Straight answers
What a live DTF station costs
Every event is quoted, but the anchors below are real. Use them to budget before you ever talk to us — then send your details for an exact number.
The variables
Five inputs move the quote
Two events with the same guest count can price differently. Here's what we ask about and why it matters — bring these answers and the quote comes back fast.
| Input | Why it changes the number |
|---|---|
| Event hours | Crew time is billed door to door. A four-hour party and a three-day expo need very different staffing plans. |
| Guest count | Drives how many presses and operators keep the wait short — one press covers roughly 60–90 garments an hour. |
| Garment mix | A Gildan Softstyle tee, a Bella+Canvas 3001, a hoodie, and a canvas tote all carry different blank costs. |
| Artwork count | More designs means more transfer production and a bigger menu — great for engagement, priced accordingly. |
| Venue logistics | Convention-center load-ins, freight windows, and union rules take more crew hours than a hotel ballroom. |
What's included
One number, no surprise add-ons
A Merch Troop quote is the whole program, not a rental fee with asterisks. Yours will itemize:
- Transfer production with overage, so the popular design doesn't sell out at hour two.
- Garments sorted by size curve, staged and restocked during the event.
- Trained operators, load-in and load-out, and venue paperwork (COIs, floor protection).
- A backup press in the truck — the line doesn't close because a machine did.
Compare that against renting a press and staffing it yourself, and the math usually favors the crew that does this every week. More questions answered here.
Get a quote
Tell us about the event once
Date, city, guest count, and what you want pressed. Merch Troop replies with a station plan, garment options, and a real number — usually within one business day.