Staff in matching shirts make a three-person business look organised
Shop Custom ApparelCustom apparel is the cheapest walking advertising a small business can buy. Staff wear it at events, customers wear it around town, and unlike most promotional items nobody throws a comfortable shirt away.
The decisions that matter are the printing method and the blank garment. Those two set your per-unit price, how the shirt feels, and whether the print survives twenty washes.
The default. Softstyle cotton at 5–5.5 oz suits most business use and is comfortable enough to be worn by choice.
Best for: Events, giveaways, team kitA step up in formality, almost always embroidered with a left-chest logo. The standard for customer-facing staff.
Best for: Staff uniforms, trade show teamsHigh perceived value and worn far more often than a t-shirt in cooler months. Higher unit cost.
Best for: Staff, premium gifts, merchandiseEmbroidered front panel, one size fits most. No sizing problem to solve, which makes ordering simple.
Best for: Outdoor events, construction, sportsPractical branding for food, hospitality and demo staff.
Best for: Food service, markets, demos| Printing methods | Screen print for 24+ in one to four colours; DTG for small runs and photographic artwork; embroidery for polos, caps and a premium finish; vinyl for individual names and numbers |
|---|---|
| Fabric weight | 4.0–4.5 oz lightweight; 5.0–5.5 oz standard softstyle; 6.0 oz+ heavyweight workwear |
| Fabric type | 100% cotton takes every method well; poly-cotton blends shrink and wrinkle less; tri-blends are softest; performance polyester for sport |
| Print sizes | Full front about 11–12 in wide; left chest 3–4 in |
| Artwork | Vector files (.ai, .eps, .svg) or 300 DPI at full size, with Pantone codes for exact brand colour |
| Typical budget | $6–$12 per shirt at 50–100 units with a one-colour print |
DiscountMugs carries the full custom apparel range with no-minimum options on many lines.
See Custom Apparel pricesScreen printing has a setup cost per colour but very low cost per shirt, so it wins above roughly 24 units with simple one to four colour artwork. DTG has no setup fee and handles unlimited colours and photographs, making it the better option for small runs and complex designs.
A 5.0 to 5.5 oz softstyle cotton is the practical standard. It is substantial enough not to feel disposable, soft enough that people wear it by choice, and takes printing well. Lighter 4.0–4.5 oz shirts can be slightly see-through in pale colours.
For a one-colour front print on a mid-weight blank, expect roughly $8–$12 each at 50 units and $6–$9 at 100 units by screen print. DTG runs about $10–$16 regardless of quantity. Sizes 2XL and above usually carry a surcharge of a dollar or two.
For polos, caps and staff uniforms, yes — embroidery never cracks or fades and reads as more premium. It is priced by stitch count rather than colour count. However, thread cannot hold fine detail or small text, so intricate logos and large designs are better screen printed.
Everything else worth getting right before you place an order.
Printed throws, fitted covers and stretch covers for trade show and event tables.
View buying guide →Branded tumblers, water bottles, mugs and can coolers people actually keep.
View buying guide →Cotton canvas, recycled and non-woven bags printed with your logo.
View buying guide →