nashville explored_logo
Home » Recent posts » The Best Screen Printers in Nashville with Great Turnaround Times

The Best Screen Printers in Nashville with Great Turnaround Times

best-screen-printers-nashville-banner
We extensively test and research all services we review. Here's why you can trust us.

Ink Quality: We checked what kinds of inks and presses each shop uses for their projects. Shops using water-based inks scored higher because they produce a softer feel on fabrics.

Turnaround Time: A great shop needs to hit deadlines without charging massive rush fees. We prioritized printers who offer reliable production schedules for both small and bulk jobs.

Customer Service: We looked at how these businesses handle communication and design revisions during the order process. Finding a shop that actively helps you refine your artwork saves you major headaches.

Quantity: Not everyone needs hundreds of shirts at once. We factored in minimum order requirements so individuals and large businesses can both find suitable printing partners.

Finding the best screen printers in Nashville changes everything for your custom merch game. You might need branded uniforms for your cafe. Or maybe you’re an event planner who wants cool swag for a massive festival. Getting high-quality apparel fast and affordably matters. 

I spent time digging through local print shops to figure out who actually delivers great results. A lot of places overpromise on turnaround times or use cheap inks that peel after one wash. We are cutting past the marketing hype to find shops that produce comfortable shirts your team actually wants to wear.

How Much Does Screen Printing Cost in Nashville?

Screen printing services in Nashville generally range from $15 to over $30 per garment for small batches, with costs dropping significantly for bulk orders.

Order TypeEstimated Cost
Small Orders (Under 50)$15 – $30+ per garment
Bulk Orders (50+ units)Discounted rate based on volume
Setup Fees$15 – $30 per screen/color
Graphic Design Help$50 per hour

1. Friendly Arctic Printing and Design

friendly-arctic-printing-and-design-logo

Website: https://friendlyarctic.com/

Address: 2922 Brick Church Pike Nashville, TN 37207

Contact: (615) 357-0158

Schedule: Monday to Friday, 9 AM–5 PM

Friendly Arctic is a massive studio dedicated exclusively to eco-friendly water-based screen printing. This artist-run shop ditches rough plastisol inks for greener options that give shirts a crazy soft feel. 

I ordered a batch of custom tote bags from them last year. The print soaked right into the fabric beautifully and never cracked after multiple washes. 

They specialize in apparel and high-end flatstock posters using Direct to Film transfer capabilities for incredible detail. 

You also get an in-house creative team to help polish your raw designs. This ensures your technical execution perfectly aligns with your original creative vision. 

The main downside is their incredibly high barrier to entry. They require a strict fifty-piece minimum order per design.

Standard production turnaround takes two full weeks. You will end up paying hefty rush fees of up to fifty percent for any quick jobs.

Pros

  • Uses eco-friendly water-based inks
  • Deep ties to the local community
  • In-house creative design team
  • Prints high-end flatstock posters

Cons

  • 50-piece minimum order required
  • Turnarounds take two full weeks

Friendly Arctic Printing has helped us with company shirts twice, and they’ve done an amazing job both times. The quality is top-notch, much better than other companies I’ve used, and they’re always responsive and great to work with!

I used Friendly Arctic for the most recent batch of shirts for my business. Hands down the best quality shirts we’ve had. The customer service is quick to respond and professional. Highly recommend this company to all other business owners.

2. Wildfire Merch – Nashville Screen Printing

wildfire-merch-nashville-screen-printing-logo

Website: https://www.wildfiremerch.com/

Address: 14825 Lebanon Rd, Old Hickory, TN 37138

Contact: 615-232-4041 | [email protected]

Schedule: Monday to Friday, 9 AM–5 PM

Wildfire Merch focuses heavily on retail-quality apparel using water-based inks for a highly breathable print. They act as a boutique consultant to help you secure premium garments from top brands. This shop skips cheap blanks in favor of creating heavyweight streetwear fits that people actually want to wear.

They manage both screen printing and embroidery entirely under one roof. This integrated approach ensures your thread colors match your ink perfectly. 

You can even request niche techniques like oversized printing and 3D puff embroidery. These specific details elevate standard promotional gear into premium merchandise. 

However, their physical shop sits out in Old Hickory on Lebanon Road. That location makes for a frustrating drive if you live near downtown Nashville. You will spend at least forty minutes driving each way just to view physical samples. 

Their premium boutique approach also means higher price tags for budget-conscious buyers.

Pros

  • Soft prints using water-based inks
  • Access to premium retail garments
  • Offers 3D puff embroidery
  • Handles large, oversized printing

Cons

  • Located far from downtown Nashville
  • Premium pricing not suitable for tight budgets

We worked with Julie on T-shirts for our new business. We were indecisive over what we wanted but she went above and beyond to help us get our staff what was needed. From one small business to another.. we appreciate you, Wildfire!

Cedar City House of Print went above and beyond my expectations. The shirts they helped me create were the cherry on top of the perfect bachelorette party weekend. Not only did they offer amazing prices for the services they provide, but Julie spent so much extra time perfecting my designs. I created these shirt designs on photoshop and left them pretty pixelated, Julie did extra work and went through each design making sure they’d come out perfectly on the shirts — and they did, I mean look at them!! Already directing friends and family their way, they will not disappoint!

