Team orders are where custom apparel gets genuinely complicated. Collecting sizes from 35 people who reply to your group chat at different times, reconciling last-minute additions, managing the teammate who needs a 4XL alongside the one who needs an XS, and navigating a hard deadline tied to a game date or company event — all before you've settled on the garment or finalized the logo. We've seen this process go smoothly and we've seen it become a logistical nightmare. The difference is almost always preparation.
This guide covers how professional organizations — sports teams, corporate departments, nonprofits, restaurants, construction companies — approach team apparel orders so that the process runs clean the first time.
This is the single most common mistake teams make: sending out a size survey before deciding on the garment. A size large in a Bella+Canvas 3001 and a size large in a Gildan 5000 can fit two completely different body types — the Bella fits more like a fitted medium on most people, while the Gildan is a boxy, traditional cut. Your size responses are only useful once you know what garment you're collecting sizes for.
Before you reach out to your team, nail down:
The only way to get accurate size responses is to send a size chart with actual measurements — not just size labels. "I wear a medium" means something different to everyone. "Medium fits a 38–40 inch chest and measures 28 inches from shoulder to hem" gives people something to actually measure against.
When you send your size request, include:
Once responses are collected, compile them into a size run — a simple count of how many pieces you need per size. For a typical team of 30, this might look like: XS×2, S×4, M×9, L×8, XL×5, 2XL×2. Review this against the team roster to catch anyone who was missed.
We strongly recommend adding 2–3 buffer pieces in your most common sizes — typically M, L, and XL. Here's why: a standalone reorder of 2 shirts costs significantly more per piece than adding them to the original run. You're already paying the $25 setup fee and already getting volume pricing. Those buffer shirts cost you maybe $25–$40 extra in the original order and save you the $25 setup fee plus higher per-piece cost of a reorder later. In almost every case, it's worth it.
Many team orders involve more than one garment — coaches get a polo, players get a t-shirt, staff gets a hoodie. This is completely normal and manageable. A few things to know:
The screens are made once for your design, so switching garment types doesn't require re-setup on the artwork side. However, ink may need to be adjusted for different fabric types, and print placement may shift slightly between garments. We handle this automatically — just note on your order form which garment type gets which decoration.
DTF is actually the most flexible for mixed garment orders. The same transfer film works on any fabric — cotton, poly, blends — and there are no per-garment-type adjustments. Quantities don't need to hit any threshold per garment style.
This is common for corporate orders where managers get embroidered polos and general staff gets printed tees. We handle these as a single project with one quote and one timeline. Just specify clearly which decoration method goes on which garment.
Sports teams ordering jerseys or any order with individual personalization adds meaningful complexity. Each garment becomes a unique piece, which affects cost and production time.
What to have ready for personalized orders:
Standard production is 4 business days from proof approval. But your total timeline from first contact to shirts-in-hand is longer. Here's a realistic breakdown:
Total realistic window: 12–20 business days from first contact to delivery on a standard order. If you need shirts by a specific date, work backward from that date and plan accordingly. Rush production (2 days instead of 4) is available for an additional $2.50 per piece.
Most team orders naturally hit the quantity thresholds where volume discounts become meaningful. Our discounts stack automatically:
For teams that order annually — seasonal uniforms, annual staff shirts — we also maintain your artwork and order history so reorders are faster and there's no re-setup of screens or digitizing files.
Submit your order and we'll walk you through garment selection, sizing, and timeline — with a free proof within 24 hours of submission.
Start your order →