Bear Grips Pro ShopsGraduation Apparel Price Guide: What Custom Shirts, Hoodies, and Hats Actually Cost
- Custom graduation tees run $19.88-$25.88 VIP base before markup.
- Hoodies run $34.88-$45.88 VIP base depending on the style.
- Embroidered or printed hats run $25.86-$29.86 VIP base.
- Retail pricing is set by the seller, most class shops add about $8-$15 per piece.
Anyone searching for graduation attire prices is usually trying to answer one of two questions: what will it cost me to buy a class shirt, or what should our committee charge for one. Academic gown rental and purchase pricing is handled by each school's own bookstore or regalia provider and varies by program, so that number is not something a print vendor sets. What a print vendor like Bear Grips Pro Shops can answer clearly is the custom apparel side: the shirts, hoodies, and hats a class actually designs and sells around the ceremony.
Graduation Apparel Base Pricing by Category
| Category | Free plan base | VIP base |
|---|---|---|
| Cotton tee (Airlume, unisex or youth) | $23.93 | $19.88 |
| Premium cotton crew tee | $28.95 | $23.88 |
| Long sleeve cotton shirt | $35.94 | $29.88 |
| Comfort Soft Hoodie | $44.94 | $36.88 |
| Champion performance hoodie | $53.93 | $45.88 |
| Classic zip-up hoodie | $49.92 | $41.88 |
| Embroidered snapback or rope hat | $34.88 | $29.86 |
| Mesh snapback or lifestyle hat | $29.95 | $25.88 |
VIP base pricing applies on the Self-Service ($59/month) and Done-For-You ($105/month) plans. The Free plan ($0/month, 3 live products) uses a higher base price, meaning VIP sellers save $4-$11 per item compared to a free-tier shop.
What Actually Sets the Retail Price
Every vendor on Bear Grips Pro Shops sets their own retail price and keeps the difference between the base price and what a buyer pays. There is no fixed retail rule, but most class shops and gift sellers land in a predictable range:
- Tees. $26-$32 retail, an $8-$12 markup over VIP base.
- Hoodies. $46-$58 retail, a $9-$16 markup over VIP base.
- Hats. $28-$34 retail, a $4-$8 markup over VIP base.
The default recommended profit across the platform is $10 per item, though most sellers charge more on hoodies since buyers already expect a higher price point.
Bear Grips Pro Shops: Custom Apparel for Your Team. No Minimums. Free Shipping.Why Gown and Regalia Pricing Is a Separate Question
Academic gowns, hoods, and stoles are handled through each school's bookstore, a regalia rental company, or the program office, not through a print-on-demand apparel shop. Pricing on those items depends heavily on the school, the degree level, and whether the piece is rented or purchased, so there is no single national price to quote. If a search led you here looking for gown pricing specifically, the apparel your class actually controls, and prices for from top to bottom, is the custom shirt, hoodie, or hat the class picks together. See our breakdown on what gown colors and regalia terms mean if that is the piece you are trying to understand.
Bundling Pieces to Lower the Per-Piece Cost for a Class
Committees that plan to sell more than one piece per student (a tee plus a hat, or a tee plus a hoodie) often bundle the pricing rather than charging item by item. A tee-plus-hat bundle priced at $48 total, for example, reads as a better deal than $30 plus $22 separately even though the underlying VIP base cost is the same. See our full merch lineup guide for bundle combinations that work well together.
See Current Pricing on Every Piece
Tees from $19.88, hoodies from $36.88, hats from $25.86 VIP base. No minimum order.
Start FreeFrequently Asked Questions
How much does a custom graduation shirt cost to order?
VIP base pricing starts at $19.88 for a cotton tee. Retail price depends on what the seller charges, typically $26-$32 for a tee.
Why is there no listed price for a graduation gown?
Gowns and regalia are supplied through each school's own bookstore or a regalia rental company, not through a custom apparel print vendor, so pricing varies by school and is not something a print platform sets.
Is VIP pricing actually cheaper than the free plan?
Yes. VIP base prices run $4-$11 lower per item than the free-tier base price across the catalog, which is why most active class shops upgrade once order volume picks up.
Do hoodies always cost more than tees?
Yes, hoodies run $34.88-$45.88 VIP base depending on the style, compared to $19.88-$25.88 for tees, reflecting the heavier fabric and construction.
