What is the minimum order quantity (MOQ)?

MOQ is 50 pieces per design, per size, per color. We do not require per-style minimums, so you can mix sizes freely. Reorders start at 30 pieces.

Can you print all-over on cotton T-shirts?

Yes. We run digital pigment ink on 100% cotton via direct-to-garment (DTG) printing, which holds color on cotton without polyester. We also offer allover digital print on cotton for true edge-to-edge, and DTF for blended fabrics.

Do you ship DDP (door-to-door with duties paid)?

Yes. DDP is available to 50+ countries via DHL, FedEx, and ocean freight. Your landed cost is fixed at quote time: no surprise customs bills on delivery. US orders can ship from our Fontana CA warehouse in 2–5 days.

How long does production take?

Sample: 3–5 business days after artwork approval. Bulk: 10–15 business days for sublimation, 15–20 for DTG cotton. Shipping adds 3–7 days by air or 25–40 days by sea. Rush orders are accepted.

What file format should I send?

AI, PSD, PDF, or PNG at 300 DPI. Include a mockup or tech pack for accurate sizing. We provide a free artwork check and mockup before production starts.

Do you handle design if I only have a sketch?

Yes. Our in-house design team converts sketches, references, and bullet-point briefs into print-ready artwork. Free mockup, no commitment, no IP claim.

Quick Answer

What is the difference between sublimation and screen printing?

Dye-sublimation bonds ink into polyester fibers under heat, producing edge-to-edge all-over prints that won't fade, peel, or crack. Screen printing layers ink on top of the fabric via stencils — limited color count per design, edge-to-edge coverage not practical for complex graphics, plastic hand feel on dark garments. Use sublimation for all-over prints, polyester sportswear, and small-batch runs (low MOQ 50). Use screen printing for high-volume 1–4 color cotton tees. We run sublimation in-house.

Edge-to-edge

Sublimation

1–6 color

Screen print

Per stencil

MOQ (sublimation)

1,000+

MOQ (screen print)

Based on

Last reviewed: 2026-09-18 · By: Ramon Wang, Sales Director, SublimApparel

Print Method Comparison

Sublimation vs Screen Printing

Which method fits your B2B apparel order?

Sublimation and screen printing are the two most common decoration methods for B2B apparel, but they fit very different briefs. Sublimation prints edge-to-edge on polyester with photographic color. Screen printing lays spot color on cotton, poly-cotton, and most knits at the lowest per-unit cost at volume. The right pick depends on fabric, design complexity, order size, and durability target. This page compares them side by side.

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[ Short answer ]

Pick screen printing for 1-3 color logos on cotton or poly-cotton at 100+ pieces. Pick sublimation for all-over print, photographic artwork, or full-color designs on polyester at 30+ pieces. If your apparel is 100% cotton and you need all-over print, the right call is allover digital print (cut-and-sew) or DTF, not screen print and not sublimation.

Side-by-side comparison

Dimension	Screen Printing	Sublimation
Best fabric Substrate compatibility	Cotton, poly blends, fleece, tri-blends — most knits	100% polyester, poly-rich blends (light/white only)
Color vibrancy Saturation and contrast	Excellent for spot colors; gradients need halftones	Excellent — dye bonded into fiber, full CMYK range
All-over print Edge-to-edge coverage	No — limited to ~14×16 in per color per location	Yes — full fabric panel printed before sewing
Photographic / gradient Complex artwork	Requires halftone screens, expensive at high color count	Native — print any photo, gradient, or texture
White ink on dark shirts Underbase capability	Yes — plastisol white underbase is the standard	No white ink — dye is transparent, no underbase
Hand feel Texture on the printed area	Plastisol: a noticeable ink film. Water-based: soft but lighter color	Zero — ink is inside the fiber, no surface layer
MOQ sweet spot Where each method becomes economical	50-100 pieces per design (setup amortized)	30-50 pieces per design (transfer paper + press setup)
Per-unit cost (1-color logo, 200 pcs) Comparable order size	$3.50-5.00 / shirt (cotton blank + 1-color print)	$7-12 / shirt (poly blank + dye)
Per-unit cost (full-color all-over, 200 pcs) Comparable order size	Not feasible (would need 8-12 spot colors at huge setup cost)	$9-14 / shirt (poly blank + full dye)
Durability (50+ washes) Color fastness over time	Plastisol: can crack with abrasion. Water-based: fades over time	Won't crack, peel, or fade for the life of the garment
Setup time Time to first article	1-3 days (screen burning + color mixing)	Same day (transfer paper + heat press)
Lead time (bulk, 200 pcs) Production time after sample approval	7-12 days	10-15 days
Eco profile Ink chemistry	Plastisol: PVC-based. Water-based: lower impact	Water-based dye, no PVC, OEKO-TEX certified
Best fit When to pick this method	1-3 color logos on cotton or poly-cotton at 100+ pcs	All-over print on polyester at 30+ pcs, or any photographic design

Which should you pick?

