How to make custom t-shirts: Printing methods, costs, and design tips
Learn how to make custom t-shirts with eight proven methods, design tips, and a t-shirt printing cost breakdown. Start creating with Printify – it's free.
Print-on-demand shirts for every need
Create custom t-shirts from $7.95. No stock or minimums, a huge catalog of custom t-shirts, and free design tools for your business.
Trusted by 10M+ sellers
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What are print-on-demand shirts?
A print-on-demand shirt is a blank tee customized with your own design. There are no upfront costs or inventory – we make products only after you make a sale. When an order comes in, our Print Providers print, package, and ship it directly to you or your customers.
Printify connects sellers with a global network of vetted Print Providers, giving you access to more product options, competitive pricing, and full control over your margins.
How much do print-on-demand shirts cost?
Print-on-demand shirts on Printify start at $7.95, or $5.92 with Printify Premium. Printing one design area is included in the price. Shipping, taxes, extra print areas, and storefront fees are calculated separately before checkout.
Gildan 64000 Softstyle T-Shirt
Printify price
$7.95
Printify Premium price
$5.92
Gildan 5000 Heavy Cotton Tee
Printify price
$8.39
Printify Premium price
$6.20
Bella+Canvas 3001 Jersey Short Sleeve Tee
Printify price
$10.98
Printify Premium price
$8.77
Next Level 3600 Cotton Crew Tee
Printify price
$11.43
Printify Premium price
$9.02
Comfort Colors 1717 Garment-Dyed T-shirt
Printify price
$12.41
Printify Premium price
$10.72
Printify price
$17.99
Printify Premium price
$13.30
Next Level 3604 Cotton Ringer T-Shirt
Printify price
$16.57
Printify Premium price
$12.37
Printify price
$23.12
Printify Premium price
$16.76
Shirt styles for every t-shirt business
Choose from dozens of shirt styles – ours is the largest print-on-demand product selection out there, with over 2,000 items for you to design and sell.
Sell t-shirts online, your way
- Classic custom-printed t-shirts
- Long sleeve shirts
- Graphic tees
- AOP custom tees
- Other custom apparel
How to sell your first custom t-shirt
With Printify, custom t-shirt printing is simple: choose your product, tap Start designing, upload designs, adjust, and hit Save. Then, order for yourself or publish to your store.
Customize even more products
Need soft, long-sleeve shirts, activewear for kids, games, hoodies, or accessories with your own logo or design? We have it all. Browse our Product Catalog and sell custom gear with professional-grade product quality and zero minimum order requirement.
T-shirt printing with free tools and integrations
Multi-language text editor
Add text in hundreds of fonts and various languages directly in the tool. No need to upload files – just type or add emojis to your t-shirts.
Fiverr integration
by hiring professionals on Fiverr. Discover artists around the world and prepare your shirts directly through the Product Creator.
AI image generator and background remover
Generate authentic graphics or erase messy backgrounds without separate software. These built-in tools help you create high-resolution artwork that preserves every sharp detail.
Pattern creator
Upload a single image and multiply it instantly to build a seamless pattern. This feature is perfect for all-over print styles, allowing you to sell custom gear with seam-to-seam coverage.
Free graphics library
Access our curated library of free-to-use visuals. We have everything from holiday designs to eco-friendly themes, with assets updated regularly to keep visuals fresh.
Shutterstock integration
Pick professional stock photos from the Shutterstock library without the high price tag. You only pay for the visuals after a customer buys a t-shirt from your shop.
Design file specs
Before you upload custom designs, check that your file meets these specs:
- Formats – JPEG, PNG, and SVG
- Resolution – 300 DPI recommended for JPEG and PNG
- File size – up to 100 MB for JPEG/PNG and 20 MB for SVG
- 3X and XXL designs – open the product in Product Creator, select the variant, and check the exact print area dimensions
- Scaling – apparel designs scale down for smaller sizes, but not up for sizes larger than L
- AOP designs – keep key details inside the safe area and cover the bleed area
See the full print file requirements.
Are print-on-demand shirts profitable?
Yes, print-on-demand shirts can be profitable when your retail price covers fulfillment, shipping, platform fees, discounts, ads, and returns.
Example
A Bella+Canvas 3001 with an $8.77 fulfillment cost (with Printify Premium)* sold at $24.99 leaves $16.22 before shipping, taxes, storefront fees, and ad spend.
Run that math before you launch a clothing line or scale your POD shirts.
*The production cost includes the fulfillment price of one item with one print. It doesn’t include shipping fees, taxes, and other possible storefront expenses.
How to sell print-on-demand t-shirts in 4 steps
When you ask how to make custom t-shirts, the answer is simple: Do it in minutes with Printify!
