Screen Printing vs. Embroidery vs. DTF: Which Is Right for Your Order?
Choosing a decoration method is the first decision on any custom apparel order, and it affects price, look and turnaround more than anything else. The good news: three questions will point you to the right answer.
1. How many pieces do you need?
Under 12 pieces: DTF transfers or vinyl are usually best. There's no screen setup, so a few shirts stay affordable.
12 to a few hundred: Screen printing becomes the best value for t-shirts and hoodies, especially with a 1–3 color design. Embroidery works well here for polos, hats and jackets.
Large runs: Screen printing wins on price per shirt, and the price keeps dropping as quantity goes up.
2. What are you putting it on?
- T-shirts, hoodies, event shirts: screen printing or DTF
- Polos, hats, jackets, uniforms: embroidery
- Polyester sun shirts and fishing shirts: dye sublimation
- Jerseys with names and numbers: vinyl, often combined with screen printing
3. What does your artwork look like?
A simple logo with a few solid colors is perfect for screen printing or embroidery. A full-color design with photos or gradients is a job for DTF, or dye sublimation on light polyester, because neither charges per color.
Quick rule: lots of shirts and few colors means screen print. Professional look on polos and hats means embroidery. Full color or small quantity means DTF. Florida sun shirts mean sublimation.
Still not sure?
Send us your logo, quantity and garment, and we'll recommend the method that gives you the best look for your budget. That's part of every free estimate.