Profit Play • DTF
How to Price DTF Transfers for Profit
No more guessing. We’re using a simple formula + yield math so every press pays. Then we’ll lock in size upcharges, bundle breaks, and rush fees—like a pro.
Your Core Formula
Price = (Transfer Cost per Print + Labor per Print + Overhead per Print) ÷ (1 − Target Margin)
- Transfer Cost/Print: sheet cost ÷ prints-per-sheet (your yield).
- Labor/Print: press time + setup time ÷ quantity (include weed/trim if needed).
- Overhead/Print: shop costs per hour ÷ prints per hour (electric, rent, wear & tear).
- Target Margin: 0.60–0.70 for retail custom; 0.50–0.60 for B2B volume.
Boss Note: If your price feels “high,” don’t cut margin—cut labor by batching, or increase yield by nesting designs tighter on the sheet.
Gang Sheet Yield (The Money Lever)
| Sheet | Design Size | Fits Per Sheet | Sheet Cost | Cost/Print |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22" × 60" | 10" × 10" | 10 | $30.00 | $3.00 |
| 22" × 60" | 12" × 14" | 7 | $30.00 | $4.29 |
| 22" × 120" | 10" × 10" | 20 | $56.00 | $2.80 |
These are examples—use your supplier pricing and your nesting to get exact numbers. Then plug into the calculator.
Labor & Overhead (Quick Inputs)
- Press Time: 12–18 sec + load/unload. Assume ~45–60 sec/garment with QC & bagging.
- Setup: artwork trimming, alignment, test press—spread that time across the order.
- Overhead: if your shop cost is $30/hour and you process 40 shirts/hour, that’s $0.75/print.
Size Upcharges & Add-Ons
| Item | Why | Typical Add |
|---|---|---|
| 2XL–3XL | Higher blank cost & more press time | $2.00–$3.00 |
| 4XL–5XL | Even higher cost & limited stock | $4.00–$6.00 |
| Left Chest + Full Back | Two placements | +40–60% over single placement |
| Metallic/Neon | Premium transfer or handling | +$1.00–$2.50 |
| Rush (48–72h) | Priority time | +20–40% |
Volume & Bundle Pricing (Protect Margin)
Use tiers that reward quantity without giving away the farm.
| Qty | Target Margin | Suggested Discount |
|---|---|---|
| 12–23 | ≈ 65% | Base price |
| 24–49 | ≈ 62% | –5% to –8% |
| 50–99 | ≈ 60% | –10% to –12% |
| 100+ | ≈ 55–58% | Custom quote (optimize yield) |
Example Quote (Walkthrough)
- Design 10" × 10", 22"×60" sheet @ $30 → 10 per sheet → $3.00 cost/print
- Labor: 60 sec/print at $24/hr effective → $0.40/print
- Overhead: $30/hr ÷ 40 prints → $0.75/print
- Total cost/print: $4.15. Target margin retail 65% → price = 4.15 ÷ (1−0.65) ≈ $11.86 (round to $12.00 per placement)
Add garment + size upcharges to get your final per-shirt price. Always quote “per placement” or “per shirt, includes front only.”
Boss Tip: When someone asks for a “better price,” remove value (no individual bagging, longer turnaround) instead of slicing your margin.
Ready-To-Use Policy Lines
- “Prices include one front placement. Additional placements are quoted separately.”
- “2XL+ sizes include a size upcharge.”
- “Rush fee applies to deadlines under 72 hours.”
- “Prepayment required for all custom orders.”
Next Steps
- Plug your numbers into the DTF Pricing Calculator.
- Create a saved quote template with your tiers, upcharges, and policy lines.
- Batch orders to increase yield and reduce labor per print.