Choosing the Right T-Shirt for Printing

As many people know custom t-shirts are one of the most effective forms of advertising. If you are interested in getting shirts printed for your company choosing the right t-shirt is one of the most important steps. Hopefully through this article I will be able to help some you make an educated decision when it comes to getting shirts printed.

Choosing the wrong weight of shirt is a very common mistake.

The first mistake is selecting a shirt that is too heavy. If you are having shirts made for a lawn care company you would not want to use a heavy t-shirt like the Hanes Beefy T 6.1 Oz. They would not breath as well as a lighter shirt and would be uncomfortable during the summer heat. Not to mention these garments would be more expensive than something lighter. If you were printing shirts to sell this would be a good choice. They are very high quality and that would show while on display.

The second weight related mistake is choosing a product that is to light. There is a brand name "AAA" that is made in China. These shirts can be bought for about $.40 a piece. But the old adage applies: "You get what you pay for." If you are looking to print shirts to give away these shirts will be okay, but will not last longer than a few washes. If you are going to sell the shirts, I would strongly advise not using this brand. Other manufacturers make cheap t-shirts as well. For the sake of longevity you should not use anything with a weight less than 4 ounces.

Now on to color.

The color of shirt that you choose will effect the cost of printing. Light colors like ash, white or yellow should not effect the price. However dark colors like black, navy, forest et. al. will increase the cost of printing. They are also more expensive than the lighter colors. These colors -- especially black -- are worth the extra cost. They will be your best sellers -- people love black t-shirts. The printing on these shirts needs an undercoat. If this is not done the color of the shirt will peek through the printed ink. When estimating what you will pay for printing you must add the cost of one color to the cost of printing. Once in a while you will encounter a company that does not require the undercoat. This will save you money. But trust me I can tell you from experience, it is not worth it.

Shirt Style Effects Price

One thing that will effect the cost of a shirt is the style. It should have no effect on the cost of printing. Unless you are interested in an unusual printing location like down the sleeve. The difference between short sleeves and long sleeves can double the cost of a tee. While adding a pocket will add at least a dollar to the cost. Printing on the pocket is can be difficult and you would have a hard time finding a company that would do that for you.

Discounts for Volume

Unlike other apparel products t-shirts are a little more difficult to get volume discounts on. The price mark up that the distributor is making on the t-shirts can often be as low as 3%. So discounts on top of an already good price would be cutting into profits.

In conclusion choosing the right t-shirt for your printing job is not hard as long as you know what to look for. Don't choose a shirt that is too heavy or to light. Select the correct color. Match your company colors, or colors that will complement your logo. Or if you are printing these shirts to be sold, you can never go wrong with black. Style is very important, as it will effect dramatically effect the cost of the shirt. Ask for volume discounts, but if you get a discount don't expect allot.

Darren H is a web application and graphic designer who has shifted his focus to the screen printing and embroidery industry. He is currently the web developer for Outlet Shirts. If you are looking for custom clothing contact Outlet Shirts for a bid. Our work is very high quality, while our prices are the best around!

Darren H. can be contacted through Outlet Shirts