Gildan Polo Shirt Price: A Full Cost and Margin Breakdown

The question "what does a Gildan polo shirt cost" has a different answer depending on whether you are buying a plain blank at retail or building a custom, branded polo to sell or issue to a team. This breakdown covers the second case: the real, all-in cost of a custom Gildan polo through Bear Grips Pro Shops, how the free and VIP plans compare, and what retail price leaves healthy margin.

Gildan Polo Base Price by Plan

Plan	Monthly fee	Gildan polo base price	Live product slots
Free	$0	$41.95	3
Self-Service VIP	$59	$34.88	200
Done-For-You VIP	$105	$34.88	250

The base price already includes the blank shirt, front-side design printing, packing, and free shipping to the buyer. There is no setup fee and no per-color surcharge for the logo.

When the VIP Plan Pays for Itself on Polos Alone

VIP saves $7.07 per Gildan polo versus the free plan. At that savings rate, the $59 monthly fee is covered once a shop sells about 9 polos in a month ($7.07 x 9 = $63.63). Sell more than that and every additional polo's savings goes straight to extra profit. Shops selling other products alongside the polo (tees, hoodies, hats) clear the VIP fee even faster, since the savings stacks across the whole catalog, not just one item.

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Setting a Retail Price That Keeps Healthy Margin

Retail price	Plan	Profit per unit
$44.00	VIP	$9.12
$48.00	VIP	$13.12
$52.00	VIP	$17.12
$48.00	Free	$6.05
$52.00	Free	$10.05

Pro Shops recommends a default profit target of $10 per item as a starting point, but every vendor sets their own retail price with no cap on either end.

Monthly Revenue Examples at Different Order Volumes

• 10 polos/month at $48 retail, VIP plan. $131.20 gross profit, well past the $59 monthly fee.
• 25 polos/month at $48 retail, VIP plan. $328 gross profit.
• 60 polos/month (staff of 60, one polo each) at $44 retail, VIP plan. $547.20 gross profit in a single order wave.

These numbers do not include embroidery or add-on placements, which some shops price at a premium over the base polo.

What the Base Price Does Not Include

• Rush production. Standard turnaround is about a week; expedited options may carry an added cost where offered.
• Extra print placements. The base price covers front-side design; back prints or additional placements are set by the vendor as add-ons.
• The monthly plan fee itself ($0, $59, or $105) is separate from the per-unit polo base price and covers the full shop, not just one product.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the actual base price of a custom Gildan polo?

$41.95 on the free plan or $34.88 on the Self-Service and Done-For-You VIP plans.

Are there setup fees for printing a logo on a Gildan polo?

No. The base price covers the blank, printing, and packing with no setup or per-color charge.

How much profit should I expect per polo?

Pro Shops suggests a $10 default profit target, though many vendors price polos with $13 to $20 margin. There is no restriction on the retail price you set.

Does the VIP plan pay for itself if I only sell polos?

Yes, once volume passes roughly 9 polos a month, the $7.07 per-unit savings covers the $59 VIP fee.