Why one sample costs so much
Setup costs, single-piece blank prices and no-minimum print methods, plus a wash test to run on every sample before you commit to a blank.
Updated Oct 29, 2026 · Prices and listings pulled live from the Blankdex index
A single sample often costs far more than the per-piece price of a production run, which surprises a lot of founders [source]. The reason is setup: screens, art prep and press time cost about the same whether a shop prints one shirt or fifty. Spread over fifty pieces it's small; on one piece it's the whole bill.
How to sample cheaply
- Sample the blank first, undecorated. Most open-price sellers sell single pieces. Here are featured tees with a public single-piece price:
| Blank | GSM | Fit | Lowest public price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Comfort Colors 1717Garment-Dyed Heavyweight T-Shirt | ≈207Midweight | Relaxed | $5.33Jiffy |
| Los Angeles Apparel 1801GD6.5oz Garment Dye Crew Neck T-Shirt | ≈220Heavyweight | Relaxed | $26.00Los Angeles Apparel (brand site) |
| AS Colour 5026Classic Tee | 220Heavyweight | Relaxed | $24.00AS Colour US (brand site) |
| Made Blanks Major TeeMajor Tee | ≈220Heavyweight | Regular / classic | $18.00Made Blanks (brand site) |
| Shaka Wear SHMHSSMax Heavyweight 7.5oz T-Shirt | 245–255Super heavy | Boxy / oversized | $4.98Jiffy |
| AS Colour 5080Heavy Tee | 280Super heavy | Boxy / oversized | $32.00AS Colour US (brand site) |
- Test the print with DTG or DTF from a shop with no minimum, then move to screen printing for the run if that's your plan.
- Ask about strike-offs (a one-off test print) and whether the cost comes off the production order.
Asking for a single sample without spending hundreds is a recurring thread on r/streetwearstartup [source].
Wash-test every sample
Wash and dry each sample three times the way your customers will. Then record chest width, body length, sleeve opening, collar height and width, shrinkage, side-seam twist and how the dye and print held up. Photograph the same person in each blank from the front, side and back. That beats any spec sheet.
DTG and DTF shops with no published minimum
| Shop | Location | Methods | Published minimum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Custom Tees ATL ↗ | Atlanta, GA | DTF | No minimum*None for DTF |
| Tidal Colors ↗ | Atlanta, GA | Screen print, DTF, Embroidery | No minimum*No MOQ for DTF transfers |
| Big Frog Custom T-Shirts (Buckhead) ↗ | Atlanta, GA | Screen print, DTG, DTF, Embroidery | No minimum*Low/no-minimum model |
| Need T Shirts Now ↗ | Atlanta, GA | Screen print, DTG | No minimum*No minimum available |
| Atlanta Screenprints ↗ | Snellville, GA | Screen print, DTG, DTF, Embroidery | No minimum*DTG: no minimum |
| Print Renegades ↗ | Los Angeles, CA | Screen print, DTG, DTF, Embroidery | No minimum*1 piece with DTG; screen MOQ varies |
| DTLA Print ↗ | Los Angeles, CA | Screen print, DTG, DTF, Embroidery | No minimum*DTG: no minimum |
| Full Speed 100 ↗ | Los Angeles, CA | Screen print, DTG, Embroidery, Cut & sew | No minimum*DTG: no minimum; cut-and-sew programs can begin around 50 pieces depending on project |
| Apliiq ↗ | Los Angeles, CA | Screen print, DTG, DTF, Embroidery, Cut & sew | No minimum*No minimum for on-demand DTG/DTF/embroidery; screen printing starts at 12 per color |
| The Printing Needle ↗ | Garden Grove, CA | Screen print, DTG, DTF, Embroidery | No minimum*No minimum |
| French Press Custom ↗ | Los Angeles, CA | Screen print, DTG | No minimum*DTG: no minimum; screen: 36 per design |
| Rapid Silk Screen Printing ↗ | Los Angeles, CA | Screen print, DTG, DTF, Embroidery | No minimum*No minimum on most cited methods |
| ooShirts ↗ | US (multiple / online) | Screen print, DTG | No minimum*No minimum (per site) |
| Printful ↗ | Charlotte, NC | DTG, DTF, Embroidery | No minimum*No minimums (per site) |
| Ninja Transfers ↗ | Philadelphia, PA | DTF | No minimum*No minimums (per site) |
Sources
- r/streetwearstartup: How much should a sample tee cost?
- r/streetwearstartup: How to get a sample made without spending hundreds
- Blank specs, prices and printer listings: the Blankdex index, each with its own source link and check date.
Reddit threads are cited as evidence that a question comes up often, not as proof of any claim.
MOQ
What minimum should you expect?
Decoration
Screen print vs DTG vs DTF
Head to head
1717 vs 1801GD vs Shaka Max Heavyweight
The Blankdex Weekly
Price moves and new blanks, once a week. No spam.