The comparison at a glance
| DTF | DTG | Sublimation | Screen print | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Works on cotton | Yes | Yes (best) | No | Yes |
| Works on polyester | Yes | Poorly | Yes (best) | Yes |
| Works on dark garments | Yes | Yes, with pre-treat | No | Yes |
| Pre-treatment needed | No | Yes | No | No |
| Consumable cost | Film $0.63/sheet + powder ~$0.07 | Pre-treat + ink | Paper + ink | High setup, low unit |
| Setup time per design | Minutes | Minutes | Minutes | Hours |
| Hand feel | Slight film layer | Softest | None (dyed in) | Varies by ink |
| Economical from | 1 unit | 1 unit | 1 unit | ~50+ units |
| Verified entry price | $1,599 (Procolored F8 Panda) | Not verified | Not verified | Not verified |
If this comparison points you toward direct-to-film, our DTF printers rankings cover every machine worth considering at each budget level.
DTF: the generalist
DTF is the only one of the four that handles cotton, polyester, blends, nylon and canvas with a single workflow and no pre-treatment. That flexibility is why it dominates small-batch custom apparel. The trade-off is hand feel: the transfer sits on the fabric, so a large solid print is noticeably present to the touch compared to DTG.
Choose DTF when your orders are varied, small and across mixed fabric types.
DTG: the softest result on cotton
DTG sprays ink directly into cotton fibres, giving a print you can barely feel. On 100% cotton it produces the most premium result of the four. The cost is a pre-treatment step for dark garments, poor polyester performance, and a considerably higher entry price than DTF — we have not verified current DTG machine pricing, so treat any figure you see quoted elsewhere with caution.
Choose DTG when you print premium cotton apparel at volume and hand feel is the selling point.
Sublimation: unbeatable on polyester, useless on cotton
Sublimation turns dye into gas that bonds with polyester fibres, so the design becomes part of the fabric — zero hand feel and effectively permanent. The catch is absolute: it only works on light-coloured polyester and polymer-coated hard goods. It cannot print white, and it cannot print on cotton or dark garments.
Choose sublimation for white or light polyester sportswear, mugs, mousepads and coated hard goods.
Which should you buy?
- ●Mixed fabrics, small runs, dark garments → DTF
- ●Premium cotton tees, softest possible feel, higher budget → DTG
- ●Polyester sportswear, mugs and hard goods → Sublimation
- ●200+ identical shirts, one or two colours → Screen printing
- ●Occasional one-offs, tiny budget → Heat transfer vinyl
What most shops actually run
A common setup is DTF as the main machine plus a sublimation printer for mugs and polyester hard goods. DTF covers all garment work on its own; sublimation adds the polymer-coated product range.
Frequently asked questions
Is DTF better than DTG?+
DTF is more versatile — it prints on polyester and blends without pre-treatment and costs far less to start. DTG produces a softer print on 100% cotton. Most small businesses choose DTF for the flexibility.
Can you use sublimation on cotton?+
No. Sublimation dye only bonds with polyester fibres and polymer coatings. On cotton the image washes out almost immediately. DTF is the correct choice for cotton.
Which lasts longer, DTF or vinyl?+
DTF generally outlasts heat transfer vinyl. A cured DTF transfer survives 50+ washes; vinyl tends to crack or lift at the edges sooner, especially on large designs.
Is DTF cheaper than screen printing?+
For runs under roughly 50 pieces, yes — screen printing carries setup costs per colour. Above a few hundred identical shirts, screen printing becomes cheaper per unit.
Do I need both a DTF and a sublimation printer?+
Only if you sell hard goods like mugs and coasters. DTF covers all garment work on its own; sublimation adds the polymer-coated product range for a small extra outlay.
Put the numbers to work
Free calculators that turn everything on this page into figures for your own setup.