Bulk custom T-shirt printing in India: costs, MOQ and process

For a reliable bulk custom T-shirt order, decide five things first: garment fit, fabric weight, total quantity, artwork and required delivery date. Those choices determine whether a quote is genuinely comparable. A low price for a lightweight blank with a small transfer is not equivalent to a heavyweight tee with a large screen print and custom neck label.

Garmops works from a 50-piece minimum per style. Our current catalogue includes 200 GSM and 260 GSM cotton T-shirts in regular and boxy fits. Standard delivery is planned for 35 days from order confirmation, with an 18-day rush option where the quantity and specification are feasible.

The garment is the foundation of the order. GSM means grams per square metre and describes fabric weight, not quality on its own. Fibre, yarn, knit construction, shrinkage control and finishing also affect the feel and performance of a tee.

A 200 GSM regular-fit tee is a versatile choice for staff apparel, campaigns and events. A 260 GSM tee feels more structured and is often better suited to premium merchandise or a retail-style drop. A boxy fit adds a wider body and dropped shoulder, while a regular fit is the more familiar teamwear silhouette.

A useful quote separates what is included from what changes the price. At Garmops, the base price includes the garment, stitching, a single-colour screen print and a neck label. GST is calculated separately and included in the order total; shipping is excluded. Volume discounts apply as the order quantity increases.

Additional print colours, multiple artwork positions, embroidery, special transfers, custom dyeing, complex labels, individual packaging, sampling and rush production can change the cost. Ask for every assumption in writing, especially when comparing two suppliers.

Screen printing is usually the strongest starting point for bulk orders with solid colours and repeat artwork. The setup is spread across more garments, producing consistent coverage and an efficient unit cost. Each colour needs its own screen, so artwork with many colours requires more setup.

DTG is useful for detailed, photographic or gradient artwork on compatible cotton garments. DTF handles detailed multi-colour artwork across a broader range of fabrics but leaves a transfer layer on the garment. Embroidery gives small logos a dimensional, durable finish and works particularly well on polos, sweatshirts and hoodies. The best method is the one that fits the artwork, fabric, quantity, desired hand feel and budget together.

Send the original artwork whenever possible. Vector AI, EPS, PDF or SVG files are preferred for logos and flat graphics because they can be resized without losing sharpness. Raster artwork should be supplied at its intended print dimensions and at high resolution. A screenshot from a presentation or messaging app is rarely production-ready.

Define each placement using a physical size, not only “large front” or “small chest”. Include the intended width or height, the garment side, Pantone references where colour matching matters, and a visual mock-up. The mock-up communicates intent; the production file provides the printable artwork.

The total quantity affects the unit price, but the size split determines whether the finished stock is useful. For team orders, collect sizes against a measurement chart rather than asking people for their usual retail size. For merchandise sold to customers, use previous sales data when available and keep the first run focused.

Do not divide every design across too many garment colours. Each extra combination reduces the quantity per variant and makes production, sorting and reordering harder. A clear hero product and one controlled colour palette is usually easier to launch and measure.

A professional order moves through defined checkpoints: specification, quote, artwork review, payment or purchase order, sample approval where required, bulk production, finishing, quality control, packing and dispatch. The clock should start from a clearly defined confirmation point—not from the first enquiry.

Build approval time into your deadline. Late size lists, replacement artwork and slow sample feedback can compress production even when the factory schedule has not changed. If the delivery is tied to an event, work backwards from the date the cartons must arrive and keep a buffer for transit.

Before paying an advance or issuing a purchase order, check that the written quote and approved visual describe the same product. Record the fabric, GSM, fit, colours, print dimensions, techniques, quantities, sizes, labels, packaging, delivery location and approval schedule in one place.

The cheapest quote is not always the lowest-cost outcome. A clear specification, realistic timeline and defined quality process reduce the expensive risks: an unusable size split, inconsistent print placement, a missed event date or hundreds of garments that do not match the approved product.