How much does corporate merch actually cost in Italy?
Honest 2026 pricing by category, MOQ and print method — with the hidden costs (set-up, sampling, IVA 22%, shipping) that quotes often hide.
The honest unit-cost ranges in 2026
Public price sheets are misleading because they quote unit cost in isolation. Real landed cost has four moving parts: blank substrate + decoration + set-up + logistics + IVA 22%. A €4.20 screen-printed tee at 100 units becomes €6.10 landed once you add €120 set-up, sample fees and domestic shipping. At 500 units the same tee is €3.80 landed — the set-up is amortised. MOQ is the single biggest cost lever.
By category, expect: T-shirts €4–9, hoodies €15–32, caps €6–14, tote bags €3–7, mugs €4–9, notebooks €5–11, bottles €7–18, power banks €11–28, USB drives €5–14. These are 250-unit indicative ranges including 1-colour decoration. Premium substrates and multi-colour prints push prices 30–80% higher.
What the quote should always include
A clean quote breaks out: blank cost, decoration cost (per colour, per position), set-up / screen / plate fee, strike-off / pre-production sample, packaging (polybag default, branded extra), domestic shipping, and IVA 22%. Beware quotes that bundle everything into one line — they hide a 10–25% margin on set-up and shipping.
Lead time also has a cost: rush jobs add 15–35% to unit price. A standard 14–18 working-day timeline from artwork sign-off costs nothing extra; a 7-day rush typically costs €0.50–€2.00 per unit on top.
Italy-specific tax and logistics
IVA 22% is the local sales tax and is added on every B2B invoice routed through SdI (Sistema di Interscambio) under Agenzia delle Entrate. For VAT-registered Italy clients, IVA 22% is recoverable. Domestic shipping from Milano runs €4–12 per parcel via BRT / SDA / DHL Express Italia. Multi-address fulfilment across Italy (one parcel per employee home) adds €3–6 per address handling. For orders >€5,000, expect 5–8% net-30 payment terms; for first-time orders, 50% deposit is standard.
FAQ
What's the cheapest way to lower unit cost?
Raise quantity — every doubling drops unit cost 10–22% on most categories.
How much is a strike-off?
€35–80 per SKU/colour, credited against the order if you proceed.
Are set-up fees negotiable?
For repeat clients, yes — typically waived after 3 orders with the same artwork.
What does IVA 22% apply to?
The full invoice including shipping and set-up; recoverable for VAT-registered B2B buyers.
Is there a minimum order value?
Most categories have a 50–100 unit MOQ; below that, set-ups dominate and unit cost doubles.