Finding a shop for custom t-shirt printing Montreal businesses can actually trust isn’t as simple as it sounds. Some print shops want you to order 50 shirts before they’ll even quote you, others charge a fortune for a single sample run, and plenty struggle to explain the real difference between screen printing, DTF, and sublimation. If you’ve searched for montreal custom t shirt printing and just want a straight answer on price, quality, and turnaround, you’re in the right place.
This list breaks down ten shops actually worth your time, whether you need one hoodie for a birthday or a hundred polos for your staff. We’ve looked at minimum order requirements, pricing transparency, and which shops handle sublimation t-shirt printing near me searches well for those detailed, full-colour designs that screen printing can’t touch.
We’ve also included Apex Workwear on this list. While our production runs out of the GTA, we ship custom apparel across Canada with no minimums on most items and honest, upfront quotes within 24 hours, so Montreal buyers who want flexibility have a solid option too.
1. Apex Workwear
Apex Workwear ships custom apparel across Canada from its GTA production facility, and it’s become a go-to for Montreal businesses that want a proper partner instead of a one-off vendor relationship. You won’t find a storefront in Montreal, but that’s actually the point: the whole operation runs online, from quote to proof to delivery, so you get the same honest pricing and design support whether you’re in Verdun or Vaughan. For teams tired of chasing down local shops that never answer the phone, that reliability matters more than a physical address.
What they offer
Beyond t-shirts, Apex prints hoodies, hats, polos, and workwear, plus a full range of business print products like business cards, banners, and signage. That range means you can order staff uniforms and your event signage from the same supplier, which saves time when you’re juggling a launch or a trade show. Design assistance is included at no extra cost, so if your logo file isn’t print-ready, someone actually fixes it instead of bouncing it back to you.
Printing methods available
Apex offers both custom embroidery services and direct-to-garment (DTG) printing, which covers most small and mid-sized order needs without forcing you into screen printing minimums. DTG works especially well for detailed, multi-colour designs, similar to what sublimation delivers, but on a wider range of fabric types and colours. Here’s a quick breakdown of when each method makes sense:
| Method | Best for | Typical order size |
|---|---|---|
| DTG | Full-colour, detailed logos or photos | 1 to 50+ pieces |
| Embroidery | Polos, hats, corporate uniforms | 1 to 100+ pieces |
Pricing and minimum order
There’s no minimum order on most items, which is rare in this industry and genuinely useful if you just need one custom hoodie for a birthday or a handful of shirts for a small crew. Quotes come back within 24 hours, seven days a week, and pricing is upfront before you commit to anything.
A shop that quotes fast, skips the minimums, and tells you the real price upfront earns your repeat business.
Bulk orders unlock discounted per-unit pricing, so the math improves fast once you’re ordering for a whole team or event.
Turnaround time and delivery
Most orders ship within 5 to 7 business days, and rush options exist for anyone working against a tighter deadline. Shipping to Montreal typically takes an extra day or two on top of production, which is worth planning for if your event date is fixed. Free local shipping applies within the GTA, but Montreal orders ship at standard courier rates, still reasonable compared to what some local print shops charge for delivery.
Best for
Small business owners, startups, and event coordinators who want a single supplier for both apparel and print materials, and who value getting a real answer on price and timeline without haggling. If you want to see current options, check out Apex Workwear’s custom apparel page before comparing it against the Montreal-based shops below.
2. T-Shirt Elephant
T-Shirt Elephant operates as an online custom apparel platform serving Quebec, with a strong following among Montreal students, sports teams, and small businesses. It built its reputation on an easy online design tool that lets you upload artwork, pick colours, and see a live mockup before you commit, which appeals to people who want control without needing design software. Reviews consistently mention friendly customer service when questions come up mid-order, a detail that matters when you’re new to custom t shirt printing montreal shoppers rely on.
What they offer
Beyond basic tees, the shop handles hoodies, tank tops, and long-sleeve shirts, along with team-oriented add-ons like custom numbering for sports jerseys. Their online design studio is the standout feature, letting customers preview placement and colour combinations before ordering, which cuts down on costly reprints from misaligned art.
Printing methods available
Screen printing dominates their catalogue for bulk team orders, while DTG printing covers smaller runs with full-colour or photographic designs, so it helps to know the upsides and downsides of DTG before choosing. This split gives you flexibility depending on order size and design complexity, though it means pricing structures shift noticeably between the two methods.
Pricing and minimum order
Minimums here run higher than Apex Workwear’s no-minimum policy, typically starting around a dozen pieces for screen printing to keep per-unit costs reasonable. Smaller DTG orders are possible but carry a higher price per shirt.
Bulk-friendly pricing rewards teams and groups, but solo buyers pay a premium for flexibility.
