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Screen printing costs range from $3 to $15 per shirt depending on quantity, number of ink colors, garment type, and print locations. This pricing guide breaks down every factor so you know exactly what to expect before you order.
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2026 Pricing
Decoration cost per shirt (does not include the blank garment). Prices shown are for standard plastisol ink on standard print areas.
| Quantity | Per Color/Shirt | 1-Color Total | 2-Color Total | 3-Color Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12-23Small run pricing | $3.50 | $7-9 | $9-11 | $11-13 |
| 24-47Most popular minimum | $2.75 | $6-8 | $7-10 | $9-12 |
| 48-99Sweet spot for events | $2.25 | $5-7 | $6-9 | $8-11 |
| 100-199Best value starts here | $1.75 | $4-6 | $5-8 | $7-10 |
| 200-499Bulk pricing | $1.25 | $4-5 | $5-7 | $6-8 |
| 500-999High-volume discount | $0.90 | $3-5 | $4-6 | $5-7 |
| 1,000+Best rate available | $0.65 | $3-4 | $4-5 | $5-6 |
* Prices shown are decoration cost only (per shirt, per location). Add garment cost ($3-14 depending on blank). Setup fee of $25/screen is a one-time charge per order. All prices exclude CA sales tax (10.5%).
Price Factors
Six factors determine your final per-shirt price. Understanding them helps you budget accurately and find savings.
Each color requires a separate screen. A 1-color print is the cheapest. Adding colors increases cost by $0.65-3.50 per color per shirt depending on quantity. Most orders use 1-3 colors.
The blank garment is a major cost factor. A basic Gildan 5000 tee costs ~$3-4 wholesale. A premium Bella+Canvas 3001 costs ~$5-7. Hoodies, polos, and jackets cost more. We mark up garments at 1.5x wholesale.
Simple spot-color designs are standard. Halftones, gradients, and simulated process prints require more screens and precise registration, adding to the cost. Keep designs clean for the best pricing.
Each print location (front, back, sleeve, inside tag) is priced separately. A front-only print is cheapest. Adding a back print roughly doubles the decoration cost.
Standard plastisol ink is included. Specialty inks like metallic, glow-in-the-dark, puff, discharge (soft hand), or shimmer add $1-3 per piece per location. Water-based inks may add a small surcharge.
Standard turnaround is 7-10 business days. Rush orders (3-5 business days) add 25% to decoration costs. Same-week rush may be available for simple orders at a higher surcharge.
Setup Fees
The setup fee is the most misunderstood part of screen printing pricing. Here is exactly what it covers.
The setup fee is $25 per color per screen. It covers the cost of burning your design onto a mesh screen, which is then used to transfer ink onto your garments. A 1-color design = $25 setup. A 3-color design = $75 setup. A 3-color front + 1-color back = $100 setup (4 screens total).
No. Setup is a one-time flat fee per order, not per shirt. This is why screen printing gets dramatically cheaper at higher quantities — the setup cost is spread across more shirts. At 100 shirts with a 2-color design, setup adds just $0.50/shirt. At 500 shirts, it adds only $0.10/shirt.
No. We keep your screens on file indefinitely. Reorders of the same design have zero setup fee. This makes repeat orders significantly cheaper. Just tell us it is a reorder.
Real Examples
Here are three common order scenarios with full price breakdowns so you can estimate your project.
Garment
Gildan 5000 (Black) $3.50/ea
Decoration
2-color front print $5.50/ea
Setup Fee
$50 (2 screens x $25)
Total Per Piece
$9.00/shirt
Setup fee adds $0.50/shirt at 100 qty. At 200 shirts, setup drops to $0.25/shirt.
Order Total: $950
Garment
Sport-Tek ST640 (Navy) $12.00/ea
Decoration
1-color left chest $4.00/ea
Setup Fee
$25 (1 screen)
Total Per Piece
$16.50/polo
Small left-chest prints use less ink and a single screen.
Order Total: $850
Garment
Bella+Canvas 3001 (Black) $5.50/ea
Decoration
3-color front + 1-color back $5.60/ea
Setup Fee
$100 (4 screens x $25)
Total Per Piece
$11.30/tee
At 500 qty, setup fee is only $0.20/shirt. Bulk pricing brings total way down.
Order Total: $5,650
Save Money
Smart decisions during the planning phase can save you hundreds. Here are our top tips.
Every color you remove saves $0.65-3.50 per shirt. A 1-color design can look amazing and costs 40-60% less than a 4-color print.
Per-unit cost drops dramatically at 100+. If you are ordering 80 shirts, consider ordering 100 to hit a lower price tier.
Gildan 5000 at ~$3.50 vs Bella+Canvas 3001 at ~$5.50. That is $2 per shirt. On 200 shirts, you save $400 just on the blank.
We keep your screens on file. Reorders skip the $25/screen setup fee entirely. Tell us it is a reorder when requesting your quote.
A front-only print costs roughly half what a front + back print costs. If your design works as a single print, keep it simple.
Common Questions
Answers to the pricing questions we hear most from customers placing screen printing orders.
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.