Screen printing is the classic method for large T-shirt orders. Ink is pushed through a fine mesh screen onto the garment, one colour at a time, giving a bold, solid print with excellent durability. Once the screens are made, every shirt prints quickly and consistently, which is why screen printing is the economical choice for big campaigns, promotions, festivals and merchandise runs.
We screen print orders from 1 000 shirts. Each job is quoted on your design, the number of colours, the print positions and the garment. Request a quote with your quantity and artwork using the form on this page, or upload your list with sizes and colours in Excel, Word, PDF or a photo.
When screen printing makes sense
Screen printing becomes cost-effective as quantities grow. Typical orders include:
- National promotions and product launches
- Election and community campaigns
- Festivals, marathons and large sporting events
- Brand merchandise and retail runs
- Company-wide staff days and year-end functions
How the price is worked out
Each colour in your design needs its own screen, so a one- or two-colour logo costs less to set up than a six-colour design. The number of print positions, the print size and the garment weight also affect the price. Simplifying a design slightly, for example reducing the number of colours, can make a noticeable difference across a large order. We'll advise when we quote.
Under 1 000 shirts?
For orders from 10 to 999 shirts, DTF printing gives full-colour results without per-colour set-up, and T-shirt printing has an online price calculator(/apparel/t-shirt-printing/). For polyester sportswear, sublimation is quoted separately.
Artwork for screen printing
Vector artwork, such as AI, EPS, PDF or SVG, gives the cleanest screens. Tell us your ink colours, ideally with colour references. You'll receive a digital proof showing the design, colours and placement before production. Remember that colours on screen can look slightly different from printed ink. See artwork guidelines.
Practical details
Some large orders use screen printing for the main design and DTF for small personalised details, such as names. We'll suggest the right combination for your order when we quote.
Turnaround is confirmed on your quote and depends on quantity and garment stock. Large orders follow the deposit rules on how to order. Collect free from our Rivonia store, get free delivery within 15 km of the store (the checkout checks your address), or choose courier delivery anywhere in South Africa through The Courier Guy, Pudo lockers, PostNet, Aramex or Paxi, priced by parcel weight.
Common questions
What is the minimum for screen printing?
We screen print orders from 1 000 shirts. Smaller orders are printed with DTF, which is better suited to short and medium runs and gives full colour without extra set-up per colour.
Can screen printing do full-colour photos?
Photographic designs are possible but complex in screen printing. Bold logos with a limited number of solid colours give the strongest value and result. If your design is photographic, we may suggest DTF for part of the order.
Can I mix shirt colours in one run?
Yes, you can mix garment colours, though ink colours may need adjusting for dark shirts. Give us the breakdown per shirt colour and size, and we'll include it all on one quote.
How do I get a screen printing quote?
Use the quote form on this page with your quantity, design, ink colours and print positions, or upload your list. We email a quote you can accept online, which creates your invoice.