Apparel · Cost Guide
How Much Does It Cost to Manufacture T-Shirts?
A complete breakdown of unit costs, tooling, materials, shipping, and lead times for manufacturing t-shirts.
Unit Cost
$1.50–$5.00
per unit
Lead Time
40 days
avg. production
MOQ Range
200–1,000
units minimum
Tooling Cost
$0.00–$500.00
one-time setup
Overview
T-shirts are the most accessible apparel product for new brands. Bangladesh offers the lowest FOB prices for basic cotton tees. Vietnam excels at higher-quality construction. China is best for technical fabrics and complex designs. Key specifications include fabric weight (gsm), cotton type (ring-spun, combed, organic), and construction (tubular vs. side-seam).
Cost Breakdown
| Cost Component | Range | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Manufacturing Cost | $1.50–$5.00 | Per unit |
| Tooling / Mold Setup | $0.00–$500.00 | One-time |
| Shipping per Unit | $0.08–$0.20 | Per unit |
| Total Landed Cost (est.) | $1.58–$5.20 | Per unit |
* Tooling costs are amortized across your order quantity. Actual costs vary based on supplier, materials, and order volume.
Cost Breakdown Visual
Country Comparison
| Metric | Bangladesh | Vietnam | China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unit Cost | $2.54–$3.44 | $2.98–$4.04 | $2.76–$3.74 |
| Typical MOQ | 720 | 660 | 600 |
| Lead Time | 50 days | 46 days | 40 days |
| Tooling Cost | $276.00–$374.00 | $255.00–$345.00 | $213.00–$288.00 |
Green = lowest cost per row. Estimates include ±15% variance.
Margin Calculator
Gross Margin
66.7%
Excellent
Landed Cost (est.)
$3.39
per unit, mid-range
Break-even (est.)
148
units to cover $1k
What Drives the Cost?
Best Manufacturing Countries
Bangladesh
Among the lowest labor costs globally. Dominant in basic apparel and textiles. Growing capability in more complex garments.
Vietnam
Rapidly growing alternative to China with lower labor costs. Especially strong in textiles, footwear, furniture, and electronics assembly.
China
World's largest manufacturing hub. Excellent for high-volume production with mature supply chains and competitive pricing across virtually all product categories.
Common Materials
Margin Advice
Target 70-80% retail margin. Cotton weight (gsm) is the primary cost driver: 130gsm (budget) to 220gsm+ (premium heavyweight). Organic cotton adds $0.50-1.50 per unit but supports $30-45 retail pricing. Blank tees for screen printing is the simplest entry model.
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