Screen Printing in Wichita, KS
Screen printing is the backbone of most bulk apparel orders — team shirts, event merchandise, staff uniforms, and promotional giveaways. Wichita Custom Apparel handles screen printing for organizations across the Wichita metro, with straightforward pricing questions and a clear quote, proof, approval, and handoff process.
Get a Free Screen Printing QuoteScreen Printing for Wichita Organizations
Businesses, schools, nonprofits, and event organizers throughout Wichita rely on screen printing when they need consistent, durable graphics across a larger quantity of garments. Unlike direct-to-garment or heat transfer printing, screen printing holds bold color well on cotton and cotton-blend fabric and remains one of the most economical options once you cross into bulk order territory.
We work with local companies on staff apparel, sports leagues on team sets, churches and nonprofits on fundraiser merchandise, and marketing teams on event giveaways. Before you commit to a final order, the quote process can cover design tradeoffs such as ink coverage, garment color, and screen count.
What Affects Screen Printing Pricing
Screen printing pricing is driven mainly by three factors: the number of colors in your design (each color requires a separate screen), the total quantity ordered, and the garment you choose. A single-color logo on a basic tee at 100 pieces will price very differently than a four-color design at 25 pieces. We break this down clearly in every quote so there are no surprises.
Rush orders are available for time-sensitive events, though standard turnaround gives the best pricing and the most flexibility for adjustments along the way. If you have a hard deadline, mention it up front and we will tell you honestly whether it is realistic.
Estimated Pricing
| Order size | Typical quantity | Ballpark price (per piece) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-color print | 24–99 pieces | $8–$13 | Per-piece, standard garment |
| 2–3 color print | 24–99 pieces | $10–$16 | Additional screens = added cost |
| Multi-color bulk | 100–499 pieces | $7–$12 | Volume pricing applies |
| Large production run | 500+ pieces | Custom quote | Best for uniforms, staff apparel, events |
Plan the Print Before Production
Quantity, garment color, artwork colors, print size, and the number of locations determine setup and per-piece pricing. Provide those details with your deadline so the quote can separate garment costs, decoration requirements, and any timing constraints.
When Screen Printing Is the Right Method
Screen printing is strongest when the same artwork repeats across enough pieces to spread the setup work efficiently. Bold logos, event graphics, school designs, and limited-color illustrations are natural candidates. It can produce a durable, opaque result on light or dark apparel and works across many tees, sweatshirts, and other compatible garments. It is less naturally suited to a handful of unique pieces, photographs with many colors, or an order in which every shirt has different artwork. In those cases, ask whether another decoration method would reduce setup or reproduce the detail more appropriately.
Count designs as well as pieces. One hundred shirts using one identical front design is a different production job from one hundred shirts split among four unrelated designs. A second print location also adds work even when it uses the same ink color. If names and numbers vary by wearer, identify that personalization separately rather than treating it as part of the shared screen print. Roster-based orders may be better planned through the team uniforms process.
Prepare Artwork for Clean Separations
Supply vector AI, EPS, SVG, or a print-ready PDF when possible. Vector paths keep edges crisp at the final print size and make individual ink colors easier to separate. If raster artwork is the only source, send the highest-resolution original rather than a screenshot or compressed preview. Include any Pantone references, brand standards, and font files or outlined type. Explain whether gradients, shadows, distressing, or transparency are intentional; those effects may require halftones or an artwork adjustment rather than a simple solid-color screen.
Review the proposed color separations, not just the overall image. Printing on a dark garment may require an underbase to keep upper colors bright. That underbase is a production color even though it is not obvious in the original logo. Fine lines, tiny reversed text, and isolated details can close up or disappear at shirt scale, so judge the proof at the stated dimensions. Confirm full-front, left-chest, back, and sleeve sizes independently, since the same artwork dimension will not look proportional in every location or across youth and adult garments.
Garments and Inks Change the Result
Cotton is a familiar screen-printing surface, but weight and knit still influence how a broad ink area feels. Blends can offer softness and shape retention, while polyester is useful for performance wear but may need an ink system selected to limit dye migration. Hoodies and sweatshirts introduce seams, pockets, zippers, and thicker texture that can constrain placement. Before approving a nonstandard item or customer-supplied garment, confirm fabric content, coatings, seams, stretch, and whether there are enough extras to cover the normal risk of decorating items that cannot simply be reordered.
Ink choices should serve the use of the garment. A standard print is appropriate for many orders; specialty effects, unusual textures, or very large coverage can alter hand feel, setup, curing, and schedule. Ask how a proposed ink will look on the selected garment color and whether the priority is softness, opacity, exact brand color, or a particular visual effect. These priorities can conflict, and identifying the most important one makes the recommendation more useful.
Quantity, Approval, and Reordering
Compare quotes using the same specifications. Changing from one to three colors, adding a back print, upgrading the garment, or dividing the run among multiple designs prevents a meaningful unit-price comparison. Order enough for known recipients and sensible extras, but evaluate the total rather than chasing a quantity break. For repeat programs, a larger scheduled batch can be more efficient than frequent tiny reorders because screens and production setup are tied to each run.
The production timeline depends on garment availability, final separations, proof revisions, approval, screen setup, printing, curing, and any delivery requirement. Send a firm in-hand date at the start and allow internal stakeholders time to review. Before one authorized person approves, verify spelling, dimensions, locations, garment style and color, quantity by size, and ink callouts. Keep the approved proof and garment identifiers for reorders. Exact stock and dye lots can change, so a future run should reference the earlier specifications while still confirming current availability.
Care for Screen-Printed Garments
Follow the garment label and any instructions supplied for the selected ink. Washing inside out in cool water, using mild detergent, avoiding chlorine bleach, and minimizing high dryer heat generally reduce wear on both fabric and print. Do not iron directly on the decoration. For buyers who need a complete shirt-and-print package, see custom t-shirts; for polos, jackets, caps, or logos where a stitched finish is the priority, compare custom embroidery before finalizing the method.
Also Serving Wichita With
Looking for finished apparel rather than printing-only? Browse our custom t-shirts page for full-service t-shirt orders, or see embroidery if your project calls for stitched logos on polos, hats, or jackets instead of printed graphics.
Screen Printing FAQ
What is the difference between screen printing and embroidery?
Screen printing applies ink through a stencil and is ideal for bold graphics, gradients, and large print areas on t-shirts and hoodies. Embroidery stitches thread into fabric and works best for logos on polos, hats, and jackets. Many customers use both depending on the garment.
How many colors can you print in one design?
Most screen printing jobs support multiple colors, with each additional color requiring its own screen. We will tell you upfront how your design maps to screen count so pricing is clear before you commit.
What is the minimum order for screen printing?
Screen printing is most cost-effective starting around 24 pieces per design, since screen setup is a fixed cost regardless of quantity. Smaller runs are possible but may cost more per piece.
Can you print on garments I already own or supply?
In many cases, yes — bring your own garments and we can quote printing-only pricing. We will confirm the garment is compatible with our printing process before starting.
How durable is screen-printed apparel after washing?
Properly cured screen prints hold up well through normal machine washing. We follow standard curing procedures and can advise on care instructions specific to your garment and ink type.