If you're getting shirts printed for a team, an event, a band or a business, the quotes you get back can vary wildly for what looks like the same job. Here's why, and what to ask.
First: which printing method do you need?
This decides most of your cost.
Screen printing
Best for large runs of simple designs — say 50+ shirts with a one or two colour logo. Each colour needs its own screen, so setup costs are real, but once running the per-unit cost drops sharply.
Choose it when: high volume, few colours, budget matters more than turnaround.
DTF (Direct to Film)
Unlimited colours, no setup cost, works on cotton and blends, and viable from a single unit. Slightly higher per-unit cost than screen at volume, but no minimum and much faster.
Choose it when: small to medium runs, full-colour or detailed artwork, you need it quickly.
Embroidery
Best for polos, caps and workwear where you want a premium finish. More expensive per unit and unsuitable for large or detailed designs.
Choose it when: corporate uniforms, small logos, durability is the priority.
What actually drives the price
- Quantity. The biggest single factor for screen printing, much less so for DTF.
- Number of print locations. A front and back print is roughly double the print cost of front only.
- Print size. A large back print uses more film and ink than a left-chest logo.
- Garment quality. A 180GSM basic tee and a 230GSM heavyweight are very different products, and the blank is often the largest single cost.
- Artwork readiness. A print-ready vector file costs nothing to prepare. A low-resolution logo pulled off a website needs redrawing.
Questions worth asking any printer
- What GSM is the blank? If they can't tell you, that's informative. 180GSM is light, 220–250GSM is a proper heavyweight tee.
- Where is it printed? In-house in Melbourne, or sent to a wholesaler? This affects turnaround and who's accountable if it goes wrong.
- What's the turnaround? Quoted from artwork approval, not from your first enquiry.
- Do you offer a print guarantee? Anyone confident in their curing will stand behind the print for a stated number of washes.
- What file do you need? Vector (AI, EPS, SVG) or 300 DPI PNG at final print size. If they'll take a screenshot, be cautious.
- Is there a minimum order? DTF shouldn't require one. Screen printing usually will.
Getting your artwork right
The most common reason a print disappoints is the file, not the printing.
- Resolution: 300 DPI at the size it will actually be printed. A 30cm wide back print needs roughly 3,500 pixels across.
- Background: transparent PNG, or vector. Not a JPEG with a white box around it.
- Contrast: on a dark garment, anything close to black disappears into the fabric. On a light garment, pale elements vanish.
- Detail: lines thinner than about 1.5mm at final size tend to break up in the fabric weave.
Turnaround expectations
For DTF on a small run, 48 hours from artwork approval is achievable. Screen printing at volume is typically 7–14 days. Embroidery sits somewhere in between. Anyone promising same-day on a large order is either very well set up or about to disappoint you.
Working with us
We're a DTF print studio in Melbourne. Everything is pressed by hand in-house — no wholesaler, no overseas factory. No minimum order, 48-hour dispatch, and a 50-wash guarantee on every print.
If you need artwork prepared or designed from scratch, that's included rather than quoted separately. Send us what you have and we'll tell you honestly whether it will print well.