A basic 180 GSM cotton crew-neck T-shirt costs about $2.90–3.60 FOB Chattogram at 1,000 pieces in our illustrative 2026 model. Fabric is roughly 45% of that and cut-and-sew about a fifth. Larger orders, lighter fabric and plain prints push the price toward $2.30.
What goes into the price of a T-shirt?
Seven lines make up a factory FOB price: fabric, cut-make-trim, print, trims, wash, packing and overhead with margin. Fabric dominates because knitted cotton is priced by the kilogram, and a 180 GSM crew-neck T-shirt uses about 210 grams of fabric including cutting waste.
| Line | USD per piece | Share of FOB | What drives it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fabric (≈0.21 kg of dyed single jersey) | 1.44 | 45% | GSM, yarn quality, colour, cutting efficiency |
| Cut and make (CMT labour and line overhead) | 0.62 | 19% | Standard allowed minutes (about 9.5 for a plain tee) and the line’s cost per minute |
| Print or embroidery (one placement) | 0.28 | 9% | Print method, colours, size and number of placements |
| Trims and labels | 0.18 | 6% | Woven or printed neck label, care label, hangtag, thread |
| Wash and finishing | 0.08 | 2% | Softener or enzyme wash, pressing, thread trimming |
| Packing | 0.12 | 4% | Polybag, sticker, carton share |
| Overhead, compliance, testing and margin | 0.48 | 15% | Factory utilisation, audit costs, financing |
| Total FOB | 3.20 | 100% |
The most useful number on the list is the SAM, the standard allowed minutes it takes to sew the garment. A plain tee has few operations, so CMT stays low. Add a pocket, a taped neck or a set-in label and SAM rises, and so does cost. The detail on CMT explains how factories convert minutes to money.
How does order size change the price?
Between 500 and 10,000 pieces the per-piece price falls by about a third in our illustrative model. Two things cause most of that: fabric is bought and dyed in full lots, so small orders carry unused fabric, and sewing lines run longer without changeovers, so more of each shift is productive.
| Quantity per style and colour | Illustrative FOB per piece | Change vs 500 pcs |
|---|---|---|
| 500 | $3.80 | baseline |
| 1,000 | $3.20 | −16% |
| 3,000 | $2.85 | −25% |
| 5,000 | $2.70 | −29% |
| 10,000 | $2.58 | −32% |
Quantity is counted per style and colour, so three colours of one style at 1,000 pieces each is different from one colour at 3,000. See low MOQ clothing in Bangladesh for how minimums work.
What else moves the price of a T-shirt?
- Fabric weight and yarn. Heavier GSM and combed ring-spun cotton raise the fabric line. See product and fabric.
- Cotton and yarn prices. Raw cotton is a global commodity; a swing in cotton or yarn prices passes through to fabric within a quarter or two.
- Labour cost. The entry-level monthly minimum wage for garment workers has been BDT 12,500 since December 2023 (Bangladesh Minimum Wage Board), and wage settlements and overtime rules move CMT.
- Currency. Factories buy imported inputs in dollars and pay local costs in taka, so exchange-rate moves shift both sides.
- Decoration. Water-based or discharge print, puff, foil and embroidery each add per-piece cost and tooling.
- Quality and testing. Third-party inspection and lab testing are separate from FOB but part of what you pay.
How much does the same T-shirt cost delivered to my country?
Add freight, insurance, duty and clearance to FOB. In our illustrative scenario, a 1,000-piece order to Germany lands at roughly $3.04–3.82 per piece from Bangladesh, because EU duty on Bangladeshi apparel is 0% under the Everything But Arms scheme. The cost and duty guide walks through the sum and the landed-cost calculator lets you run your own.
How do you get an accurate T-shirt price?
An accurate price needs a complete brief. Send a tech pack or reference garment with: fabric composition, GSM and yarn; size range and measurements; number of colours and quantity per colour; print or embroidery artwork with placement and size; label, hangtag and packaging requirements; target delivery date and destination. With that, a merchandiser can return an itemised costing in the same seven lines as the table above, and you can compare factories line by line rather than by total.
KEY NUMBERS
- Illustrative FOB, 180 GSM tee, 1,000 pcsSource: Giga Sourcing illustrative model (not a quote) · as of Oct 1, 2026
- $2.90–3.60
- Fabric share of FOBSource: Giga Sourcing illustrative model · as of Oct 1, 2026
- ~45%
- CMT per tee (9.5 SAM)Source: Giga Sourcing illustrative model · as of Oct 1, 2026
- $0.62
- Price drop, 500 to 10,000 pcsSource: Giga Sourcing illustrative model · as of Oct 1, 2026
- −32%
- Entry-level garment worker minimum wageSource: Bangladesh Minimum Wage Board, effective Dec 2023 · as of Dec 1, 2023
- BDT 12,500 / month
KEY NUMBERS · SOURCES LISTED BELOW · CITE THIS
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to make a T-shirt in Bangladesh?
In our illustrative 2026 model a basic 180 GSM cotton crew-neck costs about $2.90–3.60 FOB Chattogram at 1,000 pieces. It is not a quote: real prices depend on fabric, print, wash, labels and quantity.
Why is fabric about half of the price?
A T-shirt uses around 210 grams of knitted cotton including cutting waste, and finished dyed knit fabric is priced per kilogram. Cut-and-sew labour is a much smaller share.
What is the cheapest quantity to order?
Per-piece price keeps falling as quantity rises, but most of the saving comes before about 3,000 pieces per style and colour. Beyond that, gains are small relative to the inventory risk.
Does FOB include shipping?
No. FOB stops when goods are on board at Chattogram. Freight, insurance, duty and clearance are additional.
Can I get a lower price with a lighter fabric?
Yes, but lighter fabric changes the product. Going from 180 to 150 GSM saves yarn and cost, and may feel thinner and show through in light colours.
Sources
- Giga Sourcing illustrative cost model · Oct 1, 2026
- Bangladesh Minimum Wage Board: garment sector minimum wage, effective December 2023 · Dec 1, 2023
- Regulation (EU) No 978/2012 (Generalised Scheme of Preferences) · Oct 25, 2012