How Much Does Screen Printing Cost In California In 2026?

For those of you who want to order custom screen printed T-shirts, I am sure you are curious about the latest screen printing prices. 

Now, although there isn’t a fixed cost and companies charge differently based on order volume and type of printing, you can expect to pay $5-$20 per shirt. These are the latest going rates in Northern California. 

Here, as a rule of thumb, printing lesser number of shirts costs more per unit. For instance, if you are ordering 25 screen printed shirts, the per unit cost will be higher than let’s say 100 similar shirts. 

In this blog, I have explained how much does screen printing cost exactly in the current market, including the cost per shirt for different order volumes. These estimates are based on examples from our own screen printing orders at 5 Star Apparel.

So, let’s get into it. 

Key takeaways

• Screen printing costs between $5-$20 per shirt in Northern California. The exact cost depends on order volume and what is included in the final quote.
• The higher your order volume the lesser your per-shirt screen printing cost will be. That’s because setup costs get spread across a larger order. 
• A single color and single location print will cost less than multi color and multi design print. 
• Do check if the quote includes shirt, setup, printing, additional locations, and other fees whenever you compare screen printing prices. 

How much does screen printing cost in Northern California? 

The latest cost of screen printing in Northern California region, including the Bay Area, is between $5 and $20 per shirt.

Here, smaller order volumes and complex designs cost more per unit whereas bigger volumes and simpler designs bring the per unit price low to a great extent.

Here are the screen printing prices you can expect to pay in today’s market: 

Note: Although these price ranges are based on the screen printing orders we process at 5 Star Apparel, these are not our official price chart. The actual cost you pay can be higher or lower depending on the apparel, total colors, print locations, and design complexity. 

For a clear idea about how much screen printing will cost, you can get in touch with us. Our team will provide you with a clear quote free of charge based on what you need. 

What do these screen printing prices mean for your order?

Well, if there’s one takeaway from these cost ranges, it is that the bulkier your order the less your per unit cost becomes. 

For instance, let’s say you want to order just 20-30 screen printed T-shirts for brand promotion, souvenir, small event, etc. In this case, the cost per unit can be much higher, in the range of $12-$20. 

However, if you order more than 100 shirts for your school team, employee outfit, or a large event, the cost easily comes down to $7-$14 per T-shirt. 

This is one reason why most of the orders even we get at 5 Star Apparel are bulk orders. 

What determines your final screen printing cost?

The total cost you will foot for screen printing is decided by four big factors. This includes: 

Let’s look at each of the factors in detail. 

#1. Order volume

Your order volume is the biggest factor that determines screen printing cost per shirt. That’s mainly because basic preparation work for screen printing takes a lot of time. 

For instance, for every screen printing order we get at 5 Star Apparel, we prepare separate screens, set up inks, and adjust the press precisely to the ordered print. And we do this before every production run.

So, be it a 50 shirt or a 200 shirt order, the same process is repeated over and over again. This is why the unit economics of screen printing works better at bigger volumes. 

#2. Number of colors

Next up, the number of colors you have in your design can also increase or decrease the cost of printing. 

Here, if your design has one simple color, the cost to print will be very low. But as you add a second, third, or fourth color, the production work becomes more complex. That’s because every color will need a screen of its own, which again calls for extra set-up. 

Now, I am not suggesting that you should go for less colors to save money. In fact, if your design needs a lot of colors, it might be worth every extra penny.

However, if you are working on a small budget, choose the simplest design out there and you will be able to bring down the cost of screen printing significantly. 

#3. Apparel type

Thirdly, the T-shirt apparel you choose is also a big cost determinant. There is a simple logic here: A basic cotton T-shirt will any day cost less than T-shirts made from ringspun cotton, tri-blend fabric, performance material, or specialty fabric.

So, if you want screen printed T-shirts for a school, college, or corporate event, you can choose standard cotton and keep the prices lower.

But if you want branded T-shirts to outfit your employees at the workspace, ringspun cotton or tri-blend fabrics are better choices even for a higher cost. 

4. Print location

The total area of a T-shirt you want to get printed also determines your final custom T-shirt printing cost. 

For instance, if you just want a simple front print, it will cost less. But if you want a dual print, one each on the front and back, the cost will be higher. 

The reason is again the total production work involved. For instance, every extra print location we have to work on, we need to create set-up additional production. 

How much does it cost in total to screen print different order volumes in Northern California?

Alright, now that you know the per unit screen printing pricing for different order volumes and the factors that affect costs, let’s look at the total cost of bulk orders. 

A. Total screen printing cost for 50 T-shirts 

For an order of 50 shirts, a reasonable budget in Northern California is between $9-$16 per shirt. At this price point, you can expect to pay between $450 and $800 for the overall order.

B. Total screen printing cost for 100 T-shirts 

For a bulk order of 100 basic cotton T-shirts, the cost of screen printing is between $7-$14 per shirt. So, you are looking at a total cost of $700-$1,400.

C. Total screen printing cost for 250-500 T-shirts 

A bulk order of screen printed T-shirt quantities between 250 and 500 is $5-$12 per unit. At this price point, here’s what your bulk cost will look like:

• 250 T-shirts: $1,250-$3,000
• 500 T-shirts: $2,500-$6,000

Bonus: Beware of these extra chargers that some screen printers quote later

You might come across advertised screen printing prices that look very promising. But then, the actual quote you get might be way higher. This happens mainly because some screen printers add extra costs later. 

Thankfully, if you know the right questions to ask upfront, rest assured you won’t be caught off guard. 

Here are the extra charges that some printers add later, the rationale they give for the cost, and questions you can ask up-front to avoid surprise costs later: 

FAQs about screen printing cost 

Does screen printing cost more on dark shirts?

It can.

Dark garments sometimes need an extra white underbase under the artwork so that the colors show properly and don’t dull against the dark fabric. This requires an extra screen and production step. 

How can you reduce your screen printing cost?

Here are few things that help bring the per unit cost down significantly: 

1. Order more shirts: If you know you will eventually need 100 shirts, ordering 50 now and another 50 later will cost more.
2. Keep the design simple: Reducing unnecessary colors can help lower production costs.
3. Use one print location: A front-only design is more economical than printing front, back, and sleeves.
4. Choose a practical fabric: You don’t always need the most expensive T-shirt available.
5. Avoid rush production: Give your printer enough time to schedule the order normally.
6. Reuse an existing design: If the same artwork is already set up with the printer, a reorder can help avoid some of the original setup costs.

Is screen printing worth it for small orders?

The unit economics of screen printing doesn’t really favor small orders given that there is a lot of set-up involved for every order we receive. 

So, if you want only 10 or 15 T-shirts, screen printing might not be as worthwhile as compared to a 100 T-shirt order. 

For smaller orders I personally suggest you choose DTF printing. That’s because when it comes to the cost of DTF vs screen printing for smaller orders, the former is much more favorable for smaller orders. 

Lastly, do ask the screen printer these questions before placing your order:

Final words 

I am sure you now have a much better idea about how much does screen printing cost in Northern California. 

As a basic range, you can expect to pay between $5 and $20 per unit for screen printing in the present-day market.

Got more questions or want to know the exact screen printing quote for your order?

You can get in touch with us!

At 5 Star Apparel, we can provide you a free no obligation quote for your screen printing order. Also, we can help choose the right garment, design, and printing setup for your order.