# Sportswear Express

Print shops · US

Sportswear Express decorates supplied or sourced apparel with screen printing, embroidery and DTF. Screen printing lists 24 pieces; embroidery has no strict minimum. Its embroidery-on-demand program separately requires 20 orders per month with no per-design minimum and a 4 × 4-inch program limit, distinct from general contract-account terms.

- Products: T-shirts, Hoodies / sweatshirts, Polos, Hats / caps, Bags / totes, Jackets / outerwear, Tanks
- Methods: Screen printing, Embroidery, Direct to film (DTF)
- Made in: US
- Ships to: US
- Single orders to your customers: In some cases
- Minimum: Mesa screens 24; embroidery/DTF none; on-demand program 20 orders/month
- Samples: New contract embroidery designs get a sew-out for approval before production
- Turnaround: After art/sew-out/goods: screens 7 workdays; embroidery 7–10; DTF separate

## What they make

- Its methods include standard embroidery, ColorReel embroidery. Program maximum is 4 × 4 inches for all locations; hats left/center/right panel and garments left/right chest.
  - This is route-specific, not a global machine limit.
- Offers blank supply, printing, embroidery, fulfillment.
- Its methods include screen printing, embroidery, DTF.
- Offers small orders and volume contract production runs. Ask what minimum quantity applies to your individual job.
- Polos, caps, jackets, hoodies, tees, tanks and bags; supply blanks or send garments from any wholesaler.

## Minimums and pricing

- Embroidery-on-demand program requires 20 orders per month to participate, with no minimum per design. This is a merchant-volume qualification, not a 20-piece design minimum.
- Print on demand embroidery offers $15 per piece for 15 standard thread colors or $25 for ColorReel unlimited-color work, with digitizing included. Garments and shipping are separate.
- Ordinary embroidery calculator shows a $60 digitizing option, $1.50/item folding-bagging, and quantity/stitch-based estimates. These are distinct from print on demand’s digitizing-inclusive prices.
- Contract accounts have no monthly minimum. Per-job minimum is not stated on these pages.
- Approved accounts get embroidery prices by stitch count and quantity, and screen-printing prices by colors and quantity.
- Sportswear Express's on-demand embroidery rates use $ without a stated currency code; ask which currency applies. Standard embroidery with up to 15 thread colors and digitizing included costs $15 per piece.
  - ColorReel embroidery with unlimited colors and digitizing included costs $25 per piece. Dropship pick and pack costs $4 per order. Garments and carrier freight are excluded; these are decoration and handling charges rather than garment prices.
- Sportswear Express's ordinary embroidery example is separate from the on-demand program: 24 items with 4,001–5,000 stitches cost $4.09 each, subtotal $98.16. The table uses $ without a stated currency code.
  - Sportswear Express's ordinary embroidery example is separate from the on-demand program: 24 items with 4,001–5,000 stitches cost $4.09 each, subtotal $98.16. The table uses $ without a stated currency code; ask which currency applies. Add-on amounts are $60 for digitizing, $1.50 for folding and bagging, $2 for puff foam and $0.25 for unpacking. Metallic thread adds 30% and special handling adds 25%; ask for the applicable charging basis for each add-on in the order quote.

## Samples and lead times

- Mesa page estimates seven business days for screen printing after art approval, 7–10 for embroidery after art/sew-out approval, and 2–4 days for most DTF transfer dispatches.
- Embroidery sew-out approval precedes production.
- Embroidery takes 7–10 business days after sew-out approval and garment receipt; screen printing takes 7 after artwork approval and receipt. A 2–5-day rush is available by arrangement.
- New contract embroidery designs receive a sew-out for approval before the production run.
- Sportswear Express ordinary embroidery takes 7–10 business days after artwork or sew-out approval; faster schedules carry a surcharge.
  - Rush tiers are 5 days plus 10%, 4 days plus 25%, 3 days plus 50% and 2 days plus 100%. Ask separately for production times under the on-demand program.
- Custom shirt tags and labels have a standard production estimate of 5–7 business days.

