Custom Uniform Printing Cost in Australia 2026

Custom uniform printing cost in Australia is $12–$45 per garment in 2026, depending on the garment, the decoration method and how many you order. A one-colour screen printed tee at 100 units lands near the bottom of that range. An embroidered hi-vis work shirt at 10 units lands well above the top of it.

The thing that trips most buyers up is that a uniform price is never one number. It's three: the blank garment, the decoration, and a one-off setup fee that gets spread across your order. Order 10 shirts and that setup fee is brutal per unit. Order 200 and it almost disappears.

This guide breaks down real Australian pricing for screen printing, embroidery, DTF transfers and hi-vis workwear, shows how the per-unit cost collapses as quantity climbs, and covers the questions to ask a decorator in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane or Perth before you commit. If you'd rather go straight to a supplier, the printing and signage calculator library is a good starting point. Last updated: August 2026.

Key takeaways

• Custom uniform printing cost in Australia is $12–$45 per garment in 2026, all-in (blank garment + decoration + amortised setup).
• Screen printing cost per shirt is $1.50–$6 for the print itself, plus a $30–$60 screen setup fee per colour, per placement — which is why screen printing only makes financial sense above roughly 25 units.
• Embroidered workwear cost runs $3–$12 per logo, plus a one-off $50–$120 digitising fee to convert your artwork into a stitch file. That digitising fee is paid once and reused forever.
• Custom polo shirts price in Australia is typically $20–$45 each decorated, with the blank polo alone accounting for $12–$25 of that.
• Hi vis uniform printing cost is $30–$70 per garment for day/night compliant shirts — the reflective tape and the AS/NZS certification, not the printing, are what push it up.
• Doubling your order rarely doubles your bill. Setup is fixed, so per-unit cost typically drops 30–50% between 25 units and 100 units.
• These are price indications only. Your supplier will confirm the final price after assessing the job.

Table of contents

• How much does custom uniform printing cost in Australia?
• What is the screen printing cost per shirt?
• How much does embroidered workwear cost?
• What is the custom polo shirts price in Australia?
• How much does hi vis uniform printing cost?
• Why does quantity change the price so much?
• What's included in a uniform quote and what isn't?
• How do you get an accurate custom uniform quote?
• FAQs

How much does custom uniform printing cost in Australia? {#how-much}

Custom uniform printing costs $12–$45 per garment in Australia in 2026, with most small-business orders landing between $18 and $32 per unit once setup is spread across the run. The figure moves on three levers: which garment you pick, which decoration method you use, and how many you buy.

Here's what the finished per-garment cost looks like across the most common combinations, at three order sizes.

Prices are per garment in AUD and typically quoted excluding GST for business buyers — add 10% if you're comparing against a consumer retail price. If you're working out what the GST component actually does to your cash flow, the guide to GST for Australian businesses covers claiming it back.

Methodology and disclosure: these ranges are compiled from how Australian uniform decorators actually structure their pricing — blank garment, plus decoration, plus one-off setup — and cross-checked against the job specifications collected by Leadkit's own custom apparel enquiry tool. Being upfront about it: that tool is Leadkit's, and it's an enquiry form that passes your job details to a supplier, not a rate calculator. It doesn't generate a price itself. Every figure above is a general guide, not a quote.

This is a price indication only. Your supplier will confirm the final price after assessing the job.

What is the screen printing cost per shirt? {#screen-printing}

Screen printing cost per shirt is $1.50–$6 for the print itself, on top of the blank garment, plus a screen setup fee of $30–$60 per colour, per print placement. That setup fee is the whole story with screen printing.

Screen printing works by pushing ink through a mesh stencil — one screen per colour. A two-colour logo on the front and a one-colour logo on the back is three screens, so three setup fees, before a single shirt is printed. This is also why decorators talk about colour separations: your artwork has to be split into individual layers, one per screen, and complex gradients or photographic images can't be separated cleanly at all.

The per-print cost drops as the run gets longer because the press is already set up and the crew is just feeding garments through:

• 1 colour, front only: $4–$6 per shirt at 25 units, $2.50–$4 at 100, $1.50–$2.50 at 250+
• 3 colours, front only: $7–$11 at 25 units, $4.50–$7 at 100, $3–$5 at 250+
• Screen setup: $30–$60 per colour per placement, often waived entirely above 100–150 units or on repeat orders where the screens already exist

Blank tees run $6–$12 for a basic 150–180gsm cotton and $12–$25 for a heavyweight 220gsm+ garment. GSM means grams per square metre — the fabric weight. A 150gsm tee is a giveaway shirt; a 220gsm tee is what staff actually keep wearing after eighteen months.

