Embroidery or DTF print: which suits your logo?
Updated 25 October 2026
In short
Embroidery looks premium and lasts as long as the garment – ideal for polo shirts, jackets, caps and workwear. DTF print brings fine details, gradients and photos onto the fabric, costs less for small quantities and particularly suits T-shirts, sportswear and large designs on the back.
The comparison at a glance
| Embroidery | DTF print | |
|---|---|---|
| Look | premium, raised, refined | flat, colourful, precise |
| Detail | lines from approx. 0.9 mm | very fine lines, gradients, photos |
| Colours | up to 6 thread colours (from 5 colours + CHF 5.– per piece and position), no gradients | unlimited |
| Ideal for | polos, jackets, softshell, caps, fleece | T-shirts, sport, hoodies, large back designs |
| Price | CHF 9.90 / 11.90 / 13.90 depending on size, CHF 7.90 from 100 pieces | CHF 5.50 / 7.50 / 9.50 depending on size |
When embroidery is the better choice
- For polo shirts, shirts, jackets, softshell and caps: the logo looks premium and survives countless washes.
- For workwear that gets heavy use – the thread does not rub off.
- For simple logos with few colours and lines that are not too fine.
When DTF print is the better choice
- For logos with gradients, more than 6 colours, photos or very fine lettering.
- For T-shirts and sportswear: the print is light and stretchy.
- For large designs on the back (up to 30 cm) – with no set-up costs.
What does it cost?
Embroidery is priced per position by the longest side of the logo and the quantity – a chest logo costs CHF 9.90 for 1 piece, CHF 9.40 from 10 and CHF 7.90 from 100 pieces; from the second position on the same garment it gets cheaper. The same logo on different items counts together, and digitising is free.
DTF print costs CHF 5.50 (up to 10 cm), CHF 7.50 (up to 20 cm) or CHF 9.50 (up to 30 cm) per position, with a quantity discount from 10 pieces (−10%) up to 100 pieces (−33%).
Our tip
Upload your logo in the shop and switch between embroidery and DTF print: the live preview shows both on your item, and our logo check tells you when lines are too fine to embroider.
Frequently asked questions
- Does embroidery last longer than a print?
- Yes, embroidery usually lasts as long as the garment itself. With the right care (wash inside out, do not iron over the print), a DTF print also lasts through many washes.
- Can I combine embroidery and print?
- Yes. The chest logo is often embroidered and the large design on the back printed – in the shop you choose the decoration for each item.
- Are there set-up costs?
- No. There are no set-up costs for DTF print, and digitising for embroidery is free.