Pick screen printing if…

· Your apparel is 100% cotton or poly-cotton
· Your design is 1-3 spot colors, no gradient
· You need white ink on dark shirts
· You're ordering 100+ pieces per design
· Per-unit cost matters more than all-over coverage
· Your product is a polo, tote, or workwear (not a jersey)

Pick sublimation if…

· Your apparel is 100% polyester (or poly-rich blend)
· Your design is photographic, gradient, or full-color
· You need true edge-to-edge all-over print
· You're ordering 30+ pieces per design
· Durability matters (jerseys, racing kit, festival merch)
· Your product is a jersey, kit, or performance top

Frequently asked questions

Is sublimation cheaper than screen printing for small orders?

For 1-50 pieces, screen printing has higher setup costs (one screen per color, $25-50 each) but lower per-unit print cost, so the crossover depends on design complexity. A 1-color 50-piece screen print can be cheaper than sublimation. A 6-color 50-piece screen print is more expensive than sublimation. As order size grows past 200 pieces, screen print wins on per-unit cost almost every time.

Can screen printing do all-over print like sublimation?

No. Screen printing on garments is limited to roughly 14x16 inches per color (a chest print, back print, or sleeve print). True edge-to-edge all-over print requires either sublimation (polyester) or DTG/DTF (cotton). The closest screen-print technique for big areas is 'platen screen printing' for cut pieces, which is what some factories use for hoodies, but it is more expensive than sublimation and limited to 1-3 colors.

Which method has better color vibrancy?

Sublimation. Because the dye is bonded into the polyester fiber, colors stay saturated and don't sit on a film. Screen printing produces bright, opaque colors but the ink is a discrete layer on top of the fabric, so it can crack and fade over time. For photographic, gradient, or full-color designs, sublimation wins. For solid block colors at high volume, screen print is competitive.

Can you print white underbase on dark shirts with sublimation?

No. Sublimation has no white ink — the dye is transparent and only bonds with polyester, so a dark polyester shirt will dye to a darker color (you cannot make a white graphic on black with sublimation). Screen printing handles white underbase on dark shirts easily. If you need white graphics on black apparel, screen print (or DTF, or DTG with white underbase) is the right method.

Which is more durable after 50+ washes?

Sublimation. The dye becomes part of the polyester fiber, so it does not crack, peel, or fade for the life of the garment. Screen-printed plastisol ink is thick on top of the fabric and can crack with heavy abrasion or repeated hot washes. Water-based and discharge screen prints soften and can fade noticeably after 50+ washes. For workwear, team uniforms, and racing kit that see heavy use, sublimation outlasts screen printing.

Which method fits a 500-piece apparel order?

Depends on the design. For a 1-3 color logo on a polo or t-shirt, screen printing is the right choice — fast, durable, and lowest per-unit cost. For an all-over print with multiple gradients or photographic artwork, sublimation is the only realistic option. We run both in the same factory, so a single 500-piece order can mix screen-printed polos with sublimated jerseys if you want one consolidated DDP shipment.

What fabrics work for each method?

Sublimation only works on polyester (or poly-rich blends). Screen printing works on cotton, poly blends, tri-blends, fleece, and most knit fabrics — it is the most fabric-agnostic decoration method. If your apparel is 100% cotton, sublimation is not an option; screen print, DTG, or DTF are. If your apparel is 100% polyester, sublimation is usually the best fit; screen print requires special polyester inks and is less common.

Browse categories (14)

Browse sports (42)

Browse scenarios (25)

What is the difference between sublimation and screen printing?

Sublimation vs Screen Printing

[ Short answer ]

Side-by-side comparison

Which should you pick?

Pick screen printing if…

Pick sublimation if…

Frequently asked questions

Related comparisons

Sublimation vs DTG

Polyester vs Cotton for Sublimation

DDP vs FOB Shipping

20 Decoration Techniques Compared

Pick the channel that
matches your urgency.

Tell us your spec

WhatsApp the floor

Send a detailed inquiry

Browse categories (14)

Browse sports (42)

Browse scenarios (25)

What is the difference between sublimation and screen printing?

Sublimation vs Screen Printing

[ Short answer ]

Side-by-side comparison

Which should you pick?

Pick screen printing if…

Pick sublimation if…

Frequently asked questions

Related comparisons

Sublimation vs DTG

Polyester vs Cotton for Sublimation

DDP vs FOB Shipping

20 Decoration Techniques Compared

Pick the channel thatmatches your urgency.

Tell us your spec

WhatsApp the floor

Send a detailed inquiry

Pick the channel that
matches your urgency.