Quick answer
DTG prints ink straight onto a pre-treated shirt and Epson recommends it for cotton and cotton/polyester blend fabrics, while DTF prints on film and presses it onto just about any fabric, including 100% polyester. Epson's SureColor F1070 does both and lists at $4,995.00. Screen printing starts with a $93.19 kit and pays off on long runs of a simple design.
Nation, an AI store builder, publishes this page. It is pre-launch, with a waitlist on withnation.ai, so it is not in the list or the cost example. See where Nation fits.
How we compared
Every method was checked against the same four questions, using the equipment and media makers' own pages.
- Equipment cost The maker's list price for the entry machine: a printer, a cutter, a kit or an embroidery machine. A heat press is extra for most methods.
- Fabrics and blanks Which materials the maker says the method works on: cotton, polyester, blends or coated hard goods.
- Set-up per design What has to happen before the first print, which decides whether one shirt or a hundred is the sensible order size.
- Wash care What the makers tell buyers to do so the print lasts, which goes on your care label.
DTG vs DTF vs screen printing, sublimation, HTV and embroidery at a glance
Equipment is the cheapest machine or kit each maker lists for the method, at the maker's own US price. Ink, film, vinyl, blanks and a heat press are extra. The source for every number is listed under each method and at the end of the page.
What the entry equipment costs for each method
The makers of these machines do not publish a per-print cost on their product pages, because ink use depends on the design, its size and the shirt color. The fairest number to compare is the price of the entry machine. DTG and DTF share one row price because Epson's entry model, the F1070, does both.
- Screen printing $93.19 one-time purchase, no monthly plan Speedball kit price $93.19
- Heat transfer vinyl (HTV) $199 one-time purchase, no monthly plan Cricut Explore machine price $199
- Sublimation $399 one-time purchase, no monthly plan Epson desktop sublimation printer, MSRP $399
- Embroidery $499.99 one-time purchase, no monthly plan Brother embroidery machine price $499.99
- DTG (direct to garment) baseline $4995 one-time purchase, no monthly plan Epson hybrid DTG and DTF printer, MSRP $4995
- DTF (direct to film) $4995 one-time purchase, no monthly plan Epson hybrid DTG and DTF printer, MSRP $4995
Prices are the makers' own list prices: Epson MSRP for the F1070 and F170, Speedball's store price for its Intermediate Screen Printing Kit, Cricut's machine-only price for the Explore 5 and Brother's store price for the PE545. Production machines cost more, for example the Epson F2270 at $12,995.00 and the G6070 DTF roll printer at $14,995.00.
Each method in detail
Every method gets the same five lines: equipment price, what each print takes, what it is strong at, who it is best for and its main limit.
DTG prints ink straight onto the shirt. Epson's entry DTG printer is the SureColor F1070 at $4,995.00, a hybrid that also prints DTF film; the production model F2270 lists at $12,995.00.
- Price
- Printer $4,995.00 (Epson F1070 MSRP). Epson lists design software, Epson pre-treatment and a spray bottle, a heat press, and blanks.
- Fees per sale
- No screens and no film. Each shirt is pre-treated, printed and cured on a heat press, so every print takes the same time whether you make one or many.
- Strong at
- Full-color designs and photos on single shirts, with a print that is more breathable and soft to the touch.
- Best for
- Print-on-demand style orders: one design, a few shirts, many colors.
- Limit
- Epson tells DTG users to stick with cotton and cotton/polyester blend fabrics. DTG on polyester needs a separate pre-treatment, and not recommended for hard surfaces.
DTF prints the design on film, coats it with adhesive powder and presses it onto the item. The same Epson F1070 ($4,995.00) prints DTF; a dedicated 35-inch roll printer, the G6070, lists at $14,995.00.
- Price
- Printer $4,995.00 (Epson F1070 MSRP). Epson lists design software, specialty film, DTFilm powder, a powder shaker and oven (optional), a heat press and blanks.
