Cheap Shirt Printing Quotes: Where’s the Catch?
When a shirt printing quote comes in far below everyone else’s, almost always one line item differs from the quote you’re comparing it with: a different fabric, a thinner fabric, a smaller print, a different printing technique, a price before VAT, or add-on fees nobody mentioned yet. Cheap isn’t automatically bad — but you need to know what you’re trading away to decide well.
This guide covers where price usually gets cut, how to line up two quotes fairly, and when the cheaper option is the right call. If you want to understand why the unit price drops as quantity goes up, see how printing cost changes with quantity.
Same quantity, same workshop — still a 65% price gap
To see which line items drive price, look at Startee’s own published t-shirt prices for the same 21–50 pieces and the same print (shirt + one-side print up to 35×40cm + one 10×10cm logo, 10% VAT included):
| Tier | Fabric | Warranty | Price / piece |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premium | Premium 100% Cotton | 12 months | 229,000 VND |
| Medium | 100% Cotton | 6 months | 179,000 VND |
| Basic | 65% Cotton / 35% PE | 3 months | 139,000 VND |
Same workshop, same print, same quantity — yet Premium costs about 65% more than Basic. The gap is in the fabric and the warranty, not in one supplier simply charging a bigger margin. When you compare quotes from two different suppliers, the gap usually comes from exactly these places too; it just isn’t always written down.
Seven places price gets cut
1. Fabric
100% cotton and polyester blends (65/35, CVC, TC) differ clearly in feel, breathability and price. A quote that just says “cotton shirt” may be a blend. Ask for the exact composition — see 100% cotton vs CVC/TC blends.
2. Fabric weight (GSM)
The same cotton in a lighter weight costs less and loses its shape sooner. If a quote doesn’t state the weight, you can’t compare it. Startee stocks t-shirts in 230, 250 and 280gsm — see what fabric weight (GSM) means.
3. Print size and number of positions
A cheap quote may cover only a small chest logo, while the other already includes a large back print. Startee’s prices include a one-side print up to 35×40cm plus one 10×10cm logo; extra or oversized prints carry an agreed surcharge. Always ask what print size and how many positions the price covers.
4. Printing technique
Vinyl or heat transfer for a simple logo is often cheaper than DTG; screen printing is only cheap at volume with few colors. Two quotes using two techniques give you two different products in softness, durability and how the print ages — see DTG vs screen print vs heat transfer vs vinyl.
5. Ink
Ink of unknown origin costs less than certified ink. You can’t see the difference on delivery; it shows after many washes, or matters from day one for children’s wear. Ask for the ink name and its certification — see OEKO-TEX certified ink.
6. VAT
A quote before VAT looks cheaper than one with VAT included even when they’re effectively the same. If your company needs a VAT invoice, the tax is added at payment. Startee’s listed prices already include 10% VAT.
7. Add-on fees and the things that simply aren’t there
Screen setup per color, per-shirt name printing, extra print positions — these may not be in the first number you receive. And some things a cheap quote simply doesn’t include: a pre-production sample, a warranty, or inspection of every piece before delivery.
How to compare two quotes fairly
Before comparing the final numbers, bring both quotes to the same baseline with the table below. Anything one side doesn’t state, ask for in writing.
| Line item | Ask for | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Fabric | Exact composition (cotton %, PE %) | Drives feel and price |
| Weight | How many gsm | Lighter fabric is cheaper, loses shape sooner |
| Technique | DTG, screen, DTF, heat transfer or vinyl | Different softness, durability, failure mode |
| Print size & positions | Size in cm, positions included | Is the cheap quote only a small logo? |
| Ink | Ink name, certification | Color fastness, skin safety |
| VAT | Included or not | A 10% swing if you need an invoice |
| Add-on fees | Screens, names, extra positions, oversize | Avoid surprises after you confirm |
| Sample & warranty | Sample? Warranty length and coverage? | The part of the price you can’t see |
When the cheap option is the right call
- Event, race or sports-day shirts worn a few times — a polyester blend that holds shape, dries fast and costs less is the right choice.
- Large orders with a few-color design — screen printing gives the lowest unit price and still lasts.
- You only need a small chest logo — no reason to pay for a large print area you won’t use.
What matters is that you choose the trade-off deliberately instead of discovering it on delivery. That’s why Startee publishes all three tiers — Premium, Medium and Basic — on one price table.
What a Startee quote includes
- Listed prices include 10% VAT and cover the shirt + a one-side print up to 35×40cm + one 10×10cm logo.
- The fabric for each tier is stated: Premium 100% Cotton, 100% Cotton, 65% Cotton / 35% PE.
- Warranty by tier: Premium 12 months, Medium 6 months, Basic 3 months.
- Quantity pricing applies to a single design; extra or oversized prints carry an agreed surcharge, quoted before you confirm.
- For uniform orders, a free sample is sewn before bulk production.
- Send the quantity, fabric and printing method you want and Startee quotes back the same business day — including orders outside the table (over 100 pieces, custom fabric).