Frequently Asked Questions

General | Design | Quotes | Garment Care | Tutorials

How do I order a custom shirt?

Ordering custom shirts first starts with selecting your preferred garment or product. The next step is then creating your custom design or requesting a quick quote. Once you create your design and your garment has been selected, you can decide where you want the design to live on your t-shirt, sweatshirt or other types of apparel.

With UGP, it's easy to order your custom shirts online using our custom Design Studio, or you can visit one of our store locations to place an order in person. You can get started on your order with our easy-to-use Design Studio.

How much does it cost to make a custom t-shirt?

The cost of a custom printed shirt depends primarily on 4 things:

What kind of garment you are ordering
How many garments you're ordering
How many locations you want to print on
How many colors are printed on each location

How can I go about getting a price quote?

To get a quote, you can view our Catalog and select an item to get pricing or give us a call at 800-242-4787.

Can I come in and see you to place my order?

Yes, of course! You can visit any of our store locations.

How can I pay for my order?

You can pay for your order online at the time your order is placed via credit card or PayPal. We also accept business or personal checks, but cannot begin the order process until the check is received. If paying by check, please contact us at help@undergroundshirts.com before placing your order. Alternative means of payment (Paypal, ACH, Wire Transfer) may be permitted on a case by case basis, but are not guaranteed.

I work for a university or school, can I pay with a PO?

Yes! Please contact us at help@undergroundshirts.com for more details and to set up an account.

Can I talk to a real person about my order before I place it?

Absolutely! You can reach us Toll Free at 1-800-242-4787.

I don't live near a store. Can I still place an order?

No problem! We actually service customers in all 50 states! Just give us a call at 800-242-4787 and we will get you started.

How much does the average t-shirt cost?

Each t-shirt, or any other apparel, will vary in price. This depends on what brand your shirt is and what model of shirt this is. Of course, this also depends on where your designs are and how many colors there are. For example, an order of twelve Gildan Heavy Cotton shirts (5000G) costs $13.30 a garment. With UGP, we offer low prices and also make sure that white shirts vs. black and other colors are also the same price!

How do I get my shirts once they're printed?

You can either have your shirts shipped right to you, or you can pick them up from one of our store locations.

How long does it take to get my order?

Whenever you need them! Tell us your delivery date and we'll make sure they arrive on time. (note: not all products are available for orders required in less than 5 business days.) Contact Us if you have questions about your delivery date!

I don't know anything about graphic art, is that a problem?

Not at all - you have options! First try our Design Studio to start. Still can't figure out your design? Our in-house graphic art department can work with you to make your vision a reality. Whether you're working with vector-based artwork or a doodle on a napkin - we'll make sure you're happy with your shirts.

What's the difference between Screen printing and Digital Printing?

Screen printing involves creating a stencil, known as a screen, and then using that screen to apply ink on the printing surface (in our case, apparel or promotional products). Each individual color is applied using a different screen, one at a time, combined to achieve the final look. The more colors a design has, the more screens that are needed, and the more setup time required.

The ink in screen printing is applied thicker than digital printing, which results in brighter colors - even on darker shirts. Screen printing is the best option for designs that require a high level of vibrancy, specialty products, or for quantities greater than 6 pieces. While Underground Printing has no minimums for screen printing, price is usually a prohibitive factor under 6 pieces. Over 6 pieces, the per piece cost tends to be less than Digital printing (but not always).

Digital printing is a much newer process that involves your artwork being processed by a computer, and then printed directly onto the surface of your product. Digital printing is not a transfer - the ink is directly adhered to the fabric of your shirt. The fact that the design is processed and printed digitally allows for a quantity of one, since there are no screens or physical setup.

Digital printing is best used for items that require large amounts of detail and/or print colors, customers that require water based ink, and for orders of a smaller quantity (5 or less pieces). The fact that the digital printer does not use screens allows for a photographic print, with much more detail than traditional screen printing. As the ink is applied thinner (to achieve such detail), digital printing is best used on lighter colored shirts to allow the design to shine through.

What format should I submit my artwork in?

We can handle any file type, but we prefer Adobe Illustrator files. If submitting a raster file (.psd, .jpg, .gif), we prefer high resolution. The higher the DPI (dots per inch) the better.

How is UGP's PrePay site secure?

When you send information via a form on a website, your browser automatically creates a temporary session variable to store this information for easy recovery by the user. This can be taken advantage of by malicious users. To prevent this, we associate a unique id with the session. This prevents anyone from being able to access the information in the session variable without the proper authorization. As a further measure of security, we have an SSL certificate setup that encrypts the user's information. That way, even if someone were able to gain access to the session variable, they would not be able to decipher the information in it. In order to be more secure, we recommend that users install a security suite from such companies as BitDefender, Kapersky, AVG, McAfee, or Symantec. These software suites will help keep any information that your browser stores locally, safe.

What brands do you carry?

We carry over 50 of the top brands in apparel and products. This includes Gildan, Nike, Under Armour, Champion, Carhartt, Hanes, Alternative Apparel, and Next Level Apparel, among many, many, more!

What is your return policy?

100% Satisfaction Guarantee. Custom printed apparel is fun, but with any custom process, the end result may not be what you envisioned. Rest assured, no matter who is in the wrong, we will strive to find a solution to make it right for you. We take pride in making high-quality products and doing so on time, exactly when you expect them. Notify us within 15 days of receiving your order and we will work with you to address any issues related to one or more of the following: (a) the blank items themselves are materially flawed; (b) the quality of the printing or embroidery is below a reasonable range of expectations; or (c) the design of the final product is materially different from the final design submitted. If we are unable to fix these issues to your satisfaction, we will refund your order in full.

For questions about your order, please email our customer service department or call (800) 242-4787.

How can I learn more about your corporate responsibility?

Underground Printing is also proud to be a member of the Fair Labor Association - an organization that helps ensure accountability with brands and vendors and works to improve the lives of workers throughout the world.

Listed below are some of the main brands we use with direct links to their corporate websites.