5+ Best DTG Printer For Small Business | Unrivalled Guide 2022

If you want to produce impressive custom garments as quickly as possible without compromising quality, it is important to choose the right  DTG printer for your business.

However, not everyone knows about DTG printers, and a great many business owners end up choosing inferior products or printers that do not meet their needs. So how can you choose the best DTG printer for your small business?
The Web-to-Print revolution has revolutionized today’s printing practices with the introduction of DTG printers, which have transformed the printing process by increasing efficiency.

Advances in technology and the need for more detailed and intricate prints on t-shirts have caused the printing industry to move away from traditional screen printing and embroidery to more digital direct-to-garment printing.

While screen printing and embroidery continue to be popular, the DTG printing industry is seeing higher growth in sales of DTG printers, which are capable of printing high-quality artwork with quick turnaround times.

Here we take a look at seven of the most popular DTG printers on the market and examine the pros and cons of each. Ultimately, it will be a matter of personal preference. However, it is important to know what you can expect from each option.

Also read: Best Printer For Book Printing

What is DTG printing?

DTG stands for Direct to Garments, a state-of-the-art technology that guarantees superior performance and high-quality production. Although the technology has made great advances, it is only being used by small and medium-sized businesses.

Direct to Garment digital printing is the opposite of what has been done with labour-intensive methods. These printers integrate inkjet printing technology with multiple colour reproduction programs and long-lasting print performance.
DTG printers, as the name implies, print designs directly on garments. With these printers, beautiful customized garments can be created with fast, high-quality prints. This “web-to-print” innovation makes it super easy to create intricate prints on t-shirts because the material does not expand.

Many companies use printers to print on fabric, but they are not DTG printers. Many companies use highly accurate inkjet printers or home dye-sublimation printers, which can be costly and time consuming. However, people who know about DTG printers do not know enough about DTG printers. Therefore, they buy printers that do not meet their needs.

With DTG printers, you can delegate highly technical tasks to technology. It is easy to find the best DTG printer for your small or medium-sized business, with high or low maintenance costs depending on the model. By choosing a Direct to Garment (DTG) printer that guarantees excellent printing accuracy, you can enhance your company’s reputation.

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Best DTG Printer For Small Business | Comparison Table 2022

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Best DTG Printer For Small Business | 2022 Products Overview

Product Overview:

The PUNEHOD L1800 DTF Transfer Printer is a high-quality printing machine designed for use on both light and dark clothing. It features a roll feeder and an auto heat station to reduce the risk of paper jams and improve the printing efficiency. The printer also has a white ink management system that minimizes clogs in the print head, extending its service life.

In addition to its advanced features, the PUNEHOD DTF Transfer Printer also includes an oven for better ink adhesion and curing, as well as a heater-enhanced printing area to prevent ink bleeding in low-temperature scenarios. It is compatible with a range of fabric types, including cotton, polyester, and blends, and is able to print on both white and dark textiles.

The printer comes with five bottles of ink in CMYK and white colors, as well as a roll of PET film measuring 30cm x 100m. It is compatible with Windows computer systems and is backed by a professional after-sales team that provides high-quality remote service.

Overall, the PUNEHOD DTF Transfer Printer is an excellent choice for those looking for a reliable and efficient way to print on a variety of clothing materials. Its advanced features and high-quality construction make it a top pick among professional printers.

Also read: Best Printers For Art Prints

Product Overview:

The Automatic A3 T-Shirt Printing Machine is a digital garment printer that allows you to print designs and graphics onto a variety of clothing items, including t-shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies, pants, jeans, socks, and bags. It uses a non-contact inkjet printing method and a Micro Piezo print head with 540 nozzles to produce high-quality prints.

The machine has an automatic height and position adjustment feature, but it can also be adjusted manually. It is capable of printing on clothes made of cotton and other materials and can handle thin or thick garments. It has a minimum drop size of 1.5 pico liters and can print in six colors: yellow, black, white, cyan, magenta, and yellow. The machine has a maximum printing speed of 111 seconds for A4 size photos and can print at a distance of 1-3mm from the garment, with an optimum distance of 1mm. It has a maximum printing size of 329 x 500mm and a maximum printing height of 220mm. It requires a power supply of AC220-240V and 50-60Hz and can be connected to a computer via USB 2.0 for printing.

