Printing Planet UK
If you have ever searched for custom t-shirt printing and been told you need to order 50 or 100 pieces just to get started, you are not alone. Minimum order quantities (MOQs) put off a huge number of small businesses, event organisers and individuals every year. Understanding why they exist and which printing methods have them helps you choose the right option for your needs.
What Is a Minimum Order Quantity and Why Does It Exist?
A minimum order quantity is the smallest number of units a printer will accept in a single order. MOQs are not set arbitrarily. They exist because some printing methods have a significant setup cost that must be spread across enough units to make the job financially viable.
Screen printing is the clearest example. Every colour in your design requires a separate physical screen to be made, coated and aligned on the press. That process can take an hour or more before a single shirt is printed. If you only want two shirts, the setup cost alone makes the unit price unworkable for most printers.
Digital methods like DTF and DTG have no such setup cost. The artwork goes straight from your file to the printer, which is why these methods can accommodate single-item orders.
MOQ by Printing Method
| Method | Minimum Order | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| DTF (Direct to Film) | 1 piece | No setup, print on demand |
| DTG (Direct to Garment) | 1 piece | No setup, digital inkjet |
| Embroidery | 1 piece | Digitising fee applies once |
| Screen Printing | 25 pieces | Screen setup cost per colour |
| Vinyl / Heat Transfer | 1 piece | Cut and weld per piece |
At Printing Planet UK in Putney, we operate with no minimum order on DTF and DTG jobs. You can order a single custom t-shirt for a birthday, a one-off staff shirt or a prototype for your clothing brand without being forced to commit to bulk stock.
Tip: If you do need embroidery, the digitising fee (converting your artwork to stitch data) is a one-off charge. After that, reorders of any quantity cost only the embroidery and garment price.
Cost Per Unit vs Quantity
One of the most important things to understand about custom printing is that the unit price falls significantly as quantity rises. This is true across all methods, but it is most dramatic with screen printing.
| Quantity | Approx. DTF Unit Price | Approx. Screen Print Unit Price |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | £18.00 | Not available |
| 5 | £14.00 | Not available |
| 10 | £11.00 | £22.00 (incl. screen setup) |
| 25 | £8.50 | £10.00 |
| 50 | £7.00 | £7.50 |
| 100 | £5.50 | £5.00 |
These are approximate figures for a standard one-colour front print on a mid-weight cotton tee. Prices vary based on garment choice, design complexity and number of print positions. For a full breakdown, read our guide on custom printing costs in the UK.
Why No-MOQ Matters for Small Businesses and Startups
If you are launching a clothing brand, the ability to order single pieces or small runs changes everything. You can test a design before committing to 50 units, offer made-to-order products without holding stock, and fulfil custom requests from individual customers.
The same applies to small businesses ordering staff uniforms. A team of three does not need to order 25 shirts to get the job done. Printing Planet UK serves sole traders, small teams and startups regularly, and our no-MOQ approach is designed specifically for this kind of customer.
For more on launching your own label, see our guide on how to start a clothing brand.
When Bulk Orders Make More Sense
There are clear situations where ordering in volume is the smarter choice, even when no minimum is required:
- Reordering the same design across a season or year. Ordering 50 at once is always cheaper per unit than five orders of 10.
- Events with a fixed headcount, such as a sports team, hen party or corporate away day, where you know exactly how many you need.
- Retail stock, where you want a range of sizes available to sell immediately.
For bulk corporate orders, our corporate workwear guide covers size running, branding consistency and delivery options in detail.
Yes, You Can Order Just One Custom T-Shirt
The most common question we get is: “Can I really just order one?” The answer at Printing Planet UK is yes. One shirt, one hoodie, one tote bag. We use DTF and DTG printing for single-piece orders, both of which produce vibrant, wash-fast results with no setup charge and no minimum.
You can also compare DTF vs DTG printing to decide which method suits your artwork and garment choice. And if you are looking at screen printing for a larger run, our screen printing guide explains the process from artwork to finished garment.
Ready to order? Call us on 020 3669 9854 or visit our Putney studio at SW15 3BD. Single pieces, small runs and bulk orders all welcome, no minimum required.