Measure chest size and height on every child first, then collect those counts before picking colors or quantities. Once you have real numbers, the fastest path is a small sample or starter pack to confirm fit, followed by your bulk order. Expect roughly one to two weeks from proof approval to delivery, and consider starting with a small cotton starter pack to check sizing before committing to a full run.
TL;DR:
- Measure each child’s chest and height accurately, then compare to size charts instead of relying solely on age labels to ensure proper fit.
- Order a small sample or starter pack first to verify sizing, print quality, and color matching before committing to a full bulk order.
- Use digital proofs showing design placement on actual garments and confirm colors to avoid costly errors during production.
- Digital printing methods like DTF offer consistent per-shirt costs for small and large quantities, unlike screen printing which involves setup fees.
- Include care instructions and safety compliance details, such as FTC labelling and CPSC standards, to ensure the shirts meet safety regulations for children.
Table of Contents
- What to gather before you place your order
- Choosing between sample packs, no-minimum orders, and bulk pricing
- How to measure kids for the right youth shirt size
- From artwork to delivery: what actually happens after you order
- Print methods, fabric choices, and safety basics for kids’ shirts
- Estimating your true cost per shirt
- Why we built our process around bulk group orders
- A simple rule for busy organizers
- Ready to order? Here’s your next step
- FAQ
- Sources
What to gather before you place your order
A few minutes of prep now saves you from a reprint later. Before you request a quote or upload artwork, collect the basics so your order moves through production without back-and-forth delays.
- Height and chest measurements for each child, not just age or grade
- A quantity breakdown by size (how many small, medium, large, and so on)
- Final artwork files and exact color references for logos or designs
- Your event date, plus extra days for proofs, production, and shipping
Order a few extra shirts in your most common sizes, and always ask for a digital proof before production starts. That one step catches color mismatches and sizing errors before they become expensive.
Pro Tip: Build your size list in a simple spreadsheet as families respond, so you never have to chase down numbers the week before your event.
Choosing between sample packs, no-minimum orders, and bulk pricing
Not every group needs the same ordering path, and picking the right one keeps your per-shirt cost down without leaving you stuck with the wrong fit.
- No-minimum orders fit one-off requests, like a single shirt for a birthday or a last-minute replacement.
- Sample packs make sense when you’re testing a new design, logo placement, or fabric before committing to a full group order.
- Bulk tiers work best for teams, fundraisers, or reunions where you already know your size counts and just need volume pricing.
Turnaround and approval steps shift depending on the route. A single shirt or small sample run typically moves faster through proofing since there’s less at stake, while bulk orders usually involve a more detailed proof check since any error gets multiplied across the whole batch. Our 10 for $99 custom t-shirt bundle works well as both a sample run and a small-event solution, which is part of why it’s become a go-to starting point for organizers who aren’t sure which size breakdown to commit to yet.
How to measure kids for the right youth shirt size
Chest measurement matters more than age or grade when it comes to t-shirt fit. Wrap a soft tape measure around the fullest part of the chest, under the arms, and keep the tape level. Height is useful as a secondary check, especially for taller kids who may fit better in adult small sizing.
Youth sizing generally runs from XS to XL, with XS covering a chest around 24 to 25 inches and sizes climbing from there through S, M, L, and XL, topping out near 33 to 36 inches of chest. Brands vary in how they cut these sizes, so measuring the child directly is more reliable than trusting the age label on the tag.
- Record both chest and height for each child rather than relying on age alone.
- Order 5 to 10 percent extra in your most common sizes to cover growth spurts or last-minute additions.
- For taller tweens or young teens, compare youth XL against an adult small before deciding.
If your group spans both kids and adults, our youth to adult size conversion guide walks through how to line up sizing across the whole roster.
From artwork to delivery: what actually happens after you order
Once your sizes are locked in, the process runs in a predictable sequence. Knowing the steps ahead of time helps you avoid the most common hold-ups: blurry art files, mismatched colors, and missing size counts.
- Submit artwork as vector files when possible, or a high-resolution PNG with a transparent background for DTF printing.
- Review a digital proof that shows placement and sizing on the actual garment, not just the design on its own.
- Confirm colors match your reference, especially for team or school colors that need to be exact.
- Approve the proof in writing before production begins.
- Track production and shipping against your event date, building in buffer time.
Proofing typically takes one to three business days, production runs five to ten business days, and shipping adds another two to seven days depending on your location. If your event is close, ask about rush options before you finalize sizes.
Pro Tip: Always request a proof that shows the design scaled to the actual youth garment size, since logo placement that looks right on an adult tee can look oversized on a youth small.
For a deeper look at file prep and logo sizing, our logo placement guide covers exact specs for different garment sizes.