It comes with AcroRIP White ver9.0 printing software and is compatible with Windows XP, Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10 operating systems. It has a net weight of 76kg. The cost of printing a full A4 size image on a white t-shirt is approximately $0.35, while the cost of printing on a black t-shirt is approximately $0.55. One set of textile ink (600ml) is sufficient to print approximately 540 A4-size images.

Product Overview:

The Automatic A3 T-Shirt Printing Machine is a digital direct-to-garment (DTG) printer that can print designs on various types of clothing, including t-shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies, pants, jeans, socks, and bags. It can print on any fabric that contains cotton material and is capable of printing on both thin and thick clothing.

The machine is equipped with a micro piezo print head and 540 nozzles, which allow it to produce high-quality prints with a minimum drop size of 1.5 picoliters. It uses non-contact inkjet printing technology and has a color range of Y.K.W.W.M.C (yellow, key, white, white, magenta, cyan).

The Automatic A3 T-Shirt Printing Machine can print at a speed of 111 seconds for an A4 size photo in photo mode. It has a printing distance of 1-3mm, with an optimal distance of 1mm. The maximum printing size is 329 x 500mm, and the maximum printing height is 220mm. The machine can automatically adjust the tray height and position, but these settings can also be adjusted manually.

The machine has a fixed height limit and requires a temperature range of 10-35 degrees Celsius and a humidity range of 20-80% to operate properly. It has a power requirement of AC220-240V/50-60HZ and comes with a USB 2.0 printing interface and AcroRIP White ver9.0 printing software. It is compatible with Windows XP, Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10 operating systems. The net weight of the machine is 76kg.

Product Overview:

The A4 DTG Printer is a t-shirt printing machine that can be used to print on various items including t-shirts, onesies, socks, and bags. It is suitable for use with both dark and light-colored garments, provided that they have a cotton content of at least 50%. The images produced by the printer are waterproof, scratch-resistant, and vibrant. The printer has a plateless design, allowing it to directly print from any image file such as TIFF, JPEG, JPG, BMP, or PSD. It is also equipped with a knob for adjusting the print height, making it easy to operate.

To use the printer, it must be connected to a computer with a data cable. The computer must have a Windows operating system. The maximum print size for this printer is 210*300mm. In addition to the printer, a heat press machine is also required to prevent ink discoloration after printing. It is important to note that pretreatment liquid should not be used with the printer as it can cause blockages and damage the machine.

We offer free technical support for software installation, setup, and test printing through remote means. After placing an order for the product, you will receive an email from us to confirm that the printer meets your printing needs. Please reply to this email as soon as possible so that we can arrange delivery. The package includes two USBs (gray and white), ink bottles, data cables, and other accessories. The gray USB contains printer software and instructional videos, while the white USB contains a software lock.

Also read: Best Printer For Home Use With Cheap Ink

Product Overview:

The PUNEHOD L1800 DTF Transfer Printer is a high-quality, versatile printing machine that is capable of printing on both light and dark clothing. It features a roll feeder and an auto heat station to reduce paper jamming and improve printing efficiency and speed.

The white ink management system is designed to minimize printer head clogs and extend the service life of the print head. This printer is compatible with Windows computer systems and comes with 5 bottles of ink in CMYK and white, as well as a 30cm x 100m roll of PET film.

The built-in heater enhances the printing area for better ink adhesion and curing, and helps to prevent ink bleeding in low-temperature situations. The PUNEHOD DTF Transfer Printer is suitable for a variety of fabric types, including cotton, polyester, and blends, and is capable of printing on both white and dark textiles.

The automatic ink circulation system helps to prevent white ink precipitation and plugging of the nozzle, as well as reducing ink extraction issues and energy costs. The company also provides excellent after-sales service, with a professional team available to provide remote support via Skype.

Buying Guide

Garment printing for small projects requires an eye for finding the best DTG printer for your small business. The relatively low initial cost of this printer allows you to find a DTG printer within your budget as well as one with a high initial cost.

However, that brilliance is not golden. Don't chase the lowest price to save money and don't be tempted by expensive printers in the name of high performance. To make this difficult process easier, we offer the ultimate guide.

