Methods
Screen printing or DTG for a small order: which is better?
For a small order the deciding number is 36: below 36 pieces of one design, DTG is the answer, because screen printing starts at 36 pieces per design and DTG has no minimum and no setup fee. At 36 pieces a 1-color screen print runs $7.73 per shirt against $12.00 on DTG (light garment), so screen printing is usually the cheaper choice for a simple design from there up. DTG stays the better choice at any quantity for full-color and photographic artwork, where a screen print would need many screens.
Last updated October 17, 2026 · Printed in Santa Fe Springs, CA · (562) 407-3800
Why the line sits where it does
Screen printing builds a screen for every ink color before the first shirt is printed, and that prep is spread across the run inside the per-shirt price. Below 36 pieces of a design, the prep would be most of what you pay for, so we print those jobs on DTG instead, the same way the quote calculator routes them.
DTG prints from the file straight onto the shirt. Nothing is built first, so the price per shirt is mostly the print itself, and it is the same whether the design has one color or a hundred.
How colors change the comparison
Every extra ink color adds a screen and a pass through the press, so the screen printing price per shirt climbs with the color count. DTG does not care how many colors are in the file. For a 1- or 2-color logo at or above the minimum, screen printing usually wins on price; for full-color art, DTG often wins even at quantities where screen printing is available.
Look, feel and durability
- Screen printing lays down a thicker, brighter, more opaque layer of ink. Bold graphics and solid colors pop, especially on dark garments, and a properly cured print lasts the life of the shirt.
- DTG sinks into the fibers for a softer, flatter print and handles gradients and photos well. It fades gradually with washing, more noticeably on dark shirts.
- Garments: screen printing works on cotton, blends and polyester. DTG prints best on 100% cotton.
- Dark shirts: both methods put down a white underbase so colors read, which adds to the price either way.
Price per shirt by quantity, one front location
| Quantity | DTG, light | DTG, dark | Screen print, 1 color | Screen print, 2 colors |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 piece | $20.00 | $25.00 | Use DTG | Use DTG |
| 12 pieces | $15.00 | $20.00 | Use DTG | Use DTG |
| 24 pieces | $15.00 | $20.00 | Use DTG | Use DTG |
| 36 pieces | $12.00 | $15.00 | $7.73 | $8.87 |
| 48 pieces | $12.00 | $15.00 | $7.56 | $8.52 |
| 72 pieces | $8.00 | $10.00 | $5.28 | $5.93 |
| 100 pieces | $8.00 | $10.00 | $3.77 | $4.24 |
Decoration only, from the same pricing engine as the quote calculator; the blank is additional. Screen printing starts at 36 pieces per design, so smaller quantities show DTG only.
Frequently asked
Is DTG cheaper than screen printing for small orders?
What is the minimum for screen printing?
Does DTG last as long as screen printing?
Does the number of colors change the DTG price?
Can I start on DTG and switch to screen printing later?
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