How to Order Custom Team Shirts Without Overpaying | South Bay Printworks

Ordering custom shirts for a team, business, school, fundraiser, or event should feel exciting - not stressful. But if you guess on sizes, choose the wrong shirt, add unnecessary print locations, or wait until the last minute, the final cost can climb fast.

The good news is that you do not need to overpay to get quality custom apparel.

At South Bay Printworks, we help customers plan smarter custom shirt orders by choosing the right garment, print method, quantity, and design setup before production starts.

This guide will show you how to order custom team shirts without wasting money - while still getting shirts people actually want to wear.

Start With the Real Shirt Count

One of the easiest ways to waste money on custom shirts is ordering the wrong quantity.

If you order too few, you may need a second smaller run later, which can cost more per shirt. If you order too many, you end up with leftover inventory in sizes nobody needs.

Before requesting a quote, build your real count by group:

• Players or participants
• Coaches or staff
• Parents and supporters
• Volunteers
• Sponsors
• Extras for late orders or replacements

For team apparel, a few extra shirts can be helpful, but guessing too high can tie up money unnecessarily.

Collect Sizes Before You Order

Do not rely on memory, screenshots, or text-message chains when collecting sizes.

Use a simple form or spreadsheet to collect:

• Name
• Shirt size
• Garment color
• Quantity
• Player number or personalization if needed
• Payment status if you are collecting from parents or team members

This one step can prevent missed sizes, duplicate orders, and costly reorder requests.

Choose the Right Shirt for the Project

The shirt you choose affects comfort, print quality, durability, and price.

A budget shirt may work well for a one-day event, but a premium shirt may be a better value if you want people to wear it again and again.

Here are a few common options:

• Comfort Colors 1717: Great for premium team apparel, parent shirts, spirit wear, and lifestyle-style designs.
• Bella+Canvas 3001: Great for soft, modern custom shirts with a retail-style fit.
• Gildan options: Great for practical, budget-friendly team, business, fundraiser, and event orders.

If you are not sure which blank makes sense, read our guide to the best shirts for custom printing.

Pick the Right Printing Method

Choosing the wrong printing method can increase cost or reduce quality.

For full-color team designs, business logos, detailed artwork, and smaller custom orders, DTF printing is often a strong option because it is durable, vibrant, and versatile across different garments.

DTG printing can work well for soft-feeling prints, cotton garments, photo-style artwork, and made-to-order pieces.

Screen printing can be a good fit for larger runs with simple designs and limited colors.

The best method depends on the artwork, shirt style, print size, quantity, and deadline.

For a deeper comparison, read our guide to DTF vs DTG printing.

Keep the Design Focused

Design choices can affect the final price.

Large prints, multiple print locations, sleeve prints, names, numbers, and oversized back graphics can all add cost.

That does not mean you should avoid them. It just means they should be intentional.

For many team and business orders, a strong front logo or a left-chest print with a back design can create a professional result without overcomplicating the order.

Before production, ask:

• Do we really need printing on the front and back?
• Does every shirt need personalization?
• Can the design be simplified without losing impact?
• Will this shirt be worn once, or should it feel more premium?

Order Early to Avoid Rush Costs

Waiting until the last minute can limit your garment options, increase stress, and create rush production issues.

For team apparel, fundraisers, and business events, start planning as soon as you know the event date.

Ordering early gives you more time to review artwork, confirm sizes, approve the mockup, and handle any adjustments before production.

Review Your Proof Carefully

A proof or mockup is your chance to catch issues before printing begins.

Review the design for:

• Spelling
• Team name
• Player numbers
• Logo placement
• Print size
• Garment color
• Artwork quality

This is especially important for school names, team names, sponsor logos, memorial shirts, tournament apparel, and fundraiser designs.

Do Not Buy Cheap Shirts Just to Save a Few Dollars

It is tempting to choose the lowest-cost shirt available, especially for larger orders.

But if the shirt feels rough, shrinks too much, or does not fit well, people may only wear it once.

That is not real value.

A slightly better blank can make the final shirt feel more like merchandise and less like a throwaway giveaway.

For parent shirts, business apparel, brand merchandise, and spirit wear, upgrading the shirt can make the finished product feel more premium and increase repeat orders.

Order a Few Extras Strategically

A small buffer can save headaches later.

For teams and events, consider ordering a few extra shirts in common sizes such as medium, large, and extra large.

This helps cover late additions, size mistakes, or unexpected supporters without needing a separate reorder right away.

Just do not overdo it. Extras should be planned, not guessed.

How South Bay Printworks Helps You Avoid Overpaying

At South Bay Printworks, we help customers plan the order before production starts.

That means we can help you:

• Choose the right shirt blank
• Compare DTF, DTG, and other print options
• Review artwork before production
• Recommend smart print placement
• Avoid unnecessary add-ons
• Plan quantities and sizes
• Create a clean mockup before printing

Our goal is simple: help you get custom shirts that look good, feel good, and make sense for your budget.

Frequently Asked Questions About Ordering Custom Team Shirts

How many custom shirts should I order?

Start with your confirmed count, then consider adding a small number of extras in common sizes. The right quantity depends on your team, event, or business needs.

Can I mix sizes in one custom shirt order?

Yes. Most custom apparel orders include mixed sizes. Extended sizes may affect pricing depending on the garment.

Can I mix shirt colors?

Sometimes. This depends on the design, print method, garment availability, and whether the artwork needs to be adjusted for different shirt colors.

What is the best shirt for baseball teams?

It depends on the budget and purpose. Gildan can be practical for larger team orders, Bella+Canvas offers a softer modern fit, and Comfort Colors is great for premium parent shirts and spirit wear.

Is DTF good for custom team shirts?

Yes. DTF printing is often a strong option for colorful team designs, logos, parent shirts, and full-color custom apparel.

Can I reorder custom shirts later?

Yes, but smaller reorders can sometimes cost more per shirt than the original order. Planning extras ahead of time can help reduce reorder issues.

How long does custom apparel take?

Turnaround depends on the garment, quantity, artwork, print method, and current production schedule. It is always best to start early when ordering for a specific event date.