Jordan EllisEvery year at the annual family reunion, one of the non-negotiables is that everyone wears matching shirts. The youngsters found it lame, but I think it’s a fun way to keep the spirit of the gathering alive.
And honestly, the task of finding a good t-shirt printing service in Columbus comes up for me almost every time, so I’m pretty confident I know which ones are the best out there.
If you are planning a family event, organizing a team, or launching your own merchandise, here are the shops where you can get quality custom apparel without so much hassle.
How much does t-shirt printing cost in Columbus?
T-shirt printing in Columbus generally costs between $10 and $25 per shirt for a 24-piece bulk order. The total price depends on the quantity, the selected garment type, and the number of inks used.
1. Columbus Custom Tees
Address: 6419 Nicholas Dr
Phone: +16145735556
Business Hours:
- Monday to Friday, 9 AM–5 PM
Columbus Custom Tees is one of the area’s long-standing shops. They’ve been operating since 2007, and it’s impressive that they’ve already produced millions of custom shirts and garments.
They offer two types of printing methods: screen printing and Direct-to-Garment (DTG) digital printing. Digital prints are priced fairly at $25 per print plus the cost of your selected garment.
Meanwhile, the cost price for screen printing depends on the quantity, ink colors, and garment. It’s pretty popular for bulk orders, so the larger the order, the lower the price per piece.
However, note that they require a minimum order of 10, so if you only need 1 or 2 shirts, DTG is the only option.
Columbus Custom Tees seems to have pretty reliable turnaround times as well. Customers we spoke to said that the team can meet tight deadlines and even complete orders faster than expected.
This makes them a popular shop for organizations and businesses planning events or needing promotional merch.
True professionals, and excellent quality work
“I went to Columbus Custom Tees to get family pictures printed on T-shirts as a Christmas gift. The process was easy, and holy cow did they knock it out of the park. True professionals, and excellent quality work. I will be going back.”
- Mike C, Google Review
Their customer service was top-notch
“I recently had a call with Columbus Custom Tees, and I have to say, the experience was fantastic! Their customer service was top-notch, especially James, who went above and beyond to ensure everything went smoothly. He was incredibly helpful, responsive, and really made the shopping experience enjoyable. I’ll definitely be returning for future purchases. Highly recommend for anyone looking for great products and excellent service!”
- Yk.kenneth, Google Review
2. Direct Thread Apparel
Address: 781 Northwest Blvd, Grandview Heights
Phone: +16149662201
Business Hours:
- Monday to Friday, 10 AM–4 PM
Founded in 2012, Direct Thread Apparel is known for its streamlined B2B fulfillment process. In fact, the shop has been awarded as the Best Screen Printer of Columbus in 2022 and 2024.
To make things simpler, customers can easily visit the page, pick garments, customize them, and check out. This makes it convenient for organizations that may not have the time to place an order in person.
On top of that, they can also provide nationwide shipping with a reliable turnaround time. And we like that this process is designed to handle their repeat orders efficiently. For example, when you submit your business logo, it’s saved in their system for future use.
They only use screen printing, so the price depends on the design you submit and fabric quality, but the approximate cost is around $25 each.
There’s a minimum order of 24, which can be a bit high for smaller businesses—but it’s not really a downside per se. Once you reorder, the minimum order requirement no longer applies.
Business owners highly praise the shop for its fast service, often calling it “saviors” for last-minute needs. They said the team is highly responsive and can deliver a complete custom order within five days.
Very creative
“Elliot and his team have made it so easy for your whole team to look great in our company logo wear! He sets up a separate page and your team just gets on and orders! No more stacks of unused t-shirts in your office. Plus, Elliot is very creative!”
- Roxanna Meyers, Google Review
Getting our store set up with them was super easy
“Direct Thread does a great job with our (Hot Mess) apparel! They have a great variety of options and styles and we get it shipped directly to us quickly! Getting our store set up with them was super easy and everyone loves the gear!”
- Todd Ciardeli, Google Review
3. Pop’s Printed Apparel
Address: 4368 Indianola Ave
Phone: +16143725651
Business Hours:
- Monday to Thursday, 7 AM–5 PM
Pop’s Printed Apparel has been operating since 2015, providing screen printing and embroidery for a variety of garments, including T-shirts, jackets, and more.
Although it’s a smaller shop, they can work on bulk orders placed by local businesses, schools, and sports teams—and with very reliable turnaround times. According to a repeat customer, orders are always completed ahead of schedule.
To avail their services, all you have to do is visit the shop and submit your design. If you’re not sure, they have an in-house designer available for professional insight before printing.
Not to mention, they also offer full design work charged at about $75 per hour.