Below about 25 units, screen printing is usually the wrong call. The setup fee dominates and you're better off with a DTF transfer. You can compare the different custom apparel options before you brief a supplier.

How much does embroidered workwear cost? {#embroidery}

Embroidered workwear cost is $3–$12 per logo in Australia, plus a one-off digitising fee of $50–$120 per design. Embroidery is priced on stitch count, not on colours — typically $0.50–$1.00 per 1,000 stitches once you're past the minimum charge.

Digitising is the step people don't expect to pay for. Your logo file — even a perfect vector — can't be sewn directly. It has to be converted into a stitch file that tells the machine the order, direction and density of every stitch. That's skilled work, it's charged once, and you own the result. Ask for the digitised file when you pay for it; it means you can take it to a different decorator later without paying again.

Typical stitch counts and what they cost to sew:

• Small left-chest logo (4,000–8,000 stitches): $3–$7 per garment
• Standard chest logo with text (8,000–12,000 stitches): $6–$10 per garment
• Large back logo (15,000–25,000 stitches): $12–$22 per garment
• Cap front (5,000–8,000 stitches): $4–$8 per garment

Embroidery costs more per unit than screen printing but it lasts dramatically longer through industrial washing, and it reads as more premium — which is why it's the default for polos, jackets, caps and anything customer-facing. For a trades business, branded uniforms sit alongside signage and a decent website as basic visibility spend; the tradie marketing checklist puts that in context against the other channels competing for the same budget.

One practical note: embroidery on lightweight or stretch fabric needs backing to stop the design puckering, and very fine text under about 5mm high won't stitch legibly. A good decorator will tell you this before they take your money.

What is the custom polo shirts price in Australia? {#polo-shirts}

The custom polo shirts price in Australia is $20–$45 each decorated, in 2026. The blank polo is the bigger half of that: $12–$25 depending on fabric, with the decoration adding $4–$12 on top plus setup.

Polo pricing splits fairly cleanly by fabric:

• 100% polyester microfibre / moisture-wicking: $12–$18 blank. Light, cheap, dries fast, doesn't hold a crease. Standard for sports clubs and outdoor crews.
• Poly-cotton blend (65/35 or similar): $15–$22 blank. The compromise most hospitality and retail uniforms land on.
• Combed cotton pique: $20–$32 blank. Heavier, holds colour better, feels like a retail garment. Used where the uniform is customer-facing.

Embroidery is the near-universal choice on polos — screen printing on a pique knit gives an inconsistent finish because the surface isn't flat. Budget $25–$35 per polo for a typical 50-unit order with a left-chest logo, or $22–$28 at 100 units.

Watch the sizing spread. Ordering across XS to 5XL usually means the supplier has to source from more than one size run, and garments above 3XL often carry a surcharge of $2–$5 each. Get everyone's size before you request the quote, not after.

This is a price indication only. Your supplier will confirm the final price after assessing the job.

How much does hi vis uniform printing cost? {#hi-vis}

Hi vis uniform printing cost is $25–$36 per garment for day-use polos and $38–$75 for day/night compliant work shirts in Australia in 2026. The decoration is the cheap part — it's the garment certification that moves the price.

Australian high-visibility clothing is specified under AS/NZS 4602.1, which sets three usage classes:

• Class D (day use): fluorescent fabric only, no reflective tape. Cheapest.
• Class N (night use): retroreflective tape, no fluorescent requirement.
• Class D/N (day and night): both — fluorescent base fabric and compliant retroreflective tape. This is what most construction and roadside sites mandate, and it's typically $15–$30 more per garment than the day-only equivalent.

The reflective tape itself is covered by AS/NZS 1906.4, and it's the component that fails first — tape degrades with industrial washing and loses its retroreflectivity long before the garment wears out. That's a replacement cost, not a one-off.

Two things worth knowing before you order. First, printing or embroidering over reflective tape voids the garment's compliance, so decoration has to be placed on non-tape areas — a decent supplier will move your logo rather than quietly print over it. Second, under the model WHS Regulations, personal protective equipment required for a worker's safety must be provided by the employer at no cost to the worker; Safe Work Australia publishes the model laws and guidance, with your state regulator enforcing them. If the hi-vis is genuinely PPE, it's a business expense, not something you deduct from wages.

Hi-vis pairs naturally with vehicle branding for trades businesses — if you're kitting out utes at the same time, the printing and signage enquiry tool handles that side of the job.

