Two organizations call Kong, both asking for two hundred shirts. Why would they get different numbers when they ask for a quote?
That’s because “two hundred shirts” is only part of the story. How many colors is the logo? Is it front only, or a sleeve print too? What garment, and how soon do you need it? Every answer can change the number, which is why we don’t post a price list and call it a day.
We’re Kong Screenprinting and we print for the organizations that keep this city moving: breweries, restaurants, trades crews, startups, schools, and nonprofits that reorder again and again. And we’ve earned more than 100 five-star Google reviews doing it. This guide walks through what shapes your quote, so you know what info we’ll need to quickly give you an accurate quote.
The quick answer, before you read the whole thing
If you only read one section, read this one. A custom screen printing quote comes down to a handful of factors, and the better you understand them the smoother the process will be for you:
- Quantity. More pieces means a lower cost per piece.
- Colors and decoration locations. Each ink color and each spot on the garment adds setup and labor involved for screen printing. And the size and shape of your logo plays a huge role in the stitch count for embroidery.
- Garment choice. A basic tee, a premium blank, and a heavyweight hoodie sit at different price points.
- Decoration method. Screen printing, DTF, and embroidery are distinct processes and each carry per-piece math.
- Turnaround. 3 weeks is standard, but tell us your real date and we’ll let you know if we can hit it.
- Artwork readiness. Clean, vector art moves through the process faster than a logo that needs rebuilding.
Tell us as many details as you can about your project, like what the merch is for, how many you need, and when you need it. Then we’ll build an easy to understand quote around your actual needs.
Why we quote every project instead of posting a price list
A price posted list sounds great in theory, but there are important variables that are difficult to account for in a generally posted price list. Will your design need an underlay? That impacts your cost as an additional color, even if you can’t see it in the final print. And embroidery requires processing your design through a digitizing software to get an accurate stitch count. Everything we do is custom, and it’s difficult to get accuracy from a general price list.
So we ask questions first. What’s the merch for, how many do you need, and when do you need it? We build an estimate around your actual order and hopefully we build a relationship in the process.
Start that conversation on our quote page or call 512-851-7024 and we’ll walk through the variables. For the full picture on how we work with organizations that order again and again, see our hub, custom screen printing in Austin, made for business.
Quantity: the biggest lever in your price
Screen printing has real setup work up front. We burn a screen for every color, mix ink, line up registration, and dial in the press before a single shirt runs. That time and labor is the same whether you order twenty-five pieces or five hundred, so the more pieces you spread it across, the lower your cost per piece falls.
That’s why a run of two hundred lands at a very different per-shirt number than a run of twenty-five, even with the exact same design. Our minimum is generally 25 pieces, below that DTF is often a better fit – and that has a different math entirely (more below).
Planning ahead helps too. We try to leave space in our production schedule to accommodate rush requests, but locking everything in well in advance of your due date ensures a smoother process with less stress, and sometimes less cost. Our guide to minimum orders and turnaround times walks through this in more depth.
Colors and print locations
For screen printing, every ink color in your design means another screen to expose, setup, and clean out. And every print location means another pass through the press and dryer. A clean one-color logo on the chest is about as simple as a print gets. A four-color design on the front with a second print on the sleeve is a totally different job, with a totally different cost structure, even at the same shirt count.
If you have a set budget, tell us what it is and we can work with you to adjust the color count and print locations that fit your budget while still staying true to the goals of your project.
If your brand color has to match exactly (honestly, whose doesn’t?), we match ink and thread to Pantone colors so your blue is your blue on every run. Oh yeah, and we do it for no extra cost. You shouldn’t have to pay extra to make sure the colors match your brand. Our guide to Pantone and brand color matching in screen printing goes deeper on how that process works.
Garment choice
A basic tee, a premium ringspun shirt, and a heavyweight hoodie all sit at different price points. That’s just for the garment itself, not the printing or embroidery.
So we help you balance feel, durability, and budget. Picking the lowest-cost blank to hit a number sounds good until the shirts shrink after one wash or spend their life in a drawer instead of on someone’s back. A shirt nobody wears is money spent for nothing, so we’d rather point you toward gear that people reach for.
A team that spends all day in their shirts needs something built for daily wear and commercial laundering. A one-time giveaway might call for a lighter blank. We understand the different objectives of each and can guide you to garments that achieve your goals and fit your budget.
Print method: screen printing, DTF, or embroidery
The best decorations method is tailored to fit the garments you choose and intention of the project, and that changes your quote too.
