Screen Print Transfers vs DTF Transfers: Cost per Print Compared

Short answer: Screen print (plastisol) transfers are cheapest per print on large runs of one design in a few colors, but they come with minimums and a setup cost per color. DTF transfers have no minimums and no setup, print unlimited colors at the same price, and cost less on small and medium runs or full-color designs. Both are durable; DTF presses cooler and faster.

Both are "print now, press later" transfers, so the choice is about the order, not the shirt. If you sell the same 2-color logo on hundreds of shirts a month, plastisol makes sense. If you have twenty designs in small quantities, DTF almost always does. This guide compares the cost math in detail. For screen printing directly on garments, see DTF vs screen printing, and for the full picture, our printing methods comparison. Prices quoted are for BeeDTF DTF transfers, with no setup or color fees.

What is the difference between screen print transfers and DTF?

A screen print transfer is plastisol ink screen printed in reverse onto release paper, with an adhesive layer, ready to heat-press. Each color needs its own screen, just like printing a shirt. A DTF transfer is printed digitally on PET film with a white layer and adhesive powder, so every design and every color comes off the same printer in one pass.

How does the cost per print compare?

Plastisol transfer pricing usually depends on three things: number of colors, sheet size and quantity, plus screen fees on the first order. DTF pricing depends only on the area of film. That gives a simple rule: the more colors and the fewer pieces, the more DTF wins.

To compare, ask your plastisol supplier for the total per transfer at your quantity, including screens and any color or art charges. On a 1-color left-chest logo at a few hundred pieces, plastisol is often cheaper. On a 6-color front at 50 pieces, DTF usually is.

What about minimums and setup fees?

Minimums are where small shops feel the difference. Plastisol suppliers commonly ask for a minimum number of sheets per design and charge screens per color, so trying a new design costs real money. DTF lets you test one design in one size and reorder later at the same price.

• New designs: DTF lets you test without committing to a run.
• Many designs, few each: gang them on one DTF sheet in the gang sheet builder.
• Proven best-sellers: a plastisol run can lower the price per piece.

How do colors and detail compare?

Plastisol transfers are excellent for bold spot colors and specialty looks. Full-color art is possible with process or simulated process printing, but it raises the color count and cost. DTF prints photos, gradients and fine text at no extra cost.

How do you press each one?

Plastisol transfers usually press hotter and longer than DTF, and some are cold peel or warm peel; always follow the supplier's sheet. BeeDTF DTF transfers press at 275°F for 7 seconds with medium pressure, hot peel, then a 5-second finish press.

The full method is in our pressing instructions and in how to press DTF transfers.

Which lasts longer and feels better?

Both are durable when pressed right. Plastisol transfers can feel a little thicker, depending on how many ink layers are printed. DTF is a single thin layer with any number of colors. Both should be washed cold and inside out and not tumble-dried on high.

If you see cracking on either, heat is the usual culprit. See why DTF cracks.

Which transfer should a print shop buy?

Many shops keep both: plastisol for the evergreen best-seller, wholesale DTF transfers for everything else.

How do you store each type, and how long do they keep?

Both transfer types are made to be stored and pressed later, which is the whole point for print shops. They like the same conditions: flat, cool, dry and out of the sun.

With DTF, buying smaller batches more often is cheap because there is no setup, so you don't need to stock a year of transfers. Our guide on how to store DTF transfers has the full setup.

Frequently asked questions about screen print transfers vs DTF

Are screen print transfers better than DTF?

For large runs of simple designs, they can be cheaper. For small runs, many designs and full color, DTF is cheaper and more flexible.

Do plastisol transfers last longer than DTF?

Both last a long time when pressed correctly. Most failures come from pressing or washing, not the transfer type.

Do DTF transfers have minimums?

Not at BeeDTF. You can order one transfer by size, or fill a gang sheet.

Can I press DTF and plastisol with the same press?

Yes, but they use different settings. DTF is 275°F for 7 seconds with a hot peel.

What is the cheapest way to buy DTF in bulk?

Wholesale lengths from 400″ to 1,000″, from $0.40 down to $0.34 per inch.