Why does quantity change the price so much? {#quantity}

Quantity changes custom uniform printing cost more than any other single factor, because setup costs are fixed and get divided across your order. A $50 screen fee is $2 per shirt at 25 units and 20 cents per shirt at 250.

Here's the same job — a one-colour front print on a $9 blank tee, with a $50 screen fee — at four order sizes:

The blank garment price also steps down at supplier price breaks, usually at 50, 100 and 250 units — which is why the middle column shifts too.

The practical takeaway: if you're within about 20% of the next price break, ask what the total cost is at that break. It's not unusual for 100 shirts to cost less in total than 85, because you cross a price break and the setup spreads further. Order the extras and keep them for new starters.

The exception is DTF (direct-to-film) transfers, which have no screen setup at all. The per-print cost stays roughly flat at $4–$9 per placement regardless of quantity, which makes DTF the clear winner under 25 units and the clear loser above 150.

Not sure which method suits your run size? Browse the full calculator library to find the right tool for your trade or industry.

What's included in a uniform quote and what isn't? {#whats-included}

A custom uniform quote usually includes the blank garment, the decoration, and setup — and usually excludes GST, freight, artwork fixes and individual name personalisation. The gaps are where budgets blow out.

Normally included:

• The blank garment at the quoted size range
• One decoration placement, at the size and position quoted
• Screen setup or digitising (sometimes itemised separately, sometimes bundled)
• A digital mock-up for approval

Normally extra:

• GST at 10% — most trade quotes are ex-GST. Check which you're looking at.
• Freight — $15–$60 for a metro delivery, more for regional. Some suppliers waive it above a spend threshold.
• Artwork redraw — $50–$150 if you only have a low-resolution JPG or PNG. Supply vector artwork (AI, EPS or PDF) and this disappears.
• Additional placements — a back print or sleeve print is a separate setup and a separate per-unit cost.
• Individual names — $4–$10 per garment for a name under a logo, and it kills any economy of scale, because every garment is now a unique job.
• Pantone (PMS) colour matching — $20–$50 to mix ink to an exact brand colour rather than using a standard stock colour.
• Rush turnaround — standard lead times run 10–15 business days; a 3–5 day rush typically adds 20–40%.

Ask for the quote itemised. A supplier who won't split garment, decoration and setup is a supplier you can't compare against anyone else.

How do you get an accurate custom uniform quote? {#getting-quotes}

An accurate custom uniform quote needs five inputs, and no Australian decorator will give you a firm number without them: product, quantity, decoration method, location, and timeframe.

That's not a guess — it's what the enquiry form for custom apparel actually collects. Across Leadkit's library of 202 calculators spanning 26 industries and 112 trade categories, 112 are enquiry-style rather than instant-quote, and custom apparel is one of them, precisely because the price genuinely doesn't exist until someone has seen the garment, the artwork and the run size. The five decoration and product options that form offers — t-shirts, hoodies, hi-vis workwear, hats and sports uniforms, decorated by screen print, embroidery or DTF transfer — map exactly to the pricing structure above.

To get a quote you can actually compare:

1. Confirm the exact garment, ideally by brand and style code. "A polo" is not a spec.
2. Give a real quantity and your size breakdown. Add 10–15% for new starters and replacements.
3. Supply vector artwork. It saves you the redraw fee and gets you a cleaner result.
4. State every placement. Front, back, sleeve, cap — each one is priced separately.
5. Give a genuine deadline. Rush fees are avoidable if you ask early.
6. Ask for it ex-GST and inc. GST, so you're comparing like with like.

Then get three quotes. The spread between decorators on the same job is routinely 30–40%, mostly driven by whether they decorate in-house or outsource it.

If your existing uniforms just need resizing or repair rather than replacing, that's a different trade entirely — the tailoring enquiry tool covers alterations.

FAQs {#faqs}

How much does it cost to print 100 custom t-shirts in Australia?

Printing 100 custom t-shirts in Australia costs roughly $1,200–$1,700 total, or $12–$17 per shirt, for a one-colour front print on a mid-weight blank. That figure includes the blank garment ($8–$10), the print ($2.50–$4) and a screen setup fee of $30–$60 spread across the run. A three-colour print on the same job lifts it to about $1,600–$2,200, because each colour is a separate screen and a separate setup. Add 10% for GST if you're comparing against a retail price. This is a price indication only. Your supplier will confirm the final price after assessing the job.

Is embroidery or screen printing cheaper for uniforms?

