Best T-Shirt Printing Companies

Below is our current “best t-shirt printing companies” ranking table (actually two tables) and a breakdown of which shop makes sense for different use cases.

A quick note on “t-shirt printing,” because the internet loves confusing terms

In 2026, “custom t-shirt printing” can mean a few very different production methods, and the method choice is half the outcome:

• Screen printing: best for bulk runs and solid, repeatable color (especially when the art is simple).
• DTG (direct-to-garment / digital printing): best for small runs, full-color art, gradients, and photo-style designs.
• Embroidery: best for logos on polos, hats, and “uniform” vibes—more premium, but not great for big detailed artwork.
• DTF (direct-to-film): increasingly common as a flexible bridge (especially on mixed fabrics), but it varies a lot by shop.

That’s why we separate rankings into two real buying decisions:

1. Bulk / group custom printing (events, teams, company swag)
2. Print-on-demand (POD) (Etsy/Shopify sellers who want orders produced after checkout)

Our ranking tables

Every metric is scaled 1 to 5 within its own column for that table (min = 1, max = 5). A “1” isn’t automatically “bad”—it’s simply the lowest score in this comparison set for that category.

Table 1: Bulk / Group Custom T-Shirt Printing (Events, Teams, Swag)

Table 2: Print-On-Demand (POD) T-Shirt Printing (Etsy/Shopify/Merch Stores)

Quality

“T-shirt print quality” is where people accidentally judge the wrong thing. A great shop can still produce a disappointing shirt if:

• you pick a low-grade blank
• you use the wrong method for the artwork (DTG photo art forced into screenprint logic)
• you expect exact Pantone matching on cotton (cotton absorbs and shifts color; it’s normal)
• you rush so hard there’s no time to proof properly

For bulk orders, quality usually comes down to: ink opacity on dark garments, consistent placement across sizes, and wash durability. Screen printing is the “predictable workhorse,” while DTG excels for full-color art but can vary more by garment and pretreatment.

For POD, quality is as much about production consistency as it is about the print itself. Platforms can be great, but you’re still dealing with fulfillment realities (stockouts, facility routing, seasonal load).

Quality leaders in these sets:

• Bulk: Queensboro (embroidered, premium feel), RushOrderTees/UberPrints/BlueCotton (strong consistency for mainstream needs)
• POD: Printful (more controlled quality expectations), Printify (strong overall but quality can vary by provider)

Price and Value

T-shirt pricing is rarely just “quantity x size.” The real cost drivers are:

• Print method choice: screen printing becomes cheaper per shirt as quantity increases; DTG can stay relatively flat for small runs
• Color complexity: screen printing costs jump with additional colors; DTG doesn’t care (as much)
• Garment choice: the blank often matters more than people expect
• Rush fees: the hidden “I forgot this event is this weekend” tax
• Shipping model: POD often looks “expensive per shirt,” but you’re paying for inventory avoidance and automated fulfillment

Value picks in these sets:

• Bulk: ooShirts is the “cheap” outlier (but you’re accepting more risk), while UberPrints is a strong value for no-min orders.
• POD: Printify wins on value because provider choice gives you price leverage; Printful is the “you pay more to reduce chaos” option.

Design, Templates, and Customization

This is where buyers quietly lose their minds.

If you want a smooth experience, look for:

• A real online designer (not a clunky upload box that hates your PNG)
• Templates that are actually useful (events, teams, business, school)
• Clear constraints (print area, placement, art rules)
• Proof flow that catches problems before ink hits fabric

Tools leaders:

• Custom Ink is the best “template + design lab” experience in the bulk set.
• UberPrints is extremely strong for quick, self-serve design and reorders.
• Printful is the POD tools leader (design workflows + integrations).
• Printify wins on catalog breadth + integrations, but the editor experience can feel more “platform” than “design studio.”

Customer Service

For apparel printing, customer service isn’t “were they polite.” It’s whether they handle the predictable failure points like pros:

• wrong size/art scale uploaded
• the black shirt needed a better underbase and the print looks dull
• something arrives late and you need a real plan, not a chatbot loop
• you need a reprint because placement is off or a batch is inconsistent

In this set, the strongest “we’ll actually fix it” signals show up with:

• Queensboro (premium support posture)
• RushOrderTees / Custom Ink / UberPrints (high-volume operators with mature support systems)
• Bonfire (strong support signals—but a slower production model)

Turnaround

Turnaround is where the buying decision splits hard:

• Bulk / event shirts: speed matters, but the fastest option is also the highest-risk option (less time for proof review, less time to fix file issues).
• POD: speed is mostly “production + carrier time,” and you can be fast… until a facility is slammed or a blank is out of stock.

