Custom group t-shirts: a guide for friends and trips

Custom group t-shirts work best with one shared design for everyone, a single t-shirt model in adult, women's and kids' cuts, and a closed list with each person's size before you order; each person's name or nickname, if you want it, goes on the back. At TshirtPro we personalise B&C t-shirts and sweatshirts with DTF and DTG printing, personalised in Portugal, from 1 unit, so a group of four friends and a whole family follow the same process.

This guide answers the questions we get from people organising t-shirts for a trip, a stag or hen party, a birthday, a family reunion, a tournament among friends or a weekend away: which garment to choose, how to collect sizes without a mess, where to place the design, how to put adults and children in the same order and how far ahead to order. If the group is getting together for a stag or hen party, see also the t-shirt slogans for bachelor and bachelorette parties; for a birthday, the ideas for custom birthday t-shirts.

Quick answer: how to make t-shirts for a group

• Pick one shared design: the group's name, a slogan, a date or a logo on the front, the same on every garment, so the group can be recognised from afar.
• Pick one base model: the Premium Tee B&C #E190 TU03T, with 185 g/m² and 40 colours, suits most groups; add the women's and kids' versions when needed.
• Collect sizes before ordering: a list with each person's name, cut and size, closed by whoever is organising.
• Personalise each garment only if you want to: each person's name or nickname on the back is optional and is ordered with the list in the Notes field.
• Check the mock-up: you receive the mock-up within up to 4 working hours after confirmed payment, and the order only goes into production once you approve it.

Which garment for each type of group

The occasion decides almost everything: how long the garment will be worn, whether it is for hot or cold weather and whether there are children in the group. The table sums up the most common choices.

In a mixed group, the design stays the same and only the cut changes: the same slogan, in the same format, on an adult t-shirt, a women's t-shirt and a kids' t-shirt. More on cuts in custom t-shirts for women and custom t-shirts for kids and schools.

How to organise the group order

The hard part of a group order is rarely the design: it is getting everyone's sizes in time. These steps avoid most problems.

1. Appoint one person in charge. They finalise the design, gather the details and place the order; the group decides, but only one person orders.
2. Finalise the design first. Show the group an image of the design on the t-shirt, already in the chosen colour, before asking for sizes.
3. Gather the details in a shared list. One row per person, with the columns in the table below; a simple form or a shared spreadsheet is enough.
4. Set a deadline for replies. Anyone who has not replied by then gets the size the person in charge chooses.
5. Check the totals. Count the rows for each size and each cut; those are the numbers you will enter in the configurator.
6. Order in one go. Putting every size in the same order makes approving the mock-up easier and avoids forgotten garments.

For sizes, ask each person to compare with a t-shirt they already wear and check each model's size chart in prices and sizes; the guide how to choose t-shirt sizes for the whole team explains how to measure. On price: you can mix sizes without losing the price band; each print zone is charged separately, so a name on the back adds the back zone; and, according to the site's FAQ, pricing uses the total quantity per colour, not the total number of items in the cart. Always check the price in the configurator before you pay.

A different name on each garment

If each person wants their own name or nickname, set up one model with the shared design and a sample name in the final zone, enter the units per size and write the full list in the Notes field at checkout, one line per garment: name and size. With only a few garments, you can also set up each name as its own variation. The step-by-step is in the guide to custom t-shirts with names.

Design ideas for group t-shirts

• Group name and date: a name made up for the occasion with the date or year underneath; it works for trips, tournaments and family reunions.
• Destination or place: the name of the city, the beach or the festival, with a simple drawing of the spot.
• Each person's role: the same slogan on the front and, on the back, each person's role in the group: the bride, the best man, the captain, the driver.
• Group logo: if the group of friends, the team or the family already has a symbol, use it small on the chest and large on the back.
• Photo: the face of the person being celebrated or an old group photo, printed in colour; see how to prepare the image in custom t-shirt with a photo.

Before uploading the design, check the file's resolution and background with the guide how to prepare your logo for t-shirt printing. For a group, the design has to be readable from a distance: few words, a bold typeface and good contrast with the t-shirt colour.

Where to print and at what size

In the configurator, the t-shirts in this guide have four zones (front, back, left sleeve and right sleeve) and, with DTF, five print formats, from A7 to A3. The table shows the dimensions and the most common use for a group.

On the Inspire Hooded WU33B hoodie, the front goes up to A4 and the back up to A3. For more on each zone, see where to print the logo on a t-shirt.

Which t-shirt to choose for the group

All the garments below are B&C and have a full product page in the shop: weight, composition, colours, sizes and size chart. The figures in the table are the ones each product page shows today.

Cotton: the choice of most groups

The Premium Tee B&C #E190 TU03T has 185 g/m² of cotton, tubular construction, a fine ribbed collar and 40 colours, from XS to 3XL; it is the one we recommend when the group wants to wear the t-shirt again after the event. The Classic Tee B&C #E150 TU01T, at 145 g/m², is lighter and works well for a one-day event or in hot weather.

Women and kids: the same design in another cut

The B&C #E190 Women TW04T has the same weight and the same 40 colours as the TU03T, with side seams for a better drape; the 3XL of this t-shirt only comes in 6 colours (white, black, navy, heather grey, royal blue and red). The B&C #E190 Kids TK002 has 185 g/m² of cotton, a neutral fit for boys and girls, no neck label and 12 colours, in sizes 3-4, 5-6, 7-8, 9-11 and 12-13. Before choosing the group colour, check that it exists on all three models.