## Artwork and print areas

- On-demand embroidery is limited to 4 × 4 inches on cap panels or the left or right chest of apparel. Cap placements are left, center or right panel on structured or unstructured caps.
  - Apparel includes polos, hoodies and jackets; the 4 × 4-inch limit applies to all POD program placements.
- Sportswear Express's embroidery-on-demand program requires vector AI, EPS, SVG or PDFs. Supply or pre-purchase garments and submit orders through the SWX portal or a production-ready format.
  - The program requires 20 orders per month, with no minimum per design.
- Ordinary contract embroidery supports up to 15,000 stitches per location and a maximum 15 × 10-inch sewing field. Its full sewing field is separate from the POD program’s 4 × 4-inch limit.
  - Garment shape and chosen placement can reduce the usable area.
- Contract embroidery accepts production-ready DST or EMB stitch files; new digitized designs are retained for reorders.
- Sportswear Express's embroidery quote form accepts JPG, PNG, GIF, SVG, WEBP, BMP and TIFF files up to 10 MB each and 20 MB combined. These are quote-form upload limits.
  - Sportswear Express's embroidery quote form accepts JPG, PNG, GIF, SVG, WEBP, BMP and TIFF files up to 10 MB each and 20 MB combined. These are quote-form upload limits; the on-demand program separately requires vector files and contract embroidery accepts DST or EMB files.

## Branding and packaging

- Blind shipping uses the reseller packing slip.
- Branding options include heat-press neck tags, woven labels and printed satin sew-in labels. Logo, size and care information can be included. Transfers are supplied on sheets or applied during a print order.
  - Branding options include heat-press neck tags, woven labels and printed satin sew-in labels. Logo, size and care information can be included. Transfers are supplied on sheets or applied during a print order; woven and satin labels can be supplied for sewing or fitted during production. Free design setup is offered.

## Store integrations and API

- On-demand embroidery orders use the SWX portal or a production-ready submission format. Portal access and participation are subject to program approval.
  - On-demand embroidery orders use the SWX portal or a production-ready submission format. Portal access and participation are subject to program approval; ask about the required store or API connection for the selected program.

## Shipping and fulfillment

- Direct-to-customer shipping depends on the service. Explicit print on demand dropshipping subject to the 20-orders-per-month program and supplied/pre-purchased stock.
- Print on demand pick and pack is $4 per dropship order; carrier freight is additional. Collection is an alternative.
- Delivery options include qualified embroidery on demand dropshipping, team store batch individual shipping, team store bulk shipping.
- Ships orders directly to customers.
- Delivery options include blind shipping, bulk shipping to buyer, local pickup.
- United States.
- Nationwide US contract-order delivery.
- Offers free inbound SanMar PSST freight; this is not free outbound delivery.

## Where they produce

- United States.
- Its Mesa production floor has three automatic screen presses and over 40 embroidery heads, with digitizing and artwork preparation in-house.

## How to order and pay

- Print on demand program requires vector artwork and garments supplied in advance or pre-purchased through the company; submissions use its portal or a production-ready format.
- Team stores collect during an order window and produce after it closes; no-minimum messaging there should not imply an always-on one-item screen-print route.
- Wholesale contract account requires reseller-credential approval; submit purchase order and artwork.
- Ordinary embroidery accepts single-piece orders and requires a 50% deposit before production.

## About the company

- Sportswear Express dates its founding to 1991.

## Ask before ordering

- Can you specify international service for my order?
- What is the complete quote for my garment, quantity and destination, including decoration, tax and freight?
- What carrier transit estimate applies to my destination, separate from production?
- What written production schedule applies to my order, and what starts that clock?

## Sources

- [Embroidery-on-demand program](<https://www.sportswearexpress.com/pod-embroidery>) (checked 2026-10-16)
- [Embroidery quote and samples](<https://www.sportswearexpress.com/embroidery>) (checked 2026-10-16)
- [Mesa production minimums and time](<https://www.sportswearexpress.com/custom-apparel-mesa>) (checked 2026-10-14)
- [Team-store fulfillment](<https://www.sportswearexpress.com/team-stores>) (checked 2026-10-14)
- [Contract Embroidery](<https://www.sportswearexpress.com/contract-embroidery>) (checked 2026-10-16)
- [Contract Screen Printing](<https://www.sportswearexpress.com/contract-screen-printing>) (checked 2026-10-14)
- [founded](<https://www.sportswearexpress.com/about>) (checked 2026-10-16)
- [labels](<https://www.sportswearexpress.com/shirt-tags>) (checked 2026-10-16)

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