The Truth About Minimum Orders
The Truth About Minimum Orders
Why They Exist (And Why They’re Changing)
One of the most common questions we hear is:
“What’s your minimum order?”
It’s a fair question.
For years, the custom apparel industry has been built around minimum quantities. You may have heard numbers like 24, 36, or even 48 pieces thrown around when requesting a quote.
But the truth is, minimums aren’t really about an arbitrary number.
They’re about the process behind the print.
Let’s take a look behind the curtain and get to the truth about minimum orders.
Why Minimum Orders Exist
Screen printing is one of the most efficient and cost-effective ways to decorate apparel—especially as quantities increase.
Before the first shirt is printed, a lot of work happens behind the scenes:
- Artwork is prepared and color separated
- Production is scheduled
- Screens are created for each ink color
- Inks are mixed and matched
- Presses are set up and registered
Whether we’re printing 12 shirts or 200 shirts, much of that setup work remains the same.
That’s why larger orders typically have a lower cost per shirt. The setup costs are simply spread across more garments.
New colors get mixed every day.
Ink gets loaded before each job.
Enter DTF (Direct to Film)
One of the biggest advancements in custom apparel over the past few years has been DTF printing.
DTF allows full-color graphics to be printed and transferred to garments without many of the setup requirements associated with traditional screen printing.
For smaller quantities, this can be a fantastic solution.
It opens the door for:
- Smaller runs
- Faster testing of ideas
- More artwork flexibility
- Lower upfront investment
It’s not replacing screen printing.
It’s simply giving customers another tool in the toolbox.
So… What’s the Real Minimum?
Here’s the honest answer:
We don’t have a hard minimum.
If you need 12 shirts, we’ll help you figure out the best way to produce 12 shirts.
If you need 500 shirts, we’ll help you find the most efficient method for 500 shirts.
What matters most is matching the right production method to your goals.
For many screen printing projects, volume pricing becomes most attractive around 36 pieces and up because setup costs are spread across more garments.
But smaller quantities are absolutely possible.
They’re just approached differently.
Screens get calibrated by our highly experienced printers.
The Question We Like Better
Instead of asking:
“What’s the minimum?”
We encourage customers to ask:
“What’s the best method for my project?”
Sometimes the answer is screen printing.
Sometimes it’s embroidery.
Sometimes it’s DTF.
Our job is to help you understand the options and make the choice that delivers the best value.
Transparency Builds Better Orders
We believe educated customers make better decisions.
That’s why we’re always happy to explain:
- How pricing works
- Why quantities matter
- Which decoration method makes the most sense
- Where you can save money
- Where spending a little more creates a better result
Because the goal isn’t to hit a minimum.
The goal is to create apparel you’ll be proud to wear.
Have a Project Coming Up?
Whether you need 12 shirts or 1,200, we’re happy to walk you through the options.
- Fill out this form to start a conversation
- Call us to walk through the options 512-454-6249
- Stop by the shop in person 8613 Cross Park Dr. Austin, TX 78754
Austin Screen Printing & Austin Embroidery
Proudly serving Austin since 1975
Helping customers make informed apparel decisions for 50 years.