Below are some important factors to consider when looking for the best direct-to-garment printer. Take a look.

Also read: Best Printers for Occasional Use

1.) Print Resolution

When choosing a DTG printer for high-volume or small-scale production, it is very important to look for a printer that offers exquisite resolution. Therefore, it is important to choose a production-quality printer.

The minimum dpi (dots per inch) required for high-quality DTG prints is about 1440 dpi; less than 1440 dpi will result in poor image quality and blurred images. So remember to invest your money in a printer with a resolution of 1440 dpi or higher.

2.) Printing speed

For high-volume printing, a DTG printer with a high print speed is considered advantageous because it can increase production and save a lot of time. There are printers on the market that promise high volume production in a few hours.

Despite the printing speed, there are also features that can help apparel brands increase productivity, such as single-pass printing. Therefore, be sure to spend your money on a quality printer.

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3.) Ease of use

In general, using DTG printers and understanding their various functions can be complicated and tedious for novice users. However, the majority of DTG printers today are designed to be user-friendly and easy to operate so that users will have no trouble using a DTG printer.

We recommend that you look for a printer that is easy to use. Epson printers are representative of DTG printers that are not only convenient but also easy to use.

Also read: Home Printer With Lowest Ink Cost

4.) Printable area

Maximizing the efficiency of your apparel business is not just about owning a DTG printer with fast print speeds. That's right, have you heard? By choosing a printer with a much larger print area than usual, you can now produce multiple high-quality prints at once.

Depending on your budget, you can choose an industrial grade machine with the ability to print 4-5 shirts in one pass, or a classic compact model that will be available in the mid-range price range.

5.) Print Quality

One thing to keep in mind when spending money on a high-end DTG printer is print quality. We recommend that you print sample T-shirts to check the print quality; if this is not possible, you should look at customer reviews, as the majority of reviews on DTG printers are about quality and speed. Our suggestion is to install a DTG printer with high resolution quality output and colour accuracy.

6.) Type of garment

The use of DTG printers is not limited to printing regular T-shirts. Aprons, sweatshirts, and even shopping bags can now be printed with DTG printers. Just be sure to check the size and capabilities of your printer.

Many of the DTG printers on the market have extensive features that allow you to decorate T-shirts and other garments, so make sure you put your money into the right printer for your garment business.

Also read: Best Printers For Posters

7.) Total Cost of Ink

DTG is a heavy one-time investment, so you will be looking for every possible way to maximize profits and save on expenses. An important part of earning efficiency is the total cost of ink: calculating the average ink cost per T-shirt or garment can give you an idea of the money you are spending.

With this information, you can choose whether to print in black and white or colour; the more frequently you use your DTG printer, the higher your ink costs will be.

What are the benefits of Direct to Garment printing?

DTG printers are considered the ideal short-run production equipment for printing directly on fabric. Their ease of use compared to competing methods is one of the main reasons for choosing this technology. These printers require very little preparation before setting up the garment.

These printers are capable of printing small batches, from a single piece of cloth to several pieces of cloth, and we invite you to read on to learn more about the wonderful benefits of DTG printing.

1.) Ease of use

Unlike the labour-intensive jobs that only a skilled person can do, DTG printing is super easy. The biggest reason these printers are so attractive to small businesses is that anyone can use them. This means you don't have to rely on anyone else.

They can be used just like regular printers in the home or office, so once you know how to use them, you can easily get the job done with a DTG printer.

2.) They are relatively inexpensive

It is also worth noting that these printers come at an affordable price point with low running costs: since the DTG printer is connected to the PC before printing, there is no need to create a separate screen to reproduce the design. This minimizes the overall print setup. Since no separate screens are needed, printing can be done at very low production costs.

3.) Colour printing

There is nothing better than having a printer that can print all colours at once. Yes, DTG can do this. Even the most complex printed material can be printed in a variety of colours in a single operation. However, on darker coloured fabrics, single pass printing may not work well and may require ironing to get very clear and sharp saturation.

4.) High flexibility

The DTG print industry is expanding into a variety of industries, not just garment printing. Although popular for fabric printing, it can be used in other areas as well. As a result, a market that can attract a large audience is being developed. From fancy dress to everyday wear, DTG printers have a wide range of capabilities.

