How to Price Clothing for Profit: Real Margins on 12 Pieces

To price clothing for profit, start from what each piece costs to make, multiply by about two, round up to a clean number and check it against what your customers already pay. With print on demand that puts a T-shirt near $32 and a hoodie near $55, which keep $18.71 and $30.22 per sale after the card fee.

• $32T-shirt price that keeps $18.71
• $55hoodie price that keeps $30.22
• 2×the cost to make, rounded up to the next $5

Every cost below is Printful's price on November 7, 2026, read through its API the same way the KickStart studio reads it.

The pricing formula in one line

Price = cost to make × 2, rounded up to the next $5, then checked against your market.

Doubling the cost is the retail rule called keystone pricing, which Shopify's guide describes as a gross margin of about 50%. Two words get mixed up:

• 100% markupa $16 cost sold at $32
• 50% marginthe share of $32 you keep before fees

KickStart suggests prices with the same rule, never below a starting price: $32 for a T-shirt, $40 for a long sleeve or polo, $50 for sweatpants, $55 for a hoodie or sweatshirt and $28 for a hat, beanie or tote. Every suggestion is yours to change.

What 12 common pieces cost and what to charge

Size M, one print, the price KickStart would suggest, and what is left after the card fee:

The card fee is Stripe's US rate of 2.9% plus 30 cents on the price plus the standard shipping the customer pays. What you keep is before taxes, ads and your plan. Fleece earns the most per sale, a premium blank needs a higher price, and hats and totes work best as a second item in an order.

Price every size, not only medium

Printful charges the same up to XL, then $2 more for each size above it:

Keep one price for every size, or add $2 per size above XL like the supplier does. Either way, show each size's price before checkout. KickStart refuses a store price below the cost of your largest size plus the card fee.

Add every print before you set the price

The costs above include one print. Every extra print adds to every order:

• +$5.95a back print on a tee or hoodie
• +$2.49a sleeve print on a tee
• +$0.99an inside label on a tee
• +$2.95back or side embroidery on a hat

A tee printed front and back costs $17.87, so the rule suggests $40, which keeps $20.53. A hoodie printed front and back costs $28.58, so $60, which keeps $29.13.

Decide who pays for shipping

Printful's standard delivery quote for one piece, November 7, 2026:

Free shipping is a price cut you pay for: on a $32 tee it drops what you keep from $18.71 to $13.90. Build it into the price instead (a $37 tee with free shipping keeps $18.76), or offer it only above an order size. Printful's shipping page lists rates by country.

Discounts cost more than they look

A discount comes out of what you keep, while the cost to make stays the same.

Decide the lowest price you would accept before a sale. A fixed amount off, or an offer with an end date, keeps more margin than a deep percentage cut. KickStart's checkout stops any order where a discount would not cover production, shipping, tax and the card fee.

Check the price against your market

1. 1

   Find three brands

   Ones your customer already buys from, and their prices

2. 2

   Choose your position

   Below them needs a reason; above them needs to look worth it

3. 3

   Price the collection

   Clear steps: $32 tee, $40 long sleeve, $55 hoodie

4. 4

   Use round prices

   $55 reads cleaner than $54.37

If a price feels too high, change the piece before you cut your margin: one print side instead of two, or a standard blank. How to start a clothing brand covers choosing first pieces.

How KickStart sets your first price

KickStart reads the live supplier cost of your piece and suggests a price you can use with one tap, with the cost to make, what you make per sale and a monthly estimate under it.

You can change any price later in your store's products, where each piece shows its supplier cost. The studio page shows how pieces are designed.

Questions about pricing clothing

What is a good profit margin for clothing?

Keeping 45% to 60% of the price after production and card fees. Below about 40%, a discount or a big size can wipe out most of the profit.

How much should I charge for a T-shirt?

Twice the cost, rounded up. For an $11.92 tee that gives $25; KickStart starts at $32, which keeps $18.71.

Should bigger sizes cost more?

They cost you more: $2 per size above XL. One price is fine if your largest size still earns enough.

Can I sell print on demand clothing wholesale?

Rarely. A shop doubles what it pays you, so a $32 tee would sell to them for about $16, leaving $4.08 over Printful's cost. Wholesale works with stock bought in bulk; see what it costs to start a clothing brand.

How often should I check my prices?

Whenever your supplier changes its prices, and at least every few months.

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