DTG printing – Customize products with direct-to-garment prints

DTG produces soft, detailed prints on cotton and other natural fibers because the ink soaks into the fabric. DTF printing transfers the design from a film with adhesive powder. It covers a wider range of fabrics, including polyester, fleece, nylon, and blends. Read the full DTG vs DTF comparison.

DTG printing works best on materials that contain at least 50% cotton and absorb water. DTG-printed designs on fabric blends containing spandex, nylon, and other synthetic materials may be less durable and appear faded because these materials tend to repel water. Soft, fluffy materials, such as sherpa, brushed fleece, and terry cloth, can't be used for DTG prints because the fabric is too thick and the surface is uneven. This can make the result look imprecise, blotchy, and faded. Learn more about our customization techniques.

100% cotton products work best for DTG prints because cotton absorbs the ink and gives the most opaque, vivid result. Cotton-polyester blends print with a softer, vintage look. For the best results, check our guide on how to prepare the perfect design file for DTG printing.

No, Printful has no minimum order quantity for DTG printing. You can order a single item for yourself, and small businesses can test new designs without holding stock. Orders of 25 or more units of the same product qualify for bulk discounts, which Printful applies automatically at checkout.

Yes, bulk discounts of up to 55% apply to orders of 25 or more items. The discount percentage depends on the product and quantity, and you can mix sizes, colors, and designs as long as you order the same base product. Printful applies the discount automatically at checkout.

No, DTG-printed designs can't be added to all-over-print clothing because sublimation embeds the color into the fabric. Adding another layer of ink on top of sublimated fabric can cause the colors to bleed and mix.

Printful ships worldwide from the fulfillment center nearest to each customer and fulfills 86% of orders in the same region. Shipping rates and times depend on product type, order size, and destination. Merchants use these rates to choose a shipping strategy for their store.

1Yes, you can design and order custom products for yourself or as gifts, with no minimum quantity. Create a free account, customize a product in the Design Maker, and place a personal order. Printful prints, packs, and ships it the same way as any store order.

1. Create a free Printful account.
2. Set up an online store and connect it to Printful.
3. Design your products with our free Design Maker and add them to your store.
4. Promote your products and let Printful handle fulfillment and shipping.

DTG printing at Printful starts at $7.50 for t-shirts like the Gildan 64000, covering the blank, one print placement, and fulfillment. Printful charges no setup fee, and orders start at one item. Inside labels cost an additional $0.99, Printful Growth offers discounts of up to 33%, and bulk orders of 25 or more units cost less.

DTG prints held their color through 100 wash cycles in Kornit’s 2026 test, and the t-shirt fabric faded first. To properly care for printed garments, wash them in cold water, inside out, with mild detergent, and never iron the print, as Printful’s care instructions advise. See how Printful checks DTG print quality.

100% cotton produces the most opaque DTG prints and vivid colors, making it an ideal fabric for this method. Printful also prints on 50/50 blends and tri-blends with combed cotton, which can create a vintage look. Sherpa, brushed fleece, and terry cloth can't take DTG prints. For polyester athletic wear, DTF printing is a better option.

Screen printing requires one screen per color and pays off in bulk production of a single design. Printful offers screen printing for orders of 500 or more units. DTG offers several advantages for small-batch orders, personalized merchandise, and intricate designs. Sublimation printing suits light-colored polyester and polymer-coated items. DTG works well for cotton garments in both light and dark colors.