> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.dekhq.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Place your first order
> Build and submit an order in your decorator's DEKHQ portal: name it, add a decoration and products, enter quantities, and choose shipping.
This guide walks you through placing an order from scratch: you name the order, add a decoration (your artwork and where it goes), add products, enter quantities, and choose how it ships.
You need the **Order** or **Admin** role to place orders. See [Sign in to DEKHQ](/help/getting-started/account-setup#roles).
Select **+ New order** at the top of any page. You can also open the **More ways to order** menu (the arrow next to the button) and choose **New order**. The same menu has **Reorder**, **New estimate**, and **Mockup Builder**.
The order builder opens on the **Build order** tab. A checklist in the lower right shows what's left, and the **Continue to Review** button shows how many items you still need to finish.
Enter a name in **Name this order** at the top left. The name is required.
If you have a purchase order number, enter it in the **PO** field in the bar below the name. It's optional.
The upper right also has three optional settings. You don't need them for a standard order.
* **Rush**: opens a **Rush turnaround** menu of faster options, such as **5-Day Rush** through **Same Day Rush**. Each option shows its surcharge and the new ship-by date. Your decorator sets the rush options and surcharges. Choose one to turn rush on, or select **Turn off rush** to go back to the standard turnaround.
* **CSG**: use this when you're supplying your own garments or other goods for decorating (CSG stands for customer-supplied goods). The **Customer-supplied (CSG)** panel lets you check which products you're supplying (or **All items**) and add your inbound tracking numbers, one per line. Select **Done** to close it, or **Turn off CSG** to clear it.
* **Sample**: marks the order as a sample. Rush isn't available on sample orders, so turning on Sample turns Rush off.
Under **Decorations**, select **Add decoration**. A five-step window walks you through it:
1. **Method**: how the design is applied. Options include Screen Print, Embroidery, Direct to Garment, DTF / Vinyl, Heat Press, and Patches, plus tags and labels (Screen Print Tags, Heat Press Tags, CPSIA — SP Tags, CPSIA — HP Tags, and Sewn Label).
2. **Location**: where it goes, such as Full Front, Full Back, or Left Chest. You can search the list.
3. **Artwork**: select **Upload art** to add a new file, or **Client library** to reuse artwork already on your account.
4. **Colors** (for screen print): pick your ink colors from the stock colors or the Pantone library. This step's name depends on the method.
5. **Mockup** (optional): upload a mockup if you already have one, as a reference for the art team.
Select **Add decoration** to finish. The decoration appears in the **Decorations** column.
**Print size.** For methods that need a print size, enter the width and height (**W** × **H**) in inches. If your decorator offers it, you can instead check **I trust *your decorator* to size it appropriately** (the box shows your decorator's name). Your decorator then chooses the size for you.
**Resellers:** if you order on behalf of your own customers, your **Client library** holds artwork for their brands as well as yours. That's expected. The library holds the artwork used on your account, whoever's brand it is.
Under **Products**, select **Add product** to open the **Product Catalog**.
1. Search by style number, name, or brand. Type at least 2 characters.
2. Select a product, then select a color.
3. Select the **Add … to Order** button (for example, **Add 3511 · Black to Order**).
4. Select **Done**. The button shows how many products are on the order, for example **Done · 1 on order**.
The sizes in the catalog show availability and cost only; you can't select them there. You enter quantities in the builder in the next step.
To repeat something you've ordered before, use **Add from past order** instead and search by SKU, PO number, or order number.
Each product appears as a card in the builder with a box for each size. Enter how many pieces you want in each size.
If the order has one decoration, it's applied to every product automatically.
When the checklist is complete, the button changes to **Continue to Review →**. Select it.
The **Review & submit** tab lists your **Line items**. Then:
* **Packaging & Finishing** is optional. Leave it as is unless you need extra services.
* Under **Shipping**, choose how the order gets to you:
* **Have us ship it**: your decorator quotes and handles shipping.
* **Use my carrier account**: shipping is billed to your own carrier account.
* **I'll pick it up**: you collect the order. There's no shipping fee.
* If you have no addresses on file, you'll see **You have no addresses on file. Add one to continue.** Select **Add address**. The address is saved to your address book, so you can reuse it on future orders.
1. Enter a **Label** for the address, such as *Main HQ*. It's required. **Notes** is optional, for anything the warehouse should know.
2. Type the address: first and last name, street address, city, state, and ZIP. Company, Apt/suite, Phone, and Email are optional.
3. Select **Save address**. If DEKHQ can't confirm the address, you'll see *We couldn't confirm this address. Double-check for typos, or save it as entered.* Check for typos. If the address is right, select **Save anyway**.
4. Select **Save & use**. It's only available once the address has a label and you've saved the address.
* With **Have us ship it** and an address set, **Delivery** shows the box size and weight, and a shipping rate. DEKHQ selects the lowest-priced ground service for you. To choose a different service, select **Compare *N* rates** and pick one from the list. The delivery date is an estimate: shipping happens after production, subject to your approval.
* Check **Ship complete** if you want everything to ship together. Nothing ships until every job on the order is finished.
The top of the page may show an estimated ship date, such as **Ships \~Oct 20 · if approved today**.
Until everything's done, the button is locked and shows how many items are left, for example **Create order · 1 to finish**. The checklist above it tells you what's missing.
When the checklist is complete, the button shows how many jobs the order has, for example **Create order · 1 job →**. Select it to place the order. There's no separate confirmation step: the button shows **Creating order…** and then opens your new order's page. The draft is removed from **Draft Orders**.
**Decoration minimums.** Each decoration method has a minimum quantity, set by your decorator, and minimums can differ by method. If a decoration covers fewer pieces than its minimum, the decoration is billed at the minimum quantity. Garments are still billed for the pieces you order.
For example, if your decorator's screen print minimum is 24 pieces and you order 2 shirts, the screen print is billed as 24 pieces. The builder warns you under **Order pricing**, with a message like *Screen Print · Full Front under the 24-pc decoration minimum — decoration billed at the minimum.*
**Your work is saved as you go.** An order you haven't submitted yet is saved automatically under **Orders** > **Draft Orders**. Select **Resume** to pick up where you left off, or discard drafts you no longer need.
## After you place your order
Your order's page shows the order name, the order number and date it was placed, and the order total. Select **View breakdown** to see the total split into products, decoration, and fees (such as estimated shipping). The tiles below show where it ships, the shipping method, the estimated ship-by date, and the sign-off status.
A timeline shows where your order is:
| Stage | What it means |
| - | - |
| **Design** | Your decorator's art team is preparing your artwork and proof. |
| **Your Approval** | Your decorator is waiting for your approval. |
| **In Production** | Your order is being scheduled, sourced, decorated, and packed. |
| **Shipped** | Your order is on its way. |
| **Invoice** | Your order is being invoiced. |
| **Complete** | Your order is finished. |
**Approving your proof.** While your order is in **Design**, the **Sign-off** tile says **Not yet due**, and there's nothing for you to do yet. Approving your proof happens at the **Your Approval** stage. [Review and approve your order](/help/guides/review-and-approve) covers the sign-off page.
**Changes or cancellation.** Before you approve, the order page has no button to change or cancel the order. To change or cancel it, message your account manager from the chat button in the lower right corner of the order page.
To follow your order from here, see [Track your order status](/help/guides/track-your-order).
***
Verified against DEKHQ 41cdde7 on 2026-10-09
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