Private label t-shirts are usually blank tees from an established maker, relabeled with your own neck label or printed tag, then decorated with your designs. You don’t need a factory. Relabeling services publish no minimums for basic tag removal and neck printing. What you do need is a compliant label: the FTC lets you replace the original label with your own, but the new one must carry the required information, and you must keep records of what you removed.
I’ll cover the relabeling rules, services and minimums, and how private label compares with Amazon’s Merch on Demand.
Can you legally relabel blanks as private label t-shirts?
Yes. The FTC’s labeling guide says an importer, distributor or retailer may replace the original label on a textile product with one showing its own company name or RN, as long as the new label lists the name or RN of the company making the change. Three conditions:
- The new label must carry the required information: fiber content, country of origin, and your company name or RN.
- Keep records of the information on the removed label and who you received the product from, for three years.
- Don’t strip labels without replacing them. Removing required information without replacing it is illegal.
Any US firm that makes, imports, markets or distributes textile products can apply for an RN (Registered Identification Number) from the FTC. Care instructions also stay mandatory: the FTC’s Care Labeling Rule requires care instructions on garments.
Relabeling services and minimums
From each company’s own site, checked in October 2026:
| Service | Published terms |
|---|---|
| Apliiq (Los Angeles and Philadelphia) | Private label sewn in with no minimums, $2.50 per label; neck prints with no minimums; woven labels from 100 |
| Broken Arrow Wear | Tear-away tag printing with no minimum; printed labels from 500; damask woven labels from 1,000 |
| The Apparel Source | Relabeling from 72 pieces or $24; garments bought from them |
My take: start with tag removal and a printed neck label. It’s the cheapest way to look like a brand, and there’s no minimum. Move to woven labels once a design line sells steadily.
What a first run of private label t-shirts costs (illustrative)
These numbers are made up to show the math, not quotes. Assume 50 shirts, one design, relabeled and screen printed:
| Line | Per shirt | 50 shirts |
|---|---|---|
| Blank tee (assumed) | $4.50 | $225 |
| Tag removal and printed neck label (assumed) | $2.50 | $125 |
| One-color front print (assumed) | $5.00 | $250 |
| Poly bag and fold (assumed) | $0.50 | $25 |
| Landed cost before shipping | $12.50 | $625 |
Sell at $29.99 on your own site and your gross margin per shirt is about $17.49 before shipping and payment fees. On Amazon, referral and FBA fees come out of that, so I’d run the fee math before pricing. Two lessons: neck labels cost as much as the blank at small volumes, and print cost per shirt drops fast as the run grows. When a design proves itself, reorder in bigger runs to bring the per-shirt cost down.
Choosing the blank
- Fabric and weight: 100% cotton, blends and tri-blends feel very different. Order one of each.
- Fit across sizes: check the size chart against real measurements.
- Shrinkage: wash and dry samples twice before you commit.
- Print compatibility: some fabrics suit screen printing, others print-on-demand methods.
When you choose, think about the price point you want. A premium blank can carry a premium price; a budget blank can’t. Honestly, buyers feel the fabric before they read the label.
Private label or Amazon Merch on Demand?
Amazon’s Merch on Demand lets you upload artwork while Amazon handles production, shipping and customer service, with no upfront costs. You apply with your Amazon account and wait for a decision.
| Your own private label tees | Merch on Demand | |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | Inventory, labels, printing | None |
| Brand control | Full: your label, blanks, packaging | Amazon’s blanks and packaging |
| Margin | Set by you | A royalty: Amazon’s example shows $2.44 on a $19.99 tee in the base royalty group |
| Inventory risk | Yours | None |
| Access | Open | Application reviewed by Amazon |
Merch royalties rise in Amazon’s higher royalty groups, which require a share of sales from your own traffic. In my view, Merch is the low-risk way to test designs, and private label is how you build a brand that owns its margin. Many sellers do both.
Selling private label tees on Amazon
- Size data: Amazon requires apparel size attributes such as size system and size value when you list.
- Label accuracy: fiber content in your listing must match the label.
- Images: flat lays, on-model shots and a size chart reduce returns.
For full apparel production, see our guides to private label clothing manufacturers and private label activewear. If you’d like a team to source blanks and services, that’s our complete sourcing management service.
FAQ
Is it legal to relabel blank t-shirts?
Yes, if the new label lists your company name or RN, plus fiber content and country of origin, and you keep records of the original label for three years.
What is an RN number?
A Registered Identification Number the FTC issues to US firms that make, import, market or distribute textile products. It can replace your company name on a label.
What is the minimum for private label t-shirts?
Basic relabeling services publish no minimums for tag removal and neck printing; woven and printed labels start around 100 to 1,000 pieces.
Do I need care labels on private label t-shirts?
Yes. The FTC’s Care Labeling Rule requires care instructions on garments.
Is Amazon Merch on Demand better than private label?
Merch has no upfront cost or inventory risk but pays a royalty. Private label costs more to start but gives you brand control and your own margin.
Can I remove the original label and not replace it?
No. Removing required label information without replacing it is illegal under FTC rules.
Last updated: October 5, 2026. General information, not legal advice. Sources: FTC, threading your way through the labeling requirements; FTC, Care Labeling Rule guidance; Amazon Merch on Demand; Amazon Merch on Demand royalties; Amazon, apparel size standardization guide (PDF); Apliiq; Broken Arrow Wear; The Apparel Source.
