Your first merch run has two jobs: give fans something they want to wear and fit the money you can commit before the show. Start with one strong design, a garment you have checked and a quantity based on what you know about your audience. A lower price per shirt is only useful if the extra shirts sell.

Start with one design and a realistic quantity

If you have sold merchandise before, use those records. Look at units sold by show, shirt size and design, rather than total attendance alone. A room full of people does not tell you how many will buy a T-shirt.

For a first run, gather interest through your own channels or a clearly managed preorder. Explain the product and expected fulfilment timing before taking orders. Include shirts for band members, promotional use and any other planned allocation in your quantity, rather than discovering those needs after the boxes arrive.

Ask for quotes at a few workable quantities using the same garment and artwork. Compare the total amount you need to spend as well as the price per piece. There is no universal quantity at which one print method becomes the cheapest.

Choose a shirt fans will want to wear

Fit, fabric feel and garment colour are part of the design. Check a sample where practical, and use the exact style’s size chart. A medium in one brand may fit differently from a medium in another.

Consider whether you want a lighter shirt, a heavier feel or a particular silhouette. Fabric weight is one useful detail, but it does not tell you everything about quality. Look at construction, fit and the intended use too.

Keep your first run manageable. Every extra garment colour adds another set of sizes to plan and track. Use previous sales or actual preorder sizes where available; an equal quantity of every size is a guess, not a demand forecast.

Compare screen printing and DTF for your artwork

Screen printing is worth discussing for repeated designs with defined colours. Artwork colour count, print locations and setup affect the quote. DTF is worth discussing for full-colour artwork, gradients and a small test run. The garment and finished print dimensions still need to be reviewed.

Ask the printer to compare suitable options for your actual design. A simple front print and a front-and-back tour shirt are different jobs. If you expect to reorder the same artwork, mention that when requesting the quote.

Our screen printing and DTF comparison explains the methods in more detail. Use it as a starting point, then confirm suitability and pricing for your project.

Prepare the design for a shirt, not just a screen

Album artwork may need a different layout for apparel. Review it at the intended print size and against the garment colour. Check whether the band name, small text and important details remain clear. If the graphic needs a new shirt layout, arrange that before the production deadline.

For a dated tour design, check every city, venue and date carefully. Keep an undated version if you want a design you can reorder after the tour. Confirm that you have permission to reproduce artwork, photographs and any other material included in the design.

Send the best original artwork available, along with your preferred print dimensions and locations. Our artwork preparation guide explains what information to include.

Work backwards from the date you need the shirts

Give the printer the date you need the merchandise in hand, not just the show date. Allow for garment availability, artwork preparation, proof review, production, delivery and time to count the order before you leave.

Ask for the schedule to be confirmed for your order. Production time and shipping time are separate, and rush availability must be checked. If you will already be travelling when the order is ready, agree on the delivery destination and who will receive it.

Know what the complete order will cost

Compare quotes with the same garment, size breakdown, design and decoration locations. Ask which charges are included, such as artwork preparation, setup, additional placements, size surcharges, tax and shipping. Then choose a retail price that accounts for the costs you will actually incur, including selling or payment fees where relevant.

After each show, record what sold by size and design. Count remaining stock before ordering again. Those records are more useful for the next run than a generic recommendation about how many shirts a band should buy.

Your band merch quote checklist

• Garment style, colour and quantities by size.
• Original artwork, print dimensions and each decoration location.
• Whether the order is a first run or a reorder.
• The date you need the finished merchandise in hand.
• Delivery destination or pickup preference.
• Your budget priorities and any details you are still deciding.