Technical: for groups on the move

The B&C Active T TG003 is the shop's technical t-shirt: 140 g/m² of recycled polyester in piqué knit, raglan sleeves, breathable and quick-drying, 8 colours and sizes from XS to 3XL. It suits hikes, runs, tournaments and trips in hot weather. The comparison with cotton is in custom technical t-shirts.

Oversized and hoodie: to wear after the event

The B&C #E220 Oversized TG001 has 220 g/m² of cotton, an oversized cut and 4 colours (white, black, navy and mastic), from XS to 3XL; the measurements are in custom oversized t-shirt. For the cold, the B&C Inspire Hooded WU33B has 280 g/m², a lined hood with drawcord, pockets in the side seams, 21 colours and sizes from XS to 3XL. The difference between a sweatshirt, a hoodie and a zip hoodie is in sweatshirt, hoodie or zip hoodie.

DTF or DTG for group t-shirts

In the configurator, models that accept both techniques show the Printing technique step, with DTF or DTG; the others are printed with DTF. Of the models in this guide, the Premium Tee TU03T, the #E190 Women TW04T, the #E190 Kids TK002, the #E220 Oversized TG001 and the Inspire Hooded WU33B accept DTF and DTG. The Classic Tee TU01T and the Active T TG003 are personalised with DTF. DTF covers every zone, sleeves included, with formats A7 to A3. DTG prints directly onto the fabric, only on the front and back, in four formats: 20 x 20 cm, 20 x 30 cm, 30 x 40 cm and 40 x 50 cm. For a group with a logo on the sleeve, the sleeve is done with DTF; a large design on the front or back of a cotton garment can be done with either technique. The full comparison is in DTF or DTG: the differences.

How far ahead to order

Count back from the day the group will wear the t-shirts and add some margin to collect sizes, which is usually the slowest step. These are TshirtPro's steps and lead times:

The mock-up is where you confirm everything before production; see what to check in what a personalisation mock-up is. The details are in the production lead time guide. On top of the times in the table come the time you take to approve the mock-up and shipping. We do not promise that an order will arrive by a specific date: what we control is production, up to 9 working days or up to 5 working days with the priority option.

How to wash the group's t-shirts

To make the print last, wash inside out, without bleach and without dry cleaning; if you iron, do it inside out, at a low temperature and without touching the print. For the cotton t-shirts in this guide (TU03T, TU01T, TW04T, TK002 and TG001), the product page says wash up to 30 °C and no tumble dryer. For the Active T TG003, the product page says wash up to 60 °C and no tumble dryer at high temperature. For the Inspire Hooded WU33B, the product page says wash at 30 °C and allows the tumble dryer. The full guide is in how to wash custom t-shirts.

Frequently asked questions

Can I order t-shirts for a small group?

Yes. We personalise from 1 unit, so a group of two, four or fifty people follows the same process in the configurator, and you can mix sizes without losing the price band.

Can I combine adult, women's and kids' t-shirts with the same design?

Yes. Set up the same design on each model, for example the Premium Tee TU03T, the #E190 Women TW04T and the #E190 Kids TK002, and add all three to the cart. Check first that the chosen colour exists on all three models.

Can each person have their name on the back?

Yes. Set up one model with the shared design and a sample name on the back, then write the full list in the Notes field, one line per garment: name and size. With only a few garments, you can set up each name as its own variation.

How do I collect the whole group's sizes?

With a shared list, one row per person, with the cut (adult, women's or kids'), the size and, if any, the name. Set a deadline for replies and check the totals for each size before entering them in the configurator.

Which t-shirt is best for a group trip?

For most trips, the Premium Tee TU03T, in cotton with 185 g/m² and 40 colours. In very hot weather or for physical activity, the Active T TG003, in quick-drying recycled polyester; for the cold, the Inspire Hooded WU33B hoodie.

How long does it take to be ready?

The mock-up arrives within up to 4 working hours after confirmed payment. Once you approve it, standard production takes up to 9 working days and priority production up to 5 working days, with a 10% surcharge; shipping comes on top.

How to order group t-shirts at TshirtPro

1. Choose the garment: in the configurator, the model, the technique when the model accepts DTF and DTG, and the group colour.
2. Place the design: choose the zone, such as the front, the back or a sleeve, and the format (A7 to A3 with DTF), and see the price instantly.
3. Enter the sizes: the number of units per size, from the group list; repeat for the women's and kids' models, if any.
4. Choose the lead time: standard, up to 9 working days, or priority, up to 5 working days, with a 10% surcharge.
5. Complete the order: at checkout, use the Notes field for the list of names, if each garment carries a name.
6. Approve the mock-up: confirm the position, size, colours and names; only then does the order go into production.

TshirtPro personalises B&C t-shirts and sweatshirts for groups, with DTF and DTG printing, personalised in Portugal, from 1 unit. In the configurator you choose the garment, the colour, the zones and the size of each print and see the price instantly; the other models are in all products and there are more guides on the blog. Questions about t-shirts for your group? Use the contact page, send a WhatsApp message to +351 968 662 370 or write to info@tshirtpro.pt, Monday to Friday, from 09:00 to 18:00.