Price is rarely the first thing bandana buyers ask us about; most start with their logo or their design and the quantity. It still decides whether a project works, so this guide explains what custom bandanas cost, which choices move the price and why. For the basics of types, sizes and fabrics, start with our pillar guide, bandanas explained.
The guide is written for brands, merchandise and promotional companies, clubs, event teams and retailers planning custom bandanas. We cut, print, hem, finish and brand every bandana in-house in Sialkot, Pakistan, on fabrics from partner mills, so every price factor below is one we work with every day.
How much do custom bandanas cost?
Catalogue bandanas start at about $1.30–$2.70 per piece at 50 pieces, depending on fabric, size and print. More customization — your own artwork, more print colours, all-over or two-sided prints, embroidery, special fabrics, labels and packaging — raises the price, and our team confirms the price for every custom order.
That range covers the bandanas in our bandana catalogue: plain and printed cotton squares, polyester sublimated bandanas, satin, voile, tube, kids and pet bandanas. A custom order starts from one of these bases and adds your choices. Unit prices usually fall as quantities rise, because the set-up for each design is shared across more pieces.
We do not publish a fixed price list for custom work, because two bandanas of the same size can differ a great deal: a one-colour logo on cotton poplin and a two-sided, all-over print with an embroidered corner and a retail pack are very different jobs. A quote based on your design is the only reliable number.
What changes the price of a custom bandana?
The main price factors are the fabric, the size, the print method and the number of colours, the coverage (one logo or all-over), extra decoration such as embroidery, the edge finish, labels, packaging and the quantity per design.
| Factor | Usually lower cost | Usually higher cost |
|---|---|---|
| Fabric | Cotton poplin, polyester twill | Silk, velvet, special fabrics on request |
| Size | 51 × 51 cm (20 in) or 56 × 56 cm (22 in) | 69 × 69 cm (27 in) and larger custom sizes |
| Print method | One-colour screen print, plain dyed | Discharge, many screen colours, specialist effects |
| Colours | One or two colours | Many colours on screen or discharge prints |
| Coverage | A small logo or a single motif | All-over prints, edge-to-edge designs |
| Sides | Printed on one face | Two-sided designs |
| Decoration | Print only | Print plus an embroidered logo |
| Edges | Narrow machine-rolled hems, overlocked edges | Hand-rolled hems on request |
| Labels | No label, or a simple printed label | Woven labels, care labels, hang tags |
| Packaging | Bulk packing | Folded retail packs, header cards, branded bags, boxes |
| Quantity | Larger runs per design | The 50-piece minimum per design |
Fabric
Fabric is a large part of the price. Bandana cotton poplin, the classic bandana cloth, and polyester twill sit at the lower end. Cotton voile, polyester satin and polyester microfibre or jersey for tube and sports bandanas follow, and silk and velvet usually cost more. Other fabrics are possible on request and are priced with the quote. Our bandana fabrics guide compares how each one feels and prints.
Size
A bigger square uses more fabric and more print area. The standard 56 cm (22 in) bandana and the 51 cm (20 in) kids’ size sit together; the 69 cm (27 in) oversized bandana uses about half as much fabric again. Custom sizes are priced from the measurements; see the bandana size chart for what each size is used for.
Print method and colours
Each method has a different cost structure. In screen and discharge printing, every colour needs its own screen and its own set-up, so a four-colour design costs more than a one-colour design. In digital printing and sublimation, the number of colours makes little difference, but the cost per piece is usually higher than a simple screen print. Our guide to bandana printing methods compares them in detail.
All-over, two-sided and embroidered designs
An all-over print covers the whole square and uses more ink and more careful registration than a small logo. A bandana is usually printed on one face; a two-sided design needs a second print pass or a different construction, which adds cost. Embroidery is priced by the size and detail of the logo: a small corner logo, as on our embroidered logo bandana, is a common choice for staff and team bandanas.
Edges, labels and packaging
Narrow machine-rolled hems and overlocked edges are the usual finishes. Hand-rolled hems take more time, so they are offered on request at a higher price. Woven or printed labels, care labels, hang tags and folded retail packs with header cards each add a small amount per piece; our help page on labels and packaging lists the options. For retail, a fibre content and country of origin label is usually required in the US (Textile Act) and the EU (Regulation 1007/2011), and care symbols usually follow ISO 3758.
Why is the minimum order 50 pieces per design?
Each design needs its own set-up before the first bandana is printed: screens or print files, colour matching, a test print and machine adjustments. A minimum of 50 pieces per design spreads that work over enough bandanas to keep the price per piece sensible.
The set-up is usually much the same whether we print 50 bandanas or 500. In screen printing, a screen is prepared for every colour and the ink is mixed to your Pantone reference; in sublimation and digital printing, the file is prepared and the colours are checked on the fabric. Cutting is also more efficient in larger batches, because fabric is usually laid in layers and cut together. With a smaller run, the same set-up would sit on very few pieces.
- Per design: each design or colourway usually counts separately, so 100 bandanas in two designs means 50 of each.
