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What does textile printing cost? The factors behind the price
What does T-shirt printing cost? We show you which factors set the price – from the method to colours, print positions and quantity – and where you can steer it yourself.
What makes up the price
In terms of price, a printed shirt has two parts: the garment itself and the decoration, meaning print or embroidery. For the garment, the model, material and fabric weight count. For the decoration, what counts is how much work goes into each piece and how much work happens once, before the first piece.
That one-off work is the key to understanding the price. Before we print, we set up: we fix the position and size, make the screens for screen printing and match the colours. This happens once per design – whether a few pieces or many follow.
If you want T-shirts printed with your logo, for example, all the factors in the table work together. You don’t need to master every one of them. It does help to know where you can steer things yourself.
| Factor | What drives it | Your lever |
|---|---|---|
| Method | Screen printing, DTF, flex/flock, sublimation or embroidery | Choose the method to suit the design and the quantity |
| Colours | In screen printing, a separate screen per colour | Reduce your logo to a few colours |
| Design size | Area for print, stitch count for embroidery | Match the size to the position |
| Positions | Each position is a separate work step | Only use positions people will actually see |
| Garment | Model, material, fabric weight | Choose the model for how it will be used |
| Quantity | The set-up is spread across all pieces | Pool your needs instead of placing many small orders |
The method sets the maths
Every method has its own cost logic. That is why there is no answer to “What does a print cost?” without knowing the method. We do all methods in our own workshop in Munich.
Screen printing needs preparation: one screen is made for each colour. After that, printing runs quickly. So it pays off for larger runs with few colours. DTF (digital transfer printing) works without screens. Here, the size of the design matters most, because every piece gets its own transfer. Flex and flock are cut from coloured film and weeded by hand, meaning the excess film is picked off. Lots of fine detail means more manual work. Sublimation only works on light polyester, so it is only an option for certain garments.
| Criterion | Screen per colour Screen printing | On film DTF |
|---|---|---|
| One-off effort | Making and setting up screens, per colour | Hardly any set-up, no screens |
| Effort per piece | Low once the screens are running | One transfer per piece, depending on the area |
| Many colours | Every colour adds another screen | Makes little difference to the price |
| Quantity | Becomes much more attractive as volume grows | Makes sense for smaller quantities too |
What the two methods look like on the garment is shown in our comparison screen printing or transfer printing.
Colours: why every colour counts
In screen printing, the number of colours is the biggest lever. A one-colour logo needs one screen, a four-colour logo needs four. Each screen has to be made, set up and lined up precisely with the others. On dark fabrics a white base layer is often added so the colours stay opaque and bright.
So check whether your logo also works in fewer colours. A drop shadow or a subtle gradient often barely shows on a shirt, but in screen printing it costs a screen of its own. In the layout consultation we show you which simplification is worth it. How to plan a whole merch range with shirts, hoodies and bags is shown in our guide to printing merch.
- Screen 1 · Colour 1
- Screen 2 · Colour 2
- Screen 3 · Colour 3
- Garment · result
- Screen printing
- Each colour is a separate screen and a separate print pass
- DTF
- All colours in one pass – the number of colours hardly matters
- Embroidery
- We embroider logos with up to three thread colours
Design size and print positions
A small logo on the chest is quick to do. A large back design needs more ink, more film with DTF and many more stitches with embroidery. In embroidery the effort is tied directly to the stitch count, and that grows with the area.
The number of positions has an even stronger effect. Chest, back, sleeve and neck are each a separate work step: the piece is loaded again, lined up and printed. Every extra position means one more work step on every single piece.
One strong position
One well-placed logo often has more impact than three small ones
Size to suit the position
Subtle on the chest, large on the back – where it will be seen
Positions out of habit
Sleeve and neck only if they really say something
Large-area embroidery
Large areas are better done in print
The garment: model, material, weight
The shirt itself is a cost block of its own. Models differ in price depending on material, fabric weight, cut and brand – a heavy organic cotton shirt sits differently from a light basic shirt. In the shop you can see the price of each model before you add your logo.
Choose the garment for how it will be used. A light shirt is fine for a one-day event. For workwear that gets washed often, a sturdier model is worth it. And some fabrics decide the method: we usually print polyester sports shirts with DTF, and light polyester can also be sublimated.
T-shirts
The widest choice. Equally suited to screen printing and DTF.
- FrontBack
Hoodies
A pricier garment, often with two positions: chest and back.
Softshell and sportswear
Synthetic fabrics, usually printed with DTF.
Bags
Cotton bags work with both methods, coated fabrics rather with DTF.
Matching garments
Design them in the shop
Quantity and tiered pricing
The set-up happens once per design. Spread over a few pieces, each piece carries a large share. Spread over many, the share becomes small. That is why we work with tiered pricing: with larger quantities the price per piece drops noticeably.
This leads to a simple tip: pool your needs. If several departments or teams wear the same logo, order together rather than in several small orders. Plan the size mix at the same time, so you don’t have to reorder missing sizes.
From the workshop
One colour, one large area
The photo shows large orange lettering on a white shirt. For a single-colour design like this, one screen is enough in screen printing. The area is large and the ink covers richly – and because only one screen is set up, the one-off effort stays manageable. Designs like this really come into their own on larger runs.
And what about embroidery?
Side noteWith embroidery, the stitch count matters most, meaning the size and density of the design. The embroidery file that translates your logo for the machine is included with us. We embroider with up to three thread colours. Embroidery looks high-quality and lasts through many washes. For large back designs, print is usually the better choice.
How to get an accurate price quickly
The more complete your details, the more precisely we can calculate. These are the points we need:
- Garment or model, ideally with colour
- Quantity, ideally already split by size
- Your logo, ideally as a vector file (PDF, AI, EPS or SVG)
- Positions and approximate size of the design
- Colours, as Pantone or HKS values if possible
- When you need the pieces – we deliver in approx. 7–10 working days
If your logo only exists as a small image, send it anyway. We check in the free layout consultation whether it is good enough. How best to supply your logo is explained on the page supplying your logo. Before production you receive a print approval: a digital preview that you sign off.
Frequently asked questions about costs
Why is there no flat price per shirt?
Because the price depends on the method, colours, size, positions, garment and quantity. A flat price would be wrong for most projects. With your details we calculate it precisely.
Which costs more: screen printing or DTF?
That depends on quantity and colours. Screen printing involves more work up front and becomes attractive as the run grows. DTF needs no screens and suits colourful designs and smaller quantities. More in transfer printing explained.
Does a second print on the back cost extra?
Yes. Each position is a separate work step and is charged individually. So think about which positions your logo really needs.
Does the price per piece drop if I order more?
Yes. We work with tiered pricing: with larger quantities the price per piece drops noticeably.
Want to know what your project costs? Send us your enquiry with garment, quantity and logo – we’ll work it out for you.
Team Shirtplus
Printing and embroidery in our own workshop in Munich. Created with AI support. Last updated: 22 Oct 2026.
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