Custom Shirts for Schools, Teams and Fundraisers with No Minimum (DTF)
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You can run a school, team or fundraiser shirt order with no minimum by using DTF transfers: every shirt is printed from the same digital file, so 12 shirts cost the same per piece as 120, and a late add-on is one more transfer, not a new setup fee. This guide covers the two ways to do it, how to collect sizes without chaos, a quantity-planning table, and how the money works.
Two ways to order
Option A: finished shirts, printed and shipped to you
Choose a blank, upload the design, pick sizes and quantities, and we press and ship the shirts. No equipment, no pressing. This suits PTAs, booster clubs and coaches who want to hand out a box of done shirts. Start at custom shirts with no minimum or browse the custom apparel collection for tees, hoodies, long sleeves, youth and toddler sizes.
Option B: transfers only, you press them
If the school has a heat press (many art and CTE rooms do) or a parent runs a craft business, order the transfers on a gang sheet and press onto blanks you buy wherever you like. A 22-inch-wide gang sheet is $0.75 per inch of length: 22×12 is $9, 22×60 is $45 and holds 8 adult front prints plus 30 or more small chest logos. That is the cheapest way to put a design on a shirt, and it lets you press extra sizes on demand. Build it in the DTF gang sheet builder. If you are unsure which to choose, read the team shirt planning guide.
Step-by-step: running the order
- Lock the design two weeks before the deadline. One or two colors read best on a team shirt, but DTF prints full color at the same price, so a photo or a multi-color mascot costs nothing extra. Ask for a PNG with a transparent background, at least 300 dpi at print size. Logos as JPG with a white box around them are the most common problem.
- Pick one or two blanks, not five. A standard unisex cotton tee in one color for everyone, plus a youth version, keeps sizing and pricing simple. Add a hoodie as an optional upgrade if parents ask.
- Collect sizes with a form, not a group chat. A shared spreadsheet or order form with name, size, quantity and paid yes/no. Close the form on a fixed date.
- Add buffer shirts. Someone always forgets. See the table below.
- Place one order. Combined orders over $120 ship free. Orders in by 2 PM ET Monday through Friday ship the same day for transfers; finished apparel takes a few business days to press.
- Hand out and reorder. Late requests are a one-shirt order, no minimum, no penalty.
Quantity planning table
For a group where you do not yet have sizes, these ratios are a workable starting estimate for ordering blanks or planning a gang sheet. Adjust once your form closes.
| Group | Typical size spread | Buffer to add | Transfer sizes to gang |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary school (K–5) | YXS 15%, YS 30%, YM 30%, YL 20%, adult S 5% | 10% | Youth front 7–8 in, toddler 5–6 in |
| Middle school | YM 15%, YL 25%, adult S 30%, M 20%, L 10% | 8% | Youth 8–9 in, adult 10–11 in |
| High school / varsity | S 15%, M 35%, L 30%, XL 15%, 2XL 5% | 5–8% | Adult 10–12 in front, 11–13 in back |
| Adult rec league / staff | S 10%, M 25%, L 30%, XL 20%, 2XL 10%, 3XL 5% | 5% | Adult 10–12 in; 3XL up to 13 in |
| Fundraiser (open sale) | Unknown; sell presale, order to the list | 5% in M and L | Mixed: adult front, youth front, left chest |
Transfer sizing for each shirt size
A design that fills an adult XL looks oversized on a youth small. Plan two or three transfer sizes: adult front 10 to 12 inches wide, youth front 7 to 9 inches, toddler 5 to 6 inches, and a 3 to 4 inch left chest for staff polos or a smaller secondary mark. Full guidance by garment is in the DTF transfer size chart. On a gang sheet you can mix all of these; the gang sheet calculator shows how many of each fit.
How the money works
With DTF there is no screen, no setup fee and no color surcharge, so the cost is simply the blank plus the print plus pressing, and it is the same per shirt whether you order 10 or 100. That changes how you run a fundraiser:
- Presale, do not guess. Because there is no minimum, you can sell first and order exactly what sold. No leftover boxes of 2XL.
- Price for a round margin. Decide the price parents will pay, subtract the per-shirt cost, and that is what the fundraiser clears per shirt.
- Offer a second product with the same design. A hoodie, a long sleeve, a tote or a tumbler decal uses the same artwork. UV DTF decals for water bottles and tumblers are a popular add-on for sports teams.
- Keep reorders open. Spring sports, new students and lost shirts all generate one-off orders. Transfer-only groups can press them in five minutes.
Ready-made designs when you have no artist
Not every team has a designer. Our ready-made designs collection has teacher, nurse, school-spirit and seasonal designs on tees, sweatshirts and hoodies in adult, youth, toddler and baby sizes, and the teacher shirts collection covers grade-level and subject designs for staff. Order one for every teacher in the building or one for a single classroom; the price is the same.
Timeline example
| When | What |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | Design approved, blank chosen, order form opens |
| Day 8 | Form closes; count sizes, add buffer |
| Day 9 | Order placed (transfers ship same day if by 2 PM ET; finished shirts enter pressing) |
| Day 10–11 | Transfers arrive in NY, NJ and New England; 2–4 days elsewhere |
| Day 12–15 | Finished shirts arrive; pressed-at-school shirts are done |
| Day 16+ | Late orders pressed or ordered individually |
Pressing at school: what you need
A heat press, not an iron. Pre-press each shirt 3 to 5 seconds to remove moisture, press the transfer at 300 to 320°F for 10 to 15 seconds with firm pressure, let the film cool, peel, and press again for 5 seconds under parchment. One adult and two students can press 60 shirts in an hour once the rhythm is set. Full settings per fabric are on the press settings page, and if anything lifts, see the troubleshooting guide.
Ordering details
DTF Sirius prints to order and ships to all 50 states. Transfers ordered by 2 PM ET Monday through Friday ship the same day; shipping is free on orders of $120 or more; misprints are reprinted free within 7 days. There is no minimum on transfers or finished shirts. Purchase orders and tax-exempt forms for schools can be arranged by emailing info@dtfsirius.com.
Frequently asked questions
Is there really no minimum?
Yes. One transfer or one shirt is a valid order, and the per-piece price does not change with quantity.
How far ahead should a school order?
About two weeks from design approval to shirts in hand covers the order form, pressing and shipping with a few days of slack.
Can we have different sizes of the same design?
Yes. Mix adult, youth and toddler print sizes on one gang sheet or across one apparel order at no extra charge.
Does a full-color mascot cost more than a one-color design?
No. DTF prints full color for the same price as a single color.
What file do we need?
A PNG with a transparent background at 300 dpi at the final print size. A vector file (SVG, AI, PDF) also works.
Can we add names and numbers?
Yes. Each name or number is just another design on the gang sheet; put them in the layout alongside the main print.
Can parents order individually?
Yes. Share the product link and each family orders its own sizes; there is no minimum per order.
Do you accept school purchase orders?
Email info@dtfsirius.com with the PO and tax-exempt certificate and we will set the order up.