· 5 min read
DTF vs DTG vs Screen Printing: Which Print Method Is Best for Custom T-Shirts and Hoodies?
Screen printing gives the most durable print and the lowest unit cost for simple designs in quantity. DTG prints unlimited colours directly onto cotton with a soft feel and no setup. DTF transfers work on almost any fabric and suit small runs of detailed, multi-colour artwork. This guide compares cost, feel, durability and fabric compatibility.
In short
Screen printing gives the most durable print and the lowest unit cost for simple designs in quantity. DTG prints unlimited colours directly onto cotton with a soft feel and no setup. DTF transfers work on almost any fabric and suit small runs of detailed, multi-colour artwork. This guide compares cost, feel, durability and fabric compatibility.
The short answer: use screen printing for designs with a few solid colours at 25 pieces or more — it is the most durable and the cheapest per unit at quantity. Use DTG (direct-to-garment) for full-colour or photographic artwork on cotton, where a soft feel matters. Use DTF (direct-to-film) for detailed multi-colour designs on small runs, on polyester and blends, or on awkward placements. Many brands use more than one: a screen-printed front and a DTF sleeve detail on the same garment is common.
DTF vs DTG vs screen printing compared
| Screen printing | DTG | DTF | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How it works | Ink pushed through a mesh stencil, one screen per colour | Inkjet printer sprays ink directly onto the garment | Design printed on film, coated with adhesive, heat-pressed on |
| Setup | A screen for each colour | Almost none | Almost none |
| Colours | Best with 1–6 solid colours | Unlimited, including gradients and photos | Unlimited, including gradients and photos |
| Best fabrics | Cotton, blends, polyester (with the right ink) | High-cotton fabrics | Cotton, polyester, blends, nylon |
| Feel | Soft to slightly raised, depending on ink | Softest: ink sits in the fibres | A thin, smooth film on the surface |
| Wash durability | Highest | Good with correct pre-treatment and care | Good; edges can lift if poorly pressed |
| Cost at low quantity | Higher, because setup is shared across few pieces | Moderate | Moderate |
| Cost at high quantity | Lowest | Stays roughly flat | Stays roughly flat |
| Special effects | Puff, high-density, metallic, discharge | None | Limited |
How does screen printing work, and when is it best?
Each colour in the design is separated and burned onto its own mesh screen. Ink is pushed through each screen in turn, then cured with heat. The setup takes time, which is why screen printing is priced per colour and per placement, and why the cost per piece falls quickly as quantity rises.
Choose screen printing when:
- The design has a small number of solid colours
- You are ordering 25 pieces or more of the same print
- You want the most durable result, or a special effect such as puff or high-density ink
- You are printing on dark heavyweight garments and want opaque, vivid colour
How does DTG work, and when is it best?
A DTG printer works like a desktop inkjet, printing water-based ink straight onto the fabric. Dark garments are pre-treated and given a white underbase first. Because there are no screens, the fiftieth colour costs the same as the first.
Choose DTG when:
- The artwork is photographic or has many colours and gradients
- The garment is 100% cotton or close to it
- A soft, breathable print matters more than maximum opacity
- Every piece carries different artwork
DTG is weaker on polyester and on very dark, heavy fabrics, where colours can look less saturated than a screen print.
How does DTF work, and when is it best?
The design is printed in reverse onto a clear film, dusted with a hot-melt adhesive powder, cured, and then heat-pressed onto the garment. The film is peeled away and the print stays behind.
Choose DTF when:
- You need full-colour detail on a small run
- The fabric is polyester, a blend or nylon, where DTG struggles
- The placement is awkward: sleeves, pockets, hoods, caps, bags
- You want consistent, bright colour on any garment colour
The trade-off is feel. A large solid DTF print is a continuous film, so it is less breathable and can feel slightly plasticky on a big chest or back panel. For large areas, designs with open space in them wear better than solid blocks.
Which lasts longest in the wash?
A correctly cured screen print is the benchmark and will usually outlast the garment. DTG and DTF both last well when produced properly and washed with care. For all three, the same advice extends the life of the print: wash cold, inside out, and avoid a hot tumble dryer and ironing directly on the print. That belongs on your care label.
Which is cheapest?
It depends on the quantity and the number of colours.
- Under about 25 pieces, many colours — DTF or DTG, because there are no screens to pay for.
- 25–50 pieces, one to three colours — screen printing is usually competitive and more durable.
- 100 pieces and above — screen printing is almost always the cheapest per unit for simple designs.
- Any quantity, photographic artwork — DTG or DTF; separating a photo into screens is rarely worth it at small volumes.
What about embroidery and sublimation?
They solve different problems. Embroidery gives a textured, premium logo on hoodies, polos and caps. Sublimation dyes polyester fabric permanently and is the standard for all-over team kit. Both are covered in sublimation vs screen printing vs embroidery.
What artwork does each method need?
| Method | Best file type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Screen printing | Vector (AI, EPS, PDF, SVG) | Colours specified as Pantone references where possible |
| DTG | High-resolution PNG, 300 dpi at print size | Transparent background |
| DTF | High-resolution PNG, 300 dpi at print size | Avoid very fine isolated lines and tiny text |
Whatever the method, ask for a mockup showing size and position on the garment, then check the actual print on the pre-production sample before bulk.
Choosing a method for your order
Send your artwork and quantity through the quote form and we will recommend the method for each placement, with pricing, within 24 hours. Design mockups are free. Browse custom T-shirts and polos and hoodies and sweatshirts for the garments these methods are most often used on.
