DTG vs Screen Printing vs Embroidery: Which to Choose

In the DTG vs screen printing choice, DTG wins for a new brand selling one piece at a time, and screen printing wins once you order hundreds of the same bold design. Embroidery is the third option, best for small logos and hats. On Printful, a black tee costs $11.92 with DTG or $14.25 embroidered, and screen printing starts at 500 shirts.

• $11.92a black tee printed with DTG
• $14.25the same tee embroidered
• 500Printful's screen printing minimum
• 0 of 580active Printful products list screen printing on demand

The three methods side by side

DTG sprays ink straight onto the fabric, screen printing pushes ink through one stencil per color, and embroidery stitches thread into the garment. DTF is a fourth method worth knowing: the art is printed on film, then heat pressed on.

Sources: Printful's live catalog of 580 active products, its design file guidelines and method guides, and Custom Ink's color and order guidance, Nov 8, 2026.

Many products offer more than one method, and other methods, such as all-over printing, cover the rest of the catalog.

What each method costs on real pieces

DTG is the cheapest of the three on the pieces most brands start with, at $1.35 less than DTF and $2.33 less than embroidery on a tee.

Source: Printful, size M in black or one size, one print included, Nov 8, 2026. Each piece's default method is an order price; the others are catalog prices.

Print on demand charges per piece, so you sell without holding stock. For how that fits your margin, see how to price clothing.

DTG: for detailed art, one piece at a time

DTG has no minimum and no setup, so a 12-color illustration costs the same to print as a one-color word. That makes it the default for new brands testing designs. Printful describes the finish as soft and flat, and says it can last over 50 washes when turned inside out and air dried.

On a black shirt, leave areas you want black fully transparent. The white underbase turns printed black ink gray. Avoid semi-transparent effects; use solid colors or halftones.

Screen printing: for bold art in bulk

Screen printing makes sense when you already know a design sells. Each color needs its own screen, so setup is charged per color, and the cost per shirt falls fast as orders grow. Custom Ink recommends it from 24 pieces and for 1 to 6 spot colors; Printful's own screen printing starts at 500 shirts.

Printful says screen prints generally outlast DTG prints through repeated washing, and that the thicker ink gives a bold, tactile feel. The catch is stock: you pay for the whole run before anyone buys.

Embroidery: for logos and hats

Embroidery looks premium at a small size and lasts. Printful calls it extremely durable and says it often lasts as long as the garment, but it cannot hold fine detail.

Standard embroidery uses up to 6 of Printful's 15 thread colors, and every new design has a $6.50 digitizing fee that covers reuse on later orders. On a tee, the chest area is 4 by 4 inches, and a Yupoong 6089M cap's back is 2 by 1 inches. Letters should be at least 0.25 inches tall, as the clothing brand logo guide shows.

How to choose

Decide by the art and the quantity, in that order.

1. 1

   Is it a hat?

   Use embroidery, or DTF where the hat offers it

2. 2

   Is it a small logo with few colors?

   Use embroidery on the chest for a premium look

3. 3

   Is it detailed or full color?

   Use DTG on cotton tees and hoodies

4. 4

   Does the piece lack DTG?

   Check DTF. Printful has 30 products that default to it

5. 5

   Selling hundreds of one bold design?

   Get a screen printing quote and compare

Placement matters as much as method, because some spots exist for only one technique. T-shirt design placement lists every print area by size. This choice is part of building the first collection in how to start a clothing brand.

Questions about DTG, screen printing and embroidery

Is DTG or screen printing better?

DTG is better for small orders and detailed art. Screen printing is better for large orders of a simple design, because setup costs spread over more shirts.

Does Printful do screen printing?

Yes, by request for orders of 500 or more shirts. None of its 580 active catalog products lists it as an on demand method.

Which lasts longest?

Printful rates embroidery as the most durable, often lasting as long as the garment, and says screen prints generally outlast DTG. Printful suggests washing DTG inside out and air drying it.

Is DTG cheaper than embroidery?

On Printful, yes for the tees and hoodies above. A Bella+Canvas 3001 tee costs $11.92 with DTG and $14.25 embroidered, plus the $6.50 digitizing fee per embroidered design.

What about DTF?

DTF is full color and needs no setup. It costs slightly more than DTG on these pieces and is useful on products that do not offer DTG.

Which method does Clothify use?

Clothify matches each piece to a Printful method, such as DTG on tees and hoodies and embroidery on hats, and shows you the supplier cost before you sell.

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