Screen print vs DTG vs DTF
How each process works, where each one wins on quantity, colors, fabric and feel, and how many shops in our directory offer each.
Updated Oct 29, 2026 · Prices and listings pulled live from the Blankdex index
Choosing a process is a tradeoff between your art, your quantity, the feel you want and your budget, and it's a constant topic on r/streetwearstartup [source]. Here's how each one works and where it fits.
| Screen print | DTG | DTF | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How it works | Ink is pushed through a mesh screen onto the garment, one screen per color. | An inkjet printer prints the design straight onto the garment. | The design is printed onto film, coated with adhesive powder, then heat-pressed onto the garment. |
| Setup | Screens and setup for every color, so cost per piece drops as quantity rises. | Little setup; each piece is printed individually. | Little setup; transfers can be printed ahead and pressed later. |
| Best for | Runs where setup is spread over many pieces; bold spot colors; specialty inks like puff or discharge. | Small runs, samples and full-color or photographic art. | Small runs, full-color art, and fabrics or placements that are awkward for the other two. |
| Fabric | Works on most fabrics. | Best on high-cotton garments; dark garments need pretreatment. | Works on a wide range of fabrics, including blends and polyester. |
| Feel | Can be very soft (water-based, discharge) or thick (plastisol, puff). | Ink sits in the fibers; generally soft. | A film layer on top of the fabric, which you can feel. |
| Shops in our directory | 42 of 52 | 22 of 52 | 18 of 52 |
A simple way to decide
- Sampling or testing a design? DTG or DTF, from a shop with no minimum.
- A run big enough to clear the shop's screen-print minimum, with a few spot colors? Get a screen-print quote. Setup gets spread over the run.
- Full-color art in a small run? DTG on cotton, DTF on blends or tricky placements.
- Want puff, discharge or a specific hand? Screen print, and ask for the shop's specialty-ink options.
Quotes vary a lot between shops, so get two or three. Filter the directory by method: screen, DTG, DTF, or start local in Atlanta or Los Angeles [source].
Sources
- r/streetwearstartup: DTG vs DTF vs screen printing
- r/streetwearstartup: Finding a screen printer
- Blank specs, prices and printer listings: the Blankdex index, each with its own source link and check date.
Reddit threads are cited as evidence that a question comes up often, not as proof of any claim.
MOQ
What minimum should you expect?
Sourcing
Your blanks or the printer's?
Samples
Why one sample costs so much
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