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Screen Printing vs DTG Printing (Direct-to-Garment)

Screen Printing vs DTG Printing: Which One Should You Choose?

Which T-Shirt Printing Method Saves You the Most Money?

Screen printing and DTG (Direct-to-Garment) printing offer distinct advantages for custom t-shirts in Brisbane. Screen printing excels for bulk orders of 20+ shirts with simple logos and 1-4 colors, featuring setup costs but dropping per-shirt prices dramatically at 60-200+ units, excellent durability, and a slightly thicker ink feel, though turnaround is often 3 weeks. DTG suits small runs of 1-20 shirts, photos, gradients, or full-color designs with minimal setup, softer feel, faster turnaround including same-day options, and consistent costs. Choose screen for large uniform orders to leverage economies of scale; opt for DTG for quick, detailed one-offs. Check pricing pages for bulk examples.

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Key Takeaways

  • Best for bulk: Screen printing is ideal for orders of 20+ shirts, logos, and uniforms.
  • Ideal for small runs: DTG is perfect for 1–20 shirts, photos, and highly detailed artwork.
  • Cost dynamics: Screen printing becomes cheaper per shirt as quantities increase, while DTG pricing remains consistent.
  • Setup fees: Screen printing requires screen setup, whereas DTG has minimal setup costs.
  • Durability edge: Screen printing offers excellent wash resistance; DTG durability is very good.
  • Turnaround speed: DTG can offer same-day printing for small orders, while screen printing typically takes up to three weeks for bulk runs.

Choosing the right printing method matters - it affects your price, turnaround time, print look, and durability. This guide compares screen printing and DTG (Direct-to-Garment) so you can choose the best option for your order.

Quick Summary

  • Screen printing is usually best for bulk orders and simple logo designs.
  • DTG printing is usually best for small orders, detailed artwork, and photographic prints.

If you’re unsure, use the comparison above, then check our Pricing page for real bulk examples.

What Is Screen Printing?

Screen printing applies ink to fabric using a mesh screen. It’s known for:

  • strong colour consistency
  • durable results
  • excellent value when printing the same design in bulk

Screen printing is most efficient when you’re printing the same artwork across many garments.

What Is DTG Printing?

DTG (Direct-to-Garment) printing is a digital method where ink is printed directly onto the shirt — similar to an inkjet printer. DTG is known for:

  • High detail
  • Full-colour prints (including photos)
  • Flexibility for small quantities

DTG is ideal when you need one-off shirts, mixed designs, or photo-quality prints.

Screen Printing vs DTG: Side-by-Side Comparison

Feature Screen Printing DTG Printing
Best For Bulk orders, logos, uniforms Small runs, photos, detailed artwork
Ideal Quantity 20+ shirts (best value at 60–200+) 1–20 shirts (also works for small batches)
Setup Costs Yes (screens/setup) Usually minimal
Cost Per Shirt Drops significantly as quantity increases More consistent per-shirt cost
Artwork Type Best for flat colours and logos Best for photos, gradients, detailed images
Colour Handling Best for 1–4 colours Full colour supported
Print Feel Slightly thicker ink feel Softer feel (ink into fabric)
Durability Excellent for frequent washing Very good (depends on garment and care)
Turnaround Often standard 3 weeks (bulk production) Often faster for small orders - Same day printing available

Which Is Cheaper?

It depends on your order.

Screen printing is usually cheaper when:

  • you’re ordering 20+ shirts
  • the design is the same across the batch
  • the artwork uses limited colours (e.g. a logo)

As the order size increases, screen printing becomes more cost-effective due to economies of scale.

DTG is usually cheaper when:

  • you only need 1–20 shirts
  • you’re printing photographs or complex designs
  • you need multiple unique shirts (different designs per shirt)

Which Looks Better?

Screen printing looks best when:

  • You want bold, clean logos and text.
  • Colour consistency matters across many shirts.
  • You want a classic “uniform” look.

DTG looks best when:

  • You need high detail.
  • Your artwork includes gradients or photographs.
  • You want a more “printed into the fabric” feel.

Best Use Cases

Choose Screen Printing if you are ordering for:

  • Clubs and sporting teams
  • Event staff uniforms
  • Corporate branding
  • Schools and community groups
  • Bulk promotional t-shirts

Choose DTG if you are ordering for:

  • Single shirts ( birthday prtesents, etc) and small runs (cafe shirts, etc)
  • Photo prints
  • Sample prints before a bulk order
  • Mixed designs (each shirt different)
  • Urgent one-off printing needs

What If I’m Not Sure?

A simple decision rule:

  • Need 1–20 shirts or photo printing? → DTG is usually best.
  • Need 20+ shirts with the same logo/design? → Screen printing is usually best.

If your order is in between, we can recommend the best method once we know:

  • Your quantity
  • Artwork type
  • Print locations
  • Your deadline

Next Step: Check Real Pricing Examples

To see how bulk costs drop as quantity increases, view our real screen printing examples on the Pricing page:

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