Screen printing is cheaper per unit on volume runs; embroidery is cheaper on small runs with a simple logo. The crossover sits around 25–40 units for a single-colour design. Screen printing carries a $30–$60 setup per colour but drops to $1.50–$2.50 per shirt at 250 units. Embroidery carries a one-off $50–$120 digitising fee and then $3–$12 per garment that doesn't fall much with quantity. Embroidery also survives industrial washing far better, so for polos and workwear that get laundered weekly, the higher unit price often works out cheaper over the garment's life.

What is the minimum order for custom uniform printing?

Most Australian decorators set a minimum of 10–25 units for screen printing and 1–12 units for embroidery or DTF transfers. Screen printing minimums exist because the setup labour is the same whether you print 5 shirts or 500. If you need fewer than 10 garments, ask specifically about DTF or heat transfer — there's no screen to make, so single units are viable at $17–$30 each. Some suppliers also run "no minimum" embroidery on stock garments, though the per-unit price will be near the top of the range.

Why does hi vis uniform printing cost more than a normal shirt?

Hi vis uniform printing costs more because the garment itself is a certified safety product, not because the printing is harder. A day/night compliant shirt under AS/NZS 4602.1 needs fluorescent base fabric plus retroreflective tape meeting AS/NZS 1906.4, which adds $15–$30 to the blank before anyone touches it. Decoration also has to avoid the tape — printing over reflective material voids compliance — so placement options are more limited and sometimes require a smaller logo. Expect $25–$36 for a printed day-use hi-vis polo and $38–$75 for a decorated day/night work shirt.

Are custom uniforms tax deductible for an Australian business?

Yes, uniforms bought for staff are generally a deductible business expense, and you can usually claim the GST credit if you're registered. For employees claiming their own clothing, the rules are tighter: the Australian Taxation Office allows deductions for compulsory uniforms, occupation-specific clothing and protective clothing, while a non-compulsory uniform generally has to be entered on the Register of Approved Occupational Clothing before staff can claim it. Check the current guidance at ato.gov.au or with your accountant before you promise your team a deduction.

How long does custom uniform printing take in Australia?

Standard turnaround is 10–15 business days from artwork approval for most Australian decorators, covering artwork setup, garment sourcing and decoration. Embroidery on stock garments can be faster — 5–10 business days is common. Rush jobs of 3–5 days are usually available for a 20–40% surcharge, if the blanks are in stock. The bottleneck is almost always garment availability, not the printing: if your size run needs to come from an interstate warehouse, add a week. Order seasonal uniforms well before summer and winter, when supplier queues are longest.

Can I mix garment types in one order to hit a price break?

Sometimes, but not usually for the setup fee. Most decorators will combine different garments toward the blank garment price break if they're from the same supplier range, so 60 polos and 40 tees may be priced as a 100-unit purchase. The decoration setup is different — a logo printed on tees and embroidered on polos is two separate setups, because they're two different processes. If you want one setup across the whole order, keep the decoration method consistent and ask the supplier to confirm the combined pricing in writing.

Do I get the artwork files if I pay a setup fee?

You should ask, and get it in writing. Paying a digitising fee means you've paid for the embroidery stitch file (usually a DST or EMB file), and reputable Australian decorators will release it on request. Screens are physical and stay with the printer, but the colour-separated artwork files should also be available. Getting your files matters because it means a second supplier can quote your job without charging setup again — which is worth $50–$120 the next time you order. Ask before you pay, not after you've fallen out with the supplier.

Final tips before you order

Custom uniform printing cost in Australia comes down to three decisions: the garment you choose, the decoration method you match to your run size, and whether you order enough to cross a price break. Get those three right and the same job can cost 40% less than the first quote you're handed.

Three things worth doing every time:

• Order a sample or a digital mock-up before the full run. A $25 sample beats 100 shirts with your logo 10mm too low.
• Buy 10–15% extra. New starters, spills and shrinkage are certain, and a second small run costs you a whole setup fee again.
• Keep your artwork files. Vector logo, digitised stitch file, Pantone codes. It's the difference between a $50 reorder and a $200 one.

And if you're a business owner rather than a buyer, remember that branded uniforms are working the same shift your staff are — a clean, consistent uniform on a job site in Parramatta or a café in Fitzroy is doing quiet advertising all day.

Ready to price your uniform order? Send your job details to a local custom apparel supplier — product, quantity, decoration and suburb, and you'll get a callback. It takes about 30 seconds and there's no obligation.

This is a price indication only. Your supplier will confirm the final price after assessing the job.