DTG vs Screen Printing vs DTF: Which T-Shirt Printing Method Is Best?

Short version: for 1–30 shirts, full-colour designs or photos, DTF (direct-to-film transfer) is the current best all-rounder — vivid colour, strong wash durability, works on cotton, blends and dark garments alike. DTG (direct-to-garment) gives the softest hand-feel on cotton. Screen printing still wins on unit cost for 50+ identical shirts in few colours.

The comparison

	DTF	DTG	Screen print	Vinyl
Best quantity	1–50	1–30	50+	1–20
Full colour/photos	Excellent	Excellent	Costly (per colour)	No (solid colours)
Dark garments	Excellent	Good (pre-treat)	Excellent	Excellent
Fabric range	Any	Cotton-rich	Most	Most
Feel	Slight surface	Softest	Soft (thin inks)	Noticeable layer
Wash durability	50+ washes	Good	Excellent	Very good (can crack)

Why has DTF taken over small-run printing?

One process handles any colour count, any fabric, any garment colour, with no screens to make — so a single hoodie costs sensible money and a run of 20 mixed sizes is straightforward. That flexibility is exactly what clubs, societies and small businesses need. (What 10 shirts cost.)

When is screen printing still right?

Big runs, few colours: 100 event tees with a one-colour logo will beat DTF on unit price and survive industrial washing. The screens are a fixed setup cost that only amortises over volume.

What about names and numbers?

Vinyl remains ideal for individual personalisation — player names, numbers — often combined with a DTF crest.

FAQ

Which lasts longest? Properly cured screen print, then DTF; all outlast cheap iron-ons by miles. Can you match my brand colour? Screen printing matches Pantones best; DTF/DTG work in CMYK — why that matters. One-off shirts possible? Yes — single shirts printed in Ipswich, often same day.