VBS Shirts: Ordering Vacation Bible School Shirts Stress-Free
By The Velocity Wear Team
VBS shirts get a few hundred US searches a month, almost all in spring. Every summer, churches welcome dozens or hundreds of kids for a week of songs, crafts and stories. Shirts help with safety and organization, and kids love wearing them all summer.
Theme artwork rights
Many churches use published VBS curriculum themes. Theme artwork is usually copyrighted, and publishers often license it through specific shirt programs. Check your curriculum's terms before printing theme artwork. An original design inspired by your theme is always safe.
Color-coding groups
Assign shirt colors by age group or crew. Leaders can spot their kids instantly across a fellowship hall or playground. Remember each color counts as its own design for minimums.
Volunteer and leader shirts
Volunteers should wear a distinct color with LEADER or CREW on the back. It helps kids and parents know who to go to, and it's an important safety step.
Sizing children
Collect sizes at registration. Kids grow over spring, so size up. Order a few extras in common sizes for walk-in registrations.
Safety
Don't print kids' names on shirts worn in public or on field trips. Use group colors and church name instead.
Budget
Many churches include a shirt in a small registration fee or fund shirts through donations. Tees start from $13 each at 20 pieces, lower at 50 and 100. See the calculator.
Timing
Production takes 10 to 15 working days after artwork approval, plus shipping. For June VBS, approve artwork by early May. Summer is peak season.
Mistakes to avoid
- 1Printing curriculum artwork without checking license terms.
- 2Kids' names on shirts.
- 3Leaders in the same color as kids.
- 4No extras for walk-ins.
Quick checklist
- Theme artwork rights checked?
- Group colors assigned?
- Leader shirts distinct?
- Sizes from registration?
- Artwork approved by early May?
Designing an original VBS shirt
If licensing theme artwork isn't practical, create an original design inspired by the week's message. A simple illustration related to the theme, your church name, the year and a short verse reference work well. A church member with design skills or a local designer can create something unique. Kids care most about bright colors and a fun graphic.
Registration and sizing workflow
- 1Add shirt size to online registration.
- 2Set a shirt guarantee date about five weeks before VBS.
- 3Order based on registrations plus a buffer for walk-ins.
- 4Sort shirts by crew or age group before day one.
- 5Hand out on day one so kids wear them all week.
Making the week memorable
Kids often wear VBS shirts all summer, and a great design becomes a keepsake. Encourage families to take a photo on the last day. Some churches print the year so shirts become collectible over several summers.
Budget-friendly options
Keep decoration simple, with one or two ink colors on the front only, to control costs. Tees start from $13 each at 20 pieces, with lower prices at 50 and 100. Many churches ask for a small voluntary contribution toward shirts, while making sure no child goes without.
Leftover shirts
Extra shirts can go to children who register late, volunteers' kids, or families at a church outreach event later in the summer.
Volunteer appreciation
VBS runs on volunteers who give a week of their summer. A slightly nicer volunteer shirt, or a crewneck for the teen helpers who worked every day, is a simple thank-you that encourages them to return next year.
