How much does a back or sleeve print add to a screen printed shirt?

Much more than an extra color, because each location is its own run on the press. On 200 Bella Canvas 3001 tees with 1 color per location, front only is $7.96 a shirt, front and back $10.01, and front, back and sleeve $12.06. That's about $2.05 a location, against 30¢ for a color.

  • 200 Bella Canvas 3001 tees, 1 color per location: front $7.96, front and back $10.01, front, back and sleeve $12.06 a shirt.
  • Every location is printed one at a time. A front and a back is the same work as printing two shirts, without paying for a second blank.
  • An extra color adds about 30¢ a shirt. An extra location adds about $2.05.
  • It climbs on smaller runs: at 50 shirts, a back print adds $3.50.
  • Every location has to earn its spot. If nobody's buying the shirt for the sleeve, skip the sleeve.
  • Threadbird standard pricing, November 2026. Sizes S-XL, before tax and shipping. Not a quote.

Nick Roccanti · Updated 2026-11-04

Transcript

To a printing press, your front and back print isn't one job, it's two. Every location gets printed one at a time. A front and a back is the same work as printing two shirts. You just don't pay for a second blank.

Same Bella Canvas tee, one color, 200 shirts. Front only is $7.96. Add a back, $10.01. Add a sleeve, $12.06.

Remember, adding a color to the front was 30 cents. Adding a whole location is $2.05, and it climbs when you print fewer. At 50 shirts, that back print adds $3.50.

So every location has to earn its spot. If nobody's buying the shirt for the sleeve, skip the sleeve.

Part 3 of 5. Follow for part 4: quantity.

Up next in Pricing & quotes

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    The blank sets the floor for your price. With the same 1-color front print on 200 shirts, a Gildan 5000 is $6.18 a shirt, a Bella Canvas 3001 $7.96 and an AS Colour 5001 $10.48. A cheaper blank isn't wrong, it's a different shirt for a different customer. Pick the blank first.

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