The advent and subsequent rise of e-commerce has revolutionized various industries, including sportswear. Among the diverse array of products available, rash guards, also known as rash vests or rashies, have seen a significant increase in demand. A rash guard is a type of athletic shirt made of spandex, nylon, or polyester. Initially designed for surfers to protect their skin from the abrasive effects of their boards and the sun, rash guards are now widely utilized across several sports and recreational activities, thanks to their versatility and protective qualities.
This burgeoning interest in rash guards is validated by a new market report from Allied Market Research. According to their study, the rash guard market size was valued at $9.1 billion in 2021 and is projected to reach $12.7 billion by 2031, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.4% from 2022 to 2031.
Given the market’s potential, many businesses are exploring opportunities in the custom rash guard sector. And, one way to capitalize on this growth is by partnering with a reliable print-on-demand supplier that is capable of delivering high-quality personalized products that meet the diverse needs of customers.
This blog post will critically evaluate the top 4 providers in the niche, offering an insightful guide to help you make informed business decisions.
Best Print-On-Demand Suppliers Of Custom Rash Guards
Here’re the 4 best custom rash guard print-on-demand companies.
1. Printful
Printful is the best print-on-demand company on the internet to purchase high-quality all-over-print rash guards for men, women, and kids.
Besides, it also carries t-shirts, polos, crop tops, hoodies, denim jackets, dresses, joggers, leggings, shorts, robes, swimwear, street apparel, activewear, underwear, tie-dye clothing, plus-size clothes, luxury garments, aprons, glassware, mugs, tumblers, pillows, blankets, flags, mousepads, phone cases, notebooks, yoga mats, keychains, bags, hats, shoes, socks, art prints, pet supplies, candles, etc.
It has a network of fulfillment centers across the United States, Canada, Europe, United Kingdom, and associated facilities in Japan and Australia. This enables the company to lower shipping costs while still maintaining good shipping times.
One big benefit when using Printful is its diverse branded dropshipping solutions, including personalized packing slips, packaging inserts (flyers, coupons, business cards, stickers, postcards, and hand-written thank-you notes), inside/outside labels, sleeve printing, custom packaging, and white-label tracking pages.
Pros
- Blind dropshipping internationally within 20 business days via USPS, FedEx, DPD, and DHL.
- Orders of $500+ get free shipping.
- Up to 30% off for bulk purchasing and 5%-9% monthly discounts for merchants who reach specific sales thresholds.
- 4-week return & refund policy.
- Warehousing & fulfillment solutions that help stock and distribute your products efficiently anywhere in the world.
- Powerful design maker with 3,000+ free clipart graphics, 250+ fonts, and 230+ colors and patterns.
- Additional services, including graphic design, photography, video, and store setup.
- Accept payments via PayPal, credit cards, and Printful Wallet.
- Integration with Shopify, WooCommerce, Ecwid, Wix, PrestaShop, BigCommerce, Squarespace, Webflow, Square, Big Cartel, Weebly, Magento, 3dcart, Storenvy, Etsy, eBay, Amazon, Wish, and TikTok Shop.
Cons
- Up to 5 business days to process orders.
Pricing
- Rash Guards: From $35.25.
- Shipping Costs: Starting from $3.99 to the US, $6.99 to Canada, $4.39 to the UK, $4.59 to the EU, and $11.99 to Asia.
- Dropshipping Subscription Fees: Start dropshipping for free. However, you can upgrade to the $9/month Plus plan to access advanced product mockups and the background removal tool. The $49/month Pro plan will let you access exclusive clipart graphics, premium images at no extra cost, and other robust features.
Best For
Printful is the most well-rounded platform to help you start a profitable rash guard print-on-demand store. It’s fast, reliable, and offers great quality products. Furthermore, you have the ability to personalize shipment packages which improves your customers’ unboxing experience and satisfaction.
2. Merchize
Merchize carries print-on-demand sublimation short-sleeve/long-sleeve rash guards.
