Bulk Manufacturing
Screen Printing
Cost-effective, high-volume printing with vibrant, long-lasting results. The industry standard for bulk apparel decoration.
What is Screen Printing?
Screen printing (also called silk screening) is a traditional printing method that pushes ink through a mesh screen onto fabric. Each color in your design requires a separate screen, and the ink is applied one color at a time in layers. The result is a bold, opaque, highly durable print that can withstand hundreds of washes.
Screen printing is the most cost-effective method for bulk orders because the per-piece cost decreases significantly as quantity increases. While there are upfront setup costs for creating screens, these costs are amortized across the entire order, making screen printing economical for runs of 72+ pieces.
We offer a wide range of screen printing techniques including standard plastisol inks, water-based inks, discharge printing, specialty inks (metallic, glow-in-the-dark, puff), and more. Screen printing works on virtually any fabric and produces the most vibrant, long-lasting results in the industry.
Best Use Cases
Large Quantity Orders
Most economical for 50+ pieces of the same design. The more you print, the lower the per-piece cost.
Events & Conferences
Company events, trade shows, conferences, and festivals. Bulk t-shirts for attendees, staff, and giveaways.
Retail & Merchandise Lines
Stocking inventory for retail stores, online shops, or merchandise tables. Screen printing ensures consistent quality across large runs.
Corporate Uniforms & Workwear
Employee uniforms, team apparel, and branded workwear. Durable prints that withstand industrial washing and daily wear.
Sports Teams & Leagues
Team uniforms, practice gear, and fan apparel. Screen printing delivers bold colors and exceptional durability for athletic use.
Fashion & Streetwear Brands
Apparel brands launching collections. Screen printing offers specialty inks and techniques for unique, high-quality designs.
Limitations to Consider
Minimum Order Quantities
Screen printing requires minimum orders of 72–144 pieces depending on the number of colors and ink type used. For smaller quantities, consider DTG or DTF printing.
Setup Fees & Screen Costs
Each color requires a separate screen. These costs are spread across the order, making larger quantities more economical.
Limited Colors for Complex Designs
Each color adds cost and complexity. Most screen printed designs use 1-6 colors. Our M&R Gauntlet 4 automatic press can handle up to 18 colors for water-based or discharge printing. For plastisol with a white underbase, flashes are required between colors, so 15 colors is the realistic maximum.
Longer Turnaround Time
Screen printing requires screen creation, setup, and manual printing. Standard turnaround is 10-14 business days. Production SLAs are clearly stated for each product and decoration method.
Not Ideal for Personalization
All pieces in a screen printing run receive the same design. Individual names or unique designs require DTG, DTF, or heat transfers.
File Requirements
Vector files (AI, EPS, PDF) strongly preferred. Each color should be separated. High-resolution raster files acceptable for photo-realistic designs or oversized simulated process prints.
Turnaround Time Comparison
All production times are in business days and begin after artwork approval. Shipping time is additional.
| Decoration Method | Turnaround | Min. Quantity | Best For | Color Limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Screen Printing |
10–14 days | 72–144 pcs | High-volume, bold designs | 18 (WB) / 15 (Plastisol) |
|
Embroidery |
4–7 days | 1 pc | Logos, hats, polos | Up to 15 thread colors |
|
DTG (Direct-to-Garment) |
3–6 days | 1 pc | Photo prints, complex art | Unlimited (CMYK) |
|
DTF (Direct-to-Film) |
4–7 days | 1 pc | Any fabric, full color | Unlimited (CMYK) |
|
Heat Transfers (Vinyl) |
4–7 days | 1 pc | Names, numbers, small runs | 1 color per layer |
|
Overseas Production |
60–90 days | 500+ pcs | Large-scale, cost savings | Unlimited |
* Turnaround times are estimates and may vary based on order complexity, garment availability, and current production volume. Express options available at checkout.
Frequently Asked Questions
Our minimum is 72–144 pieces depending on the number of colors in the job and the ink being used. Below this quantity, DTG or DTF printing is more cost-effective and doesn’t require setup fees.
Our M&R Gauntlet 4 press supports up to 18 colors for water-based or discharge printing. For plastisol with a white underbase, flashes are required between colors — so 15 colors is the realistic maximum. Most designs use 1-6 colors. Each color adds cost, and we’ll help you optimize for quality and budget.
Plastisol is thicker, more opaque, and sits on top of the fabric, great for bold designs on any color garment. Water-based inks soak into the fabric for a softer feel and vintage look, but work best on light-colored shirts.
Screen printing is the most durable decoration method. Properly cured prints can last 100+ washes without significant fading or cracking. It’s the industry standard for a reason.
No! We reclaim screens after every job. Reorders will require new setup fees.
Standard screen printing orders ship within 10-14 business days. Production SLAs are clearly stated per product. Express shipping options are available at checkout and do not affect production lead times.
Specialty Screen Printing Techniques
-
Learn More
Water-Based Screen Printing
-
Learn More
Specialty Inks