Top DTG Printers for 2024: Best Picks for Your Custom Apparel Business

If you own a small business, work in printing, or run an online store, high-quality, scalable printing materials can help you succeed.

Direct-to-garment (DTG) printing brings your designs to life on fabrics. It can be used for T-shirts, tote bags, and other clothing and accessories. Choosing the right DTG printer can be challenging, as many machines on the market have different pros and cons.

The margins for error in DTG are getting finer in a constantly growing industry. Grand View Research data shows that the global direct-to-garment printing market was worth $1.75 billion in 2023. Analysts expect it to grow at 12.5% annually, reaching $3.9 billion by 2030.

Now is the perfect time to use an affordable, quality printer. This will help improve efficiency as the industry grows.

But where should you find the best DTG printer for your needs? Let’s examine the best DTG printers in more detail. We will focus on their features, performance, and value, which will help us find the suitable machine for your business needs.

What to Consider When Choosing a DTG Printer

 

The best direct-to-garment printer can differ for each person. Different machines can fit different goals and needs.

To start a DTG printing business, you may have questions. You might be looking for the best DTG printer for dark garments. You could also want to choose from eco-friendly DTG printers. Remember, different models will give you different results.

However, there are many considerations before you decide on the ideal DTG printing machine for your needs. Some important factors to take into account include:

• Printing Quality: A key feature of a good DTG printer is its quality, which includes resolution, color vibrancy, and fabric compatibility. Maintaining the printing quality of your garments helps businesses grow and attract more customers over time.

• Speed and Productivity: Print speed, production capacity, and efficiency are crucial for growing your business. These factors matter if you serve or plan to serve many customers. Productivity is probably an important factor if you have considered a DTG printer versus screen printing.

• Cost and Budget: The ideal DTG printer for small business owners will always be cost-efficient. The cost of your DTG printer can significantly affect your profits. You should consider the price range, maintenance costs, and ink usage.

• Ease of Use: Top DTG printers offer a user-friendly interface, software, and setup requirements. This can help business owners and printing professionals of all skill levels use the machine efficiently. They can avoid costly printing mistakes.

• Durability and Maintenance: Small business owners cannot afford poor-quality hardware. This is why checking DTG printer reviews for durability is helpful. Assurances on build quality, maintenance needs, and support services can go a long way here.

• Scalability: Is the printer you buy suitable for your business as it grows from a startup to a large enterprise? If you expect to scale quickly, purchasing a more adaptable machine can help protect against costs later.

If you need clarification on what you need in a direct-to-garment printer, try making a list. Write your priorities to see which machines can help you the most.

Tips for Maximizing Your DTG Printer Investment

The total cost of your investment is a significant component of your DTG printing process. However, it would be best to consider the possible costs of lost business, which can occur if you set your budget too low.

Garment Printers can cost between $15,000 and $50,000, depending on the size of your project. Finding a machine that meets your quality needs and fits your budget can be challenging.

An essential tip is to align your machinery with your business’s expected production volume. While buying a high-output DTG machine for your startup may be wise for handling large orders, it won’t yield a good return on investment if you use it only at 20% of its capacity.

Could you calculate your break-even point? This is when your revenue covers the costs of the DTG printer. You can then assess which investment best suits your production goals in a more balanced way.

If you are new to direct-to-garment machines or switching brands, it may help to look for online tutorials.

You can search for your specific machine to find maintenance tutorials and troubleshooting videos. These resources provide visual guides to help with common problems, which can bolster your productivity and avoid costly order delays.

Comparison of the Top DTG Printers

When choosing a DTG printer for your business, consider affordability, quality, scalability, and productivity factors. These factors will significantly influence your decision. Let’s compare the top 10 direct-to-garment printers. We will determine which one fits your goals best.

When selecting a DTG printer, consider your business scale, print quality expectations, and budget. The Epson SureColor F2100 and Brother GTX Pro are excellent choices for small to medium businesses. They offer a good balance of quality and speed. For industrial applications, the Kornit Atlas Max is unmatched but comes with a high price tag.

Direct-to-Garment (DTG) printers have revolutionized custom apparel printing, enabling high-quality, on-demand production. Choosing the right DTG printer depends on a few key factors. These include print quality, speed, cost, and the types of fabrics it can handle.

Here is a clear comparison of the best DTG printers available today. It highlights their main features, advantages, disadvantages, and prices.

1. Roland Versa STUDIO BT-12

The Roland Versa STUDIO BT-12 DTG printer is a good choice at $3,495. It is small and perfect for startups, individuals, and businesses that can use it to offer garment printing as an extra service.

The BT-12 has a 1,200 dpi resolution that matches the quality of more expensive models. Its smaller design is perfect for home offices and easy storage.

