← All articles · 2026-06-12

How early should you order custom shirts for an event?

The honest rule of thumb: order 4–5 weeks before your event date. Here's the timeline math, and why ordering early isn't just safer — it's meaningfully cheaper.

Where the time actually goes

• Design & approval: 2–7 days. The most underestimated step. Getting your group to agree on a design, collecting sizes, and approving the proof routinely takes a week.
• Production: 5–10 business days for a 100-shirt order at most printers, domestic or overseas.
• Shipping: 2–12 business days depending on the printer's location and method.

The cost curve nobody shows you

Printing prices aren't fixed — they're a function of how much time you give the printer:

• Under 1 week: rush territory. Expect +15–30% surcharges (sometimes +50–100%) on top of standard pricing.
• 1–2 weeks: standard domestic pricing. US online printers typically deliver in 6–14 business days at their normal rates.
• 3+ weeks: the savings zone. With this much runway you can use planned overseas production — same garments, modern full-color printing, roughly 30% below typical US pricing, delivered duty-paid. Full pricing breakdown here.

Suggested timelines by event type

• School events (spirit week, field day, graduation): order 5 weeks out — school approval chains add time. School ordering guide →
• Charity runs & fundraisers: order when registration opens, typically 6–8 weeks out. Fundraiser pricing →
• Company events: order when the date is locked — usually weeks ahead anyway. Company orders →
• Family reunions & weddings: 4–6 weeks out, after the headcount firms up.

One warning, from us

If your event is less than 3 weeks away, don't order from an overseas producer — including us. The timeline is too tight to be responsible. Use a domestic rush printer this once, and plan the next one early enough to keep the savings.