Ink Usage Calculator

Calculate how much ink to prep for a job. Enter print dimensions, coverage per color, mesh count, and quantity.

1. Print Area & Quantity

Design Dimensions (inches)

= — sq in

Quantity

Passes

Safety Buffer

oz / color

2. Colors

Color NameCoverage %Mesh Count

Color Name

Coverage %

Mesh Count

Ink to Prep

Enter print dimensions and quantity to calculate ink needs

How This Works

Formula: Print Area (sq in) x Coverage (%) x Ink Deposit Rate (g/sq in for mesh) x Passes x Quantity + Safety Buffer

Mesh count determines how much ink passes through the screen. Lower mesh = thicker deposit = more ink. 110 mesh is standard for plastisol on cotton.

Coverage is how much of the print area is filled with that color. A full solid fill is 100%. A design with lots of open space might be 30-50%.

Safety buffer adds extra ounces per color to account for ink left in the screen, on squeegees, and test prints. Default is +2 oz.