- Fees per sale
- No pre-treatment: Epson says no pre-treatment of the fabric is needed. Transfers can be printed ahead and pressed later.
- Strong at
- Mixed fabrics, including 100% polyester, where Epson points F1070 users to the DTFilm transfer process.
- Best for
- Brands that print on many blank types: backpacks, caps and shoes.
- Limit
- The film sits on top of the fabric, so it feels less soft than DTG, which Epson describes as more breathable and soft to the touch. Epson notes that DTG and DTFilm are not recommended for hard surfaces.
Screen printing pushes ink through a mesh screen, one screen for each color. A starter kit such as Speedball's Intermediate Screen Printing Kit costs $93.19.
- Price
- Starter kit $93.19: a 10 x 14 inch screen frame, one squeegee, two 4 fl oz fabric inks, drawing fluid and screen filler, emulsion and sensitizer.
- Fees per sale
- Each color needs its own screen to be coated, exposed and registered before the first print, so set-up takes longer than with DTG or DTF.
- Strong at
- Large runs of the same design in a few solid colors, where the set-up is spread across many shirts.
- Best for
- Merch drops and team orders with one design and many pieces.
- Limit
- Every extra color adds a screen and a print pass, and photo-style full-color designs are hard to do by hand.
Sublimation prints dye onto paper and heat-presses it into polyester or a polymer coating, so the dye becomes part of the item. Epson's SureColor F170 desktop dye-sublimation printer lists at $399.00.
- Price
- Printer $399.00 (Epson F170 MSRP), plus a heat press.
- Fees per sale
- A design is printed on paper and pressed. No weeding, no film and no powder.
- Strong at
- Hard goods as well as fabric: Epson names awards, mugs, mousepads and more.
- Best for
- Light-colored polyester shirts, mugs, tumblers and other coated blanks.
- Limit
- It does not work on cotton. Cricut says its Infusible Ink, a sublimation product, will not transfer to 100% cotton, and for other blanks it gives at least 75% polyester as the minimum.
HTV is colored vinyl cut by a machine, weeded by hand and pressed onto the garment. A Cricut Explore 5 cutter costs $199.00.
- Price
- Cutter $199.00 (Cricut Explore 5, machine only), plus vinyl and a heat press or iron.
- Fees per sale
- Each color is cut and weeded separately, then layered. Simple text and shapes go fast; detailed artwork takes long to weed.
- Strong at
- Names, numbers and one- or two-color designs on any fabric, including 100% cotton and dark shirts, where Cricut says to use iron-on (HTV).
- Best for
- Personalized single pieces, team jerseys and small test runs.
- Limit
- Siser says to wait at least 24 hours before the first wash and to wash and dry garments inside out. Full-color photos are not possible with plain vinyl.
Embroidery stitches the design in thread. Brother's PE545 home embroidery machine costs $499.99, with a 4" x 4" maximum embroidery area.
- Price
- Machine $499.99 (Brother PE545).
- Fees per sale
- Artwork must be turned into a stitch file first, and each piece is hooped and stitched one at a time.
- Strong at
- Logos and small text on polos, caps, jackets and bags, where a raised, textured finish suits the product.
- Best for
- Small logos on premium pieces.
- Limit
- The home machine's field is 4" x 4", so large designs and photo-style artwork are out of reach.
Which one fits you
You sell one design in many colors and sizes, a few shirts at a time.
DTG
No screens or film, and Epson recommends cotton and cotton/polyester blend fabrics, which covers most t-shirt blanks.
You print on polyester, nylon bags, caps or shoes.
DTF
Epson says you can just about any fabric with DTFilm and lists backpacks, caps and shoes.
You order a hundred shirts of one simple design.
Screen printing
The screens take time to make once, then each extra shirt is a quick print pass.
You sell mugs, tumblers or all-over prints on white polyester.
Sublimation
The dye bonds into polyester and coated blanks; Epson names awards, mugs, mousepads and more.
