The right custom running t-shirt is a polyester-knit sports t-shirt of 130 to 140 g/m2 that wicks sweat away instead of holding it, decorated with a transfer or screen printing. At tknp.io, expect about 6.50 euros excluding VAT at 25 units for the JHK Sport, and 8 euros for Just Cool's Cool T.
| The model | Fabric and weight | Sizes and colours | A6 DTF transfer, 25 units | 1-colour screen print, 50 units |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JHK Sport, men's and women's | polyester (recycled for men's), 130 g/m2 | S to 3XL and S to XXL, 16 and 13 colours | about 6.50 euros | about 5.50 euros |
| Pen Duick Firstee, men's and women's | quick-dry polyester, 140 g/m2, no neck label | S to 4XL and XS to XXL, 17 colours | about 7.50 euros | about 6.50 euros |
| Just Cool Cool T, men's and women's | Neoteric polyester, 140 g/m2, UPF 30+ protection (40+ for women's) | XS to 5XL and XS to 4XL, 50 and 25 colours | about 8 euros | about 7.50 euros |
Prices read on our product pages on 11 October 2026, as a guide: excluding VAT, one print position included (A6 format for the transfer), base colours and standard sizes, delivery extra. They may change.
A good race t-shirt has two lives: race day, when the club's runners can be spotted from far away, then Tuesday evening training, season after season. It is often a running club's first merch, and that second life, the one that carries its name around, depends almost entirely on the fabric.
Which t-shirt should you choose to run with your club's logo?
For running, choose a polyester-knit sports t-shirt between 130 and 140 g/m2: it is light and moves sweat out of the fabric so it can evaporate. Look at ventilation too: open-knit areas and mesh panels under the arms create the airflow that dries the t-shirt during the effort.
The three models in the table cover most of a club's needs. JHK's Man Sport T-Shirt, in recycled polyester piqué knit with raglan sleeves, is the lightest of the three. Pen Duick's Firstee Men, with a fitted cut and no neck label, won't rub the back of your neck over a half marathon. Just Cool's Cool T, with UV protection (UPF 30+), suits summer runs in full sun and comes in 50 colours. All 72 models in the range can be compared on our custom sports t-shirts page.
Cotton or polyester for a race t-shirt?
For running, polyester wins: cotton soaks up sweat and holds it, getting heavy and cold over the kilometres, while polyester moves it outwards. Cotton keeps its place for the t-shirt you pull on after the finish line, at the refreshment stand or the medal ceremony.
Our cotton or polyester comparison covers both fabrics beyond sport.
How much does a custom running t-shirt cost?
A custom running t-shirt costs about 6.50 euros excluding VAT at 25 units with a DTF transfer logo on the JHK Sport, and about 5.50 euros each for a run of 50 screen-printed in one colour. The price drops further at 100: around 4.50 euros in screen printing on the same model.
For a club, two settings weigh on the bill: the club t-shirt in two colours counts as a single run for the price tier, whereas the men's and women's versions are each priced on their own quantity. The largest sizes and a few colours cost slightly more from the brand: the product page adds that surcharge as soon as you select them. Our guide to custom t-shirts for your company details these tiers on cotton t-shirts.
Which decoration works on a polyester sports t-shirt?
On a light sports t-shirt, sublimation gives the best result: the ink enters the fibre with no thickness at all, and the design can cover the whole t-shirt. It is quoted on request from 10 units, with an answer within 24 working hours, and only works on light polyester. Our article on textile sublimation explains the process.
On a dark t-shirt, use a DTF transfer designed for polyester, or screen printing once the run gets bigger: on the JHK Sport, the transfer wins as long as the run stays under 50 units; at 100, screen printing comes to about 4.50 euros, against 5 euros for the transfer. Avoid direct-to-garment printing, designed for cotton, which does not grip synthetic fibre. Embroidery remains possible in a small format, with a backing under the fabric, but we keep it for the club's sweatshirt or jacket.
Why does a white logo turn pink on a red t-shirt?
On a strongly coloured polyester, the heat of the press can draw the fabric's dye up into the print: that is what turns a white logo pink on a red t-shirt. This is why the transfer designed for polyester carries an anti-migration barrier, a blocking ink or film that keeps white truly white.
How many t-shirts should you order, and when?
Each reference is ordered in at least 10 units, mixing sizes and colours; the men's and women's versions of a t-shirt are two references. For a race, start from the number of entrants or club members, then add a margin for volunteers and last-minute sizes.
As for timing, it all depends on who pays. When the club orders directly, the price grid corresponds to two weeks of production; add delivery, with the estimated date shown in the basket, and the time to approve the design and gather sizes. When each runner pays for their t-shirt on the Store, allow four to six weeks in total, pre-sale included. If the race is still far off, four weeks of production lower the price by 5%; one week of production costs 10% more.
For a corporate race, where the employer equips its runners, our guide to custom t-shirts for your company helps choose the rest of the team outfit.
Women's race t-shirts, priced like the men's
The JHK Sport, the Pen Duick Firstee and the Just Cool Cool T each have a women's version, priced exactly like the men's one: JHK's Lady Sport T-Shirt, fitted from S to XXL, Pen Duick's Firstee Women, from XS to XXL, and Just Cool's Women's Cool T, from XS to 4XL. A runner stuck in an oversized men's t-shirt won't wear it again.
For runners who want a recycled fabric, the men's JHK Sport is 100% recycled polyester; our article on recycled polyester explains what that changes.
Where should the logo go when you race with a bib?
Put the club logo on the chest and the club or race name large on the back: on race day, the bib covers the stomach and lower chest. One design works on two colours: navy on Just Cool's Cool T in cream (Vanilla), cream on the same t-shirt in navy (Oxford Navy), and the whole club runs under a single logo. Product page prices include a single print position, in A6 format for the transfer: a large design on the back or a partner logo on the sleeve is priced on top. For the design size on the chest and back, see our guide to logo placement.
The club t-shirt, reserved and paid for by each runner
On the tknp.io Store, the club opens a pre-sale for its race t-shirt: each runner picks their size and pays online, and the club pays nothing upfront. The t-shirts are delivered roughly three weeks after the pre-sale closes, each in a bag labelled with the runner's name, ready to hand out at bib collection. Opening a Store is free; our guide to a sports club's online shop covers the pre-sale, prices and the club's kitty.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a custom running t-shirt cost?
At tknp.io, expect about 6.50 euros excluding VAT at 25 units for a JHK Sport with a transfer logo, 7.50 euros for a Pen Duick Firstee and 8 euros for a Just Cool Cool T. Screen-printed in one colour, 50 JHK Sport t-shirts come to about 5.50 euros each.
Should a running t-shirt be cotton or polyester?
Polyester. Cotton absorbs sweat and holds it, while polyester wicks it away so it can evaporate, keeping the runner dry. Cotton remains pleasant for the after-race t-shirt.
How long before the race should you order your t-shirts?
When the club orders directly, allow two weeks of production at the grid price, plus delivery and the time to gather sizes. If each runner pays for their own t-shirt through a pre-sale opened on the tknp.io Store, plan on four to six weeks overall. One week of production costs 10% more, four weeks 5% less.
Can you embroider a running t-shirt?
It is possible in a small format, with a backing under the fabric, but it isn't our advice on a 130 to 140 g/m2 sports knit. For a race t-shirt, choose a transfer, screen printing or sublimation, and keep embroidery for the club sweatshirt.
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