Screen printing on hoodies and sweatshirts
Screen print is how custom printed hoodies get a full front or back graphic at a price that works for 48 or more pieces. Battle Born Clothing prints in-house with plastisol, water-based and discharge inks on a conveyor dryer.
What it costs
| Location(s) | Light garment | Dark garment (adds $0.25 flash) | Screens (one-time) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Front only | $4.34 | $4.59 | $20 |
| Front + back | $8.68 | $9.18 | $40 |
These are our published rates at 48 pieces with one ink color per location. More colors, more locations, and other quantities are quoted per job. No hard minimum, but 48+ is where screen print makes sense; under that, embroidery or DTF is usually the better buy. On an Independent IND4000, one-color front and back on a dark hoodie is $31.93 each at 48 plus $40 in screens.
Print sizes on fleece
- Center chest on a hoodie: up to about 12 inches wide by 10 inches tall, above the pouch pocket.
- Full back: up to about 13 by 14 inches.
- Left chest: 3 to 4 inches, a cheaper alternative to embroidery at high quantities.
- Sleeve and hood prints: quoted per job.
Ink choices
| Ink | Best on | Feel |
|---|---|---|
| Plastisol | Any color, especially dark 50/50 fleece | Sits on top, bright, durable |
| Water-based | Light and pigment-dyed fleece | Soaks in, soft hand |
| Discharge | Dark cotton-rich fleece (Comfort Colors, Independent) | Removes dye and replaces it; softest result, quoted per job |
Artwork
Vector art (AI, EPS, PDF, SVG) separated by color is ideal. A 300-dpi PNG at print size works for single-color art. We charge $20 per screen per color, so a three-color front is $60 in screens. Halftones and simulated process are quoted per job.
Questions
What is the minimum for screen printing?
No hard minimum, but we recommend 48 or more. Screens cost $20 each regardless of quantity, so small runs cost more per piece.
Why is there a flash charge on dark hoodies?
A white underbase on dark fleece has to be flash-cured before the top color prints. That is $0.25 per flash per piece.
Can you print on the pocket or across a zipper?
Pocket prints are quoted per job. We do not recommend printing across a zipper; use a left-chest logo and a back print instead.