"Which printing method is best?" is one of the most common questions we get asked about T-shirts, hoodies, polos, hi-vis and scrubs. The honest answer is that it depends on your design, your fabric, and how many you need — here's how we choose.
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The three main methods
Screen Printing
The most cost-effective method at bulk, durable and vibrant. Each colour needs its own screen, so it suits simple, low-colour-count designs printed in larger quantities rather than intricate, photographic artwork.
DTG (Direct-to-Garment)
Inkjet printing straight onto fabric. Excellent for detailed, full-colour designs on cotton with a soft finish. No setup cost, so it's good for one-off orders, but slower per unit and needs pre-treatment on dark garments.
DTF (Direct-to-Film)
Printed onto film, then heat-transferred with adhesive powder. Works on cotton, polyester, blends and nylon, vibrant and highly wash-durable. Slightly heavier hand than DTG, but far more versatile across fabric types — this is what we use as standard.
How many do you need? A rough guide to break-even
The right method depends mainly on how many colours are in your design, not just the quantity you're ordering:
- Single-colour designs tend to favour screen printing even at fairly modest volumes.
- Multi-colour designs (3 or more colours) usually push the crossover point to roughly 50–150 units before screen printing becomes cheaper than DTF or DTG.
- Full-colour or photographic designs can keep DTF or DTG the more cost-effective option into the low hundreds of units.
These figures are general industry guidance rather than a fixed rule — send us your design and quantity and we'll tell you honestly which method works out cheaper for your order.
Why we print DTF as standard
Most of our garment range — T-shirts, hoodies, polos, hi-vis and scrubs — is printed using DTF, because it performs consistently across cotton, polyester and poly-blend fabrics without needing a different process for each one. For simple single-colour logo runs at higher volumes, we'll often recommend screen printing instead, since it works out more cost-effective at scale.
See it on our garments
- Custom Printed T-Shirt
- Custom Printed Hoodie
- Custom Printed Polo Shirt
- Custom Printed Hi-Vis Waistcoat
- Custom Printed Scrubs
- DTF Gang Sheet — pre-printed transfers for trade and DIY application
Printing for your business more broadly?
Beyond garments, we also print Large Format & Signage for exhibitions and shopfronts, and Business Stationery & Publications for business cards, booklets and calendars.
Frequently asked questions
Which method is cheapest for a small order?
For low quantities, DTF or DTG is usually cheaper than screen printing because there's no per-colour setup cost. Screen printing only becomes more economical once you're ordering in bulk with a simple design.
Can DTF be used on hi-vis and scrubs, not just cotton T-shirts?
Yes. DTF works well across cotton, polyester and poly-blend fabrics, which is why we use it as our standard method across hi-vis waistcoats, scrubs, hoodies and polos as well as T-shirts.
Do you offer screen printing as well as DTF?
Yes, for larger, simple-colour orders where it works out more cost-effective. Message us with your design and quantity and we'll recommend the right method honestly, even if that means screen printing instead of DTF.
We reply personally, within 2 minutes