Screen Printing vs. Embroidery: What’s the Difference?

Launching a line of cool custom merch for your corporate brand? Maybe you’re a YouTuber ready to offer your subscribers some fly hoodies and crewneck tee’s? You’ll need to understand two common ways to jazz up your merch. Use this helpful guide to unpack the differences between screen printing vs. embroidery.

Screen Printing vs Embroidery: What’s the Difference?

Understanding the Basics of Screen Printing

It’s easy to get; every printed Tee you’ve seen came from a screen-printer. Screen printing is a technique that uses a mesh screen, ink to print, and a stenciled design. It then needs to pass through a dryer to cure the ink.

They can do some cool graphic designs and bring them to life on a t-shirt in brilliant ink colors. The disadvantages of screen printing are the setup cost and limited color range compared to digital printing.

How Embroidery Brings Your Designs to Life

Embroidery is a technique that gives an elegant finishing touch to garments. The advantage of embroidery vs screen printing is that it creates a classy and high-end look, giving the impression of a high-value garment.

Embroidery machines can personalize clothing, hats, blankets, and other items. They can use more threads or bold thread colors for a bolder look. Puff embroidery can create a unique look on hats and jackets made of sturdier materials.

Think flex-fit hats with your embroidered logo on the front panel or a baby blanket with a name or date.

Cost Considerations: Screen Printing vs. Embroidery

Let’s get to the meat and potatoes of screen print and embroidery – the numbers. One disadvantage of embroidery services is that you can expect to pay more for your personalized item. This is true even if it’s smaller than a screen print. Both aren’t cost-effective for smaller runs. You’ll need to produce volume to bring the costs down.

Choosing Between Embroidery and Screen Printing: The Right Method for Different Fabrics

Fabrics That Work Best with Screen Printing

Cotton, blended materials, and polyester are great choices for screen printing projects. Lightweight fabrics like Gore-Tex and bamboo are suitable for showing off vibrant colors. Color screen printing is even possible on denim and canvas. Imagine the possibilities for totes and jackets.

Ideal Fabric Types for Embroidery

Embroidering a T-shirt isn’t the best idea. You’ll end up with a puckered finish. Sure, you can do it, but this technique does better on durable materials that can take the stitching tension, like denim and fleece.

Best Applications for Screen Printing

Here are a few ideas for garments and screen printing:

High-volume T-Shirt Production for Events or Promotions
Custom Apparel for Sports Teams and Clubs
Graphic Designs with Bold, Vibrant Colors
Creating Merchandise for Bands or Artists
Printing on Light and Soft Fabrics for Comfort
Corporate Branding on Uniforms and Workwear
Designs Featuring Large Logos or Text
Posters and Custom Signage for Marketing Campaigns
Limited Edition Clothing Lines with Unique Prints
Promotional Tote Bags and Accessories

When to Opt for Embroidery for a Professional Finish

Here’s when to go with embroidery in your merch range:

Corporate Apparel, Such as Polo Shirts or Blazers
Custom Hats and Caps with Logos or Monograms
Uniforms for Hospitality or Service Industries
Luxury Branding on Jackets and Outerwear
Personalized Towels or Robes for High-End Gifts
Professional Bags, Backpacks, and Luggage
Workwear that Requires Durability and Longevity
Adding Elegance to Golf or Sports Club Apparel
Decorating Home Textiles Like Cushions and Blankets
Embroidered Patches for Teams, Organizations, or Events

Work with a POD Platform and Print Your Merch On-Demand

Setting up a screen costs a pretty penny, and running a low-volume batch of embroidered garments costs a fortune. So, why not leverage the cost savings advantage of working with a POD partner? They’ll get you the designs you need on your merch, printed or embroidered, without the huge setup costs – it just makes sense, right?

Retro Shirtz Custom Bulk T-Shirts Printing near Regency inside Westroads Mall in Omaha

At Retro Shirtz we understand the importance of logo design. So we provide free graphic design, including free logo design with all standard custom shirt orders.

Our free graphic design services include:

suggesting and implementing fonts
changing the colors and layout of the fonts, and our team’s excellent skills at creating custom image assets.

Screen Printing vs. Embroidery: What’s the Difference?