Pricing a DTF shirt job starts with the full job, not just the transfer price. Count the blank, print, labor, packaging, and likely rework, then compare that total with the selling price. A cheap transfer does not rescue a quote that ignores the rest of production. On this page
- Write down the cost categories
- Count labor honestly
- Include a documented rework allowance
- Compare the quote with the planned order
- FAQs
Write down the cost categories
Include garments, transfers, shipping or pickup costs, packaging, artwork work, and application labor. Keep tax and accounting treatment consistent with your business records. Separate a one-time design task from costs that repeat on every shirt so a reorder is not priced by guesswork.
Count labor honestly
Time a representative job using your normal process: intake, checking art, positioning, pressing, inspecting, and packing. Use the result as your own planning observation, not a universal benchmark. A small personalized order can require more checking per shirt than a run of identical designs.
Include a documented rework allowance
Use actual past spoilage and replacement records when available. Keep assumptions visible when you have no history. Garment damage, a roster error, or a failed application can affect the job differently, so record the cause instead of burying all exceptions under miscellaneous costs.
Compare the quote with the planned order
Check current Wholesale DTF Transfer pricing for the exact specifications. Calculate total job cost, cost per usable shirt, and the contribution left after those costs. This is a planning worksheet, not a profit promise; verify overhead and accounting decisions separately.
FAQs
Is transfer price the same as print-job cost?
No. Include the blank, application work, artwork handling, packaging, delivery costs, and replacements that belong to the job. Use consistent records so the quote can be reviewed.
How should I price personalized names?
Count the additional artwork, checking, sorting, and production steps. Confirm the transfer supplier's ordering method and quote rather than assuming personalization costs the same as identical designs.
Should I copy a competitor's shirt price?
Use it as market context, not a substitute for your costs. Differences in garments, quantities, service scope, and overhead can make the same selling price work differently.
What if I have no spoilage history?
State a provisional allowance and track the first jobs. Replace the assumption with recorded outcomes as evidence builds rather than presenting an invented failure rate as fact.