Even with a simple three-step printing process, only printing one shirt at a time may limit growth. The Roland Versa STUDIO BT-12 isn’t the best printer for dark garments.

The BT-12’s low cost and portability make it an excellent choice for printing professionals working in home studios or small spaces.

2. Ricoh Ri 1000

The Ricoh Ri 1000 costs about $4,500 more than the Versa STUDIO BT-12. However, Ricoh has a great monthly payment plan. For $275 a month, this plan helps smaller businesses afford the DTG printer.

Ricoh is a well-known brand in printing. The Ri 1000 has advanced print head technology, which helps users ensure high quality. This technology allows for vibrant colors and sharp details in garment designs.

The Ri 1000 is essential for future growth. It can print quickly, allowing professionals to produce many garments efficiently.

The printer can work with many materials. It prints on cotton and polyester, along with various blends. All these options are fully functional.

Another great benefit of the Ricoh Ri 1000 is its larger print area, up to 16 x 20 inches. This feature allows for more significant designs on many different garments. However, it’s worth noting that more advanced printing options are available for larger enterprises with the proper budget.

3. Epson SureColor F2100

The Epson SureColor F2100 is now available online for about $4,500. This DTG printer is excellent for small businesses and entrepreneurs looking for budget-friendly equipment.

The product is a good choice for people who want to speed up their printing, which can improve production efficiency.

The SureColor F2100 uses 720 nozzles per inch for color inks and 1,440 for white inks, making it one of the fastest DTG printers in its price range.

The printer also takes exceptional care of white ink, which allows it to use a great Highlight White Ink mode. This mode lets you print white inks simultaneously with color inks, increasing printing speed.

Another perk of the F2100 is maintenance. The printer has a fabric wiper, a built-in ink cartridge system, and a self-cleaning system for easy daily maintenance. This helps ensure that the machine is always ready to go when needed.

The Epson SureColor F2100 is an excellent choice for businesses that plan to grow soon. However, Epson is discontinuing some of its consumables for the F2100, which may not be the best long-term choice for companies.

4. DTG Digital M6

Conversely, the DTG Digital M6 is a strong choice for businesses that want to print high-quality garments in large amounts. The designers create the industrial-scale printer to ensure high productivity and quality. It comes with a price tag of nearly $20,000. This printer offers excellent efficiency and output for users.

While $20,000 may seem high, the M6 saves money with its innovative ink circulation system. This system performs well and reduces ink waste during production.

The printhead has 180 nozzles for each channel and eight independent CMYK ink channels. This setup offers a print resolution of 2880 dpi, allowing companies to create high-quality designs and handle large orders over time.

The DTG Digital M6 is designed for businesses. It may be too big for small spaces or home studios.

5. DTG G4 Direct To Garment Printer

The DTG G$ Direct to Garment Printer starts at $13,995. It is a mid-range product for growing businesses. This printer is ideal for professionals who want to expand their operations.

The G4 helps with scaling because of its unique Vacuum Platen technology. This technology speeds up printing.

Users can drape the shirt over the platen, and a vacuum holds it. This makes the hooping process take seconds and reduces the chance of user error.

Crucially, added internal quality assurance supports the DTG G4’s faster performance. Inside the machine, there is a computer-controlled damper reservoir. It has two sensors that measure the ink volume, ensuring that each damper is ready to use.

These features make the DTG G4 an excellent printer for users. It helps reduce printing stress and ensures better efficiency for larger jobs.

6. Roland VersaSTUDIO BY-20 Desktop Direct to Film Printer

Another lower-to-mid-range option for $8,500 is the Roland VersaSTUDIO BY-20 Direct to Film Printer.

Designed for efficiency, the BY-20 provides easy and detailed printing. Its user interface is perfect for beginners in the industry.

The machine has a built-in contour-cutting feature, which allows it to create heat transfer graphics from PVC sheets using the same device.

The VersaStudio BY-20 is popular because it can transfer graphics to many materials, including cotton, polyester, denim, nylon, and rayon.

The price of the By-20 is high for beginners. However, its flexibility makes it an excellent choice for sellers. Ideal for businesses that want to add custom personalization options to many types of clothing.

7. Brother GTX Pro Direct to Garment

At the higher end of the spectrum is the Brother GTX Pro Direct to Garment—retailing at around $28,000—the GTX Pro suits ambitious decoration businesses with commercial sales prospects.

The GTX Pro can print a t-shirt in just 30 seconds. It maintains a high print quality of 1,200 dpi. This is true even for a platen size of 16 x 21 inches. This makes the machine ideal for businesses looking to scale.

Another advantage of the GTX is its Innobella Textile Inks. These inks allow for a broader range of colors. This results in stronger contrasts and more precise designs.

However, the GTX Pro can be limiting for some businesses because it can only print one garment at a time. Despite this, the printer remains an excellent choice for companies that aim to produce quality products at scale.

