Embroidery vs Screen Printing — Which Is Right for Your Ord…
Toronto Custom
/ COMPARISON · DECORATION_METHODS

Embroidery vs Screen Printing

One stitches thread into the fabric, the other lays ink on top. The right pick depends on the garment, the logo, and the impression you want to leave.

12 VIEWING NOW18 ORDERS / 30D
/ THE_TL;DR

Bottom Line

Embroidery signals premium and lasts the life of the garment — perfect for polos, caps, jackets, and corporate wear with a compact logo. Screen printing is the cost-effective, full-detail choice for tees and hoodies, large artwork, and bright multi-colour designs. Many corporate orders use both: embroidered left chest + screen-printed back.

PICK EMBROIDERY IF…
You want a premium, durable finish on polos, caps, fleece or jackets with a logo under ~4 inches — corporate uniforms and staff wear.
PICK SCREEN PRINTING IF…
You're decorating tees/hoodies, need large or full-colour artwork, or want the lowest per-piece cost on bigger runs.
/ SIDE_BY_SIDE

Embroidery vs Screen Printing

SPECEmbroideryScreen Printing
Perceived QualityPremium / corporateCasual / retail
DurabilityLife of garment40-100 wash cycles
Best GarmentsPolos, caps, fleece, jacketsTees, hoodies, totes
Large ArtworkNot idealExcellent
Full-Colour DetailLimited by threadExcellent
Setup FeeDigitising $15-45$25-40 per colour
Cost At 50pcHigher per stitch countLower per piece
Toronto Turnaround4-7 business days3-5 business days

The Honest Trade-Offs

/ EMBROIDERY

Embroidery

Premium, textured finish that signals quality
Outlasts the garment — thread won't fade, crack or wash out
Ideal on polos, caps, fleece, jackets and bags
Looks sharp on corporate and uniform apparel
One-time digitising fee per logo ($15-45)
Not suited to large designs or fine photographic detail
Thread count drives cost — complex logos get pricey
Adds weight/stiffness on very thin fabrics
/ SCREEN_PRINTING

Screen Printing

Lowest per-piece cost on 50+ garments
Handles large, bold, full-front artwork with ease
Bright, opaque colour — great on dark tees and hoodies
Fast turnaround for high-volume single designs
Per-colour screen setup fee
Ink can fade/crack over years vs thread
Minimum quantity of 12-25 typical
Less 'premium' perception than stitched logos

Quick Answers

Is embroidery more expensive than screen printing?+

For small logos on premium garments, embroidery is usually worth the extra cost and can be competitive after the one-time digitising fee. For large designs or big runs of tees, screen printing is meaningfully cheaper per piece because embroidery is priced by stitch count.

Which lasts longer, embroidery or printing?+

Embroidery. Stitched thread outlives the garment — it won't fade, crack or peel. A quality screen print lasts 40-100 washes but ink eventually softens. That's why uniforms and corporate wear are usually embroidered.

Can you embroider a detailed or full-colour logo?+

Embroidery handles compact logos and text beautifully but struggles with fine gradients, small text under ~4mm, and photographic detail. If your logo has intricate detail or many colours, we'll either simplify it for stitching or recommend screen print / DTF instead.

Can I combine embroidery and printing on one order?+

Absolutely — it's one of our most popular corporate combos: an embroidered left-chest logo for a premium look plus a large screen-printed design on the back. We handle both in-house in Mississauga.

Still On The Fence?

Tell us your garment and logo — we'll recommend embroidery, print, or both, and quote it.

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