Custom Screen Printing T-shirt
Custom screen printing T-shirt - built for larger custom apparel runs
Screen printing is a strong choice when you need the same design reproduced across dozens, hundreds, or thousands of garments. As quantity increases, the process becomes increasingly efficient, making it especially well suited to company crews, college events, nonprofits, fundraisers, trade shows, staff uniforms, and promotional giveaways.
Each ink color is printed separately, allowing logos, lettering, solid graphics, and other spot-color artwork to reproduce with strong definition and consistent coverage.
If you need affordable custom T-shirts for a large group, screen printing is one of the most efficient decoration methods. The process is especially well suited to repeat designs, company logos, event graphics, uniforms, and promotional apparel.
Our screen print shirts are available for bulk orders starting at 12 pieces. Customers can choose from multiple shirt options, select their print location, and submit artwork for review before production begins.
For customers looking to buy bulk custom T-shirts, pricing depends on order quantity, total print colors, print location, garment choice, and turnaround. Larger quantities generally reduce the screen printing cost per shirt.
One-color screen-printed T-shirts are a straightforward choice for simple logos, text, and bold graphic designs. We also offer multi-color artwork, with each production color reviewed as part of the final setup.
Screen printing T-Shirt features
- Minimum quantity: 12 pieces total
- Print colors: Up to 3 spot colors, depending on quantity and artwork
- Standard blank colors: Black or White. For other shirt colors, request a custom quote.
- Recommended garments: 100% ring-spun cotton provides the most consistent print results
- Full front or full back print area: Up to approximately 12" x 15"
- Standard left chest print area: Approximately 3.5" x 3.5" wide
- Adult short sleeve print area: Up to approximately 3.5" x 3.5"
- Turnaround options: Standard 7-10 business days production time
- Ink: Non-phthalate inks
- Proofing: A digital proof is provided for approval before production
Need to screen print a logo on a shirt? Upload your artwork when ordering and select the placement that works best for your design, including full front, full back, left chest, sleeve, or other approved locations.
Important Production Information
Print color count
The final number of print colors may be higher than the number of visible colors in the artwork. Colored garments may require a white underbase, while dark polyester and certain performance fabrics may require additional blocker layers. These production layers count toward the total print color count.
Artwork approval
Production begins after artwork approval and once all required garments are available. Delayed approvals, artwork changes, or garment availability may extend turnaround time.
Damaged or misprinted garments
Please inspect your order promptly after delivery and contact us if you notice a production issue. Approved claims may be resolved through replacement, reprinting, or credit depending on the circumstances.
If you want local T-shirt printing with the convenience of ordering online, 215 Prints makes it easy to configure your shirts, upload artwork, and order custom-printed apparel for delivery.
How many colors can be used in a screen-printed design?
Screen-printed designs can use up to 3 spot colors, depending on the quantity, garment, and artwork. More complex designs may require additional screens and setup, and some high-color-count artwork may be better suited to another print method, such as DTF.
Can I order one-color screen-printed T-shirts?
Yes. One-color screen-printed T-shirts are available and are a good fit for simple logos, lettering, bold graphics, and straightforward branded apparel. Multi-color designs are also available when needed.
Does a white underbase count as an additional print color?
Yes. A white underbase is generally counted as an additional print color when printing on garments other than white. Dark polyester, performance wear, and certain other fabrics may require additional blocker layers, which can further increase the total production color count.
Can screen printed colors look different on different garment fabrics?
Yes. The same artwork can look slightly different across garment colors, fabric types, and styles. Cotton generally produces the most predictable result, while blends, fleece, polyester, pigment-dyed garments, and performance fabrics can affect color brightness, opacity, and overall appearance.
What is dye migration in screen printing?
Dye migration happens when dye from polyester or blended fabric moves into the printed ink and changes its appearance. It is more common on strong garment colors such as reds, maroons, greens, and dark blues. Special blocker inks can reduce the risk, but they cannot eliminate it completely.
Are specialty inks available for screen printing?
Yes. Specialty options may include metallic, glow, reflective, water-based, discharge, and Crystalina inks. These finishes may require additional charges, extra screens, or different production requirements, and not every specialty ink suits every garment or fabric. Send a custom quote request.
