Pricing · Sourcing
What does it cost to manufacture a t-shirt? A cost breakdown for brands
Where your per-shirt cost actually comes from — fabric, cutting, sewing, trims, finishing, and how duty affects your true landed cost when sourcing from Nepal.
Founder, Trishakti Apparel 2 min read
“How much does a t-shirt cost to make?” is the first question every brand asks — and the honest answer is “it depends,” because the price is built from parts. Understanding those parts helps you compare quotes fairly and spot where you can save.
What goes into the per-piece cost
- Fabric — usually the biggest single component; driven by composition (cotton vs CVC), GSM (weight), and quantity.
- Cutting & sewing (the “CMT” — cut, make, trim) — labour to turn fabric into a garment.
- Trims — thread, labels, care labels, hangtags, packaging.
- Finishing & QC — pressing, folding, inspection, poly-bagging.
- Sampling & setup — amortised over the run (why low MOQ costs a bit more per piece).
Why quotes vary so much
Two quotes for “a t-shirt” can differ 2–3× because of fabric weight and quality, order quantity (bigger runs = lower unit cost), country labour rates, and what’s included (are labels, tags, and packing in the price, or extra?). Always compare quotes at the same GSM, quantity, and inclusions.
The number that actually matters: landed cost
Your real cost isn’t the factory price — it’s the landed cost: factory price + freight + import duty. This is where sourcing country matters enormously. A shirt made in Nepal enters the EU, UK, and Canada duty-free, versus ~12% duty from most countries — so a similar factory price lands cheaper. See the duty math.
Get a real number for your shirt
The only accurate cost is a quote against your actual spec. Send us your design or a reference and target quantity and we’ll break down fabric, CMT, trims, and landed cost. Request a quote.
About the author
Santosh Rijal runs Trishakti Apparel, the export knitwear factory his family built on three decades in Nepal’s fashion trade. He writes about sourcing, duty and production from the factory floor in Gaindakot.