Lead time is the time from when you approve an order to when items arrive at their destination. It is not a single number — it depends on the product, the decoration, and a few other factors that are worth understanding up front.
#The rough ranges
Use these as planning guidance. Your account team confirms exact dates on every quote.
- In-stock items with simple decoration — typically 2 to 3 weeks in-hands
- Standard apparel with embroidery or screen print — typically 3 to 4 weeks
- Complex decoration (multi-location, sublimation, custom packaging) — typically 4 to 6 weeks
- Made-to-order or custom products — 6 weeks and up, depending on the item
- Overseas custom production — 8 to 12 weeks, sometimes longer
These ranges include production and shipping to your destination.
#What pushes lead time up or down
#Product type
Off-the-shelf products that we (or our partners) keep in stock move fastest. Made-to-order items — anything woven, dyed, or built specifically for you — take longer because production has to start from scratch.
#Quantity
Bigger runs take longer to produce, but the difference between 100 and 500 of a standard item is usually less than you would expect. Where quantity really matters is at the top end — runs in the thousands push timelines noticeably.
#Decoration method
Embroidery and screen print on common products run quickly. Sublimation, all-over prints, multi-location decoration, and custom packaging all add time. Engraving sits in the middle.
#Stock vs. made-to-order
If your spec needs a specific blank in a specific color and that blank is in stock, we move fast. If it has to be ordered in or made to spec, the clock starts later.
#Time of year
Lead times stretch around peak seasons — Q4 (holiday gifts), back-to-school, and big trade-show windows. If your in-hands date lands in a peak window, build in extra buffer.
#Approvals on your end
The clock pauses while we wait for you to approve the proof or the order. Quick approvals keep things on track; multi-day delays push the in-hands date back.
#Rush options
If a normal lead time will not work, ask. We can often expedite by:
- Choosing a faster product or decoration method
- Bumping the project up the production queue (rush fee applies)
- Upgrading to faster shipping at the end
The earlier we know about a tight deadline, the more options we have. See Why pricing might vary for how rush affects price.
#Plan around the in-hands date, not the order date
When you talk to your account team about a project, lead with when you need the items in your hands. We work backward from there to set the order date, the proof approval, and production. Working forward from "I want to order today" almost always leads to surprises.