How much does it cost to start a t-shirt printing business?
That machine is WAY too expensive.
Why would I buy that when a cricut can do the same thing?
It only cost that much to own a business? I thought it was so much more.
What is the best t-shirt printer?
These are the comments you will read on social media posts about the t-shirt business. As you can see, there are assumptions people are making or just a lack of in depth knowledge about the t-shirt printing business.
In this episode we are going to jump into .. what does t-shirt printing equipment cost?
This episode was inspired by an article, on ColDesi... which was inspired by the questions and comments from people above. (Click here to read the article)
Keep in mind all of these prices and estimated financing costs are as of when we wrote this podcast and probably will change over time. However, for the time being we can assume all of this data will still be reasonably accurate for some time.
Heat Transfer Vinyl
Brands
Cost
- Starting around $2400 or about $65 a month
Pros
- One of the easiest to learn / simplest machines
- Very versatile - lights, darks, cotton, poly, stickers, t-shirts, signs
- Little-to-no maintenance
- Nice quality finished goods
- 10x faster than a cricut / hobby cutter
Cons
- You aren't digital printing
- Storing and investing in rolls of material
- Range of production speed varies a lot (1 color, simple design VS 4 color complex design)
Sublimation
Brand: Sawgrass
Cost
- $600 - $6000 or $45 - $165 financed
Pros
- Relatively easy to learn
- Extremely versatile
- Finished print is now "a part of" the t-shirt (or mug or mousepad or totebag)
Cons
- Only meant for white / light colored items
- Polyester or sublimation coated items only
- Ink systems require some maintenance
- Ink can get expensive over time
Print & Cut
Brand: Roland
Cost
- $6000 - $8000 or starting about $165 a month financed
Pros
- Full Digital Prints
- Very versatile - t-shirts to signs to window clings to car decals
- Can do the same as a vinyl cutter above, but can also print
- BIG prints about 20" x HUGE
- Versatile - lights, darks, cotton, poly
Cons
- Ink and Printable vinyl has a higher supply cost than other methods
- Can be considered slow when compared
- Requires a bit more graphics knowledge to set up prints and cuts
White Toner Transfer Printers
Brand: DigitalHeat FX
- Uninet & Crio
- i560, 8432wt, i650, 9541wt
Cost
- $3700 - $15000 or about $100 - $400 a month
Pros
- Full color digital prints
- Very fast print time
- Little-to-no maintenance
- Versatile lights, darks, cotton, poly.
- Can be used on hard good with no special coatings required
Cons
- More precise learning process, requires practice
- Toner and transfer paper is not as soft as alternatives like DTG, Sublimation, DTF
- Cost per print higher than other methods like DTG or DTF
Direct to Garment Printing
Brand: DTG
Cost
- $15000 - $24000 or about $350 - $600 a month financed
Pros
- Amazing colors and full digital prints
- Washes and wears beautifully
- No transfer required, more details
- Low cost per print
Cons
- Light colors - cotton & poly - Darks - Best for cotton only
- Liquid ink systems requires maintenance
- Good knowledge of graphics really helps to get the best prints
DTF - Direct to Film
Brands: DTF / Coldesi - DigitalHeat FX
Cost
- Still a growing field of printers but right now about $25k or $690 a month financed.
Pros
- Amazing quality digital prints
- Wears, washes and looks great
- Super fast
- Very low supply cost
Cons
- Liquid and film system requires maintenance
- Initial cost to invest is one of the highest
- It's bigger and louder than anything on the list
Hopefully this information helps you to understand what it costs to invest in a t-shirt printing system and which one is best for you. Be sure to click the link and read the article for more information: How Much Does It Cost? Comparing Pricing and Payments on Custom T-Shirt Printing Equipment - ColDesi
