How Big Should a T-Shirt Design Be for POD?

T-shirt designs for print-on-demand need specific dimensions to print clearly. Here's what you need to know.

Standard T-Shirt Print Area

Most POD platforms use these standard print areas:

Unisex T-Shirt (Gildan 5000, Bella+Canvas 3001)

• Print area: 15" × 18"
• At 300 DPI: 4,500 × 5,400 pixels

Women's T-Shirt

• Print area: 12" × 16"
• At 300 DPI: 3,600 × 4,800 pixels

Tank Top

• Print area: 12" × 16"
• At 300 DPI: 3,600 × 4,800 pixels

Why These Dimensions Matter

T-shirt print areas are standardized across most POD platforms. Using the wrong dimensions can result in:

• Designs that are too small or too large
• Cropped designs
• Poor print quality
• Rejected uploads

DPI Requirements

300 DPI is standard for t-shirt printing. This ensures:

• Sharp text and fine details
• Smooth gradients
• Professional print quality
• No visible pixels

Common T-Shirt Design Mistakes

1. Using web resolution (72 DPI) — Results in blurry prints
2. Wrong aspect ratio — Design doesn't fit print area
3. Too small source file — Upscaling causes quality loss
4. Ignoring print area — Design extends beyond printable region

The Solution: Automated Sizing

POD Prep automatically:

• Sets correct dimensions for t-shirt products
• Applies 300 DPI resolution
• Matches print area aspect ratios
• Validates file requirements

Manual Calculation

To calculate manually:

1. Identify t-shirt model and its print area
2. Multiply dimensions by 300: 15" × 300 = 4,500 pixels
3. Resize your design to exact pixel dimensions
4. Set DPI metadata to 300
5. Export in RGB as PNG or JPG

Design Considerations

Text and Fine Details

• Use at least 300 DPI to keep text sharp
• Avoid very small text (under 12pt equivalent)
• Test readability at actual print size

Graphics and Illustrations

• Start with high-resolution source files
• Vector graphics scale perfectly
• Raster images need correct pixel dimensions

Full-Bleed Designs

• Some platforms support full-bleed printing
• Check platform specifications
• May require additional bleed area

Platform Variations

While dimensions are similar, always verify:

• Printful: Check specific product specifications
• Printify: Varies by print provider
• Custom platforms: Each has unique requirements

Testing Your Design

Before ordering:

1. Verify dimensions match requirements exactly
2. Check DPI is set to 300
3. Review preview in platform interface
4. Order a test print to verify quality

Conclusion

T-shirt designs should be sized to match the print area at 300 DPI. For a standard 15" × 18" print area, that's 4,500 × 5,400 pixels. Using an automated tool ensures accuracy without manual calculations.

POD Prep prepares files based on published platform specifications. Final print results depend on the print provider.