How Custom Printing Works
Everything you need to know before you order — the printing process, picking the right material, how long it takes, and what it costs.
How Custom Printing Works
We offer three core methods, and we’ll help you pick the right one when you request your quote — it depends on your design, garment, and order size.
Screen Printing pushes ink through a fine mesh stencil onto the garment. It’s the most durable option and the most cost-effective once you get into larger quantities, which makes it the go-to for team orders and bulk business merch.
DTF (Direct-to-Film) prints your design onto a special film, then heat-presses it onto the garment. It handles full-color, detailed designs beautifully and works well even for smaller orders or one-off pieces.
Embroidery stitches your logo directly into the fabric with thread. It’s the premium option for hats, polos, and jackets — durable, textured, and always looks sharp.
Not sure which one fits?
- Bulk team order? Screen printing usually wins on cost.
- Detailed, colorful design? DTF handles it cleanly.
- Hats, polos, or jackets? Embroidery holds up best.
- Not sure? Tell us your project — we’ll recommend the right method for free.
Choosing the Right Material
The right fabric depends on how the apparel will actually be used — everyday wear, athletics, or cold-weather gear all call for different materials.
100% Cotton is soft, breathable, and has that classic tee feel — a reliable choice for everyday wear and casual team shirts.
Cotton/Poly Blends hold up to more washes, resist shrinking, and keep printed detail looking sharp longer than 100% cotton.
Performance & Moisture-Wicking Fabric is built for sports teams and outdoor events — it keeps players cool, dry, and comfortable during activity.
Fleece & Heavyweight Blends are what we reach for on hoodies, crewnecks, and sweatshirts for cooler weather.
Quick material guide
- Everyday tees: 100% cotton
- Team apparel, frequent wash: cotton/poly blend
- Sports & outdoor events: moisture-wicking performance fabric
- Cold weather: fleece & heavyweight blends
How Long Does It Take?
We know deadlines matter — for a game day, an event, or a launch — so we always give you a clear timeline upfront, before you commit to anything.
Standard orders typically take about 7–10 business days from design approval to completion, depending on order size and print method.
Rush orders are often available for an additional fee — just let us know your deadline when you request your quote and we’ll tell you what’s possible.
Larger team or bulk orders may take a bit longer depending on quantity, number of print locations, and design complexity, but we’ll always confirm a firm timeline before you order.
What affects turnaround
- Order size — bigger orders need more production time
- Print method — embroidery generally takes longer than screen printing
- Design revisions — the clock starts after final design approval
- Rush requests — tell us your deadline, we’ll do what we can
How Much Does It Cost?
Because every order is different, we don’t post fixed prices online — but we always provide a fast, no-obligation quote so you know the exact cost before committing to anything.
A few things shape the final price: how many pieces you’re ordering, how many print colors or the stitch count for embroidery, the type of garment and material, and how many locations you’re printing (front only vs. front and back, for example).
In general, larger quantities bring the per-item price down — so it’s worth telling us your full order size when you request a quote, even if you’re still deciding on details.
What affects your price
- Quantity — more pieces, lower cost per item
- Print colors / stitch count — more detail, more cost
- Garment & material — basic tee vs. premium fabric
- Print locations — front only, or front + back + sleeve
Request Your Free Quote
Tell us what you’re thinking — even if you haven’t nailed down every detail yet — and we’ll get back to you fast with pricing and next steps.
Request a Free Quote