. Ordering more always lowers the per-shirt price.
Turnaround & Rush
Turnaround depends on our current production schedule. Standard turnaround is about 2-3 weeks after the artwork is approved and the deposit is paid. Rush available depending on the schedule. Tell us your date.
DTG vs Screen Printing
Which Method Is Cheaper for You?
The most common DTG pricing question. Here is exactly when each method wins on cost.
When DTG is cheaper
DTG wins on full-color and photographic designs and on small runs. Because there are no screens to create, DTG has zero setup cost - so a detailed 12-shirt order with 50 colors costs the same to set up as a 1-color print. If your artwork has gradients, photos, or many colors, DTG is almost always the cheaper choice regardless of quantity.
When screen printing is cheaper
Screen printing wins on simple 1-2 color designs at higher quantities. One screen has to be burned per ink color, and that cost is carried inside its per-piece price, so once it is spread across enough shirts the low per-shirt ink cost takes over. For a simple 1-2 color logo, screen printing usually becomes cheaper somewhere around 50-72 pieces.
The quick rule of thumb
Full-color art or under ~50 pieces? Choose DTG. Simple 1-2 color design over ~72 pieces? Choose screen printing. Not sure? Send us your design and quantity and we will price it both ways and recommend the cheaper option. See our full screen printing pricing guide for the other side of the comparison.
Real Examples
What Real DTG Orders Actually Cost
Here are three common order scenarios with full price breakdowns so you can estimate your project.
Photo-Realistic Event Tee (25 shirts)
Garment
BELLA + CANVAS 3001 (White) $7.19/ea
Decoration
Full-color front (light garment) $15.00/ea
Setup Fee
None - no screens, no setup
Total Per Piece
$22.19/shirt
No minimum means a detailed 25-piece full-color run is easy. DTG shines on photographic and multi-color art that would need many screens in screen printing.
Order Total: $554.75
Small Business Merch (60 shirts)
Garment
Next Level 3600 (Black) $7.26/ea
Decoration
Full-color front (dark garment) $10.00/ea
Setup Fee
None - no screens, no setup
Total Per Piece
$17.26/shirt
The dark-garment price already includes the white underbase needed to keep colors bright on black, and at 60 pieces the per-print cost has dropped two tiers below the small-run rate.
Order Total: $1035.60
Full-Color Fundraiser (150 shirts)
Garment
Gildan 64000 (White) $5.50/ea
Decoration
Full-color front (light garment) $6.00/ea
Setup Fee
None - no screens, no setup
Total Per Piece
$11.50/shirt
At 150 pieces the per-print cost lands in the best-value band. For full-color artwork DTG is competitive with a multi-color screen print, without any setup fees.
Order Total: $1725.00
Save Money
5 Ways to Reduce DTG Printing Costs
Smart decisions during the planning phase can save you hundreds. Here are our top tips.
1. Choose light-colored garments
Light and white blanks skip the white underbase, so they print for $5.00 less per shirt at the smallest quantities and $2.00 less at 100 pieces. On a 100-shirt run that is $200.00 back in your pocket.
2. Order more quantity
Per-print cost drops from $20.00 to $25.00 each at 1-11 pieces to $5.00 to $6.50 each at 251+ pieces. If you are ordering 241 shirts, bumping up to 251 moves you into the lowest price tier.
3. Print one location only
Each print location is a separate DTG pass. A front-only print costs roughly half what a front + back print costs. Keep it to one location when the design allows.
4. Use 100% cotton blanks
Cotton gives the most vivid, wash-durable DTG results and avoids reprints. It also tends to be cheaper than premium performance blends.
5. Switch to screen printing for simple bulk designs
If your design is only 1-2 solid colors and you are ordering 100+ pieces, screen printing is usually cheaper. DTG wins on full-color art and smaller runs.
Common Questions
DTG Printing Pricing FAQ
Answers to the pricing questions we hear most from customers placing DTG orders.
How much does DTG printing cost per shirt?
What is the DTG printing price per piece at 1, 12, 100 pieces?
What does dark garment, white underbase cost compared with light garment?
Is there a minimum order for DTG printing?
DTG vs screen printing - which is cheaper?
Why does DTG cost more on dark shirts?
How long does DTG printing take?
Do bulk DTG orders get a discount?
What garments work best for DTG printing?
How can I get an exact price for my DTG order?
Get Your Exact DTG Price in 24 Hours
Every order is unique. Use our instant quote calculator or send us your details and we will have a complete price breakdown for you within one business day.