3. Orbital Ink

orbital-ink-logo

Website: http://orbital.ink/

Address: 927 Rep. John Lewis Way S, Nashville, TN 37203

Contact: 6158064460

Schedule: Monday to Friday, 10 AM–5 PM (By appointment only)

Orbital Ink prioritizes ethically sourced materials to provide sustainable merchandise solutions for large operations. They offer an end-to-end ecosystem that handles everything from creative direction to global fulfillment. 

Many local event planners rely on them to manage on-site logistics and merchandise sales for massive live festivals. They tailor specific workflows for the entertainment industry and global enterprise tech companies. They even assist digital brands by putting together kitted mailers and custom e-commerce stores. 

To ensure quality, they print everything in-house using premium water-based inks for a highly durable finish. 

Unfortunately, this massive agency model limits accessibility for small retail buyers. They operate purely by appointment and heavily target global enterprises. You cannot simply walk in to order a single custom t-shirt. 

You will also face a much higher entry price point compared to standard local print shops.

Pros

  • Focuses on ethically sourced garments
  • Manages on-site festival logistics
  • Provides custom e-commerce fulfillment
  • Uses durable water-based inks

Cons

  • Operates by appointment only
  • High entry price point for services

Orbital has great communication and even better products! Patrick delivers every time. If you have a vision for merch for your company or small business, he can absolutely make it happen. Highly recommend!

If you want it a little more casual, extra hype, or more professional, I can tweak it in seconds.

I would never use anyone else for swag! Patrick is absolutely fabulous and his team is super responsive and kind. My clients and my friends love all of my swag and he makes my brand look so good thanks to him.

4. Arena Imprints

arena-imprints-logo

Website: http://www.arenaimprints.com/

Address: 1872 Air Lane Dr. Nashville, TN 37210

Contact: 615.259.4643 | [email protected]

Schedule: Monday to Thursday, 6 AM–4:30 PM

Arena Imprints handles your entire project lifecycle entirely in-house using five automated presses. They give you strict quality control over graphic design and screen printing. 

A friend of mine ordered custom tour merch through them recently. Their dedicated logistics team caught a major shipping error before it ever became a problem. 

They hold deep roots in the entertainment industry and easily manage high-volume orders for touring artists. This localized expertise makes them a strong partner for major music acts. 

You can also request custom hangtags and relabeling to elevate your personal brand.

That said, you should prepare for a few scheduling hurdles before you order. The facility only operates Monday through Thursday, closing for three days every week. This strict schedule hurts clients needing weekend support for major events. 

They also require full upfront payment from all first-time customers before starting any actual production.

Pros

  • Keeps all production steps in-house
  • Offers custom clothing tag relabeling
  • Local pickup option available
  • Handles major high-volume orders

Cons

  • Closed Friday through Sunday
  • Requires full upfront payment

We order our cheer camp shirts and 4-H Junior camp shirts through Arena and they are great. They always work with me on the art to get it exactly the way I want it. The shirts are always well done and completed in a timely manner. I’ve, also, ordered tumblers and fidget spinners with a printed logo on them through Arena!

They are a great company to work with. Customer Service is second to none. They helped with my art, answered any questions in a timely manner and the final product was awesome! Would definitely reccomment.

5. Big Frog Custom T-Shirts & More

big-frog-custom-t-shirts-more-logo

Website: http://www.bigfrog.com/greenhills

Address: 2016 Glen Echo Rd. Nashville, Tennessee 37215

Contact: 615-915-2373 | [email protected]

Schedule: Monday to Friday, 9 AM–5:30 PM

Big Frog drops the standard setup fees to offer zero minimum orders using Direct-to-Garment printing. You can easily order just a single shirt or scale up to massive bulk purchases. They offer a free fifteen-minute consultation with an in-house designer to fix up your artwork.

If you need shirts quickly, they provide a blazing fast 24-hour turnaround on all in-stock garments. 

Their crew handles a huge variety of decorating methods, including vinyl and digital prints. This versatility saves you time if a specific fabric cannot handle standard ink.

Unfortunately, the lack of weekend hours does create a tight window for working professionals to visit the store. They remain closed on both Saturdays and Sundays. 

Also, while digital prints have no minimums, traditional screen printing still carries strict order requirements here. You will absolutely need to buy in bulk if you want that classic screen-printed texture. You cannot simply grab one or two traditional screen-printed shirts.

Pros

  • Zero minimums for digital printing
  • Fast 24-hour turnaround on stock
  • Free professional design consultations
  • Never charges standard setup fees

Cons

  • Closed on Saturdays and Sundays
  • Screen printing needs bulk orders

LOVE Big Frog! I needed a small run of tank tops as a gift for my workout buddies. John made the whole experience effortless and easy! I will definitely use Big Frog again in the future!

Big Frog was very willing to customize my own apparel. Callum greeted me immediately when I walked in and affirmed, without hesitation, that he could help me. He took the time to design and show me the proposed printing and explained the process going forward. I now have the finished product and am so excited to sport it around future wrestling events! Thank you, Callum and Big Frog!!