**Screen printing** is our flagship process, best for tees, hoodies, and medium to larger runs design. It’s the most durable of the methods we offer, and the price per piece drops as your count climbs.
**Direct-to-film (DTF)** is a digitally printed transfer that we also press in-house. It shines on smaller runs, full-color art, hard to decorate fabrics, and per-piece personalization like names and numbers. There’s no screen setup to pay for, so the math runs better at low counts than high ones.
**Embroidery** is the premium look for hats, polos, and jackets. When you need something with a polished, professional look, nothing beats it. Still weighing print against stitching? Our screen printing vs. embroidery breakdown covers that in full.
We’ll tell you straight which method fits your goals and budget. If your job needs a decoration technique we don’t run, like DTG, we’ll say so and point you toward what fits. Our full breakdown of screen printing vs. DTG vs. DTF covers how these stack up.
Turnaround and rush timing
Standard turnaround is about three weeks once your order is paid. That window covers confirming your art, ordering the right garments, decorating, and a quality check before anything ships.
Need it faster? Tell us the real date. For screen printing and DTF, our approach is simple: if we can get it done, we’ll do it, and in most cases there’s no rush fee. Embroidery runs on a tighter calendar and is more likely to incur rush fees, but the sooner you flag a deadline, the more room we have to work with.
Sometimes an extra fee is unavoidable, and we’ll say so up front. We’ll also tell you honestly when a date isn’t doable. Our guide to rush and same-day printing in Austin covers what’s possible when your deadline is tight.
Artwork readiness and the add-ons that don’t cost extra
Everything starts with the art. The cleaner your file, the faster we can quote it and the sharper it prints. Vector files (AI, EPS, or PDF) scale to any size without going fuzzy. If all you’ve got is a logo pulled off your website, send it anyway and we’ll tell you what we can do. Our artwork file prep guide walks through getting your files press-ready.
Plus, a few things add real value without adding to the price. An accurate digital proof comes standard on every order. If that’s not enough, we’re happy to coordinate a photo proof or an in-person press check, free of charge, at any order size.
Coordinating a large group order, like a school fundraiser or a team roster? Ask about setting up a webstore. Everyone orders and pays on their own, saving you from chasing sizes and payments by hand.
Getting an accurate number
The fastest way to a real quote is to hand us those details up front. We’ll take it from there and tell you exactly what’s driving the number, not just what the number is.
If you’ve never ordered custom shirts before, our step-by-step guide to ordering custom shirts in Austin walks through exactly what happens after you reach out. Ready to get a quote for your next run? Use our online designer or reach out to our sales team to get a quote and tell us about your project.
Frequently asked questions
How much does custom screen printing cost in Austin?
It depends on your quantity, colors and print locations, garment choice, print method, and sometimes your timeline. We quote every project instead of posting a price list, so the quote reflects your actual order instead of a generic guess. Share those details and we’ll break the number down for you.
What’s the minimum order for custom screen printing?
Generally 25 pieces, though we make exceptions depending on the job. Screen printing carries a minimum because the setup work happens no matter how many shirts you print. For smaller quantities, DTF is often the better fit and doesn’t carry the same setup cost.
Do you charge extra for rush orders?
For screen printing and DTF, usually not. If we can get it done, we’ll do it. Embroidery runs on a tighter calendar, so earlier notice helps. There are times an extra fee is unavoidable, and we’ll tell you up front if that’s the case.
Can you match my exact brand color, and does it cost extra?
You know it! And it doesn’t cost extra. We match to Pantone formulas so your brand color prints the same on every run. Send your brand guidelines or color codes with your artwork and we’ll take it from there.
Do you charge extra to see a proof before you print?
Nope. A digital proof is standard on every order. If you want more, we’re happy to coordinate a photo proof or an in-person press check, free of charge, no matter your order size. You approve it before we commit a single shirt.
What’s the cost difference between screen printing, DTF, and embroidery?
Screen printing has setup costs up front that spread across your run, so it gets cheaper per piece as your count grows. DTF has no screen setup, so its per-piece cost stays fairly consistent whether you order ten or a hundred, a strong fit for smaller runs. Embroidery has an economy of scale somewhere between screen printing and DTF.
Do you offer online stores for group orders, and does that change my quote?
Yes, we set up webstores for groups like schools, PTOs, and nonprofits so everyone can order and pay on their own. Solving the biggest headache of collecting sizes and payments by hand.
Ready to start
Your custom merch deserves a partner, not just a printer. Tell us what you need and we’ll show you exactly what’s behind the number. **Get a quote** and we’ll take it from there.