Print methods, fabric choices, and safety basics for kids’ shirts
The printing method you choose affects how a shirt looks, feels, and holds up through dozens of washes. DTF (direct-to-film) printing handles detailed, multicolor designs well and works on a range of fabrics without the setup cost of screen printing. Screen printing holds up well for simple, high-volume designs but involves setup fees that make small orders less economical.
100% cotton tees run comfortable and breathable, which matters for shrinkage: expect around 2 to 5% shrinkage on the first wash, so sizing slightly up can help. Performance fabrics resist shrinkage better and suit active kids, though they cost more per unit.
Care labeling isn’t just a suggestion. The FTC Care Labeling Rule requires washing instructions to be attached to the garment or provided at the point of sale, and CPSC guidance outlines safety requirements like lead limits and sleepwear flammability standards for children’s apparel.
- Ask your printer whether care instructions are sewn in or provided separately.
- Confirm whether your order needs a Children’s Product Certificate if it’s intended for kids 12 and under.
- Follow recommended washing steps to protect both the print and the fabric.
Our DTF washing instructions and this measurement guide from Kenny Wade’s World both offer practical steps worth keeping handy once your order arrives.
Estimating your true cost per shirt
Per-unit price usually drops as quantity increases, but the math behind that savings depends on the printing method. Screen printing often carries a setup or art fee that gets spread across your order, so small runs cost more per shirt than large ones. DTF and other digital methods skip that setup fee entirely, which keeps per-unit pricing more consistent whether you’re ordering 10 shirts or 100.
- Ask whether setup fees apply before comparing quotes across methods.
- Factor in shipping and any rush fees when comparing total cost, not just the sticker price per shirt.
- A small sample order costs a little more per shirt up front, but it’s often cheaper than reprinting an entire batch after a sizing mistake.
Our 10 for $99 bundle solves the sample-versus-bulk dilemma directly: it’s enough shirts to check fit and print quality across a few sizes, without committing to a full run before you’ve confirmed everything looks right.
Why we built our process around bulk group orders
Our bulk-handling experience covers everything from small reunions to larger fundraisers, and our starter bundle gives organizers a low-risk way to test sizing before scaling up.
If you’re planning shirts for a school event or fundraiser, our school spirit shirt ideas and bulk ordering guide walk through common formats that have worked for other organizers. Our sizing strategies for unisex shirts page is also worth a look if your group spans a wide age range.
A simple rule for busy organizers
If you’re unsure about sizing, order a sample pack first. If you already have solid measurements, skip straight to a starter bundle and add a few extras in your most common sizes. Either way, start with the checklist above before you touch artwork or quantities.
— Jon Will
Ready to order? Here’s your next step
A 10-shirt custom t-shirt bundle gives you real cotton shirts in hand before you commit to a full group order, which makes it a solid fit for small events, classroom fundraisers, or first-time sample runs. Once you’ve confirmed fit and print quality, scaling up to your full headcount is a simple next step.
- Order a sample bundle to check sizing and print quality before going bigger.
- Request a quote for your full group once sizes are confirmed.
- Browse our custom t-shirt page for current options and bulk pricing.
Start with our 10 for $99 cotton shirt bundle and have real shirts in hand before you place your bigger order.
FAQ
How do I find the right t-shirt size for a kid?
Measure the chest at its fullest point with a soft tape measure held level, and record height as a secondary check. Compare those numbers against a youth size chart rather than relying on age or grade, since fit varies by brand.
Where is the best place to order custom shirts for a group?
Look for a printer that offers a small sample or starter pack so you can confirm sizing and print quality before committing to your full order. Our 10 for $99 bundle is built for exactly that kind of test run ahead of a bulk order.
Is size 12/14 a youth medium or large?
Size 12/14 typically falls into the youth large range, with a chest measurement around 30 to 33 inches depending on the brand. Since sizing varies between manufacturers, measuring the child’s chest directly is more reliable than going by the number on the tag.
How does kids’ shirt sizing generally work?
Youth sizing runs in a range from XS through XL, tied to chest measurements rather than age alone, and ranges differ slightly by brand. For mixed groups of kids and teens, comparing youth XL against an adult small can help settle borderline fits.
What should I know about care labels on kids’ custom shirts?
The FTC Care Labeling Rule requires washing instructions to be attached to the garment or provided at the point of sale. For items intended for children 12 and under, it’s worth confirming with your printer whether additional safety testing or certification applies to your order.
Sources
- Clothes captioning: Complying with the Care Labeling Rule | Federal Trade Commission
- Clothing Textiles, Children’s Sleepwear, Drawstrings (CPSC resources)
- Youth Size Chart: Youth Small, Medium and Large by Age
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