DTG Print Cost Calculator
No setup, no volume discount.
DTG cost per unit
$9.95
$7.17 screen printed at this quantity
Screen printing becomes cheaper above about 17 units, because its setup cost spreads while DTG's per-unit cost does not fall. DTG also handles unlimited colours, which screen printing charges for individually.
How the DTG Print Cost Calculator works
Direct-to-garment has no setup cost and no volume discount, so its per-unit cost is flat. Screen printing starts higher and falls with quantity, and the crossover between them is a specific number worth knowing.
Also known as: direct to garment cost · DTG printing price per unit · digital garment print cost
Not financial advice. Marketplace fees change, and they vary by country, plan and seller status. Every rate here is an editable default, not a quoted price, check the platform's current fee schedule before you price a product against it. This is not tax or business advice.
Frequently asked questions
How much does DTG printing cost?
Commonly £4 to £8 per garment for the print, plus the blank and pretreatment. It does not fall meaningfully with volume.
When is DTG better than screen printing?
Below the crossover quantity, for designs with many colours, and for any print-on-demand model where each order is one unit.
Does DTG handle unlimited colours?
Effectively yes; it prints like an inkjet, so a photograph costs the same as a two-colour logo. That is its main advantage over screen printing.
How durable is DTG?
Good on cotton with proper pretreatment, less so on synthetic blends. Screen printing generally outlasts it, which matters for workwear and less for fashion.