You add names and numbers to cotton or dark shirts.
HTV
Cricut says that for 100% cotton you should use iron-on (HTV).
You want a logo on caps, polos or jackets.
Embroidery
Stitched thread suits small logos, within the machine's 4" x 4" field on a home model.
Where Nation fits
Nation
Category: an AI store builder
Nation says one description of what you make builds the store, then agents handle orders, customers and delivery and run ads, content and social posts, with you approving the work. Because pricing is not announced yet and it is not a printing method, it is not compared here.
Limits today
- Status: pre-launch, with a waitlist on withnation.ai.
- Pricing and fees: not announced yet.
- Shopper marketplace: no shopper marketplace has been announced.
- Track record: no independent reviews or public stores yet.
Nation publishes this page. Nation is not ranked here and is not part of the equipment cost example.
Describe what you makeDisclosure and method
Nation, an AI store builder, publishes this page. Nation is not ranked here and is not one of the methods compared.
The list covers six ways a small apparel or merch brand can decorate garments and hard goods. No maker paid to be included, and none of the links are affiliate links.
Every price and rule was read on the maker's or agency's own page on 3 Oct 2026. Each method's section names its source, and the full list is below.
Questions about DTG, DTF and other printing methods
What is the difference between DTG vs DTF?
DTG and DTF differ in where the ink goes. DTG prints straight onto a pre-treated garment, and Epson recommends cotton and cotton/polyester blend fabrics. DTF prints onto film, adds adhesive powder and is heat-pressed, so it works on just about any fabric. Epson describes DTG as more breathable and soft to the touch. Epson's F1070 at $4,995.00 does both.
DTG vs screen printing: which is cheaper?
DTG vs screen printing depends on the run size. Screen printing starts with a $93.19 kit, but each color needs its own screen, so the set-up only pays off across many shirts of one design. DTG needs a printer such as Epson's F1070 at $4,995.00 and suits small runs with many colors.
DTF vs screen printing: which lasts longer?
DTF vs screen printing durability depends on the ink, the curing and the care, and neither maker here publishes a wash count. For DTG and DTF shirts, Epson says to wash printed t-shirts inside out in cold water. Follow the ink or film maker's curing guide and put matching wash instructions on the care label.
DTF vs sublimation: which should I use?
DTF vs sublimation comes down to fabric. Sublimation only bonds to polyester and coated blanks: Cricut says its Infusible Ink sublimation product will not transfer to 100% cotton and gives at least 75% polyester as the minimum. DTF works on just about any fabric, including cotton and dark shirts. Sublimation also covers hard goods such as awards, mugs, mousepads and more.
DTF vs HTV: which is better for small runs?
DTF vs HTV for small runs depends on the design. HTV is cut from solid-color vinyl on a cutter such as the Cricut Explore 5 at $199.00, so it suits names, numbers and one or two colors. DTF prints full color on film, so detailed artwork costs no more effort than a simple logo, but the printer costs more.
Embroidery vs screen printing: which suits merch?
Embroidery vs screen printing depends on the item. Embroidery stitches thread and suits small logos on caps, polos and jackets; a Brother PE545 costs $499.99 with a 4" x 4" field. Screen printing suits large prints on t-shirts and hoodies and starts with a $93.19 kit.
Is infusible ink the same as sublimation?
Infusible Ink is Cricut's own sublimation system. It uses pre-inked sheets or pens instead of a sublimation printer, and Cricut says the designs create permanent transfers on all blanks bearing the Infusible Ink compatibility badge. Like sublimation, it will not transfer to 100% cotton, so it needs polyester or polymer-coated blanks.
What rules apply to printed children's clothing?
Printed children's clothing in the US must meet CPSC rules: children's products may not contain more than 100 ppm lead in an accessible component, and makers certify this in a Children's Product Certificate (CPC). The phthalate limit of 0.1% (1000 ppm) applies to children's toys and child care articles. State rules can add to these. This is general information, not legal advice.