Printing methods compared
DTF vs screen printing vs DTG
Three ways to decorate apparel, three different sweet spots. Here's how they actually compare on cost, color, fabric, feel and turnaround — including where DTF is the wrong choice. We print DTF and DTG in Aurora, CO and do not offer screen printing.
Side by side
How the three methods compare
General characteristics of each process, not a promise about a specific job. Ink types, film brands and press setups all vary between shops.
| DTF transfers | Screen printing | DTG | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best quantity | 1 to a few hundred | Larger runs of one design | 1 to a few dozen |
| Setup fee | None | Per color, per screen | None |
| Color limit | Full color, unlimited | Priced per color | Full color, unlimited |
| Fabrics | Cotton, poly, blends, bags | Wide, ink dependent | Best on cotton / high cotton |
| Feel | Thin film on the surface | Ink layer, varies by ink | Soft, into the fabric |
| Mixed designs per order | Yes, nest on one sheet | New screens per design | Yes, file per garment |
| Reorders | No setup to repeat | Screens may be re-made | No setup to repeat |
| We print it | Yes | No | Yes |
Cost, hand feel and durability all depend on the specific inks, films, garments and press used. Test one piece before committing to a large run.
Choose DTF when
DTF transfers are the right call for
- Small runs — a single shirt or a couple dozen, with no setup fee
- Full-color, photographic or gradient artwork
- Several different designs or sizes in one order, nested on one sheet
- Mixed garment types: cotton tees, poly jerseys, fleece, tote bags
- Pressing yourself on your own schedule, as orders come in
- Reorders where you want the same art again without new setup
Sheet prices start at $18.00 for a 23" x 12" sheet and run to $240.00 for a 20 ft sheet. Production is 2-3 business days after you approve the production proof. See the gang sheet size guide to pick a length.
Choose something else when
When DTF is not the answer
Hundreds of one simple design
A one- or two-color logo on 500 shirts is classic screen printing territory — the per-piece ink cost is very low once screens are burned. We don't screen print, so for that job we'd point you to a screen shop or quote DTF honestly against it.
You want the softest possible cotton print
DTG lays ink into cotton fibers, so the print feels closer to the shirt itself. If hand feel on 100% cotton matters more than fabric flexibility, DTG is worth comparing.
Stitched, permanent branding
Polos, caps, jackets and workwear usually look better embroidered. Thread doesn't crack or peel and reads as more premium on corporate apparel.
Need stitching instead of print? See embroidery. Running 100 pieces or more of finished shirts? See bulk custom t-shirts.
Cost thinking
Why quantity decides the winner
Screen printing front-loads cost into screens and setup, then prints cheaply. DTF has no setup at all and prices by the inch of film. That's the whole trade-off.
Small and mid runs
Ten shirts, four designs, three colors of garment — screen setup would be charged several times over. On DTF you nest all four designs on one sheet, pay for the length, and press them onto whatever blanks you have. Full color costs the same as one color.
Large single-design runs
Five hundred shirts, one two-color logo — setup is a small share of the total and per-piece screen cost is very low. DTF can still be competitive when the art is full color or the sizes vary, but a simple high-volume job is where screen printing earns its keep. We'll tell you which way the math falls.
Durability
How each print holds up
All three methods can last for years or fail early — it comes down to application and care. DTF depends on press temperature, pressure and time being correct: our approved settings are 300–310°F, medium pressure, 10–15 seconds, cold peel and a 5 second finish press. Under-pressing is the most common cause of edges lifting after a wash. Wash inside out, cold, and skip the high-heat dryer for any decorated garment. We don't publish wash-test numbers we haven't run ourselves — press one transfer, wash it, and judge it before committing to a large batch.
Full steps and troubleshooting are on the DTF pressing instructions page, and file setup is covered in how to prepare DTF artwork.
Next steps
Where to go from here
Build a DTF gang sheet
Pick a length, upload art and pay online at published prices.
Custom t-shirts
We print and press finished shirts for you, sizes S-4XL.
Custom hoodies
Fleece for teams, schools and corporate orders.
Wholesale & resellers
Ordering film regularly? Request a volume quote.
DTF transfers in Aurora
Local pickup at 2200 Chambers Rd, Aurora, CO.
DTF transfers in Denver
Denver metro pickup and nationwide FedEx shipping.
Questions
DTF vs screen printing vs DTG FAQ
+ Is DTF better than screen printing?
Neither is universally better. Screen printing is hard to beat on cost for a large run of one design in one or two colors, because the screen setup is spread over hundreds of pieces. DTF wins on small runs, full-color and photographic art, mixed sizes, and reorders, because there is no screen setup at all. We print DTF and DTG in house and do not offer screen printing.
+ Which method is cheapest for 20 shirts?
At 20 pieces, screen printing usually costs more per shirt because setup charges are split over very few garments. DTF has no setup fee: a 23" gang sheet starts at $18.00 and you nest as many designs as fit, then press them onto shirts you supply or shirts we supply.
+ Does DTF feel like screen printing?
They feel different. A screen print with a soft-hand or waterbase ink can sit very flat in the fabric. DTF sits as a thin, slightly smoother film layer on the surface with a light stretch to it. Both are flexible; DTF is noticeably lighter than a thick plastisol print but is not a fully in-the-fabric print like DTG on cotton.
+ How many colors can each method print?
DTF and DTG are full color with no color limit and no per-color charge, so gradients, photos and detailed logos are all fine. Screen printing charges per color and per screen, so multi-color art gets expensive quickly.
+ What fabrics work with each method?
DTF presses onto cotton, polyester, blends, canvas bags and most non-heat-sensitive fabrics, which makes it the most flexible option. DTG is at its best on 100% cotton and high-cotton blends. Screen printing covers a wide range too, but each ink type has its own fabric requirements.
+ Can I reorder the same design later without paying setup again?
With DTF there is no setup to pay again — you just order another sheet with the same artwork. Keep your order confirmation and reference it when you contact us so we can match your previous layout.
+ Do you offer screen printing?
No. We print DTF transfers and DTG garments in Aurora, and we run embroidery. If a job genuinely calls for screen printing we will tell you that instead of selling you the wrong process.
Not sure which method your job needs?
Tell us the design, the quantity and the garment and we'll tell you straight which process fits — even when the answer isn't one we sell.