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DTF PRICING LADDER

DTF Pricing Ladder: How Costs Change as Quantities Increase

DTF (Direct-to-Film) pricing behaves differently to traditional screen printing. While quantity does influence price, DTF does not experience steep bulk discounts because each print is still produced and applied individually.

This page explains how DTF pricing typically changes as order quantities increase, using real-world examples.

Why DTF Pricing Works Differently

  • DTF does not require screens
  • Each garment still requires an individual transfer
  • Each transfer must be heat pressed separately

As a result, labour and material costs apply to every single shirt, even in large orders.

The DTF Pricing Ladder Explained

🔹 20-40 Shirts (Small Runs)

What to expect:

  • Higher cost per shirt
  • Ideal for small groups, samples, and trial runs
  • Best when artwork is complex or full-colour

Typical characteristics:

  • Front-only prints are most cost-effective
  • Large back prints increase cost. X-large prints on back attract higher pricing
  • Standard turnaround offers better value

🔹 50–120 Shirts (Medium Runs)

What to expect:
  • Per-shirt pricing begins to stabilise.
  • Quantity helps, but print size and placement matter more.
  • Urgent turnaround can significantly affect cost.
Typical characteristics:
  • Front and back prints are common.
  • Multi-colour artwork is handled easily.
  • There is little difference in cost between 60 and 100 shirts if the prints are large.

🔹 150+ Shirts (Larger Runs)

What to expect:
  • Slight improvement in cost per shirt
  • Efficiency gains from batching transfers
  • No dramatic price drop compared to screen printing
Typical characteristics:
  • Better suited for urgent bulk orders
  • Still flexible for detailed artwork
  • Screen printing may become cheaper at this scale

Real-World Example Insight

From completed jobs:

  • 30 shirts (front only, standard) → low-to-mid $20s per shirt
  • 100 shirts (front + back, urgent) → mid-to-high $20s per shirt
  • 160+ shirts (front + back, urgent) → slight improvement, but still per-transfer based

These examples demonstrate that DTF pricing improves gradually, not exponentially.

When the DTF Pricing Ladder Makes Sense

DTF is ideal when:

  • You need flexibility rather than relying on steep bulk discounts.
  • Your artwork is detailed or multi-colour.
  • Your turnaround time is around two weeks.
  • Your quantities fall between small and medium runs.

If your primary goal is achieving the lowest possible cost per shirt at very high volumes, screen printing is usually a better option.

DTF vs Screen Printing (Pricing Behaviour)

  • DTF: Flexible, fast to set up, and consistent pricing.
  • Screen printing: Higher setup costs, but much cheaper per item at larger quantities.

Choosing the right method early can significantly impact your final cost.

Next Steps

  • 👉 View DTF Pricing Examples
  • 👉 Compare Screen Printing vs DTF
  • 👉 Use the DTF Pricing Calculator
  • 👉 Request a personalised quote

Understanding the DTF pricing ladder helps you choose the most cost-effective printing method for your needs.

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