Starting your own t-shirt business online sounds exciting, but one of the biggest questions many new sellers have is: is Printify profitable?
In this post, we’ll break down the real costs, potential profits, and the key factors that make a Printify t-shirt store a success. Whether you’re designing t-shirts for fun, for your local band, or as a serious side hustle, understanding the numbers is critical before jumping in.
What Is Printify?
Printify is a print-on-demand platform that allows you to create and sell custom t-shirts (and many other products) without holding any inventory. You upload your t-shirt design, select a print provider, and they handle printing, packing, and shipping directly to your customer.
For t-shirt sellers, this means you can focus on marketing and design, while Printify handles the fulfillment side.
Is Printify Profitable?
Short answer: Yes — but it depends.
Many sellers find success using Printify, but profitability comes down to these key factors:
Your T-Shirt Design Quality – Eye-catching, creative, or niche designs are much more likely to sell at a price that brings solid profit.
Your Pricing Strategy – Setting the right price is critical. You need to cover the production cost, shipping, platform fees, and still have enough left over to make it worthwhile.
Your Marketing Efforts – Driving traffic to your store via social media, SEO, paid ads, or influencer marketing will heavily influence how profitable your shop becomes.
What Does a Printify T-Shirt Cost?
Your production costs are made up of a few parts:
1. Base Product Cost
Printify offers multiple t-shirt brands. Here are some examples:
- Gildan 5000 (Heavy Cotton Tee) – around $8.61
- Bella+Canvas 3001 (Jersey Tee) – around $11.42
Pro tip: Gildan offers a great balance of affordability and quality for bulk orders, while Bella+Canvas is popular for its softness and fit.
2. Shipping Costs
Domestic shipping typically adds about $3.50 to $5.00 per shirt, depending on the provider.
3. Extra Costs
- Larger sizes (2XL, 3XL, etc.) usually cost $2–$4 extra.
- Additional print locations (sleeves, back prints) increase your cost.
4. Printify Premium
Printify also offers a Premium Plan ($29/month), which gives you up to 20% off product costs, improving your profit margins significantly, especially for sellers doing higher volume.
T-Shirt Design Size & Quality Matter
Besides pricing, your t-shirt design, siz,e and quality also impact your business:
- Ideal design size: 12″ x 16″ is a common printable area for front designs.
- File type: Use high-resolution PNG files with transparent backgrounds for best printing results.
- Printify T-Shirt Quality: Printify offers multiple print providers — some specialize in DTG (direct-to-garment) printing, which can vary slightly in color vibrancy and durability. Always order samples before selling to ensure you’re happy with print quality.
Where to Buy Wholesale Blank T-Shirts
If you eventually want better control over your inventory and cost, some sellers transition from Printify to buying wholesale blank t-shirts from trusted t-shirt suppliers.
Popular wholesale options include:
- Bella+Canvas
- Neil & David
- Gildan
- Next Level
- Independent Trading Co.
Buying in bulk can reduce your per-unit cost, but it requires upfront investment and managing your own inventory.
Conclusion: Is Printify Profitable?
Yes — Printify can be profitable if you:
- Create unique and marketable t-shirt designs
- Price your products smartly
- Take advantage of Printify Premium
- Invest time in your marketing
Print-on-demand is a fantastic way to test designs without risking inventory upfront. Many successful t-shirt businesses started exactly this way!
