Most programs charge $28 to $35 for a custom graduation tee and $50 to $65 for a graduation hoodie. At those retail prices on the VIP plan, you keep $8 to $15 per item. Here is how to set the right price for your program, your audience, and your annual revenue target.
Your graduation shirt margin starts with the plan you use. Here are the base prices for the most common graduation products across Free and VIP plans:
| Product | Free Plan Base | VIP Plan Base | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cotton Tee (Airlume/Bella+Canvas) | $23.93 | $19.88 | $4.05 |
| Performance Tee (Sport-Tek) | $28.88 | $23.86 | $5.02 |
| Comfort Soft Hoodie | $44.94 | $36.88 | $8.06 |
| Champion Crewneck | $49.92 | $41.88 | $8.04 |
| Youth Hoodie (Gildan) | $44.92 | $36.88 | $8.04 |
| Rope Hat (Richardson) | $34.88 | $29.86 | $5.02 |
VIP at $59/month pays for itself once you sell 15 tees (saves $4 each) or 8 hoodies (saves $8 each). Programs that run graduation events more than once per year almost always come out ahead on VIP.
Graduation shirt pricing tolerance varies by program and audience. Here are the retail ranges that sell well without leaving margin on the table:
| Program Type | Tee Retail | Hoodie Retail | Hat Retail |
|---|---|---|---|
| School program (budget-conscious) | $26-$30 | $48-$55 | $38-$42 |
| College / Greek life | $30-$36 | $55-$65 | $42-$48 |
| Fitness bootcamp | $30-$35 | $55-$65 | $40-$46 |
| Professional program completion | $32-$38 | $58-$68 | $44-$50 |
The higher end of these ranges is appropriate for professional programs and adult fitness completions where the shirt carries more perceived value as a certificate-level accomplishment marker. School programs with family income variability usually price at the lower end to maximize participation.
Bear Grips Pro Shops: Custom Apparel for Your Team. No Minimums. Free Shipping.Here is the margin math for a bootcamp graduation program running quarterly cohorts of 20 graduates:
| Product | VIP Base | Retail Price | Margin | 20 grads x 80% | 4 cohorts/yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cotton Tee | $19.88 | $32 | $12.12 | $194 | $776 |
| Hoodie | $36.88 | $55 | $18.12 | $290 | $1,160 |
| Both (mixed) | - | - | - | $290 | $1,160 |
At $12 on tees and $18 on hoodies, a program that converts 16 graduates per cohort across both products averages $256 per cohort. Four cohorts per year: $1,024 in annual graduation shirt revenue from a one-time shop setup. For more on the full revenue model see how to sell graduation shirts online.
These are the pricing decisions that cost programs money:
Pricing at base cost: Running your shop at zero margin because you want to "keep it affordable" leaves money on the table and funds nothing. Graduates expect to pay $28 to $35 for a custom ceremony tee. Charging $20 does not increase participation meaningfully; it just reduces your revenue.
Free plan when running multiple cohorts: If you run graduation events 4 or more times per year, the VIP plan at $59/month saves $4 to $8 per shirt. At 15 graduation shirts per cohort, VIP pays for itself in the first cohort alone. The Free plan is best for one-time graduation programs.
Only offering a tee: A tee and a hoodie in the same shop consistently double per-cohort revenue over a tee-only shop. Graduates who buy both spend $75 to $100 at your retail prices. The hoodie alone earns more per item than the tee.
Under-pricing versus local print shops: Local print shops charge $30 to $45 for custom screen-printed tees with a 24-piece minimum. You have better quality, no minimum, and free shipping. Pricing below $28 competes on price in a race you do not need to run.
Set your own prices. Keep the margin. Free shipping on every order.
Start FreeOn the VIP plan at typical retail prices, cotton tees yield $8 to $15 per shirt and hoodies $13 to $20. Programs that offer both products consistently earn $15 to $25 per graduate who buys both.
Free plan is best for one-time graduation programs or very small cohorts. VIP at $59/month pays for itself once you sell 10 to 15 shirts per month in savings alone. Programs with recurring graduation cycles almost always benefit from VIP.
Most programs charge $28 to $35 for a custom graduation cotton tee. Fitness programs and professional completion programs typically price at the higher end. School programs with budget-conscious families price at the lower end.
Yes. You control your retail prices and can adjust them at any time through your Pro Shop dashboard. Changing the price affects all future orders but does not impact orders already placed.
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