DTF vs screen printing: which is cheaper and better?
Short answer: DTF wins for full color, small and medium runs, and personalization. Screen printing wins for big runs of simple, 1–3 color designs.
Side-by-side
| DTF | Screen printing | |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum | None | Usually 12–24+ |
| Setup fees | None | Per screen, per color |
| Colors | Unlimited, photos & gradients | Each color costs more |
| Fabrics | Cotton, poly, blends, nylon, canvas | Best on cotton |
| Names & numbers | Easy, one per shirt | Separate process |
| Feel | Soft, thin film | Softest with water-based ink |
| Durability | 50+ washes | 50+ washes |
| Best for | 1–200 pieces, full color | 200+ pieces, 1–3 colors |
What it costs
With DTF, you pay for film area. A full-front 10" design takes one 12" × 12" sheet, so the transfer costs $5 to $3.50 depending on how many you order, whether it has 1 color or 12.
With screen printing, a 4-color design needs 4 screens. Setup alone can cost more than an entire small DTF order, so it only pays off at high quantities.
When to choose DTF
- Full-color logos, photos, gradients
- Orders under a couple hundred pieces
- Mixed garments: tees, hoodies, bags, polyester jerseys
- Personalized names and numbers
- Selling on demand without holding inventory
When screen printing still wins
- Hundreds of the same 1–2 color design
- Specialty inks like puff, discharge or metallics
Why print shops use both
Many screen printers send their full-color and small jobs to us as DTF, and keep the presses running on big single-color runs. You keep the customer, and we handle the film.
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