Embroidery vs. Screen Printing: Which Is Best for Your Project?

When it comes to customizing clothing or accessories, how you decorate the shirts can make a big impact on the final result. Embroidery and screen printing are two of the most common techniques t-shirt shop owners use, each with its own strengths and limitations. Embroidery adds texture and dimension to designs, while screen printing offers a wide range of colors and allows for intricate details. Get ready to compare embroidery and screen printing, discuss their pros and cons, and decide how to choose the best imprinting method for your projects.

Like all decorating methods, embroidery and screen printing shine with some designs and not so much with others. Let’s take a bird’s-eye view of the pros and cons of each imprinting method.

Embroidery Pros: Embroidery is a clean, professional, classic and classy way to decorate corporate, team and school apparel. Unlike many printing methods, embroidery never cracks, peels or fades, even through many washes and wears. You can add texture and dimension to your logo or design. There are lots of thread color choices, from metallics to neons to glow in the dark, so you can create the effects your buyers desire. 

Embroidery Cons: Stitching can be more expensive than screen printing, so it may not work with all customer budgets. Embroidery also can’t replicate every logo or design perfectly, especially if there’s small lettering, shading, gradients or other very fine details. In those cases, you might need to alter the logo before you digitize it to sew out in thread. Finally, embroidery doesn’t work on all fabrics, like thinner performance materials, since the weight of the design can cause the material to wrinkle or pucker.

Screen-Printing Pros: Even though inks may not last as long as embroidery threads, screen printing is one of the most durable imprinting options out there – usually lasting as long as the t-shirt. Screen printing is great for multicolor, detailed designs with lots of gradients and shading or typography. You can also create in-demand retro or distressed designs with this print method. Finally, screen printing is more affordable than stitching, especially if you create one- or two-color designs.

Screen-Printing Cons: Screen printing is better for high-volume orders vs. minimum quantities, since you’ll need to make customized screens for each design. However, once you have your screens burned, you can print your orders much faster. You won’t be able to screen print on certain fabrics, like fuzzier, thicker or fleece hoodies, where embroidery is a better choice.

Here’s a quick chart that lets you compare embroidery and screen printing at a glance. 

As you’ve learned, not all designs should be embroidered, and not all should be screen printed. 

Use embroidery when…

• You’re working with a company, school or team that wants to display its brand or mascot in the best possible light – since crisp, clean embroidery is often synonymous with higher-end products.
• You’re creating quality personalized or custom gifts. For example, personalized throw blankets, monogrammed towels, baby or wedding gifts all benefit from classic embroidery.
• You’re developing retail-inspired, fashion designs. Embroidery is great for a full, eye-catching jacket back design or for adding stand-out elements in multiple places on a garment. You can even add embroidery embellishments to a print, like a cat’s eye or lettering, for a dazzling effect.
• You want to create wow-worthy caps. An embroidered or puff logo, mascot, initial or number on a hat looks great and lasts basically forever. 

Use screen printing when…

• You’re creating intricate full-color designs with shadows, gradient effects and typography. That’s why screen printing is a great choice for printing designs, logos and images onto t-shirts, sweatshirts, hats and other apparel items.
• You’re creating a large volume of t-shirts or bags for a corporate event, school club or team, summer camp attendees or trade show giveaway for attendees. When you want to produce high-quality, durable prints in larger quantities, screen printing is your go-to decoration. People keep and wear these tees for years to come, offering even more branding exposure.
• You’re creating fashion-forward merchandise for sale, for bands, tourist destinations or nonprofit organizations. You’ll want to produce designs with excellent color saturation and precision.
• You’re creating “fine art” or limited edition t-shirts for an artist, celebrity, music artist or influencer to sell at a higher price point.
• You’re working with lighter-weight cotton fabrics for t-shirts, tank tops, bags and more. (As an aside, sublimation printing is more durable on moisture-wicking polyester fabrics.) 
  You can also screen print banners, signage, posters and other large-format prints for advertising. In addition, packaging, labels, stickers and decals are other items you can print for your business or for customers. 

Both embroidery and screen printing are excellent techniques to customize clothing or accessories. Embroidery can add texture and depth to designs, giving a more luxurious and high-end feel to the finished product. On the other hand, screen printing allows for vibrant and intricate designs with a wide range of colors that are perfect for more complex designs. Ultimately, the choice between embroidery and screen printing depends on your specific needs and preferences. Consider factors such as budget, design complexity, fabric type, and the quantity of products needed when deciding which method to choose. By weighing the pros and cons of each technique, you can select the method that will best showcase your designs and give you the desired results.

It’s time to start decorating clothing and accessories with embroidered and screen-printing designs! Threadsy is a great online destination for buying t-shirts, other garments and hats at wholesale prices. If you’ve been shopping for blank garments from a big box retailer, it’s time to stop. 

Threadsy offers generous discounts for customers who purchase t-shirts, joggers, pullovers and other apparel in larger quantities. Our bulk discount program starts at $110, and the savings up to 15% automatically appear in your cart when you bundle your items. You’ll also enjoy free shipping on orders $50 or higher, with always-fast delivery. 

Plus, unlike other retailers that tack on fees for everything from orders that don’t meet a certain purchase threshold, to packing your order to processing returns, Threadsy doesn’t do that. There’s no minimum order, returns are free for 30 days, and we’ll never charge you extra money to pack your order. So what are you waiting for? Start shopping and saving today on t-shirts and other garments just waiting for your multimedia design.