Speed leaders in these sets:

• Bulk: RushOrderTees (fast deadlines), BlueCotton (rush programs), UberPrints (fast production + shipping options), Underground (rush programs), 4imprint (fast on select 24-hour items)
• POD: Gelato (localized production routing), Printify (production-time transparency + optional express programs), Spreadshirt (express options), Printful (predictable fulfillment windows)

Best T-Shirt Printing Companies by Category

Best overall (bulk / group printing)

RushOrderTees
The safest blend of quality, usable tools, and consistently fast turnaround for most “we need shirts for people” situations.

Best for beginners who want templates + the smoothest design workflow

Custom Ink
If your group needs the most hand-holding and the cleanest design-to-checkout experience, this is the tools winner.

Best for one-offs and small runs with a strong online builder

UberPrints
Great for “I need one shirt” or “I’m testing a design,” without the bulk-order friction.

Best for premium embroidery / polished company merch

Queensboro
The premium lane for embroidered logos and a more “uniform” brand presentation.

Best for premium, detail-obsessed merch brands

Real Thread
A strong fit when you care about the garment/print details and want a production-forward shop (not a template-first storefront).

Best budget bulk pick

ooShirts
This is the “optimize for cheap” choice. Just go in with realistic expectations and leave yourself time.

Best overall (print-on-demand / POD)

Printify
Best balance of value, provider choice, and integrations—especially if you know how to choose providers and order samples.

Best for the safest POD execution + strong tools

Printful
More controlled experience, strong design/tooling, and a predictable workflow for serious sellers.

Best for global fulfillment and localized production

Gelato
Strong when you care about international delivery performance and local routing.

Best for fundraising-style campaigns

Bonfire
Excellent support posture and campaign flows, but slower shipping expectations.

Quick company notes

RushOrderTees

Best for: safest overall bulk pick + tight deadlines
Why you choose it: strong quality signals, clear rush shipping options, and a mature ordering flow.
Watch-outs: rush fees add up, and ultra-fast orders reduce your margin for proof mistakes.

UberPrints

Best for: no-min orders + quick design + fast shipping options
Why you choose it: one of the strongest self-serve builders; great for small batches and reorders.
Watch-outs: if you’re doing a big multi-shirt project with lots of placements, bulk-oriented shops may feel more “project-managed.”

Custom Ink

Best for: templates + teams + “make this easy for a committee”
Why you choose it: top-tier design lab and a very approachable workflow.
Watch-outs: you’ll often pay more for that smoothness.

BlueCotton

Best for: fast bulk orders with rush options
Why you choose it: strong service signals and clear rush programs when you’re up against a deadline.
Watch-outs: not as feature-rich as the biggest template-first platforms.

Queensboro

Best for: embroidered logos, polos, and “corporate merch that looks expensive”
Why you choose it: premium embroidery positioning and high customer service signals.
Watch-outs: slower production timelines and limited rush options.

Real Thread

Best for: merch brands and teams that care about production details
Why you choose it: production-forward services and fast shipping posture.
Watch-outs: not the cheapest, and not the best fit if you want a template-first editor.

Underground Printing

Best for: rush programs + mainstream bulk apparel
Why you choose it: rush delivery options and a broad apparel menu.
Watch-outs: online review signals are noisier/less consistent than the top “safe picks,” so sample orders matter more.

4imprint

Best for: massive promo product catalogs + last-minute “24-hour” item picks
Why you choose it: options breadth is enormous, and some items truly move fast.
Watch-outs: pricing and customer experience signals are less consistent—don’t treat it like a boutique apparel specialist.

ooShirts

Best for: cheapest bulk shirts (when budget is the only thing that matters)
Why you choose it: price-first ordering and fast(ish) rush options.
Watch-outs: quality and service risk is the trade you’re making—leave buffer time and consider ordering extras.

Printify

Best for: POD sellers optimizing for value + catalog breadth
Why you choose it: provider choice, strong integrations, and pricing leverage.
Watch-outs: quality can vary by provider—sampling is non-negotiable.

Printful

Best for: POD sellers who want consistency + strong tools
Why you choose it: mature tooling, predictable fulfillment expectations, and a controlled experience.
Watch-outs: higher unit cost than value-first POD routes.

Gelato

Best for: international POD and localized production routing
Why you choose it: network-based production model that can shorten delivery distances.
Watch-outs: product availability and delivery speed can vary by region and item type.

Spreadshirt

Best for: marketplace-style merch and fast express options
Why you choose it: speed options can be strong, and setup can be straightforward.
Watch-outs: quality and support signals are more mixed—don’t assume consistency without samples.

Bonfire

Best for: fundraising campaigns and cause-based merch
Why you choose it: strong support posture and an audience-friendly campaign flow.
Watch-outs: slower shipping windows and no true rush option.

Final Verdict

If you want one answer for bulk / group custom shirts, the best overall pick in this set is RushOrderTees. It’s the most balanced choice for typical “we need shirts that look good and arrive on time” situations, without requiring you to become an apparel production expert.

If you want one answer for print-on-demand, the best overall pick is Printify—as long as you treat it like a platform and do the responsible thing: pick strong providers and order samples before you sell.