Turnaround time and delivery
Standard production runs about 7 to 10 business days, with rush service available for an added fee. Shipping across Quebec is straightforward, though delivery to areas outside Montreal proper can add extra days.
Best for
Sports teams, school groups, and clubs ordering matching apparel in bulk, especially those who want to design everything themselves online before checkout.
3. T-Shirt Express MTL
T-Shirt Express MTL runs as a walk-in shop in the city, popular with people who want to hand over a design in person and pick up finished shirts the same week without dealing with an online portal. Locals searching for custom t shirt printing montreal shops with an actual counter to visit tend to land here, since the storefront model still matters to plenty of buyers who’d rather talk through their order face to face. It suits anyone nervous about uploading artwork blind and hoping it prints right.
What they offer
The shop focuses mainly on t-shirts and hoodies, with a smaller selection of hats and tote bags rounding out the catalogue. Staff will look over your artwork on the spot and flag resolution issues before printing, which saves a wasted trip. There’s no fancy online design studio here, so bring your logo file ready to go or expect to work through changes in person.
Printing methods available
Screen printing handles most of their volume, and heat transfer vinyl printing covers single-colour names and numbers on jerseys and staff shirts. Sublimation is available for polyester blends, which matters if you’ve searched sublimation t-shirt printing near me and specifically need vibrant, all-over prints that hold up on athletic fabrics, so it’s worth comparing sublimation against heat transfer vinyl first.
Pricing and minimum order
Minimums sit around 6 to 12 pieces depending on the printing method, with screen printing on the higher end and vinyl transfers more flexible for small batches.
Walking in with a ready file beats mailing back and forth for revisions every time.
Turnaround time and delivery
Expect 5 to 8 business days for standard orders, with same-week rush service if you’re willing to pay extra and the shop isn’t already backed up.
Best for
Montreal locals who prefer an in-person shop for small team orders, jersey numbering, or last-minute event shirts they can pick up themselves rather than wait on shipping.
4. Rain Coast Print Shop
Rain Coast Print Shop built its name on eco-conscious printing, using water-based inks and organic cotton blanks for businesses that care about the environmental footprint of their swag. Montreal buyers researching montreal custom t shirt printing options with a sustainability angle tend to find this shop through word of mouth rather than paid ads, since it doesn’t chase volume the way some competitors do. It’s a smaller operation, so expect a more personal back-and-forth over email rather than a slick online ordering system.
What they offer
The catalogue leans toward organic cotton t-shirts, hoodies, and tote bags, with a smaller selection of hats. Custom apparel isn’t their only line of business either, since they also print on notebooks and reusable bags for companies wanting a full eco-friendly promo package. Artwork review happens over email, and the team will flag colour limitations tied to water-based ink before you finalise anything.
Printing methods available
Screen printing with water-based inks is the core method here, which produces a softer hand-feel than plastisol but limits how vibrant certain colours can appear. DTG is offered on request for smaller, detailed runs, though it’s not their specialty and turnaround stretches longer as a result, partly because of how the DTG process works step by step.
Pricing and minimum order
Minimums sit around 12 pieces per design, a bit steeper than average, reflecting the setup cost of switching inks between jobs.
Eco-friendly printing costs more upfront, but it’s the right call if sustainability is part of your brand story.
Small custom runs under the minimum are possible but priced at a noticeable premium per shirt.
Turnaround time and delivery
Standard jobs take 8 to 12 business days, longer than most shops on this list, partly due to ink curing times and smaller batch scheduling. Delivery across Montreal and Quebec runs through standard courier, with no rush option advertised.
Best for
Businesses and event organisers who prioritise environmental credentials over speed, and who don’t mind waiting a bit longer for shirts printed with genuinely lower-impact materials.
5. Print Me Shirts
Print Me Shirts positions itself as the fast, no-fuss option for Montreal buyers who need shirts printed this week, not next month. The shop runs a simple online ordering system without the frills of a full design studio, which keeps things quick for anyone who already has artwork ready to go. Given how often people search custom t shirt printing montreal looking for speed over customisation, this shop fills that gap well.
What they offer
Given their focus on turnaround, the catalogue stays lean: t-shirts, hoodies, and a handful of tank top options. Rush production sits at the centre of everything they do, and their site design reflects that, with a straightforward upload-and-quote process rather than a drag-and-drop mockup builder. Custom apparel here means practical basics done quickly, not elaborate specialty garments.
Printing methods available
Heat transfer vinyl and basic screen printing cover most jobs, with DTF (direct-to-film) printing available for smaller runs that need full colour without the setup cost of screen printing plates. DTF has become a popular middle ground between DTG and screen printing, since it holds up on darker fabrics better than DTG typically does.
Pricing and minimum order
Minimums start around 6 pieces, which is friendlier than several shops on this list, though per-unit pricing runs slightly higher to offset the smaller batch sizes.
