DTF vs Screen Printing in Toronto — Which Should You Use?

If you're ordering custom apparel in Toronto for the first time, you've probably heard the two terms DTF and screen printing tossed around. They produce very different results, cost different amounts, and shine on different orders. Here's the no-fluff breakdown.

What is screen printing?

Screen printing pushes ink through a stencil (a mesh "screen") onto the garment. Each colour in your artwork needs its own screen, so setup takes longer but the per-shirt cost drops fast at volume. The ink sits in the fabric, not on it, so prints feel soft and last for years of washing.

• Best for: Orders of 25+ pieces, simple/bold designs, 1-4 colours, long-lasting team uniforms.
• Avoid for: Photo-realistic prints, gradients, very small orders.

What is DTF (Direct-to-Film)?

DTF prints your design onto a transfer film, then heat-presses it onto the garment. The result is a vivid, photo-quality image with no colour limits and zero setup fees — perfect for one-offs and complex art.

• Best for: Small batches (1-25 pieces), full-colour designs, photo art, multi-colour logos, mixed garments.
• Avoid for: Massive runs where screen print would be cheaper per unit.

Cost crossover

For our Toronto customers the rough rule is: under ~25 pieces, DTF wins on price. Over ~50 pieces, screen printing wins. Between those two numbers it depends on how many colours your design has.

Feel & durability

Modern DTF is shockingly close to screen-print durability. Both will last 30+ washes if cared for. Screen prints feel slightly softer and more "broken in" after the first wash; DTF feels a hair more rubbery on day one but settles after a few cycles.

When to use both

For big team or corporate orders we sometimes screen-print the front logo (because it's clean and large) and DTF the back number/name (because the variable content rules out screen printing). Best of both worlds.

Toronto-specific tips

If you're picking up locally in Mississauga / the GTA, turnaround is usually 5-7 business days for either method. Rush jobs (48h) are most commonly DTF because the setup is faster. Order before noon and we can usually start the same day.