The company offers a prebuilt dropshipping store solution that allows you to effortlessly manage orders across multiple marketplaces and automatically sync, fulfill, and track shipments.
Merchize owns a 48,500-sqft manufacturing facility in Vietnam with an average production capacity of 200K orders/month.
Pros
- Global shipping within 20 days.
- SEO-optimized & fast pre-made storefronts with SSL certificates, powerful marketing tools, 2-day payouts, and customer support handling.
- 20% discounts for sample products.
- Tier discounts based on your monthly sales.
- 60-day return & refund policy.
- Custom labels, hang tags, inserts, and personalized packaging.
- FBA-fulfillment services.
- Pay with PayPal, Stripe, and Payoneer.
- Integrate with Shopify, WooCommerce, Etsy, Amazon, eBay, and Google Shopping.
Cons
- Might need up to 10 days to produce items.
Pricing
- Rash Guards: From $16.
- Shipping Costs: Free to the USA, $3.49 to the EU, and $8.49 to the rest of the world.
- Dropshipping Subscription Fees: Free with limited features. Paid plans start from $79 to access more advanced tools like store analytics, upsell & cross-sell functionalities, unlimited bandwidth & storage, SEO optimization, etc.
Best For
If you’re interested in opening your own online print-on-demand storefront with minimal setup effort, try Merchize.
3. DropshipCN
DropshipCN is a cheap print-on-demand supplier of custom men’s & women’s rash guards.
Having been around for 10 years, DropshipCN now owns 3 factories in China with over 150 employees to cater to dropshipping shops of all sizes.
Apart from rash guards, the company also provides personalized button-down shirts, jumpsuits, jackets, pajamas, bandanas, scarves, bucket hats, gym bags, wallets, pin buttons, playing cards, tarot cards, bumper stickers, kitchenware, tapestries, bath curtains, umbrellas, plush toys, Mother’s Day gifts, ornaments, puzzles, stationery, doormats, calendars, jewelry, etc.
Pros
- Ship globally within 30 days via FedEx, Standard Airmail, and Flat Rate Airmail.
- Bulk print-on-demand discounts.
- 30-day exchange polity.
- Branding services (labels, hang tags, and dust bags).
- Pay with PayPal, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, and other major credit cards.
- Support integration with Shopify.
Cons
- Up to 5 days to print orders.
- Products might not be of high quality.
Pricing
- Rash Guards: From $16.63.
- Shipping Costs: Free.
- Dropshipping Subscription Fees: Free to start dropshipping. However, you can upgrade to the $19.99/month Enterprise plan to enjoy 20% discounts on all items and access branding features.
Best For
DropshipCN is a good option to increase your profit margins.
4. Merchiful
Merchiful is a custom rash guard print-on-demand dropshipping website based in the Philippines.
It was born in 2019 and since then has been dedicated to helping independent artists and creators create and sell their own brand of merch online.
Pros
- Ship globally within 1-3 weeks.
- Pay via PayPal and major credit cards.
- Integration with Shopify and WooCommerce.
Cons
- 3-5 business days to fulfill orders.
- No branding options.
Pricing
- Rash Guards: From $31.99.
- Shipping Costs: Free.
- Dropshipping Subscription Fees: It’s free to start a dropshipping side hustle with Merchiful. You can also subscribe to the $9.95/month to get up to 20% discounts on all products.
Best For
Use Merchiful to expand your store’s product line.
Conclusion
These suppliers are carefully chosen based on various criteria, including product range, product quality, processing times, shipping speed, shipping rates, and payment methods.
In summary, if you’re looking for an all-in-one rash guard print-on-demand service, go with Printful.
For anyone finding a cheap provider, check out Merchize and DropshipCN.
You can also use Merchiful to expand your product offerings or serve your customers faster.
The rightful owner of The Clever Business. I review & curate the leading suppliers so you don't waste time scouring the internet.
