Screen Print Cost Calculator
Setup dominates at low quantities.
Cost per unit
$6.51
72.9% margin at $24.00
Screen printing is dominated by setup at low quantities, $0.66 per unit here, falling to $0.33 at twice the run. Below about fifty units, direct-to-garment is usually cheaper despite the higher per-print cost.
How the Screen Print Cost Calculator works
Screen printing is dominated by setup at low quantities, and each colour needs its own screen. Below about fifty units, direct-to-garment is usually cheaper despite its higher per-print cost.
Also known as: silk screen printing cost · screen printing price per shirt · cost per colour screen print
Not financial advice. Marketplace fees change, and they vary by country, plan and seller status. Every rate here is an editable default, not a quoted price, check the platform's current fee schedule before you price a product against it. This is not tax or business advice.
Frequently asked questions
How is screen printing priced?
A setup charge per colour, then a print cost per colour per unit, plus the blank garment. The setup is fixed regardless of run length.
Why does colour count matter so much?
Because each colour requires a separate screen, setup and pass through the press. A four-colour design costs roughly four times the setup of a one-colour design.
At what quantity does screen printing win?
Commonly around fifty to a hundred units for simple designs, higher for complex ones. Below that, the setup dominates and DTG is cheaper.
How do I reduce screen printing costs?
Fewer colours, longer runs, and reusing screens across designs where possible. Reducing from four colours to two typically saves more than any negotiation.