Screen Printing
Screen printing applies ink through a prepared mesh screen for each color. It can suit bulk orders with repeated artwork and a limited ink palette. Compare the complete quote with other methods for your exact garment and quantity.
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 →
Built for volume orders with simple color counts.
- • Businesses ordering 24+ shirts of one design
- • Events and fundraisers with bulk attendee counts
- • Teams needing matching gear at low per-unit cost
- • Anyone with a 1-3 color logo or graphic
Best use cases — and real limitations.
We'd rather tell you upfront where this method doesn't make sense than match you to the wrong provider.
✓ Bulk orders — cost drops sharply as quantity rises
✓ Bold, simple graphics and wordmarks
✓ Standard cotton and cotton-blend fabrics
✓ Long print runs with consistent color matching
✕ Per-color setup fee makes small orders expensive
✕ Full-color or gradient art needs many screens — costly and often impractical
✕ Not ideal for one-off or highly variable designs per shirt
✕ Minimum order sizes (often 12-24 pieces) apply at most shops
What this method works best on.
Why color count drives your price
Each ink color needs its own screen, its own setup, and its own pass through the press — a 4-color design costs meaningfully more to set up than a 1-color design, regardless of quantity. Simplifying your color palette is the single biggest lever for lowering a screen print quote.
Screen printing vs. DTF: quantity is the deciding factor.
There is no universal quantity at which screen printing becomes cheaper than DTF. Ask for quotes using the same garment, design dimensions and print locations. Screen setup, ink colors, transfer area and production equipment can change the comparison. Review the method with the provider before approving.
Tell us the project
Garment type, quantity and design.
We match the method
Your project matched to a provider suited to screen printing.
Get connected
An independent provider reaches out with pricing.
Approve and produce
Proofs and production handled directly by that provider.
Explore related services, industries and guides.
Questions about screen printing.
No — Indy Custom Apparel is a matching service. We connect you with an independent Indianapolis-area provider whose equipment fits your project. Production, pricing and turnaround are handled by that provider.
A one-time charge per color to create and mount the screen used for that color. It's fixed regardless of quantity, which is why it matters less on large orders and more on small ones.
Color capacity depends on the press and printing technique. Send the actual artwork and ask the provider how it will reproduce the design, how many screens it needs and whether DTF or DTG is worth comparing.
Before you approve an order
Get matched with a screen printer in Indianapolis.
Free to submit. No obligation until you approve a quote from a matched provider.