DTF vs Screen Printing Cost Calculator
Your design, your quantity, your shop's rates — the break-even between the two methods, computed live. Free, in your browser.
The job
DTF assumptions
Gang sheet pricing commonly runs $0.02–0.04/in² — edit to your supplier's rate.
Screen print assumptions
Every color is a screen to burn and register — edit to your shop's fees.
For 48 pieces, 3 colors, 10×10" —
DTF wins by $37.02
DTF: $157.98 ($3.29/pc) · Screen print: $195.00 ($75 setup + $2.50/pc)
Break-even: screen print becomes cheaper from 95 pieces
| Quantity | DTF total | Screen print total | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | $39.49 | $105.00 | DTF |
| 24 | $78.99 | $135.00 | DTF |
| 48 | $157.98 | $195.00 | DTF |
| 96 | $315.95 | $315.00 | Screen print |
| 144 | $473.93 | $435.00 | Screen print |
| 288 | $947.86 | $795.00 | Screen print |
| 500 | $1645.59 | $1325.00 | Screen print |
Estimates only — materials, garment cost, and minimums vary by shop. The defaults are typical market ranges (sources in the cost comparison guide); put your real numbers in for a real answer.
Decided on a method? Prep the files
Deep dives: the full cost comparison with sources and the gang sheet capacity math.
FAQ
How does the calculator compare the two methods?
Screen printing carries a fixed setup cost per color (each color is a screen to coat, burn and register) plus a small per-piece run charge. DTF has no setup: you pay per square inch of film, so the first and the five-hundredth transfer cost the same. The calculator computes both curves for your job and finds the quantity where they cross.
Where do the default prices come from?
They are mid-points of typical published market ranges — DTF gang sheets commonly advertise $0.02–0.04 per square inch, and screen fees at US shops commonly run $15–40 per color. The sources are listed in our cost comparison guide. They are starting points: put in your supplier's and your shop's real numbers for a real answer.
What does "sheet fill rate" mean?
DTF is billed by the sheet, so your real cost per design depends on how tightly you pack it. A well-nested sheet reaches 85-95% usable fill; a loose grid can waste 30-40% of the film you paid for. Our free gang sheet builder packs designs automatically.
Does this include garment cost?
No — the garment costs the same whichever method decorates it, so it does not change the comparison. The calculator compares decoration costs only. Ink, film, screens, and press labor are in; blanks, art prep, and shipping are not.
What about photorealistic or high-color designs?
Above roughly 4-6 spot colors, screen printing setup costs escalate fast and simulated-process work becomes specialist territory. DTF prints unlimited color at the same film price, which is why complex designs at small quantities are almost always DTF jobs.