What makes them appealing is that they offer access to hundreds of garment styles (including from brands like Adidas and Carhartt). Apparently, their selection includes budget, standard, or premium garment options that many customers appreciate.
They require a minimum order of 25, and pricing is available via quote. Make sure you’re ready to pay once you agree to the proposal—they’ll only start the production once you’ve paid in full.
Pop’s over other apparel companies
“Pop’s > other apparel companies. I walked into Pops without an appointment, looking to print some various business apparel. Austin immediately greeted me and helped me through some past problems I’ve had printing shirts elsewhere. He is very knowledgeable of the printing process, but also the available options of garments. I had a lot of questions and wasn’t exactly sure what I wanted. Austin and Jane helped me work through pricing and design to find the best fit for my company. I’m not sure what else I could have asked from them. They impressed me every step of the way. Thanks, Austin and Jane. I will be coming to Pops from now on for all my screen printing needs.”
- Pete Mossman, Google Review
Good value for cost
“We’ve used them for our family reunion for the past 2 years. Quality shirts and bright colors, no fading, on designs. Good value for cost.”
- Maryam Suluki (Mindy), Google Review
4. Tonic Studios
Address: 1145 Chesapeake Ave, Suite G
Phone: +16148599096
Business Hours:
- Monday to Friday, 9 AM–5 PM
What started in a garage in 2013, Tonic Studios became a full-screen-printing and design studio working with businesses, artists, and local brands across the state.
What we like most about this shop is that its services are pretty versatile. They can screen print all kinds of garments, from cropped hoodies to children’s clothes and tote bags.
Not to mention, they also use specialty inks like metallic, glow-in-the-dark, and puffy for designs that need a little eye-catching flair. Aside from their signature screen printing, they can also do custom embroidery for hats and pocket designs.
As mentioned, they also offer in-house design services. So, you can either bring your own design or a rough concept sketch, and the team can help you with the final design.
And this is what many customers love about them too—they’re creative and listen well to clients’ ideas, which is probably why many say the final designs are always “spot on.”
With a minimum order of 24, the approximate cost per shirt, depending on the garment, is between $8 and $12. That’s already a fair deal, and will be even more the larger the quantity.
Tonic Studios has exceeded my expectations
“I have used Tonic Studios for several large team spirit wear orders. On many occasions, I have needed their assistance with product selection and customized logo design. In ALL instances, Tonic Studios has exceeded my expectations. My most recent order was actually a small one with a very tight turnaround time. Again, Tonic knocked it out of the park with their customer service and high-quality product. Thanks, Tonic Studios!”
- P Jay, Google Review
This studio is top-notch
“Holy smokes, this studio is top-notch. From uploading the artwork to picking up the t-shirts, I was blown away by the excellent customer service, fair pricing and speedy delivery. Not to mention, the shirts turned out great! Highly recommended for any apparel needs!”
- Amy Densborn, Google Review
5. T-Shirt Columbus Ohio
Phone: +13143744408
Business Hours:
- Monday to Sunday, 9 AM–5 PM
With over 15 years in the industry, T-Shirt Columbus Ohio, is one of the classic shops around the state. It offers printing services for local businesses, fraternities, and event organizers.
For t-shirt printing, the team offers everything from traditional screen printing to custom embroidery and DTG. And even with these modern tools, their traditional option can handle up to 15-color images (most local shops cap out much lower!).
Meanwhile, for image-heavy jobs—let’s say 100+ colors, they use inkjet digital methods to ensure every detail is crisp.
While they may not have an estimated price for their products, they frequently offer weekly specials and waive the initial setup charges for digital and screen printing.
And according to customers we spoke to, the shop is one of the most affordable options in the area. The team would even encourage their clients to check out other shops and compare quotes with theirs to ensure they offer the best value.
Hearing how confident they are with the pricing and quality of their work definitely says a lot about their exceptional service.
However, a few people also pointed out that oftentimes, communication can be a little slower than usual.
Extremely helpful and always available
“I had been shopping around for a company to print some shirts with a logo I designed. Contacted Mike and explained what I was looking for. He was extremely helpful and always available to address any concerns or questions I had. The final product turned out exactly what I was looking for. The quality of the work and the t-shirt material is top-tier. Definitely recommend Mike and his team for t-shirt printing.”
- Shannon Holt, Google Review
Would 100% recommend
“Helpful, quality product, communicative, reasonable price, quick service – you name it, Mike Fadem and Sunburst Logo are the best! Mike was super helpful in answering questions about design, colors and even T-Shirt selection. Provided regular updates and the shirts were provided earlier than expected. I’ve ordered T-Shirts for a group for the past two years and would 100% recommend and purchase here again.”
- D B, Google Review