Fast turnaround and low minimums rarely come with the lowest per-shirt price, and that trade-off is worth knowing upfront.
Bulk discounts kick in past 25 pieces, narrowing the gap for larger orders.
Turnaround time and delivery
Standard jobs finish in 3 to 5 business days, among the quickest on this list, with a genuine same-day shirt printing option near you for local pickup if you call ahead. Delivery outside Montreal proper adds a day or two through standard courier.
Best for
Anyone facing a tight deadline, whether that’s a last-minute team event or a birthday gift, who needs reliable custom apparel without waiting the standard week most shops quote.
6. InstaCustoms
InstaCustoms built its business around instant online quotes and a wide catalogue of blank apparel brands, appealing to Montreal buyers who want to compare Gildan against Bella+Canvas before committing to a design. Its site pulls up pricing the moment you select a garment, quantity, and print method, which cuts out the back-and-forth email quoting that slows down several shops on this list. Businesses juggling multiple vendors like this transparency because it lets them budget accurately before ever talking to a rep.
What they offer
Catalogue depth is the real draw, with dozens of t-shirt, hoodie, and polo styles from major blank suppliers, plus hats, bags, and even aprons for hospitality clients. Customers pick their exact blank, upload artwork, and get a proof within a day or two, which suits people who already know which fabric weight or fit they want rather than needing guidance.
Printing methods available
Screen printing and DTF printing providers cover most orders, with DTF increasingly pushed for smaller runs since it handles multi-colour art without extra plate charges. Embroidery is available for polos and hats but isn’t the shop’s strongest offering compared to dedicated embroidery specialists.
Pricing and minimum order
Minimums sit around 10 pieces for screen printing, dropping to as low as 4 for DTF orders, giving smaller Montreal businesses a reasonable entry point.
An instant online quote beats waiting days for a shop to email back a price that might change anyway.
Bulk pricing tiers show automatically on the site, so you can see savings before placing the order.
Turnaround time and delivery
Standard production takes 6 to 9 business days, with a paid rush tier cutting that closer to 4 days for time-sensitive orders. Shipping across Montreal and the wider Quebec region runs through standard courier partners.
Best for
Businesses that already know their preferred blank apparel brand and want upfront, self-serve pricing without calling anyone for a quote.
7. Etshirt.ca
Etshirt.ca runs as a Quebec-wide online print shop that leans heavily on personalisation, letting individuals design one-off shirts for birthdays, bachelorette parties, and family reunions alongside small business orders. The site’s drag-and-drop editor is built for people with zero design background, which explains why it shows up so often when people search custom t shirt printing montreal looking for a gift rather than corporate swag. Business clients use it too, but the tone of the whole platform skews personal rather than professional.
What they offer
Apparel options cover t-shirts, hoodies, tank tops, and baby onesies, an unusual addition that signals how much of their business comes from personal milestones rather than office branding. The online editor includes preset templates for common occasions, so you’re not starting from a blank canvas if you just need something quick for a stag party or family trip. Text and clipart libraries are built in, useful for anyone without a designer on hand.
Printing methods available
DTG printing services handle the bulk of orders here, since most designs are one-off or small batch rather than bulk team runs. Vinyl transfer covers single-colour text and numbers, and sublimation printing is offered for polyester apparel and accessories, a solid pick for anyone who typed sublimation t-shirt printing near me into Google looking for photo-quality, all-over colour.
Pricing and minimum order
There’s effectively no minimum, since single-shirt orders are the platform’s bread and butter, though per-unit cost drops noticeably once you pass 10 or 20 pieces.
A platform built for one-off gifts will always cost more per shirt than one built for bulk team orders, and that’s fine if you only need one shirt.
Turnaround time and delivery
Standard orders ship within 5 to 7 business days, with courier delivery across Montreal and the rest of Quebec.
Best for
Individuals ordering personalised shirts for events, gifts, or small family orders who want an easy design tool over a professional account manager.
8. Custom Your T-Shirt
Custom Your T-Shirt is a Montreal-area shop that splits its business between corporate uniform orders and one-off custom pieces, giving it a broader range than some of the more niche shops on this list. Its site emphasises fast quotes over a flashy design tool, so you email your artwork and get pricing back within a day rather than fiddling with an online mockup builder. For business owners searching custom t shirt printing montreal for a straightforward vendor relationship, that directness is the main appeal.
What they offer
The catalogue covers t-shirts, hoodies, polos, and hats, with a smaller line of tote bags for retail and event clients. Corporate clients get staff uniform packages that combine embroidered polo shirts with your logo and printed tees, useful for businesses that need consistent branding across different roles. Artwork review happens by email, and staff will flag low-resolution files before production starts rather than printing a fuzzy logo and hoping you don’t notice.
