Four methods dominate custom apparel decoration: DTF, screen printing, DTG, and embroidery. DTF prints a full-color design onto film and heat-presses it on, no per-color setup, works on almost any fabric. Screen printing pushes ink through a mesh screen, one screen per color, cheapest at real bulk in one or two colors. DTG prints ink directly onto the garment like an inkjet printer, best on cotton, no minimum order. Embroidery stitches the design in thread, the only method with a physical, textured result. Which one you want depends on your quantity, your fabric, and whether the design has more than a couple of colors in it.
DTF: Direct-to-Film
DTF prints your design onto a film, powders it with adhesive, then heat-presses the whole thing onto the garment. No per-color charge, no screens, and it works on cotton, polyester, blends, even stretch fabric.
| Quantity | Small (up to 4"x4") | Standard (up to 10"x10") | Large (up to 12"x16") |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24-47 | $4.00 | $6.50 | $9.00 |
| 48-71 | $3.25 | $5.25 | $7.50 |
| 72-99 | $2.75 | $4.50 | $6.25 |
| 100+ | $2.25 | $3.75 | $5.25 |
Minimum order 24 pieces. Transfer material is built into the price. DTF prints hold up to 50-100 washes in standard use, per wash testing published by DTF supplier DTFHub, with no cracking reported through a 50-wash cold-wash, air-dry cycle.
Screen Printing
Screen printing pushes ink through a stenciled mesh screen, one screen per color. It's the cheapest method at real bulk in one or two colors, and the worst fit for full-color or photo-realistic art, since every added color means another screen and another setup charge. We don't run screen printing in-house, so the rates below are typical market pricing, not a Loyal Brand quote.
| Quantity | 1 Color | 2 Colors | 3 Colors | 4 Colors |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12-23 | $6.50 | $7.75 | $9.00 | $10.25 |
| 24-71 | $4.15 | $5.15 | $6.15 | $7.15 |
| 72-144 | $2.45 | $3.45 | $4.45 | $5.45 |
| 145-299 | $1.75 | $2.35 | $2.95 | $3.55 |
| 300-499 | $1.55 | $1.80 | $2.05 | $2.30 |
Typical market setup is $20-$35 per screen per color, plus a $0.50-$0.80 per-print premium on dark garments. Per the same DTFHub source referenced above, well-cured screen prints last a comparable 50 to 100 wash cycles to DTF, the two methods are not far apart on raw durability.
DTG: Direct-to-Garment
DTG prints ink directly onto the finished garment, similar in principle to an inkjet printer working on fabric instead of paper. It has no per-piece minimum, which makes it a fit for one-off orders, and it's mainly used on cotton, it doesn't perform as well on polyester or blends. We don't currently price DTG as a standalone service, so no per-piece rate is listed here, that's an honest gap, not an oversight. Between DTF and DTG specifically, we've found DTF prints hold color and resist cracking better over repeated washes, and DTF works across a wider range of fabrics since it isn't limited to cotton the way DTG is.
Embroidery
Embroidery stitches the design in thread rather than printing it, giving it a raised, textured finish no printed method can replicate. It's priced by stitch count, not by color, so a simple one-color logo and a detailed multi-thread design cost differently based on stitch density, not hue count.
| Quantity | Up to 5K stitches | 5K-8K stitches | 8K-10K stitches |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24-47 | $9.00 | $12.00 | $15.00 |
| 48-71 | $7.50 | $10.00 | $12.50 |
| 72-99 | $6.50 | $8.50 | $11.00 |
| 100+ | $5.50 | $7.25 | $9.50 |
A standard left-chest logo runs 5,000-8,000 stitches. A full back design runs 10,000-15,000 stitches, well above what this table covers, so expect a custom quote past the 8K-10K bracket. Digitizing (converting your logo into a stitch file) is a flat $60, one time per design, waived on reorders.
Side-by-Side Summary
| Method | Minimum | Color Limit | Best Fabric Fit | Priced By |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DTF | 24 pieces | Unlimited | Almost any fabric | Size and quantity |
| Screen Printing | 12 pieces (market) | Practical up to 4-6 | Cotton and blends | Color count and quantity |
| DTG | None | Unlimited | Cotton | Not priced by us, see note above |
| Embroidery | 24 pieces | Thread-color dependent | Most wovens and knits | Stitch count and quantity |
FAQ
Is DTF better than screen printing?
Depends on your order. DTF is cheaper and faster under roughly 100-150 pieces and handles full color without extra setup cost. Screen printing gets cheaper than DTF past that volume if you're running one or two colors, since its per-piece price keeps dropping at real bulk in a way DTF's doesn't.
What's the difference between screen print transfers and DTF?
A screen print transfer is screen printing done on transfer paper first, then heat-applied, so it still carries screen printing's per-color screen and setup cost. DTF prints full color directly onto film with no per-color charge and no screens at all.
DTF vs screen printing durability, which lasts longer?
Roughly the same. Per DTFHub's wash testing, both hold up to 50-100 washes when applied correctly. Screen prints are more prone to cracking if under-cured; DTF prints are more prone to slight fading at the top end of that range.
Silk screen vs DTF for a small order, which should I pick?
DTF. Screen printing's per-screen setup cost doesn't pay off below roughly 100-150 pieces, and DTF's 24-piece minimum is built for smaller runs with no per-color penalty.
Ordering shirts for a team, school, or event?
Skip the sizing guesswork. Send us your group and we'll spec the right blanks and sizes, then quote it. 4.9 stars across 340+ reviews.
Get a Free QuoteWhat's the actual difference between DTF and DTG?
DTF prints onto film and heat-presses it on; DTG prints ink directly onto the garment like an inkjet. DTF works on a much wider range of fabrics, DTG is mainly a cotton method. We've found DTF holds up better against fading and cracking over repeated washes.
For the full head-to-head with real numbers, see DTF vs screen printing on cost and durability. For decorating polos specifically, we compared DTF against embroidery, and for DTF against DTG directly, see the DTF vs DTG breakdown. If you're still deciding on garment material, start with how to choose the right material for custom t-shirts.
Tell us your quantity, your design, and your fabric, we'll tell you which method actually fits. Reach out at john@theloyalbrand.com or call 410-861-0633.
