Screen print vs. DTF transfers: which one your order actually needs

If you are ordering custom shirts for the first time, the screen print versus DTF question can feel bigger than it needs to be. The short version: screen print is built for bigger orders with a few solid colors, and DTF transfers are built for small orders, photos, or anything with lots of colors. Here is how to tell which one your order actually needs.

Screen print works best for team and group orders

Screen print is the classic method for spirit wear, team shirts, and events where everyone is wearing the same one or two colors across a bunch of pieces. It holds up well over time and it is the most cost-efficient way to print a large quantity of the same design.

The Glenfield Middle School spirit wear tees above are a good example. One design, one or two ink colors, printed across a full order for the whole school. That is exactly the kind of job screen print was made for.

DTF transfers work best for small runs and full color art

DTF transfers print any number of colors, including photos and gradients, and there is no minimum order size. If you need five shirts, one shirt, or a design with a sunset in it, DTF is the easier and more affordable route.

This fundraiser tee from a Pride event in Montclair used full color art that would have needed several screens to print the traditional way. With DTF, the color count did not change the cost or the process at all.

Why the minimums are different

Screen print has a 12 piece minimum, because setting up screens only makes sense once you are printing enough shirts to spread that cost across. DTF transfers have no minimum, since each transfer is printed individually with no screens involved. Embroidery orders have a $75 order minimum, which works differently from both.

What setup actually means

Screen setup is $25 per color per print location, and that fee is waived once your order reaches 100 pieces. If you are reordering a design we already printed for you, you only pay a $10 per screen reset instead of full setup, also waived from 100 pieces. DTF transfers have no setup fee at all, which is part of why they make sense for smaller or more colorful orders.

If you are not sure yet how many you need, a smaller test order is a reasonable way to see the print and fit in hand before committing to a bigger run.

Why we quote the same per-piece base either way

We price screen print and DTF with the same starting per-piece base, then add setup where it applies. That way the method you choose is about what fits your order, not about which one looks cheaper on paper. A small full-color order on DTF and a large two-color order on screen print can both make sense at the same shop for different reasons.

Sizes, blanks, and turnaround

Larger sizes carry a small upcharge: 2XL adds $2.50 and 3XL and up add $4.50. Youth sizes are $1.00 less. All tees are 100% cotton in the 5 to 5.4 oz range, and hoodies are 7.8 to 8.5 oz fleece. We describe blanks by weight rather than brand, since we buy whichever quality blank is in stock at the time.

Turnaround is 7 to 10 business days from art approval and once we have your deposit and garments in hand. If you need something faster, rush charges apply only to decoration and setup, never to the blank garment itself.

A couple of things that make ordering easier

There is no New Jersey sales tax on printed clothing we supply, so the number on your quote is the number you pay. We also send a free mockup before you commit to anything, so you can see exactly how your design will sit on the shirt before production starts.

So which one do you need

If you are ordering 12 or more shirts with one or two colors, screen print will usually give you the best price per piece. If you are ordering a smaller batch, printing a photo, or working with full color art, DTF transfers are the simpler and more affordable path. You can see how pricing breaks down on our price list, or look at ready-to-go options on our starter packs page if you want a simple starting point.

Once you know roughly what you need, the fastest way to get real numbers is to request a quote directly.