Screen Printing or Embroidering...What Is The Better Option For Your Custom T-shirts?

Colourful custom t-shirts with personalized labels and blank canvas for custom logo and design.

Online Ordering

When ordering your custom t-shirts online, you have the option to choose between screen-printing, embroidery or digital print. Our recommendation is always screen-printing or digital print as they are the commonly used decoration type for personalized t-shirts. In the past year we introduced embroidery as an option for t-shirts since it had its’ benefits for clients that had specific requirements for their custom orders. But how do you know what’s the best option for you?

Screen Printing vs. Embroidery

Screen-print and embroidery are two very different printing methods that are chosen based on your design, the size of the design, fabric and your preference depending on the use for your custom t-shirts. To recap, screen-printing exposes your design on the washed out screen, which is then set up on a press with the blank t-shirt on it. On the other hand, embroidery uses machines that sew your design with a needle and thread. Customer’s main factor in choosing between the two printing methods is the fact that screen-printing is the most cost-effective when printing bulk customized t-shirts and the commonly used t-shirt for this method is the Fruit of The Loom heavy cotton custom t-shirt.

Screen-printing custom t-shirt with Entripy logo on sleeve.

Before placing your online order, our live customer reps are always online to help you through any questions that you may have. To help you guide through the most suitable printing method, we ask you to consider firstly what the use of these printed t-shirts will be and the quantity of your order. For budget constraints, screen-printing is always the better option, but for a higher-quality and professional finish, embroidery is a better fit.

Embroidering on Custom T-shirts

Embroidering on blank t-shirts is not as easy as screen-printing on them since the needle is stitching through the t-shirt, which is why there are restrictions when using this method. If you are considering using embroidery for your personalized t-shirt orders, here is what you need to look out for:

  • The logo or design you want embroidered should be a simplified design with block texts. The more solid the design is with less curves, the easier it is to embroider.
  • The size of the design is an important factor. It is recommended to embroider a design that will cover the right or left chest of the t-shirt to maintain the quality and professional look. The bigger the design and curvier texts, the more difficult it would be to embroider on the t-shirt.
  • The t-shirts material has to be a considerably strong for the fabric to hold when the needles are stitching through the t-shirt. It depends if the material is polyester, cotton or a blend since our embroidery machines’ average speed is 800 stitches per minute. If the fabric is pulled, the entire logo will be disproportionate, which will ruin the t-shirt.
Selection of different colour threads that are used to embroider custom apparel.

What is the better option for you?

Embroidering on t-shirts is preferred when clients are looking to embroider t-shirts for custom uniforms, high-end client gifts and giveaways at corporate events. The focus is generally to appeal for a more professional look and a higher quality that will last longer than screen printing. The ultimate decision is your preference of how you would like your custom apparel to look, but to understand your options further, our customer service reps are always on the line to help you come to a decision that best fits your needs.