Custom shirt demand follows the calendar: Valentine's and spring sports early in the year, graduation and reunions in late spring, July 4th and camps in summer, back to school and football in fall, then Halloween and the holidays. Design about two months ahead and have transfers in hand two weeks before you start selling.
How to use this calendar
Each month lists what customers are ordering for, not when they first think about it. Most people order two to six weeks before the event, so your designs, mockups and listings need to be ready earlier.
The month-by-month calendar
| Month | What's selling | Get ready by |
|---|---|---|
| January | Valentine's Day, winter leagues, New Year fitness and gym merch | December |
| February | Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day, spring sports | January |
| March | St. Patrick's Day, spring break, spring sports, Easter | February |
| April | Easter, prom, field days, spring tournaments, 5Ks | March |
| May | Mother's Day, graduation, end-of-year school shirts, Memorial Day | April |
| June | Father's Day, family reunions, summer camps, Juneteenth, weddings | May |
| July | Fourth of July, reunions, vacations, summer leagues | June |
| August | Back to school, fall sports, fantasy football, teacher shirts | July |
| September | Football, homecoming, fall festivals, school spirit wear | August |
| October | Halloween, breast cancer awareness events, homecoming | September |
| November | Thanksgiving, holiday gifts, company holiday swag | October |
| December | Christmas, family shirts, ugly sweaters, office parties | November |
Local events matter as much as national ones. Our city pages, like Houston and Chicago, show each city's busy months.
How far ahead to plan
- 8 weeks out: finish designs and order samples.
- 6 weeks out: photos and listings live, pre-orders open.
- 3–4 weeks out: order transfers for your first run.
- 2 weeks out: press and ship.
Unpressed DTF transfers keep 6 to 12 months stored flat in a sealed bag, somewhere cool and dry, so you can order seasonal stock early and press as orders come in.
The shops that win December started in October.
For print shops
Use slow months (often January and late summer) to reach out to schools, leagues and businesses for their busy seasons. Email booster clubs in July for fall sports, churches in February for VBS and summer camps, and companies in September for holiday swag. Keep blanks and transfers for your most common jobs on hand, so rush orders are a pressing job, not a production job.
For clothing brands
Plan two or three seasonal drops a year around your audience's calendar. A fishing brand's year looks different from a college town brand's. Test a seasonal design in small numbers, then reorder the winners. DTF has no minimums, so a small test run doesn't lock up cash. More in our guide to starting a clothing brand.
Get your seasonal designs on one sheet before the rush.
Build a gang sheetSeasonal planning questions
What is the busiest season for t-shirt printing?
For most shops, spring (sports, graduation, events) and fall (back to school, football, holidays) are busiest. December is busy for holiday gifts and parties.
When should I start making holiday designs?
Start designing holiday shirts in late summer or early fall. Customers start shopping before the holiday, and you need time for samples and photos.
What sells best in summer?
Family reunions, vacations, camps, July 4th, summer leagues and fundraisers are big summer sellers.
How far ahead should I order for a seasonal drop?
Have transfers in hand at least two weeks before you want to start selling, more for big holiday drops. Transfers keep 6–12 months stored flat, so you can order early.