That is the question many screen printers are asking. Let’s take a look at the numbers using an actual example we recently received.
Situation #1 (12 garments)
A local sports team needs 12 t-shirts. They have a design idea but need help with the artwork. They want Navy Blue shirts with the logo/design on the front in at least 2 color but would prefer 4. They want names and numbers on the back and they need it turned around in a week.
Screen Print Costs
Print 4 Color – total cost: $224 / total time: 6 hours 50 minutes / total profit: $76
- Quote the job – 10 minutes @ $60 per hour cost = $10
- Artwork design and approval – 2 hours @ $20 per hour cost = $40
- Four Screens = $60
- Ink & Chemicals = $8
- Shirts $2.50 each = $30
- Numbers (for the back – iron on) = $.5 each = $6
- Labor @ $15 per hour
- Screens – 40 minutes = $10
- Printing and drying the shirts = 2 hours = $30
- Press clean-up – 40 minutes = $10
- Iron on numbers only 5 minutes / shirt = 1 hour = $15
- Fold and package – 20 minutes = $5
- Total time = 6 hours 50 minutes across multiple people
- Total Cost: $224
- Sell the shirts for $20 each = $240 + $60 set up = $300 / $76 profit
DTG Printed Full Color – total cost: $230 / total time: 1 hour / total profit: $70
- Send the order to us – we’ll administrate and ship direct to the customer or to you
- Artwork = Free
- Shirts $2.50 each = $30
- Printing – $15 each = $180
- Shipping – $20
- Sell the shirts for $20 each = $240 + $60 Set up = $70 profit
Situation #2 (6 Garments)
A local group needs 6 t-shirts for an event. They have a design idea but need help with the artwork. They want Navy Blue shirts with the logo/design on the front in at least 2 color but would prefer 4. They need it turned around in a week.
Screen Print Costs
Print 2 Color – total cost: $107.50 / total time: 3 hours / total sale: $160 / profit: $53.50
- Quote the job – 10 minutes @ $60 per hour cost = $10
- Artwork design and approval – 1 hours @ $20 per hour cost = $20
- Two screens = $30
- Ink & Chemicals = $5
- Shirts $2.50 each = $15
- Labor @ $15 per hour
- Screens – 20 minutes = $5
- Printing and drying the shirts = 1 hour = $15
- Press clean-up – 20 minutes = $5
- Fold and package – 10 minutes = $2.50
- Total time = 3 hours across multiple people
- Total Cost: $107.50 or $17.92 each cost
- Sell the shirts for $20 each = $120 + $40 set up = $160 / $26.67 each = $53.50 profit
DTG Printed Full Color – total cost: $230 / total time: 1 hour / total sale: $160 / profit: $87.50
- Send the order to us – we’ll administrate and ship direct to the customer or to you
- Artwork – Free
- Shirts – $2.50 each = $15
- Printing – $15 each = $43.50
- Shipping – $15
- Total Cost: $73.50
- Sell the shirts for $20 each = $120 + $40 Set up = $87.50 profit