PRINTING GUIDE

DTF vs Screen Printing: Which Is Best for Your Order?

DTF and screen printing can both produce durable, professional custom clothing, but they suit different order sizes, designs and budgets. Here’s how they compare.

What is DTF printing?

DTF stands for Direct to Film. Your design is printed onto a special film, coated with adhesive and then heat pressed onto the garment.

It works well on cotton, polyester and many blended fabrics, and it can handle full-colour artwork without needing a separate setup for each colour.

What is screen printing?

Screen printing uses a stencil and mesh screen to apply ink directly onto the garment. Each colour in the design normally requires its own screen.

It is particularly well suited to larger runs of the same design, simple artwork and jobs where strong, consistent colour is important.

DTF vs screen printing at a glance

	DTF	Screen Printing
Minimum quantity	1 item	10 items with the same design
Best for	Small runs, full colour, mixed fabrics	Larger runs of the same design
Number of colours	Full colour	Best suited to simpler colour counts
Setup costs	No screen setup	Setup required per colour
Fabric range	Cotton, polyester and many blends	Suitable for many common garment fabrics
Exact spot colours	Approximate CMYK colour	Better suited to matched spot colours
Turnaround	Usually faster for small orders	Generally longer due to setup and production

When is DTF the better choice?

DTF is often the best choice when:

you only need a small quantity
your design has lots of colours or photographic detail
you are printing on different types of garments
you want to avoid screen setup costs
you need flexibility with print positions such as sleeves

When is screen printing the better choice?

Screen printing is often better when:

you are ordering a larger quantity of the same design
your artwork uses a small number of solid colours
you want strong, consistent colour across a large run
you need closer control over specific spot colours
the garments will be used heavily, such as uniforms, events or promotional clothing

Which is cheaper?

For smaller orders, DTF is often more cost-effective because there are no screen setup charges and you can order from just one item.

For larger runs of the same design, screen printing can become more economical because the setup cost is spread across more garments.

Which lasts longer?

Both methods can produce durable prints when applied correctly and cared for properly. The best choice depends on the garment, design and intended use rather than one method simply being better in every situation.

Wash printed garments inside out in cold water, avoid tumble drying and do not iron directly over the print.