T-Shirt Printing Methods Compared (Vinyl, DTF and More)

The best printing method for t shirts depends on your fabric, your design and how many you need. Vinyl suits simple one-colour designs and small runs, sublimation suits light polyester, DTF works on most fabrics including dark cotton, screen printing suits larger runs, and embroidery gives a stitched finish. Here is how each one compares.

Heat transfer vinyl (HTV)

A cutting machine, such as a Cricut, cuts your design from coloured vinyl, which is then pressed onto the shirt with heat. It is ideal for names, numbers, slogans and simple shapes, and it works on cotton, polyester and blends (check the vinyl type with your maker).

You get a smooth, slightly raised finish and strong colour in solid blocks. Multi-colour designs are layered, so very detailed or photographic artwork is not a good fit. It is great for one-offs and small batches. See our guide to what a Cricut does for more.

Sublimation

Sublimation uses special ink and heat to turn the dye into a gas that bonds with polyester fibres, so the design becomes part of the fabric. It gives full-colour, photo-quality results with no feel at all.

The catch: it needs white or light-coloured polyester (or polyester-coated items). It does not work properly on dark garments or on 100% cotton. If you are searching for a sublimation t shirt, ask for a polyester or poly-blend shirt in a light colour. Our sublimation guide explains more.

DTF (direct to film)

DTF printing prints your design onto a special film, adds an adhesive powder and then heat-presses it onto the garment. It works on cotton, polyester and blends, and on dark as well as light garments. It handles full colour and fine detail well.

The print sits on the surface with a soft, slightly flexible feel. It is popular for small and medium runs because setup does not rise with each extra colour.

DTG (direct to garment)

DTG works like an inkjet printer for fabric, spraying ink straight into the shirt. It gives a soft feel and good detail, and works best on cotton and high-cotton blends. Dark garments usually need a white underlayer, so quality and cost vary. It suits one-offs and small runs of detailed designs.

Screen printing

Ink is pushed through a mesh stencil, one screen per colour. Each colour needs its own screen, so setup costs rise with the number of colours. That makes screen printing good value for larger runs of the same design, and less so for one or two shirts. It gives bold, durable prints, especially on cotton. Screen printing vs DTF often comes down to quantity: DTF for small or multi-colour runs, screen printing for bigger runs with few colours.

Embroidery

Thread is machine-stitched into the fabric, which gives a raised, premium look that lasts. It suits logos on polos, hoodies and workwear, but not fine detail or photos. Setup usually includes a digitising fee. See our custom embroidery guide.

Quick comparison

Method	Best fabrics	Colours and photos	Feel	Typical quantity	Best for
Heat transfer vinyl	Cotton, polyester, blends	Solid colours, simple layers	Smooth, slightly raised	1 to small batches	Names, numbers, slogans
Sublimation	Light polyester only	Full colour, photos	No feel	1 to small batches	Photo-style prints, sportswear
DTF	Most fabrics, light or dark	Full colour, fine detail	Soft, light film layer	1 to medium runs	Detailed designs on dark tees
DTG	Cotton and high-cotton blends	Full colour, good detail	Very soft	1 to small runs	Detailed art on cotton
Screen printing	Mainly cotton and blends	Limited colours, bold	Soft, durable	Larger runs	Teams, events, merch
Embroidery	Most garments	Few colours, no photos	Raised stitching	1 to bulk	Logos, workwear, caps

What affects the price

Makers set their own prices, but these are the main drivers:

• Quantity: screen printing is cheaper per shirt at volume, while vinyl, sublimation, DTF and embroidery suit small runs.
• Size and placement: larger prints use more material.
• Number of colours: matters most for screen printing and vinyl layering.
• Garment: quality and brand of the shirt.
• Setup: screens for screen printing or digitising for embroidery.
• Turnaround.

As a rough guide, a single custom printed tee from a small maker often costs somewhere around £12 to £25 including the shirt, with the price per shirt dropping as quantities rise. Ask for a written quote.

How to choose

1. Pick the garment first. Dark cotton points to DTF, DTG or screen printing. Light polyester opens up sublimation.
2. Think about your design. Photos and gradients suit sublimation, DTF or DTG. Simple names suit vinyl. Logos suit embroidery.
3. Count your quantity. One or two shirts: vinyl, DTF or sublimation. Fifty or more of one design: screen printing.
4. Check permission. If your design uses a brand logo, football club crest or cartoon character that is not yours, the maker needs permission to reproduce it, so ask for an original design or use your own artwork.

Caring for printed shirts

Follow the care label. In general, wash inside out at a moderate temperature, avoid tumble drying on high heat, and do not iron directly over the design. Your maker can give advice that suits their method and materials. Our hen party t-shirt guide has further ideas for group orders.

Questions people ask

What is the best printing method for t shirts?

There is no single winner. DTF is a flexible all-rounder, vinyl is great for simple names, and screen printing is cost-effective for large runs.

Vinyl vs sublimation: which is better?

Sublimation suits full-colour designs on light polyester with no feel. Vinyl suits solid colours and works on more fabric types, including cotton.

Can I print a photo on a dark cotton t-shirt?

DTF or DTG are the usual choices. Sublimation will not work on dark or cotton garments.

Is screen printing or DTF cheaper?

For one or two shirts, DTF. For larger runs of the same design, screen printing is often cheaper per shirt.

Not sure which suits your idea? Post a free request and makers will reply with ideas, prices and timings, or browse makers by craft such as vinyl and Cricut, sublimation printing and machine embroidery.