If you're launching a resale business or running a retail shop that needs branded merchandise, custom apparel wholesale is your pathway to margin-friendly inventory. Understanding pricing, minimums, and supplier quality differences is the difference between sustainable profit and inventory graveyard. Let's break down what resellers and retailers actually need to know.
How Wholesale Pricing Works for Custom Apparel
Wholesale apparel pricing depends on several moving parts: blank garment cost, decoration method (screen printing, embroidery, direct-to-garment), order volume, and design complexity. A basic single-color screen-printed t-shirt typically costs $4–$7 per unit at quantities of 50–100 pieces, while the same shirt at 500+ units drops to $2.50–$4. That's the wholesale sweet spot where margins become real.
Embroidered polos or jackets sit higher: expect $8–$15 per unit for smaller runs, scaling down to $5–$10 at volume. Direct-to-garment (DTG) printing—great for photo-realistic designs—runs $6–$12 per shirt on small orders because the per-unit overhead is heavier. Volume always wins. Moving from 50 to 250 units often cuts per-piece cost by 30–50%.
Minimum Order Quantities (MOQs) and Lead Times
Most screen printing shops set MOQs between 25 and 100 pieces per design. This protects their production setup; screen-printing screens cost $20–$50 each to make, so small runs destroy margin. Some vendors negotiate lower minimums (sometimes 12–24 pieces) if you accept longer lead times or higher per-unit costs.
Lead time matters for resellers planning inventory drops. Standard custom apparel takes 7–14 business days from order confirmation to shipment. Rush orders (3–5 days) usually add 15–25% to your per-unit cost. Blank apparel inventory—pre-printed with generic designs—ships faster (2–5 days) but offers less personalization.
Key Factors to Compare Among Suppliers
When evaluating wholesale partners, don't just hunt the lowest price:
- Print quality and durability: Ask for samples. Check how ink holds after 10 washes. Cheap suppliers use low-flash temperatures that fade fast.
- Blank garment brand and weight: A Gildan 5-ounce tee feels and sells differently than Bella+Canvas. Higher-quality blanks cost more upfront but justify premium retail prices.
- Design revisions and proofs: Confirm how many free design iterations you get. Some shops charge $25–$50 per revision after the first two.
- Shipping and handling fees: Some suppliers bundle it; others add $50–$200 per order. Factor this into your per-unit math.
- Payment terms: Net-30 or net-60 terms help cash flow. Most require upfront payment for custom orders.
- Reorder capability: Ask if you can reorder the same design later at the same price, or if pricing resets.
Calculating Your Retail Markup
Once you know your landed cost (wholesale price + shipping + design costs), work backward from your market rate. A $5 wholesale tee with $0.50 in overhead typically retails for $12–$16 online, or $18–$25 in a brick-and-mortar shop. That 2.5–3x markup is standard for apparel resellers; lower margins squeeze profit quickly.
For embroidered or premium items, you can push 3–4x markup because perceived value is higher. A $10 embroidered polo selling for $35–$40 feels fair to customers and healthy to your bottom line.
Finding and Vetting Suppliers
Start by requesting quotes from at least three vendors for the same design and quantity. Compare apples to apples: same blank brand, same print method, same design complexity. Speed matters too—responsive suppliers with clear communication deserve weight in your decision.
Mercoly lets you compare and find trusted screen printing and custom apparel providers side-by-side, so you can evaluate quality, pricing, and lead times without juggling a dozen emails.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I start reselling custom apparel without ordering huge quantities? A: Yes—many vendors accept 25–50 unit minimums, though per-unit costs stay higher. Test designs with smaller runs before committing to 500-piece orders.
Q: What's the difference between screen printing and DTG for wholesale orders? A: Screen printing is cheaper per unit at volume (50+) and more durable; DTG is better for small batches and photo designs but costs more per piece and may fade faster with cheap providers.
Q: How do I ensure quality before placing a large wholesale order? A: Always request a physical sample of the blank garment and a printed mockup, even if you pay $20–$50 for it. Seeing ink durability and fit firsthand prevents costly mistakes.
Start comparing suppliers today to lock in the right pricing for your resale margins.