Iron-On Transfers for Leavers Shirts
Leavers shirts are a UK school tradition - a custom t-shirt or hoodie printed with the school name, year, and every student in the class. Ordering from a leavers shirt company typically means minimum quantities, fixed templates, and tight deadlines. With iron-on transfers, you control the design, order exactly the number you need, and apply them yourself in minutes. From £1.99 per transfer.
How It Works
Design your artwork
Create your leavers design in Canva, Photoshop, or any design tool. Include the school name, year, class list, and any artwork. Save as a PNG or PDF.
Order your transfers
Upload your design, choose the size (A4 for back prints, A5 for chest logos), and order the quantity you need. We print and dispatch within 1-2 business days.
Press onto shirts
Iron each transfer onto a blank t-shirt or hoodie using a household iron or heat press. 150°C, 12-15 seconds, firm pressure. Done.
Who Orders Leavers Transfers?
Year 6 primary leavers
The most popular leavers shirt order. Class of 30 students, one design with all names on the back. Often organised by the PTA or a parent volunteer.
Year 11 and Year 13
Secondary school and sixth form leavers. Larger groups, often with separate designs per form group or house. Hoodies are more popular than t-shirts at this age.
University leavers
Course or society leavers hoodies with graduation year, course name, and member names. Often ordered by the course rep or society president.
Nursery and reception
Smaller groups (15-20 children) with simpler designs. Parents appreciate the low cost and the ability to add their child's name individually.
Cost Comparison
| Method | Cost per shirt (30 students) | Minimum order | Turnaround |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leavers shirt company | £10-20 per shirt | Usually 10-25 | 2-4 weeks |
| DIY with DTF transfers | £3-6 (shirt + transfer) | No minimum | 1-2 days dispatch |
| Screen printing | £8-15 per shirt | Usually 25+ | 1-3 weeks |
Leavers Shirt FAQs
When should I order leavers shirt transfers?
Order at least 2 weeks before your leavers day to allow for design approval, printing, and application. We dispatch within 1-2 business days, but building in time for test pressing and any reprints is sensible. If you are in a rush, our same-day dispatch option covers urgent orders placed before 12pm.
Can each shirt have a different name?
Yes. Every transfer is printed individually, so each one can be different. Upload a design with one name, order it, then upload the next. Or use our gang sheet tool to fit multiple names onto one sheet and cut them apart - this brings the cost per name down significantly for larger groups.
What is the cheapest way to do leavers shirts?
Buy plain white t-shirts in bulk (£1-2 each from workwear suppliers like Fruit of the Loom), then add iron-on transfers. A class of 30 students would cost roughly £90-120 for shirts plus transfers, compared to £300-600 from a custom leavers shirt company. Parents or staff can apply the transfers with a household iron.
Can I print all class names on the back of each shirt?
Yes. A popular design is the school name and year on the front (small chest print) with all classmates names listed on the back. For a class of 30, the back design typically works well at A4 size (21x29cm) with names at 10-12pt equivalent. Upload the full design as one image and order the same transfer for every student.
What shirt colour works best?
White t-shirts are the traditional choice for leavers shirts because they are cheap, everyone can sign them with markers on the day, and prints show clearly. Our DTF transfers work on light and dark colours though, so black, navy, and house-colour shirts are all options. The white ink base ensures designs are vibrant on dark fabrics.
Can students sign the shirts as well?
Yes. Print the main design (school name, year, class list) using an iron-on transfer, and leave blank space for friends to sign with fabric markers on leavers day. This combination of printed design and handwritten messages is the most popular approach.
Related Pages
Ready to Make Leavers Shirts?
Upload your design and get leavers shirt transfers delivered fast. No minimum order. No setup fees. From £1.99 per transfer.
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