Over 10M creators worldwide trust Printify
Liora Goren, Ahavti Lifestyle
"I don’t have to invest the money I can’t lose into my business. With Printify, I only pay the fulfillment fees, and the rest is all profit."
April Showers, Afro Unicorn
"I really appreciate working with Printify on my brand. Afro Unicorn was only supposed to be my design on a white shirt. It is so much more. Printify allows me the time to run the business and not work in the business."
Rich Khun, Hustle Ninjas
"Printify helped me start a completely hands-off revenue stream. When you spot a niche that you want to enter quickly, you don’t have to worry about buying stock or equipment."
Christopher, Dog Ross Pet Painting
"Printify Premium has helped my profit margins tremendously, and spending $20 a month has probably saved me over $200 a month."
Aiste & Karolis, MinieArt
"Using Printify saved our struggling business of 6 years and gave us more time with our family."
Gary Stokes, OceansAsia
"I like Printify products because they tie in with our organisation’s message."
Raihanaty A. Jalil, SHYFT Creations
"I love the Printify Product Creator. It keeps everything consistent and allows me to keep my brand looking sharp and professional."
Design and sell print-on-demand t-shirts online
Start creating your own custom t-shirts with Printify today.
Sell custom t-shirts anywhere
Design and sell customized apparel on leading eCommerce sales channels like TikTok Shop, Etsy, or Shopify. Easily sync your listings for automated order fulfillment.
We ship print-on-demand shirts globally
Printify has completed over 60M orders, ships to 209 countries and territories, and works with more than 140 facilities. Production usually takes 2-7 business days, depending on product, season, and selected Print Provider.
92% of Printify orders are printed and shipped within the same country as the order. That means faster delivery, shorter shipping distances, and stronger customer satisfaction.
Digital t-shirt printing methods
Direct-to-film (DTF) printing
DTF transfers designs from film onto fabric. It works across many materials and delivers crisp prints for detailed custom-printed t-shirt designs.
Direct-to-garment (DTG) printing
DTG sprays ink straight onto fabric. Use direct-to-garment printing for soft cotton tees, detailed artwork, and colorful illustrations.
All-over print (AOP) or sublimation printing
Sublimation printing bonds ink to polyester using heat. It works best for all-over print and cut-and-sew t-shirts with full-surface artwork.
Custom embroidery
Give your brand a premium look with custom embroidered shirts. Instead of ink, embroidery stitches your artwork directly onto the custom shirts, creating a professional, textured look. Perfect for merch, uniforms, and promotional merchandise.
Why make your own shirts with Printify?
Free design tools
Skip the expensive software. Our beginner-friendly tool includes a Text Editor, an AI Image Generator, free graphics, and more to help you create unique designs without prior skills.
Dedicated support
We’ve got your back 24/7. From production status to shipping updates, our team’s happy to help. We handle the logistics so you can focus on making sales.
100% free
No upfront costs, subscriptions, or hidden fees. Customize everyday wear and pay for production and shipping only after an order is placed.
eCommerce integrations
From your own website to popular marketplaces like Etsy and eBay, we integrate with leading sales channels for streamlined selling.
Bulk order discounts
Order at least 20 of the same item to unlock bulk savings – up to 46% off products and 50% off shipping – and keep more of the profit on every sale.
Global Print Providers
Printify localizes t-shirt printing across more than 140 facilities worldwide. That means sellers get more routing options, faster regional fulfillment, and less need for in-house printing equipment.
What to look for in print-on-demand companies
Comparing suppliers for your shirts? These are the factors that decide your margin and delivery speed. Here’s where Printify stands on each.
- Base price: T-shirts from $7.95, or $5.92 with Printify Premium.
- Minimums: None. Order one shirt or hundreds.
- Cost to start: Free account, no upfront costs.
- Bulk savings: Up to 46% off products and 50% off shipping on 20+ similar items from the same Print Provider.
- Production time: 2-7 business days.
- Fulfillment: 140+ facilities and shipping to 209 countries and territories.
- Catalog: Dozens of shirt styles and 2,000+ other custom products.
- Design tools: Product Creator, AI Image Generator, free graphics, and Shutterstock and Fiverr integrations.
- Sales channels: Shopify, Etsy, TikTok Shop, Amazon, WooCommerce, and more.
Need more than shirts? Browse custom hoodies, custom hats, and other custom products.
Print-on-demand shirt printing: FAQ
Score that first t-shirt business sale
Create custom t-shirts, launch your store, and let Printify handle the messy middle – production, packing, and shipping.
Design your own t-shirt today
Free account, free design tools, no upfront costs, and no order minimums. Pick a design and start today.
