What Is a Screen Printing Setup Fee?
A screen printing setup fee is a one-time charge per ink color to create and mount the screen used for that color — it's fixed regardless of how many shirts you order.
Indy Custom Apparel connects Indianapolis-area customers with independent custom apparel providers. We don't own or operate a print shop — pricing, production and turnaround are set by the provider handling your order. See how it works →
The short answer.
A screen printing setup fee is a one-time charge per ink color to create and mount the screen used for that color — it's fixed regardless of how many shirts you order.
- • Charged once per color, not per shirt
- • Covers screen creation and mounting on the press
- • Fixed cost — matters less as quantity increases
- • A key reason screen printing favors higher-volume orders
How to minimize setup costs
Reducing your design to fewer colors is the most direct way to lower screen printing setup costs — going from 4 colors to 2 can meaningfully cut your total quote, especially on smaller orders.
Tell us the project
Apparel type, quantity and timeline — takes about two minutes.
We review the details
Matched against Indianapolis-area providers with the right equipment.
You get connected
A independent provider reaches out with pricing.
Approve and produce
Proofs, pricing and turnaround are handled directly by that provider.
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Questions before you order
Yes — once you've got a sense of what you need, submit a quote request and we'll match you with an Indianapolis-area provider suited to your project.
A screen printing setup fee is a one-time charge per ink color to create and mount the screen used for that color — it's fixed regardless of how many shirts you order.
Submit your project details through our quote form and we'll match you with an independent Indianapolis-area provider.
Ready to get a quote based on this guide?
Free to submit. No obligation until you approve a quote from a matched provider.