How Much Do Custom T-Shirts Cost for Schools (From Actual Experience)?
If you’re coordinating spirit wear for the entire student body, kitting out the soccer team, or planning a PTA fundraiser, your first question is always: “What’s this going to cost?”
At Tee Vision Printing, a local Philadelphia screen-printing shop, we’ve helped hundreds of schools from Fishtown to University City to the Main Line navigate their custom apparel projects. The good news is that with bulk orders, schools can get high-quality, durable t-shirts at a very reasonable per-shirt cost.
Let’s break down the numbers, the factors that affect them, and how your school in Philly can get the best value.
The Short Answer: A Pricing Range
For a typical school order of 50-100 t-shirts with a one-color logo on the front, you can expect a starting range of $8 to $15 per shirt, all-inclusive (shirt + printing + shipping). For larger orders of 200+, that price can drop significantly, often to the $5 to $10 range.
Why the range? The final price per shirt depends on four key variables:
1. T-Shirt Quality & Brand (The "Blank")
The shirt itself is usually the single biggest cost factor. Schools have different needs:
Budget-Friendly & Durable (Best for Large Spirit Orders): Gildan Heavy Cotton T-Shirts are the most budget-friendly option. It’s thick, affordable, and stands up to repeated washes. The cost to get the blank is around $3-$5, depending on the quantity.
Soft, Modern Fit (Popular for Clubs & Sports): Bella + Canvas 3001 or Next Level 3600. These are lighter, softer, and have a more contemporary cut. Students often prefer them because they have a boxier fit and better durability over the long term compared to Gildan Shirts. The cost to get them is around $5-$8.
Performance & Athletic (Ideal for Sports Teams): Sport-Tek or Port & Company performance blends. These wick moisture and are great for activewear. The cost to get them is around $6-$10.
Our Philly Pro Tip: We keep a huge inventory of these major brands in our Philadelphia shop. Choosing a common, in-stock shirt avoids material delays and can save you fees.
2. Number of Ink Colors in Your Design
This is where screen printing shines for schools. Pricing is often based on "color counts."
1-Color Design: The most cost-effective. Perfect for simple school logos, mascots, or text. (e.g., a maroon "Northeast High Vikings" print). For one-color prints, we usually use screen printing because it’s fast and easier to set up, resulting in faster turnaround times.
2-3 Color Design: Adds a little to the cost but allows for more detailed logos or for logos with multiple colors. For this type of design, we can screenprint it too, depending on the quantity. Schools tend to prefer digital printing because it’s cheaper; however, if you’re looking for more vibrant prints, screen printing is the way to go, even at a higher cost.
4+ Color Design: Used for full-color photographic prints. The cost might increase a little bit, but not too much, if you order in bulk. For this type of design, we use either DTG or DTF printing, depending on the budget. DTG print is definitely better for long-term durability; however, if a school is just looking to give these away, they’d rather save on cost and do DTF print (or heat-press the logo). On the bright side, if you're a school, going with this type of design lets you be more creative, since the number of colors doesn’t determine the price. All you need to do is order in bulk.
3. Total Order Quantity
Screen printing has upfront setup costs (creating screens). These costs are added across the entire order. The more shirts you print, the lower the cost per shirt. This is why bulk orders are so affordable for schools.
Example: The screen setup for a 1-color print might be $30. Spread over 50 shirts, that's $0.60/shirt. Spread over 200 shirts, it's only $0.15/shirt.
4. Extras & Logistics
Print Locations: Front only is standard. Adding a print to the back (e.g., player numbers) doubles the print area and increases the cost.
Names & Numbers: A separate setup fee is required for each unique name/number.
Delivery: Factor in delivery or pick-up from our Philadelphia facility.
Real-World Scenarios for Philadelphia Schools
How to Get the Best Value for Your Philadelphia School
Plan Ahead: Rushed orders incur rush fees. Contact us 10-14 days before your deadline.
Simplify Your Design: Work with our designers to create an impactful design that uses 1-3 colors. This is the biggest lever to control costs.
Consolidate Orders: Can the Spanish Club, Debate Team, and Student Council order together? A single, larger order gets a much better rate.
Choose the Right Shirt for the Job: We’ll guide you. Don’t put a varsity baseball team in heavy cotton, and don’t pay for premium softness for a one-day field trip shirt.
A Philadelphia Success Story: Tee Vision & Manor College
You don't have to just take our word for it. For over four years, we've been the trusted printing partner for Manor College right here in Jenkintown, PA. Their experience exemplifies the partnership we strive for with every school.
Like many schools, Manor College has a wide range of apparel needs: bulk spirit wear for the entire campus, custom jerseys for its varsity teams, and small, quick-turn orders for new clubs and events. Juggling different vendors for these needs was creating inconsistency and stress for their staff. They needed one reliable partner who could handle it all, without compromising on speed or quality. They valued our clear communication, our ability to pivot between large screen printing runs and small-batch digital prints, and our unwavering commitment to their deadlines. A seamless, four-year (and counting) partnership. Whether it's 500 orientation shirts with a two-week turnaround or 25 last-minute club shirts, Manor College's staff has peace of mind knowing their order is in expert hands. Their repeat business is a testament to the quality, reliability, and customer service we promise to every Philadelphia-area school.
"Tee Vision is our go-to for a reason. They understand the pace of a campus and deliver exceptional quality every single time, whether it's a big order for the whole college or a small batch for a new student club. They make us look good."
— Manor College Administration
Ready for a Precise Quote? Here’s Exactly What We Need to Know.
To give you a fast, accurate, and transparent quote at Tee Vision Printing, just have these details ready:
Your School's Location (We love serving all Philadelphia schools!)
Desired T-Shirt Type (Or ask for our samples!)
Final Design Artwork (AI or EPS vector files are best, but we can help digitize.)
Print Colors & Placement (Front, back, sleeve?)
Total Quantity Needed
Your Deadline
Let’s Create Shirts Your School Will Be Proud Of
At Tee Vision Printing, we’re more than just a Philadelphia printer. We’re your partner in creating apparel that builds school spirit, unites teams, and fuels successful fundraisers. We understand school budgets and timelines.
Get your personalized, no-obligation quote today:
📞 Call us: (267) 437-0087
📧 Email us: info@teevisionprinting.com
🖱️ Use our Online Quote Form.
Let’s make your school vision come to life
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: What's the minimum order for custom school t-shirts?
Most screen printing shops, including ours at Tee Vision Printing in Philadelphia, have a minimum order of 12 to 24 pieces for custom t-shirts. However, the per-shirt cost becomes much more economical for orders of 50 or more. For very small orders (like for a teacher or a small club), we often recommend a digital printing service with a minimum of 6 pieces.
Q2: How long does it take to get custom t-shirts for our school event?
A typical production timeline is 10-14 business days from final approved artwork to delivery. This allows time for proofing, screen creation (for screen printing), production, and curing. For large spirit wear orders (200+ shirts) during peak seasons (like August or before homecoming), we recommend allowing 14 business days. Always ask your printer for a detailed timeline upfront.
Q3: Can you help us design our t-shirts if we don't have a professional logo?
Absolutely. Our in-house graphic design team specializes in creating clean, print-ready artwork for Philadelphia schools and teams. Whether you have a rough sketch, an idea, or just your school colors and mascot, we can turn it into a great-looking design. We'll also advise on how to keep the design cost-effective for printing.