Screen Printing Pricing Guide: What to Expect | Branded Screen Printing Reno

Screen Printing
Pricing Guide

Pricing for custom screen printing depends on a handful of straightforward factors. Here's how it all works so you can plan your order with confidence.

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How Pricing Works

Four Things That
Determine Your
Screen Printing Price

Screen printing pricing isn't a flat rate — it's built from a few specific variables that combine to determine your total. Once you understand what drives the cost, planning an order becomes straightforward.

The good news is that screen printing is one of the most cost-effective decoration methods available, especially as order quantities grow. A larger order almost always means a lower per-piece cost, which makes it a smart choice for teams, businesses, and events ordering in volume.

"The best way to reduce per-shirt cost is to increase quantity and simplify your design. Both have more impact than most people expect."

Below you'll find a breakdown of the four pricing factors, our standard setup fee chart, rush options, and tips for keeping costs down. For an actual price on your order, a quick quote is the fastest path to a number you can plan around.

Pricing Factors

What Goes Into
Your Price

Every screen printing quote is built from these four variables. Adjusting any one of them can meaningfully change your total.

01
Quantity of Shirts
The number of shirts in your order has the biggest impact on per-piece cost. Screen printing has a 12-piece minimum, and pricing improves significantly at common quantity breaks. The more you order, the more the setup and production costs are distributed across the run — which brings the per-shirt cost down. If you need fewer than 12 pieces, UCP printing is available with no minimum.
02
Brand, Style & Color of Shirt
The garment itself is a significant part of your total. Shirts range from standard blanks to premium brands, and within each brand there are different styles, fits, and fabric weights. Specialty colors and performance fabrics may carry a higher cost than standard cotton options. Choosing a shirt from our standard catalog is the most affordable starting point.
03
Number of Ink Colors
Each color in your design requires a separate screen, and each screen has its own setup fee. A 1-color design is the most affordable option. Every additional color adds a setup charge. If budget is a priority, simplifying your design to fewer colors — or converting to a 1-color version — is one of the most effective ways to reduce cost without sacrificing impact. Our design team can help adapt artwork to a more print-friendly format.
04
Print Placements
Each location you want printed — front, back, sleeve, collar tag — counts as a separate placement and is priced accordingly. A front-only print is the most affordable option. Adding a back print, sleeve hit, or interior tag print each adds to the total. Many orders find a front print alone is enough for a clean, professional result. Adding placements strategically gets you more coverage when it's worth it.
Printing Fee Schedule

Screen Printing
Price List

Prices below are the printing fee per location, per shirt. They do not include the cost of the garment or setup charges. Add your shirt cost and the applicable setup fee to arrive at your total per-piece cost. Need more than 2,000 pieces? Call us for a custom estimate.

Quantity Print Fee Per Location (# of Ink Colors)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
12–23$5.10$6.32$7.55$8.77$9.99$11.22$12.44$13.67
24–47$3.40$4.62$5.85$7.07$8.29$9.52$10.74$11.97
48–71$2.58$3.41$4.25$5.09$5.92$6.76$7.60$8.44
72–95$2.13$2.90$3.67$4.44$5.22$5.99$6.76$7.53
96–143$1.74$2.51$3.28$4.06$4.83$5.60$6.38$7.15
144–191$1.35$2.13$2.90$3.67$4.44$5.22$5.99$6.76
192–239$1.18$1.89$2.60$3.31$4.02$4.73$5.44$6.14
240–299$1.02$1.69$2.36$3.03$3.70$4.37$5.04$5.71
300–491$0.85$1.51$2.16$2.82$3.48$4.13$4.79$5.45
492–741$0.77$1.35$1.93$2.51$3.09$3.67$4.25$4.83
742–1000$0.68$1.25$1.82$2.38$2.95$3.52$4.08$4.65
1000–1999$0.59$1.15$1.70$2.25$2.81$3.36$3.92$4.47
2000$0.50$1.02$1.53$2.05$2.56$3.08$3.59$4.11

Prices are per print location and do not include garment cost or setup charges. For orders over 2,000 pieces, call (800) 757-5646 for a custom estimate. For full-color or no-minimum printing, see UCP printing.

