CUSTOM T-SHIRT PRICING CALCULATOR
Price your custom apparel for profit. Factor in blank cost, print technique, locations, and packaging to land on a retail price that hits your target margin.
🔒 All calculations run in your browser — no data is stored or sent to our servers.
Industry Apparel Margin Benchmarks
| Pricing Model | Typical Margin | When It Applies |
|---|---|---|
| Keystone Pricing | 50% margin | Traditional wholesale-to-retail markup (2x cost) |
| Wholesale to Boutiques | ~30% margin | Standard margin when selling to third-party retailers |
| Direct-to-Consumer | 60–70% margin | Achievable when selling directly via your own store, no middleman |
The Retail Price Formula
Retail Price = Total Production Cost ÷ (1 − Target Margin % ÷ 100)
Example — DTG front+back print, 50% target margin:
- 1. Blank Cost: $4.50
- 2. Print Cost (DTG + front/back): $4.00 + $3.00 = $7.00
- 3. Packaging: $0.75
- 4. Total Production Cost: $4.50 + $7.00 + $0.75 = $12.25
- 5. Retail Price: $12.25 ÷ (1 − 0.50) = $24.50
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average markup on custom t-shirts?
Most independent apparel sellers mark up custom t-shirts by 2–3x their total production cost, landing in the 50–70% margin range for direct-to-consumer sales. Wholesale-to-boutique pricing runs lower, typically a 30% margin, since the boutique then re-marks the item for their own retail sale.
How do print locations affect garment pricing?
Each additional print location — back, sleeve, or a second color pass — adds direct production cost and should be priced into the total before applying your margin, not absorbed into your profit. A front+back design typically costs $2–4 more to produce than a front-only design.
Which print technique is cheapest for small orders?
DTG (Direct-to-Garment) and vinyl (HTV) are the most cost-effective for small runs since they have no setup cost per design. Screen printing becomes cheaper per unit only at higher volumes (50+ units) because its higher setup cost is spread across more shirts.
About This Calculator
Print technique and bulk discount figures are 2026 industry averages for small-to-mid volume apparel printing — actual costs vary by printer, garment brand, and design complexity.
Last reviewed: 2026
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