T-Shirts vs. Hats: Which Custom Merch Item is Best for Your Small Business?
If you’re a small business owner, print shop, or entrepreneur looking to sell custom merch, you’ve probably asked yourself:
• Are T-shirts or hats the better choice for my business?
• Which has the best profit margins?
• Where should I sell them—Etsy, Shopify, Amazon, or local events?
Why Custom Merch is a Profitable Business
The truth is, both bulk T-shirts and bulk hats are top-selling merch items, but one may be better suited for your business. This guide will break down costs, profit potential, sales platforms, and customer demand so you can decide which is best for you—or if selling both is the way to go!
How & Where to Sell Custom T-Shirts & Hats
Custom merch can be sold online, in-person, or through wholesale partnerships. Here are the most profitable ways small businesses sell custom T-shirts and hats.
🛍️ Etsy – Handmade & Print-on-Demand Shops
• Best for custom or trendy designs
• Great for niche merch (sports, fandoms, funny slogans, etc.)
• Etsy takes a small transaction fee per sale
Best for: Print-on-demand T-shirts & embroidered hats with unique designs.
🌐 Shopify – Your Own Branded Website
• Full control over pricing & branding
• Monthly subscription required ($39+ per month)
• Can integrate with print-on-demand services like Printify or Printful
Best for: Businesses that want full ownership & scalability.
🏷️ Amazon Merch & Handmade – Large Audience
• Amazon handles printing & shipping (Merch by Amazon)
• Amazon Handmade is best for custom embroidery & small batch products
• Extremely competitive, so good SEO & marketing are required
Best for: Selling bulk T-shirts with evergreen designs.
🎯 Ebay & Facebook Marketplace – Quick Sales
• Great for one-off sales & limited inventory
• Easy to list & start selling right away
• No long-term business strategy, but quick for testing products
Best for: Small businesses testing custom hats & shirts before scaling up.
🎤 Local Pop-Ups, Farmers Markets & Events
• Great for high-margin sales with no shipping fees
• Best for businesses that sell in-person or build local brand loyalty
• Bulk orders work well for selling at community events, concerts & fairs
Best for: Small businesses that want to sell directly to customers and skip online competition.
🏪 Wholesale to Other Businesses & Schools
• Sell bulk orders to sports teams, schools, and businesses
• Requires higher upfront investment but brings in large orders
• Ideal for embroidery shops, screen printing businesses & corporate branding
Best for: B2B sales, bulk orders & high-volume customers.
Best Bulk T-Shirt & Hat Brands for Small Businesses
Below are the best t-shirt and hat brands for small businesses to order and print on.
👕 Best Bulk T-Shirt Brands
• Gildan – Affordable and durable, perfect for bulk orders.
• Bella+Canvas – Premium soft fabric, great for high-end merch.
• Hanes – Reliable quality, widely recognized brand.
• Fruit of the Loom – Budget-friendly, great for events and giveaways.
• Next Level – Trendy, stylish, and lightweight T-shirts.
🧢 Best Bulk Hat Brands
• Yupoong – Snapbacks and trucker hats with premium embroidery quality.
• Flexfit – Best for comfortable stretch-fit hats.
• Big Accessories – Affordable, durable hats for branding and resale.
• Valucap – Budget-friendly option for bulk promotional hats.
By choosing the right brand, you can offer high-quality products at competitive prices—keeping customers happy and helping your business stand out.
Profit Breakdown: T-Shirts vs. Hats for Small Businesses
Which offers higher profit margins? Let’s compare costs, resale prices, and potential earnings for small businesses selling T-shirts and hats.
Key Takeaways:
• T-shirts and hats have a wide price range depending on the fabric quality, brand and style. Basic tees cost $3-$5 while premium brands and blends can cost $7-$9.
• Hats generally cost less than high-end t-shirts but can sell for higher prices due to their perceived value.
• Both t-shirts and hats offer strong profit margins, making them great choices for small businesses looking to sell custom merch.
• Pro Tip: If you're selling online (Etsy, Shopify, Amazon), bundling hats and t-shirts together can increase order value while making your products stand out!
Why Selling Both is the Best Strategy
Instead of choosing one or the other, why not sell both hats and T-shirts for maximum profit potential?
• Sell T-shirts on Etsy, Shopify & Amazon for high-volume sales
• Sell hats through embroidery shops, local markets & corporate branding
• Offer Hat + T-shirt bundles for gift sets & holiday promotions
• Use print-on-demand for T-shirts, bulk buy hats for custom embroidery
Example Business Model:
• Use Etsy or Shopify for small-batch embroidered hats.
• List T-shirts on Amazon or a print-on-demand platform.
• Sell both at local events and offer wholesale orders to businesses.
Selling both increases your customer base and creates repeat buyers who come back for more merch!
Start Selling Bulk Hats & T-Shirts Today
If you want to increase your profits, grow your custom merch business, and offer products that customers actually want, then hats and T-shirts are both great choices.
Shirts in Bulk offers the lowest wholesale pricing on high-quality blank apparel—perfect for small businesses, screen printers, and merch sellers.
🎉 Shop bulk T-shirts & hats today and start selling profitable custom merch! 🎉
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