8. M&R Maverick

The M&R Maverick costs about $70,000 and is near the top of the range. This method is the best option for businesses that want to make high-quality printed garments in large quantities.

Equipped with an intelligent maintenance system, the Maverick ensures productivity while reducing user downtime. The printer also comes with RIP software for better print management. It has a double platform with a separate pallet-transferring system.

Before printing, the Maverick uses air cylinders to flatten the garment fibers and heat the surface to ensure a smooth process.

However, the Maverick’s most impressive aspect is its scalability. On average, the DTG printer can produce up to 350,000 impressions annually, making it ideal for businesses expecting significantly high sales volumes for printed products. However, some critics claim that colors on garments don’t always stand out when using the printer.

9. Summit RT Direct to Garment Printer

Starting at $11,400, the Summit RT Direct-to-Garment Printer is affordable for small businesses.

The printer’s 11 x 11-inch canvas might seem small. However, the Summit RT has built-in RIP software and offers an ultra-high resolution of up to 5760 x 1440 dpi. This ensures that garments have quality images with lots of detail.

The printer has a built-in auto-clean feature. This keeps the ink lines ready for excellent service.

This means that businesses can enjoy a high level of consistency. Summit RT’s one-minute and thirty-four-second production rate per garment allows them to achieve this. These features make the printer an excellent price for small businesses expecting to scale in the future.

10. NeoFlex 800 DTG

For $17,995, the NeoFlex 800 DTG printer is a strong candidate for the most impactful midrange DTG product on this list.

The NeoFlex 800 can print an 8 x 10-inch image on a garment in just 39 seconds. It is the ideal printer for companies that want to expand their branding to different types of clothing.

The large 17 x 42-inch printing area can fit three adult-sized T-shirts at once, making it ideal for businesses that want to print a lot. The hardware’s portable design is perfect for spacious home studios.

The NeoFlex 800 can easily print 1440 x 1440 images on light and dark backgrounds.

The absence of RIP software might make the printer less user-friendly than others. However, the NeoFlex 800 DTG is an excellent option for skilled designers who want to increase their productivity, and its price makes it even more appealing.

11. Ricoh Ri 6000 Direct to Garment Printer

The Ricoh Ri 6000 is a powerful Direct-to-Garment (DTG) printer. This product serves businesses that need speed, quality, and reliability.

You can find this strong printer priced between $22,000 and $28,000. It can easily handle high-volume production. This makes it a great choice for print shops, custom apparel businesses, and online stores.

The Ricoh Ri 6000 is capable of printing on a variety of textiles, including:

• 100% cotton
• Poly-cotton blends
• Tri-blends
• Hemp and bamboo fabrics

This makes it ideal for producing custom t-shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies, hats, and even tote bags. Its versatility lets print shops meet many customer needs. They can handle small custom orders and large production runs.

Who Should Buy the Ricoh Ri 6000?

The Ricoh Ri 6000 is ideal for medium to large print businesses. A reliable and high-quality DTG printer exists. This printer can handle high-volume demands easily. A flexible solution exists for print shops that want to add more products. It helps them keep a consistent and vibrant print quality.

12. Epson SureColor F3070 Direct To Garment Printer

The Epson SureColor F3070 is a cutting-edge Direct-to-Garment (DTG) printer, tailored for high-volume production environments. This printer costs between $45,000 and $55,000.

It also offers excellent color reproduction. This makes it a great choice for print shops and apparel businesses.

Who Should Buy the Epson SureColor F3070?

The Epson SureColor F3070 is perfect for medium to large print businesses. It offers a high-capacity, industrial-grade DTG printer. Whether you are managing custom small orders or large contracts, this printer provides bright, reliable results with little downtime.

The F3070 is a reliable workhorse for busy production environments. It offers ultra-fast print speeds, great color quality, and low running costs.

The Epson SureColor F3070 has many features and works with many types of fabric. Great for many uses, including:

• Custom apparel printing (t-shirts, hoodies, and sweatshirts)
• Promotional products (tote bags, caps)
• Corporate branding and merchandising
• Online stores and print-on-demand services

Investing in the Epson SureColor F3070 is a smart choice for businesses looking to grow. It helps meet the rising demand for custom, high-quality clothing.

It performs well and has user-friendly software. Its maintenance features are efficient. These qualities make it a top choice in the DTG printing industry.

Conclusion

The list above shows that direct-to-garment printing is a diverse field. It offers solutions for all budgets and growth needs.

Matching the features of these top industry options with your needs and goals can lead to many solutions. These solutions can boost your productivity and improve quality.

As the DTG industry grows, DTG Printers for Small Businesses can benefit from using the right technology. This can help improve their operations. When you choose the right direct-to-garment printer today, you can ensure better growth for tomorrow.