Fee Schedules

Setup Fees &
Rush Options

Setup fees are charged once per order based on ink color count. Rush fees apply when you need your order faster than the standard 5–7 business day window.

Screen Printing Setup Fees

Ink Colors in Design Setup Fee
1 Color$30
2 Colors$35
3 Colors$40
4 Colors$45
5 Colors$50
6 Colors$55
7 Colors$60
8 Colors$65

Setup fees are charged once per order, not per shirt. They cover the preparation of the screens used to apply each color. If you need a full-color or photographic design with no setup fee, UCP printing may be the better fit.

Rush Turnaround Fees

3-Day Turnaround
Subject to production availability
+20%
2-Day Turnaround
Subject to production availability
+35%
1-Day Turnaround
Subject to production availability
+50%

Rush availability depends on our current production schedule. If you're on a tight timeline, call us at (800) 757-5646 to confirm availability before placing your order.

Budget-Friendly Ordering

How to Get
the Most from
Your Budget

Small adjustments to your order can make a meaningful difference in cost — without sacrificing the look. Here are the most effective levers to pull.

Get a Free Quote
01

Use Fewer Ink Colors

A 1-color or 2-color design can look just as sharp as a 6-color print — often sharper. Reducing ink colors lowers your setup fee and simplifies production. Our design team can help convert multi-color artwork into a cleaner print-ready version.

02

Order in Larger Quantities

Per-shirt cost drops as quantity goes up. If you're close to a quantity break, ordering a few extra shirts can lower your per-piece cost enough to offset the added units. It's worth running the numbers before finalizing your count.

03

Stick to One Print Location

A front-only print is the most affordable option and works well for most applications. Adding a back print is a common upgrade that adds impact — but if budget is the priority, front-only gets the job done.

04

Choose a Standard Blank

Selecting a shirt from our standard catalog keeps garment costs down. Premium brands and specialty fabrics cost more, but there are plenty of high-quality standard options that work well for most applications.

05

Plan Ahead to Avoid Rush Fees

Standard turnaround is typically 5–7 business days after proof approval. Building that window into your timeline eliminates rush fees entirely. If you're ordering for an event or deadline, starting the process 3–4 weeks out is a comfortable margin.

Common Questions

Screen Printing
Pricing FAQ

How much does screen printing cost per shirt?
Per-shirt cost depends on the quantity ordered, the garment selected, the number of ink colors, and the number of print locations. Because these variables interact, an accurate per-shirt price requires a quote. The quickest way to get a number is to submit a quick quote with your order details.
What is the minimum order for screen printing?
The minimum order for screen printing is 12 pieces. If you need fewer items, or a full-color design with no minimum, UCP printing is available with no minimum order requirement.
Are setup fees charged per shirt or per order?
Setup fees are charged once per order, not per shirt. A 1-color design has a $30 setup fee regardless of whether you order 12 shirts or 120. The fee covers screen preparation for each ink color in your design.
How long does a screen printing order take?
Most orders are completed in 5–7 business days after proof approval. Production begins after the proof is reviewed and approved, so the turnaround clock starts at approval, not at order placement. Rush options are available when you need items faster.
Can I get a price without a full design ready?
Yes. If you have a general idea of what you want — quantity, approximate design complexity, and shirt type — we can provide a ballpark estimate. A finalized quote requires artwork, but we're happy to help you get a rough number early so you can plan your budget.
What if I need full-color printing or fewer than 12 pieces?
UCP (unlimited color printing) is a great fit for full-color designs, detailed artwork, or smaller runs. There's no minimum order and no setup fee per color. It's a flexible option when screen printing's minimums or color limitations don't match your project. Learn more about UCP printing.

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