Printing methods available
Screen printing and embroidery services near you cover most corporate orders, while DTF printing handles smaller runs and detailed, multi-colour designs that would be too costly to set up as screen prints. This mix suits businesses ordering a blend of uniforms and promotional shirts from a single supplier.
Pricing and minimum order
Minimums sit around 8 pieces for screen printing and drop to roughly 5 for DTF orders, a reasonable middle ground for small teams that don’t need Apex Workwear’s no-minimum flexibility but still want to avoid ordering dozens of shirts.
A shop that mixes screen printing, embroidery, and DTF under one roof saves you from juggling three different vendors for one uniform order.
Turnaround time and delivery
Standard jobs take 6 to 8 business days, with rush service available for an added fee if your event date is tight. Delivery covers Montreal and surrounding areas through standard courier, with no free local shipping advertised.
Best for
Small businesses needing a mix of embroidered uniforms and printed promotional shirts from one supplier, without committing to large minimum quantities.
9. Jean Coutu Photo Centre
Jean Coutu Photo Centre is the pharmacy-based photo counter tucked into Jean Coutu locations across Montreal and Quebec, and it’s worth including here because plenty of people genuinely don’t need a specialist print shop for a single novelty shirt. You’ve probably walked past the photo kiosk a hundred times without realising it also handles basic custom apparel, usually printed from a phone photo or simple design uploaded in-store or online. It’s not built for branding or bulk orders, but it fills a real gap for one-off, low-stakes requests.
What they offer
Options stay narrow: a handful of t-shirt styles and colours, printed from photos, simple text, or basic clipart uploaded through their online photo portal. There’s no design support beyond cropping and placement, so anyone needing logo cleanup or vector artwork should look elsewhere on this list.
Printing methods available
Most locations rely on DTG-style photo printing through a consumer-grade machine rather than industrial equipment, which limits colour vibrancy and fabric compatibility compared to dedicated print shops. Don’t expect sublimation or screen printing here.
Pricing and minimum order
There’s no minimum order, and pricing sits per shirt with no bulk discount structure since the service isn’t designed for volume.
A pharmacy photo counter suits a single novelty shirt, not a business order.
Turnaround time and delivery
Many locations print same-day or within 24 hours, since the equipment sits on-site rather than routing through a production queue. There’s no shipping option, just in-store pickup.
Best for
Someone who wants one photo shirt or joke gift printed fast, without any interest in comparing printing methods, minimums, or design proofs first.
10. Independent screen-printing studios in the Plateau and Mile End
Montreal’s Plateau and Mile End neighbourhoods are packed with small, artist-run print studios that don’t always show up in a generic search for custom t shirt printing montreal, but locals swear by them for a reason. These are usually one or two-person operations working out of a converted garage or shared studio space, printing for bands, local designers, and small cafes who want something with actual character rather than a corporate finish. Expect a slower, more personal process, often over Instagram DMs or a quick studio visit, rather than a polished online quoting system.
What they offer
Catalogues vary wildly from studio to studio, but most stick to t-shirts, tote bags, and hoodies printed on quality blanks like Bella+Canvas rather than the cheapest option available. Several studios also offer hand-pulled prints and limited runs, appealing to anyone who wants their apparel to feel less mass-produced.
Printing methods available
Screen printing, step by step, is the near-universal method here, often done by hand on manual presses rather than automated equipment, which gives prints a slightly textured, authentic look. Don’t expect DTG, DTF, or sublimation options at most of these shops, since the equipment investment doesn’t suit their small-batch model.
Pricing and minimum order
Minimums typically run 10 to 20 pieces per design, since manual screen setup makes tiny runs impractical for the studio to price fairly.
Hand-pulled screen printing costs more and takes longer, but it’s the closest thing to wearable local art.
Turnaround time and delivery
Timelines stretch to 10 to 15 business days, longer than most shops on this list, and pickup rather than delivery is often the only option offered.
Best for
Creative agencies, bands, and small local brands who want distinctive, small-batch apparel with genuine craft behind it, and who can plan ahead rather than needing shirts next week.
Picking the right printer for your Montreal order
Matching the shop to the job matters more than finding the single "best" option. A walk-in favour like T-Shirt Express MTL suits a same-week jersey order, while a Plateau studio makes sense when you want hand-pulled art and can wait two weeks. If you’re weighing custom t shirt printing montreal options against something more flexible, look hard at minimums and turnaround before you commit, since those two factors decide whether a small order actually gets printed affordably.
For businesses that want one supplier handling apparel and print materials together, without chasing quotes or hitting order minimums, Apex Workwear remains the practical choice even from outside the city. Honest pricing within 24 hours and no minimums on most items solve the two biggest headaches on this list. If that sounds like what your next order needs, see what goes into a printing quote and request one from Apex Workwear before you decide anything else.
