Overview
A screen printing company decorates t-shirts, hoodies, uniforms, tote bags, and promotional goods, pushing ink through mesh screens and curing the prints in conveyor dryers. Much of the work is done on customer-supplied garments ordered for teams, businesses, and events, so blank goods owned by clients pass through the shop in volume. Plastisol and water-based inks, screen-reclaiming chemicals, and high-heat dryers shape the day-to-day exposures, while reproducing logos and artwork supplied by customers can draw the shop into trademark or copyright disputes. Insurance for a screen printer should reflect the customer goods in its care, the curing and chemical hazards, and the liability tied to printing artwork on apparel.
Part of our media, publishing & communications insurance guidance.
Risk profile
Screen printing combines a handling-intensive workflow with chemical and heat exposures. The shop routinely holds large quantities of customer-owned blank garments staged for printing, so a fire, water loss, or misprint can ruin goods the business does not own. Conveyor dryers run hot and continuously, raising fire risk near racks of shirts and flammable inks, while screen-reclaiming solvents and emulsions add chemical handling and disposal concerns. Reproducing logos, team marks, and licensed characters supplied by customers can expose the shop to infringement claims if the customer lacked rights. Manual and automatic presses and dryers create repetitive-motion and burn injuries, and a botched run on a deadline order, such as event shirts, leaves little time to reprint.
Common risks
Damage to customer-supplied garments
Blank apparel owned by clients is staged and printed in volume, so fire, water, or a misprint can destroy goods the shop does not own and trigger claims.
Misprinted or mis-sized orders
Wrong colors, placement, or sizes on a team or event order can require replacing customer garments and reprinting on a tight deadline.
Trademark and copyright disputes
Printing logos, team marks, or characters supplied by customers can draw the shop into infringement claims if the customer lacked the rights.
Dryer heat and fire exposure
Conveyor curing dryers run hot near racks of garments and flammable inks, creating a meaningful fire hazard in the print area.
Chemical handling and reclaiming
Screen-reclaiming solvents, emulsions, and inks create chemical exposure and disposal concerns during cleaning and production.
Press operator injuries
Manual and automatic presses and dryers expose workers to pinch, repetitive-motion, and burn injuries during production.
Recommended coverages
Coverages commonly relevant to screen printing company operations. Not every business needs the same policies.
Core Coverage
Operational Coverage
Why tailored insurance matters
Screen printers carry an exposure most generic policies underplay: piles of customer-owned blank garments that the shop is responsible for while they are on site. Add curing-dryer fire risk, chemical handling, and the chance of an infringement claim over supplied artwork, and a property-only policy can leave real gaps. Coverage should weigh the value of client goods on hand, the heat and chemical profile, and the kinds of artwork printed. Coverage availability depends on underwriting and the operation's controls, and terms depend on the specific policy, endorsements, exclusions, and facts; not every print shop needs the same policies.
Hypothetical claim examples
Misprint on a customer's team order
A color and placement error ruins a customer's supplied jerseys before an event. An inland marine or bailee policy may respond to the value of the garments, subject to policy terms and the facts.
Infringement claim over a printed logo
A rights holder claims a printed design infringes its mark after the customer supplied the art. Liability terms may respond depending on the specific policy, endorsements, and exclusions.
Dryer fire among garment racks
A conveyor dryer malfunction ignites nearby shirts and damages the print area. Property coverage may help with the damage, depending on policy terms and deductibles.
Hypothetical scenarios for illustration only. Coverage depends on the specific policy, endorsements, exclusions, and facts of each claim.
What affects insurance cost
- Value of customer garments typically on hand
- Press and dryer count and equipment values
- Annual sales and order turnaround
- Types of artwork and licensing handled
- Chemical storage and fire controls
- Production payroll and staffing
How much does it cost?
There is no single price for screen printing company insurance — it depends on which of these coverages you carry and the specifics of your business. As a rough guide, here are general national averages for the coverages this business commonly needs.
- $300–$1,000 per year for many small businesses
- $500–$1,500 per year for many small businesses
- $1,000–$3,000 per year, depending heavily on property value and location
- $500–$1,500 per year, often bundled with general liability
- $1,000–$3,000 per year for many small businesses
- $500–$3,000 per year, driven largely by payroll and job class codes
- $200–$800 per year, often added to a property policy
These are general national averages shown for comparison only — not a quote. Actual premiums vary widely with underwriting and depend on the factors above and the specifics of your business, including size, revenue, location, claims history, and the limits you choose. See how we estimate costs.
Coverage considerations
- Set bailee limits to peak customer garment value
- Review liability terms for artwork infringement
- Assess fire controls around curing dryers
- Confirm product terms for ink and finish defects
Common underwriting considerations
When insurers review a screen printing company business, they commonly evaluate factors like these. This is educational information — nothing here is collected or submitted.
- Content produced and published, and the review processes behind it
- Annual revenue and the mix of client work versus owned properties
- Defamation, copyright, and privacy claim history
- Contracts with contributors, freelancers, and licensors
- Data collected from audiences and subscribers
- Production activities — sets, locations, drones, and equipment
Common contractual insurance requirements
Contracts, leases, and licenses in this industry commonly impose insurance requirements such as these. Always review the specific wording in your own agreements.
- Client and network agreements commonly require errors-and-omissions (media liability) coverage
- Distribution and licensing deals frequently set minimum E&O limits before release
- Location and studio agreements require liability coverage with owners as additional insureds
- Production lenders and completion guarantors require production insurance
- Advertising contracts often include indemnification wording backed by insurance
Common coverage mistakes
Mistakes businesses in this industry commonly make when arranging coverage — worth reviewing before you buy or renew.
- Assuming general liability covers defamation, copyright, or privacy claims — those need media E&O
- Missing coverage for rented production equipment and props
- Overlooking cyber exposure from subscriber and audience data
- Failing to maintain claims-made E&O continuity when switching carriers
- Leaving freelancer and contributor liability unaddressed in contracts
Frequently asked questions
Are customer-supplied shirts covered while in my shop?
Inland marine or bailee coverage may help address the value of client garments in your care during staging and printing, subject to policy terms and limits.
What if I print artwork that turns out to infringe a trademark?
Liability coverage may respond to certain infringement claims arising from printed designs, depending on the specific policy, endorsements, and exclusions; obtaining rights confirmations helps.
Is my conveyor dryer a fire risk underwriters care about?
Yes. Dryers near garments and flammable inks raise fire exposure, so property limits and controls matter; coverage depends on policy terms and underwriting.
Do I need product liability for printed apparel?
Defective prints or ink reactions can cause downstream loss, so product terms are commonly considered, depending on contracts, the policy, and the facts.
Is a business owners policy enough for a screen printer?
A BOP is a common base, but printers often add bailee, workers' comp, and equipment breakdown. The right mix depends on your operation and underwriting.
How is a screen printing shop priced?
Underwriters weigh sales, payroll, equipment, the customer goods you hold, and fire and chemical controls. Coverage availability depends on underwriting and loss history.
How do I get a quote?
Call The Southern Agency at 1-800-777-1872 or request a quote online for guidance tailored to your screen printing company business.