Embroidery vs Screen Print vs Heat Transfer: What to Use When
How your logo gets onto a shirt changes how it looks, how it lasts and what it costs. There is no single best method. Each one fits certain garments and quantities.
The short answer
- Embroidery for polos, jackets, quarter-zips and hats.
- Screen printing for t-shirts and hoodies in larger quantities.
- Full-color heat transfer (DTF) for small runs, full-color logos and photos.
Embroidery
Thread is stitched right into the garment.
- Best for: polos, jackets, hats, quarter-zips, bags.
- Looks: dressed up and professional. It lasts as long as the garment.
- Watch for: very small text and fine detail. Thin lines and tiny lettering can fill in. A simpler version of your logo often works better.
- Price: set by stitch count and quantity, not the number of colors.
Screen printing
Ink is pushed through a screen onto the fabric, one screen per color.
- Best for: t-shirts, hoodies and event shirts.
- Looks: bold, solid color with a soft feel on good shirts.
- Watch for: each color needs its own screen, so setup costs add up on small orders. Dark shirts usually need a white base layer under the colors.
- Price: drops fast as quantity goes up. It usually starts at about a dozen pieces.
Full-color heat transfer (DTF)
Your design is printed on film and heat-pressed onto the garment.
- Best for: small orders, logos with many colors or gradients, and names or numbers.
- Looks: bright and detailed, with a thin layer you can feel.
- Watch for: it doesn’t breathe like screen printing on a big design, and it isn’t the right look for a polo.
- Price: priced by size. Good value on small runs.
Mixing methods
One logo can be embroidered on polos and screen printed on tees. They will look like the same brand if the colors match. We send mockups for each so you can see them side by side.
Not sure which one fits? Try the price estimator on any apparel product, or ask us.
Want to see it on your gear first? Send us your logo. We’ll send a free mockup before anything is ordered, and there are no minimums.