What is the minimum order for custom screen-printed T-shirts at 215 Prints?
The minimum order is 12 pieces. Screen printing is designed for bulk apparel orders, and pricing becomes more economical as quantities increase. Larger runs can significantly reduce the decoration cost per garment compared with smaller quantities.
Can exact finished quantities be guaranteed?
We can't always guarantee exact finished quantities because normal production spoilage can occur. The vendor allows a standard spoilage percentage depending on the order size and print method. If an exact quantity is critical, we recommend ordering extra garments.
Are silkscreen shirts the same as screen print shirts?
Yes. Silkscreen shirts and screen print shirts generally refer to the same printing method. Ink is applied through prepared screens, with each production color printed separately onto the garment.
Does each screen print color require a separate screen?
Yes. Each spot color generally needs its own screen, and separate print locations may also require additional screens. Screen setup charges are separate from the per-piece printing cost, so artwork with more colors or locations can increase the total setup cost.
What artwork files are best for screen printing?
We prefer vector artwork for the cleanest production setup. Accepted vector formats are PDF only, with fonts converted to outlines and artwork supplied at the intended print size. High-resolution raster files may also be accepted when supplied at 300 DPI or higher, in PDF.
Will I receive a proof before my shirts are printed?
Yes. We provide a proof for approval before production begins. The first proof revision is included, while additional revisions may incur a fee. We must approve artwork before printing, and delayed approvals can affect the production schedule.
Do you offer quick screen print T-shirts?
Our production time is standard: 7-10 Business Days. Production depends on artwork approval, garment availability, production capacity, and cutoff times. Production time does not include shipping transit time.
Does production time include shipping?
No. Production time and shipping time are separate. Freight charges depend on shipment weight, distance, declared value, and the shipping method selected, and rush orders may require faster shipping to meet a requested in-hand date.
What are the best shirts for screen printing?
100% ring-spun cotton generally delivers the most consistent screen-printing results. You can also print cotton blends, tri-blends, fleece, polyester, and performance apparel, but different fabrics can affect ink coverage, color brightness, texture, and overall appearance.
Can screen printing be used on polyester and performance shirts?
Yes, but polyester and performance fabrics may require special production steps. These materials are more prone to dye migration and may require additional blocker inks or print colors. Even with these precautions, some variation or dye migration may still occur.
What shirt materials are available for black and white screen printed tees?
We offer six shirt options, each with a different fabric blend and feel.
- The 1717 Comfort Colors® Heavyweight Ring Spun T-Shirt is 100% US ring-spun cotton
- The 2000 Gildan® Ultra Cotton® 100% US Cotton T-Shirt is 100% US cotton
- The 5000 Gildan® Heavy Cotton™ 100% Cotton T-Shirt is 100% US cotton
- The AL2300 Allmade Unisex Recycled Blend T-Shirt is a 50% recycled cotton / 50% post-consumer recycled polyester blend.
- The BC3001 BELLA+CANVAS® Unisex Jersey Short Sleeve T-Shirt is 100% Airlume combed and ring-spun cotton
- The 202 Tultex Unisex Fine Jersey T-Shirt is 100% pre-shrunk ring-spun USA cotton
For this product, shirts are offered in black or white only. For a different color shirt, request a custom quote.
What is the maximum screen print size?
A standard adult front or back print can be up to approximately 12" × 15". Other common placements include a 3.5" × 3.5" left chest, approximately 3.5" × 3.5" on a short sleeve. Final print size depends on the garment style and size.
Can I print my shirt other than in the front chest area?
Yes. You can screen print on the front, back, left chest, and sleeves.
Is there an extra charge for sleeve printing?
Yes. Sleeve printing may require an additional per-piece charge. Adult short-sleeve printing is generally limited to approximately a 3.5" × 3.5" print area.
What happens if there is a problem with my screen printed order?
Report production issues promptly after delivery so we can review the order. Depending on the situation, we may resolve an approved claim through replacement, reprinting, or credit. 215 Prints requires reporting quality concerns within 7 days of delivery.