- Repeat orders: when a design is repeated, part of the set-up may be reused; we confirm this with the quote.
Fifty pieces per design suits launches, events and test runs; our page on small production runs explains how small orders work. Our minimum order help page answers the common questions.
Do prices fall with larger quantities?
Yes. Unit prices usually fall as quantities rise, because the set-up for each design is shared across more pieces and the cutting, printing and hemming run more efficiently in longer batches.
The saving is usually largest between small and medium runs, when the set-up is a big part of the price; on very large orders, fabric and finishing make up most of the cost. Our capacity of around 100,000 pieces a month leaves room for large orders, and very large runs may also use our other units or partner mills. Ask for prices at two or three quantities in the same quote to see where the steps fall for your design.
How much does a bandana sample cost?
There are two sample routes. A pre-paid physical sample is paid 100% in advance, takes about 5–7 days and is deducted from the order only when the bulk order is 1,000 pieces or more; or you can choose a free pre-production sample after the order and the 30% advance, approved by photos or video.
| Sample | When | Cost | How you approve it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-paid physical sample | Before you place the order; about 5–7 days | Paid 100% in advance; deducted only on bulk orders of 1,000+ pieces; shipping charged separately, not refundable or deductible | You hold the bandana and check fabric, print and colours |
| Free pre-production sample | After the order and the 30% advance | Free | By photos or video before bulk production |
Before any sample, we send a digital mockup, and production starts only after you approve it; our bandana artwork guide shows how to prepare the file. Our help page on sample types compares the two routes.
How do payment and shipping work?
Payment is 30/30/40: a 30% advance to confirm the order and begin production, 30% during production after you review the work-in-progress update, and the final 40% after the goods pass quality control and are ready for shipment. Shipping is charged by weight, agreed for each order and confirmed before shipment.
Bulk production takes approximately 14 days after sample approval. Express courier shipping usually takes 3–6 working days; larger orders can travel by air or sea cargo. Because bandanas are light, the shipping cost depends mainly on the total weight and the destination, and it is confirmed before your order ships. Our help page on shipping costs explains how weight-based shipping is calculated. If you import into the US, the EU or the UK, ask about duties and import charges with your quote, so the full landed cost is clear.
How do you get an accurate bandana quote?
Send the artwork, the size, the fabric, the print method if you know it, the quantity per design, labels and packaging, your deadline and the delivery country. The more of these we know, the closer the first quote is to the final price.
- Artwork with Pantone references gives the colour count, which matters most for screen and discharge prints.
- Tell us how the bandana will be worn and sold (a retail product, a giveaway, a uniform), so we can suggest the fabric and finish that fit the budget.
- Ask for two options if you are unsure, for example a one-colour screen print and a full-colour sublimated version.
- Name your deadline; we confirm the schedule with the quote instead of promising a date.
Every order passes our quality control before packing, and our help page on payment terms sets out the 30/30/40 steps. For a real example, see our screen-printed cotton bandana project.
How to keep custom bandana costs down
- Choose cotton poplin or polyester twill in a standard size.
- Keep screen prints to one or two colours, or use sublimation for full colour.
- Use one design for the whole run instead of several small ones.
- Choose a printed label or no label for giveaways; save woven labels and retail packs for products sold in shops.
- Order a little more per design if you will reorder anyway; unit prices usually fall as quantities rise.
- Plan early, so the order can travel by the most economical shipping route.
Ordering custom bandanas from Mr Balaclava
We make bandanas from 50 pieces per design, under your brand: Mr Balaclava’s name never appears on your products. Our private label service covers labels, packs and repeat orders.
What to send for a quote
- Your artwork, logo or design idea.
- The size: 51, 56 or 69 cm, a tube or pet bandana, or your own size.
- The fabric you prefer, or how the bandana will be used.
- The quantity per design.
- Your deadline.
- Labels and packaging.
- The delivery country.
Custom bandana cost: frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest way to make custom bandanas?
A one-colour screen print on cotton poplin or polyester twill in the standard 56 cm size, packed in bulk, is usually the most economical option. Fewer colours, one design and simple packing keep the price per piece low.
Can I order fewer than 50 bandanas?
The minimum is 50 pieces per design, because each design needs its own set-up. If you need fewer, a pre-paid sample is a way to test a design before ordering 50.
Is a sublimated bandana cheaper than a screen-printed one?
It depends on the design. For one or two colours, screen printing is usually more economical; for many colours, photos or gradients, sublimation on polyester often costs less than a screen print with many screens.
Does a logo on both sides cost more?
Yes, usually. A bandana is normally printed on one face, and a two-sided design needs extra printing or a different construction, so it is quoted separately.
Is the sample cost refunded?
A pre-paid sample is deducted from the order only when the bulk order is 1,000 pieces or more, and its shipping is charged separately and is not refundable. The free pre-production sample costs nothing and is approved by photos or video after the order and the 30% advance.
Ready to price your design? Compare options in our guide to dog bandana sizes for pet ranges, read the sample cost details, or request a bandana quote.
