How much does it cost to print t-shirts? A one-color screen print on one side of a basic cotton tee costs about $13 a shirt from 17 shirts and about $9.20 a shirt from 83 shirts, at one large online printer's all-inclusive prices (setup and delivery included), typical market prices checked October 2026. A single printed shirt runs about $28. Every extra ink color and every extra print location adds to that.
Big Apple Press screen prints and embroiders apparel. We do not offer DTG (direct-to-garment) printing, so this guide covers screen printed tees and embroidered polos, and what changes the price of each.
How much does it cost to screen print t-shirts?
The price per shirt falls as the quantity rises, because the screens and press setup are paid once and shared across every shirt in the run.
| Quantity tier | Price per shirt | What it shows |
|---|---|---|
| 1 shirt | about $28 | The whole setup carried by one shirt |
| 8 shirts | about $21 | Still a short run |
| 17 shirts and up | about $13 | The first big price break |
| 83 shirts and up | about $9.20 | Setup now a small share of the price |
| 500 shirts and up | about $8.30 | Savings flatten out |
Prices shown are typical market prices for standard options, based on published prices from national print retailers and online printers, checked October 2026. They are a guide, not a quote. Prices are subject to change and do change with quantity, paper, finishing and turnaround, so contact us for an updated quote.
These tiers are Custom Ink's published all-inclusive prices for a Hanes Authentic cotton tee with a one-color print on one side, read from the price details on its t-shirt page. They include art setup and standard delivery. Custom Ink lists these quantity breaks, not round numbers such as 24, 50 or 100. Printers that charge shipping and setup separately publish lower base prices, so add both before comparing a base price with an all-inclusive one.
What changes the price of a printed t-shirt?
- Ink colors: screen printing needs one screen per color, so each color adds setup. Custom Ink's own page describes keeping a design to one or two colors as the easiest way to lower the price.
- Print locations: a back print or a sleeve is a separate setup, even in the same ink color, and adds to the cost.
- Dark shirts: a black or navy shirt usually needs a white base layer under the colors, and that layer counts as a color.
- The blank shirt: a heavier or softer tee costs more before anything is printed on it.
- Quantity: the same setup spread over more shirts lowers the price per piece.
- Turnaround: rush production costs more than standard.
Mixed sizes do not add screens. The same screen prints a small and an XL, so 100 shirts across six sizes is still one setup per color.
How much more does a two-color or full-color design cost?
Each extra ink color adds a screen and a pass on the press, so the price rises with every color. We did not find like-for-like published prices for two- and three-color prints, so the useful step is to ask for a quote in one, two and three colors and compare. A full-color photograph is where screen printing gets expensive on a short run. That is the job DTG printers serve, and we do not offer DTG. Our guide to screen printing vs DTG vs embroidery explains which method suits which order.
How much do embroidered polos cost?
An embroidered polo with a left chest logo costs more per piece than a printed tee, both because the polo blank costs more and because the logo is sewn stitch by stitch. One online printer's published tiers show the usual quantity curve.
| Quantity | Price per polo |
|---|---|
| 1 polo | about $63 |
| 10 polos | about $39 |
| 25 polos | about $30 |
| 50 polos | about $26 |
| 100 polos | about $23 |
| 500 polos | about $19 |
These are Custom Ink's listed tiers for a Sport-Tek polo with one embroidered location, and they come from a single source, so treat them as a guide to the shape of the curve rather than a market range. Once a logo is digitized for embroidery, we keep the stitch file on record, so a reorder for new staff matches the original. Our guide to work uniforms for NYC businesses covers polos, jackets and aprons.
How long does a t-shirt order take?
Longer than paper printing, because screens have to be made or the logo digitized before production starts. Tell us the date you need the shirts when you ask for a quote and we will tell you plainly whether it holds. Finished orders can go by free delivery anywhere in Manhattan.
Two details push a t-shirt quote up after the first price: a dark garment and a thin outline in a second color. On a black or navy shirt the printer usually lays down a white base first, and a thin outline round a logo is a separate color with its own screen. If the budget is tight, ask for a one-color version of the logo on a light shirt as one of the quote options, and send the size breakdown as a single list so nobody has to guess.
T-shirt printing cost questions
How much does it cost to print 50 or 100 t-shirts?
For a one-color front print on a basic cotton tee, one large online printer's all-inclusive prices were about $13 a shirt from 17 shirts and about $9.20 a shirt from 83 shirts. These are typical market prices checked October 2026 and subject to change; ask us for a current quote.
How much does screen printing cost per shirt?
It depends on quantity, ink colors and print locations. A one-color print runs from about $28 for a single shirt to about $8.30 a shirt at 500 at one online printer, typical market prices checked October 2026 and subject to change.
Does Big Apple Press offer DTG printing?
No. We offer screen printing and embroidery. If your artwork is a full-color photo on a few shirts, we will tell you so when you ask for a quote.
Is embroidery more expensive than screen printing?
Per piece, usually. At one online printer an embroidered polo was about $26 at 50 pieces, against about $13 for a one-color printed tee from 17 shirts. These are typical market prices checked October 2026 and subject to change, and a polo blank costs more than a tee to begin with.
Does printing on the back of a shirt cost extra?
Yes, in screen printing. Each print location is its own setup, so a front and back print is two setups even in the same ink color.
See our custom t-shirt printing and embroidered apparel, then send your artwork, the shirt color, the number of ink colors and your size list for a free quote. For giveaways beyond shirts, our promotional products guide covers the items people keep.
Need this printed? We are at 40 Wall Street, and we deliver free anywhere in Manhattan.