How Much $$$ | Alleghany Tees

"How much do shirts cost?"

It is our most common question.

Unfortunately, this question is not as simple to answer. Whether you are ready for a formal quote or just looking for budgetary numbers, we need details about your project in order to give you an accurate price or even a useful price range. We have to answer the following questions for every order before we can give a quote: (click each topic for more details)

1. The quantity of garments:

Quantity determines which methods (screen printing, embroidery, direct-to-garment, vinyl) are available or best for your project.
For screen printing, it also determines how many colors and locations can be printed. This is often referred to as garment minimums and relates to the cost and complexity of multiple color set-ups.
Also, large quantities benefit from volume discounts because we can spread the setup costs across more garments.
Some production methods don’t benefit from volume, such as personalizations or direct-to-garment (DTG) printing.

2. Garment/product type:

Tees, hoodies, hats, polos, outerwear, others
Each garment type has unique impression opportunities/traditions and limitations.
Each garment type has unique costs.

3. Garment style choices:

Basic, comfort casual, name-brand, sleeve length, pockets, etc.
Likewise, garment style choices determine garment costs. Generally, anything that is different than a basic short sleeve tee adds to the cost.

4. Fabric composition:

100% cotton, high-polyester blend, 100% polyester
Fabric composition can determine or limit decoration methods and or add to project cost because of unique decoration requirements.
Specifically, performance wear (near 100% polyester) is more expensive for screen printing and direct-to-garment.

5. Color of the garments:

White, lighter colors, darker colors
Garment makers charge more for dark and special fabric colors.
Screen printing on dark fabric requires a white under base to improve image vibrancy, which adds to set-up and production costs.

6. Quantity and location of decorations:

For example, back, front, sleeve, pocket, left chest, right chest, hat front, hat back
Each impression requires its own artwork, setup, and production process.
Some processes/locations are more costly than others and may restrict the decoration methods available.

7. For each decoration:

Decoration type: screen-printing, embroidery, direct-to-garment, vinyl
Number of decoration colors (screen printing), number of stitches (embroidery)
As previously stated, each decoration technique has distinct cost advantages and cost drivers that relate to the time and difficulty of set up and production.

8. Artwork/design:

Is it something we have already printed/embroidered – probably no extra cost for a reprint.
A new impression but high-resolution art is complete – we’ll probably need new films, screens or digitizing work.
A new impression low-resolution art – same as (b) above but also may require some work by our artist to improve the image quality.
A new impression, design in concept only – the most involved situation with our artist involved in consulting and developing your concept into a printable work of art.
Our artwork is one of our most unique and distinguished services. We are truly better than the competition because we can create world class art for the same cost that most printer charge for clip art.

9. Personalization:

Names, titles, numbers
Method: embroidery, vinyl
The final distinguishing touch, a way to truly put your personal touch on your project. Each personalization needs attention and processing, but the finished product is worth every penny.

If you’ve made it to the end, I applaud your preparation. Not all of the above factors affect every project and every month we print thousands of basic tees with a single-color image in a single location that have no bells nor whistles to speak of. However, every project is unique and we need to consider all of the factors that assure we produce a quality product and provide a fair price.