Rush custom t-shirts in Reno: what is realistic
We do not publish a rush fee because we do not want to sell you a date we cannot hit. Standard turnaround is 28 days from proof approval. Rush is quoted per job after we check the blank stock at SanMar's Reno warehouse and the press calendar. Here is how that goes and what you can do to help.
Where the 28 days go
| Step | Typical time | Who controls it |
|---|---|---|
| Quote | Same business day | Us |
| Artwork and proof | 1-3 days, longer if art needs work | Both |
| Proof approval | Until you say yes | You |
| Blanks from SanMar Reno | Usually next business day | Supplier stock |
| Screens, print, cure, count | In the production queue | Us |
| Ship ground to Reno/Sparks, or pickup in Yerington | About 1-2 days; pickup by appointment | Carrier / you |
The 28 days is a promise that covers a full production queue and a blank that is in stock. Most orders finish sooner. We do not promise sooner unless we have looked.
How a rush gets quoted
- You put the need-by date on the quote form.
- We check whether the blank, in your sizes and color, is at SanMar Reno right now. If it is not, the next closest warehouse adds transit days and the rush may not be possible.
- We look at the press and embroidery calendar for the week.
- We quote a rush price or tell you plainly that we cannot make the date. Both answers come the same business day.
What makes a rush possible
- Artwork that is ready: vector, one or two ink colors, no revisions.
- A common blank in a common color: a black or white PC61 is almost always in Reno stock; a specific heather in 3XL may not be.
- Proof approval within hours, not days.
- A single location print. A front-and-back job is two setups.
- Shipping to a Reno/Sparks address or picking up in Yerington by appointment; no cross-country transit.
What makes a rush impossible
- Out-of-stock blanks. We cannot print what has not arrived.
- Art that needs to be redrawn.
- Embroidery on a new logo: digitizing is a standard 2-day step before anything stitches.
- Customer-supplied shirts that have not arrived at our shop.
How to never need a rush
Send art and count 5 to 6 weeks before the event. Approve the proof the day you get it. Order a 5-10% size buffer so walk-ups do not trigger a tiny reorder. Reorders are faster than first orders because the art is separated and, for embroidery, the digitized file exists. Battle Born Clothing keeps all of it.
Questions
Can you do same-day or next-day shirts?
No. We do not offer same-day service, and we do not have a Reno location to hand shirts across a counter. Rush is quoted per job with a real date.
Is DTF faster than screen print?
Often, for small runs, because there are no screens to burn. The transfer still has to be produced by our Carson City partner and pressed. We quote the date per job.
Does pickup save time?
It saves the 1-2 days of ground transit. Pickup is at our Yerington shop by appointment.