Screen printing in Sandy, Utah
Custom screen printing for t-shirts, hoodies & business apparel
Koala-Tees helps businesses, schools, teams, churches, events, and organizations across the Salt Lake Valley create durable, professional custom apparel with fast turnaround, dependable production, and over 40 years of experience.
Screen printing explained
Durable, consistent & built for volume
Screen printing is one of the most widely used methods for decorating custom apparel because it produces bold prints, strong wash durability, and highly consistent results across large orders. It is commonly used for business shirts, school apparel, event shirts, branded merchandise, workwear, uniforms, and team apparel where long-term durability matters.
Unlike many digital print methods, screen printing uses real ink deposited directly onto the garment through a production setup designed for repeatability and consistency. Once a design is properly set up, screen printing becomes one of the most efficient and cost-effective ways to produce custom apparel in quantity.
Screen printing also allows specialty production techniques like puff printing, oversized prints, metallic inks, athletic-style prints, soft-hand finishes, and high-opacity underbases for printing on darker garments.
On the press
Real ink, real presses, printed in-house
That’s a real order on our press in Sandy — ink laid down one color at a time and cured to lock in a finish built to hold up wash after wash. No drop-shipping and no middleman: your apparel is printed by our crew, in our shop.
- Printed in-house since 1983
- You approve a proof before we print
- Color-matched, cured & checked
- Rush runs when you need them
Best applications
When screen printing is the right call
Screen printing is usually the best option when you need durable, professional custom apparel across medium-to-large quantity orders or repeat production runs.
Great fit for
- Orders of roughly 12–36+ pieces depending on artwork complexity, print size, and number of colors
- Repeat orders where the same logo or design will be printed again later
- Company shirts & branded workwear
- Construction & contractor apparel
- Team uniforms & athletic apparel
- Event shirts & volunteer apparel
- Branded merchandise & apparel brands
- Restaurant, gym & staff uniforms
Consider another method
- One-off single shirt orders
- Very small quantity full-color prints
- Highly detailed photo-style artwork in low quantities
For smaller quantities or one-off prints, methods like DTG printing or DTF printing are often a better option because they require significantly less production setup.
Which method is right for you?
Screen printing vs. DTG vs. DTF vs. embroidery
Every decoration method has a sweet spot. Here’s a general, honest comparison to help you narrow down the right option before you request a quote — we’re happy to walk through the details with you directly.
Not sure which fits your project? See our DTF & DTG printing page or our embroidery page for a closer look, or contact us and we’ll help you decide.
Popular uses
Screen printed apparel that represents your brand professionally
Whether you are outfitting employees, launching merchandise, running an event, or ordering team apparel, screen printing provides a clean, professional, and durable solution built for real-world use.
Business & workwear
Durable company shirts, hoodies, polos, construction apparel, and branded workwear designed for daily use and consistent presentation.
Schools & teams
Spirit wear, fundraiser shirts, athletic apparel, booster club merchandise, event apparel, and student organization gear.
Brands & events
Merchandise for apparel brands, concerts, nonprofit organizations, gyms, restaurants, festivals, conferences, and community events.
Why Koala-Tees
Local screen printing backed by real production experience
Koala-Tees is a real production shop in Sandy, Utah — not just an online order form. Since 1983, we’ve helped businesses, schools, organizations, and apparel brands navigate garment selection, artwork preparation, production timelines, and custom apparel ordering with dependable local service.
Consistent production
We focus on proper artwork setup, production consistency, color accuracy, and durable prints designed to hold up over time.
Rush options available
Need apparel quickly? We offer rush production options when scheduling and garment availability allow. Refer to our turnaround times section for more info.
Guidance from real humans
We help customers choose garments, print methods, placements, quantities, and production strategies based on budget, use case, and deadline.
Our process
How the screen printing order process works
We keep the process straightforward so you know exactly what happens from quote to finished apparel.
Choose your apparel
Select shirts, hoodies, polos, workwear, team apparel, or other garments based on your budget, print goals, and timeline.
Artwork review & setup
We review your artwork, discuss print sizing and placement, and prepare the design for clean production results.
Mockup approval
Before production begins, you approve a proof or mockup so everyone is aligned on the final result.
Production & delivery
Your apparel moves through production, quality control, and final preparation for pickup or delivery.
Pricing & quotes
What drives screen printing cost — and how to get a quote
Screen printing pricing depends on your specific project, so we don’t publish flat rates online. Here’s what generally affects the cost:
Number of colors
Each ink color in a screen-printed design generally needs its own screen and setup step, so simpler color counts are typically more efficient.
Quantity
Screen printing's setup cost is spread across the run, so larger and repeat orders usually bring the per-piece price down.
Garment choice
Blank garment style, brand, and fabric weight affect the base cost before decoration is added.
Print locations
Additional print locations (front, back, sleeve) each add their own setup and press time.
Setup & artwork
Artwork that needs color separation, vectorization, or sizing adjustments may involve extra prep before a design is ready to print.
Ready for a real quote?
The most accurate way to get pricing is to tell us your quantity, garment, colors, and print locations.
Start designing & get pricing
FAQ
Common questions about screen printing
Is screen printing good for business apparel?
Yes. Screen printing is one of the most common methods for business apparel because it creates durable, professional prints that work well across larger quantities and repeat orders.
Is screen printing better than DTF or embroidery?
It depends on the project. Screen printing is usually strongest for medium-to-large apparel runs and bold designs. Embroidery is ideal for hats, polos, jackets, and premium stitched branding, while DTF or DTG are often useful for smaller quantities or highly detailed full-color artwork.
Why does screen printing usually have higher minimums?
Screen printing requires production setup before printing begins, including the digital artwork and digital separations, stenciling the screens, color setup, alignment, and press preparation. Because of that setup, it becomes much more efficient as quantities increase.
What is contract screen printing?
Contract screen printing is wholesale-style apparel production for brands, resellers, brokers, or customers supplying their own garments. Our standard contract printing minimum is typically 36 pieces per design.
Do you offer rush screen printing?
Yes, we do. Refer to our turnaround times section for information on rush orders with a guaranteed turnaround deadline, or contact us to see if we can help.
Need custom screen printing in Sandy or Salt Lake City?
Tell us what you need printed, your approximate quantity, and your timeline. We’ll help you choose the right garments and production method for your project.
| Monday | 8:30 AM - 5 PM |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 8:30 AM - 5 PM |
| Wednesday | 8:30 AM - 5 PM |
| Thursday | 8:30 AM - 5 PM |
| Friday | 8:30 AM - 2 PM |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |