Screen Printing Ink Calculator
Reviewed by Hamza Gujjar, Algorithm Architect & Software Developer
Last updated: July 27, 2026Screen Printing Ink Calculator
Ordering ink for an upcoming print run? This calculator estimates total ink needed based on shirt count and print area.
Total Ink (g) = Number of Shirts x Print Area(sq in) x Ink Usage Rate(g per sq in)
Example
100 shirts, 50 sq in print area, 0.6g/sq in usage rate:
Total Ink = 100 x 50 x 0.6 = ~3,000 grams (3.00 kg)
Why Usage Rate Varies
Plastisol ink usage commonly runs around 0.5-0.7 grams per square inch per printed layer, but this varies with mesh count, squeegee pressure, and desired print thickness (a thick, opaque print on dark fabric needs more ink than a thin print on light fabric).
Multi-Color Designs Need Separate Calculations
This calculates ink for a single color layer - multi-color designs require running this same calculation separately for each individual ink color, then summing the results, since each color is applied as its own distinct print layer.