A transparent breakdown of t-shirt manufacturing costs in India for 2026 — covering fabric, CMT, dyeing, printing, trims, and overheads. Includes FOB price ranges by product type and comparison with Bangladesh, China, and Vietnam.
Understanding t-shirt manufacturing costs in India is essential for any brand planning to source from Indian manufacturers in 2026. Whether you are a startup launching your first collection or an established brand diversifying your supply chain, this guide breaks down every cost component — from raw cotton to delivered garment — with real pricing data from Tirupur, India's largest t-shirt manufacturing hub.
The FOB (Free on Board) price of a t-shirt from India comprises four main components: fabric (40–50% of total cost), CMT or Cut-Make-Trim (25–35%), printing/decoration (10–20%), and packing/trims (5–10%). Understanding each component helps you make informed decisions about specifications and negotiate effectively with manufacturers.
Fabric is the single largest cost component. Indian cotton prices in 2026 are influenced by domestic crop yields, global commodity markets, and the MSP (Minimum Support Price) set by the Indian government. Here are current fabric costs per kilogram in Tirupur:
Carded Cotton (basic): ₹280–₹320 per kg ($3.35–$3.85/kg). Used for promotional and economy-grade t-shirts. Adequate for single-wash promotional items but not suitable for retail brands.
Combed Cotton (standard): ₹320–₹380 per kg ($3.85–$4.55/kg). The industry standard for retail-quality t-shirts. Smoother, stronger, and more durable than carded cotton. Most export orders specify combed cotton.
Ring-Spun Combed Cotton (premium): ₹380–₹450 per kg ($4.55–$5.40/kg). Superior softness and drape. Preferred by D2C brands and premium retailers. The extra cost is justified by better hand-feel and customer satisfaction.
Organic Cotton (GOTS certified): ₹450–₹550 per kg ($5.40–$6.60/kg). 30–50% premium over conventional cotton. Required for brands marketing sustainability. The premium covers organic farming costs, certification audits, and segregated processing.
How fabric cost translates to per-piece cost: A standard 180 GSM round-neck t-shirt in size M uses approximately 250–280 grams of fabric (including waste from cutting). At ₹350/kg for combed cotton, the fabric cost per piece is approximately ₹88–₹98 ($1.05–$1.18). For a 220 GSM heavyweight tee, fabric consumption rises to 300–340 grams, costing ₹105–₹119 ($1.26–$1.43) per piece.
CMT covers all labour and overhead costs for converting fabric into a finished garment:
Cutting: ₹8–₹12 per piece. Includes fabric spreading, marker making, and cutting. Automated cutting (CAD/CAM) is standard for orders above 1,000 pieces.
Stitching: ₹25–₹45 per piece depending on complexity. A basic round-neck t-shirt with minimal construction takes 8–12 minutes on the production line. Oversized styles with drop shoulders, reinforced seams, and specialty stitching take 15–20 minutes, increasing cost.
Finishing: ₹8–₹15 per piece. Thread trimming, ironing/pressing, folding, and final quality check. Garment washing (enzyme, silicone, acid wash) adds ₹30–₹80 per piece.
Overhead allocation: ₹10–₹20 per piece. Factory rent, electricity, machine maintenance, supervisory staff, and compliance costs distributed across production volume.
Total CMT for a standard t-shirt: ₹55–₹90 per piece ($0.66–$1.08). Complex styles with specialty construction can reach ₹120–₹150 ($1.44–$1.80).
Decoration is where costs vary most dramatically based on method and complexity:
Screen Printing: ₹15–₹60 per piece (1–4 colours). Setup cost of ₹500–₹1,500 per screen (amortised across the order). Most economical for orders above 500 pieces. Each additional colour adds ₹8–₹15 per piece.
DTG (Direct to Garment): ₹100–₹250 per piece. No setup cost, unlimited colours, photographic quality. Economical for small batches (under 200 pieces) or complex multi-colour designs. Cost per piece decreases slightly with volume but remains higher than screen print for large orders.
Sublimation (all-over print): ₹60–₹150 per piece. Requires polyester or poly-blend fabric. Unlimited colours, edge-to-edge printing. Popular for sportswear and fashion-forward designs.
Embroidery: ₹40–₹200 per piece depending on stitch count. Small logos (5,000 stitches): ₹40–₹60. Large chest designs (15,000+ stitches): ₹120–₹200. Premium feel for corporate and polo-style branding.
Specialty prints (puff, foam, flock, metallic): ₹50–₹120 per piece. Add texture and dimension. Popular for streetwear and premium brands. Requires experienced printers for consistent quality.
Woven main label: ₹3–₹8 per piece. Includes brand name, size, care instructions, and country of origin. Custom woven labels with logo take 7–10 days to produce.
Hang tags: ₹5–₹15 per piece. Printed cardboard tags with brand information. Premium options include embossed, foil-stamped, or recycled paper tags.
Polybag packing: ₹3–₹5 per piece. Standard clear polybag with adhesive closure. Biodegradable options available at ₹8–₹12 per piece.
Carton packing: ₹8–₹15 per piece (allocated across carton contents). Standard 5-ply export cartons holding 50–100 pieces each. Includes inner polybag, tissue paper if specified, and carton markings.
Here are realistic all-inclusive FOB prices for common t-shirt specifications manufactured in Tirupur:
Economy promotional t-shirt: 160 GSM carded cotton, basic construction, 1-colour screen print, polybag pack. FOB: $1.80–$2.20. Suitable for event giveaways and promotional merchandise.
Standard retail t-shirt: 180 GSM combed cotton, side-seamed, shoulder tape, 2-colour screen print, branded label and hang tag, polybag pack. FOB: $2.40–$3.00. The bread-and-butter product for most brands.
Premium D2C t-shirt: 200 GSM ring-spun cotton, reinforced construction, discharge or DTG print, custom woven label, premium packaging. FOB: $3.50–$4.50. For brands retailing at $25–$40.
Luxury/streetwear t-shirt: 240 GSM heavyweight cotton, oversized fit, garment-dyed, specialty print (puff/foam), premium packaging with tissue and rigid box. FOB: $5.00–$7.00. For brands retailing at $45–$80+.
Order volume: Prices decrease 5–15% as volume increases. A 5,000-piece order gets better pricing than 500 pieces because fixed costs (sampling, setup, management) are spread across more units.
Repeat orders: Second and subsequent orders are typically 5–10% cheaper because the manufacturer has already developed patterns, sourced fabric, and optimised the production process.
Season: October–January is peak production season in Tirupur (serving Northern Hemisphere spring/summer orders). Prices and lead times may increase 5–10% during peak. February–May offers better availability and sometimes lower pricing.
Cotton market: Global cotton prices fluctuate based on crop yields, demand, and speculation. A 10% increase in raw cotton prices translates to approximately 4–5% increase in finished garment FOB price.
FOB price does not include: freight charges ($0.15–$0.30 per piece by sea, $1.50–$3.00 by air), import duties (varies by destination country — 16.5% for US, 12% for EU on cotton t-shirts), customs clearance fees, and domestic logistics from port to warehouse. Budget an additional 25–40% above FOB for total landed cost in Western markets.
For accurate pricing on your specific requirements, contact Esplandea Incorporation with your product specifications, quantity, and delivery timeline. We provide detailed cost breakdowns within 24 hours and offer competitive pricing across all product categories from our Tirupur manufacturing facility.