5.) Can print on different fabrics

A decent DTG printer can handle all the common types of fabrics: t-shirts, shirts, polo shirts, hoodies, pants, and other cotton garments can all be printed on this printer. Additionally, designs can be printed on fabrics such as stretch leggings, baby bodysuits and bibs, sleeves, socks, underwear, silk pockets, and scarves.

6.) Fast delivery time

Every customer appreciates fast service from brands, and a competitive DTG printer is needed to meet this demand from customers. This essential piece of equipment is a great feature, especially for small businesses that print on a wide variety of garments.

As a buyer, you always want to deliver your products within 24 hours. Think like a buyer. This printer will be irreplaceable for you. This machine should not be overloaded because less than 20 is super convenient.
It is efficient at loading small batches and can process orders in a fraction of the time. Thus, the short set-up time will increase overall production with precision.

7.) Great detail

Will a print that looks good on a computer also look good on a shirt? DTG printers, with their high-definition digital printing capabilities, look brilliant on fabrics as well as screens.

These printers print high-quality graphics that do not disappoint customers. In addition, DTG printers are ideal for giving unique items to friends and family. Easily print on polyester, silk, and cotton; in addition to t-shirt printing, printing on cylinders, canvas bags, and cell phone cases is a new trend. Ideal for small businesses, DTG printers allow you to create your own fashionable collection.

8.) Sustainable Printing

Most buyers fear that their prints will crack over time. However, direct-to-garment printers ensure that this does not happen. The machine does not require an extra layer to cover the fabric and prints directly with ink, which prevents chipping of the print.

This makes the DTG printer an ideal item for commodity businesses. The ability to print custom T-shirts and other fabrics that will not crack over time and at such a low cost is a deal not to be missed at all.

DTG Printer Maintenance Tips :

01. Maintain a good printing environment

In order for the printer to function as it should, it must provide a suitable environment for T-shirts. During this time, regular attention should be paid to humidity, heat, and dust. Therefore, it is wise to keep the printer in an environment that is free from sudden temperature changes.

02. regular nozzle maintenance

Each day, before printing a T-shirt, perform a nozzle check. This will keep your prints and business at peak performance. If the nozzle is not working properly, it needs to be taken care of immediately. Also, if the obstruction is left unattended, it will become a permanent obstruction and render the printer unusable.

03. smooth ink flow

If the printer is equipped with an agitator, the agitator will continue to agitate the ink to prevent it from settling. However, if it is not, periodically and certainly shake the cartridges before the start of the day. It is wise to do this daily, even if you do not use the printer every day. It is a good idea to print a few sample T-shirts every day or every three days to avoid running out of ink.

04. keep the capping station clean at all times

The capping station is designed to create a vacuum around the nozzle plate, which feeds ink into the station. The pressure releases the nozzles and prevents the ink from drying out. Therefore, they must be cleaned with a cleaning solution such as demineralized water.

Best DTG Printer For Small Business| Video Explanation

Best DTG Printer For Small Business| Infographic

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Is the DTG business profitable?

DTG printing can significantly reduce the cost of your business. The average price of a custom t-shirt is $20-25, while the cost to design and produce one t-shirt with digital printing is only $1-3.

Do I need a pre-processing machine for DTG printing?

Yes! Each dark-colored garment that you intend to print with DTG requires the application of a pre-treatment solution. If your work is primarily white ink, you will need to pretend the color folder. Likewise, if the work is primarily colored ink, the white shirt will need to be treated as well.

How do I maintain my DTG printer?

Usually, the printer's noteworthy routine is to inform someone of the day's schedule. Usually, they shake out the ink left in the tank, turn on the noisy copy heads, start checking the nozzles, fill the lower tank with water, run the standard cycle, and make a few copies of whatever trash or unwanted items are around.

Can I print on hoodies with a DTG printer?

Yes, you can; DTG printers can print on thicker materials such as hoodies and pants, but it is the best idea to examine the product before purchasing to be sure!

What fabrics can be used for DTG printing?

DTG prints work best on fabrics such as cotton, combed cotton, and linen, but can also be used on lighter colored polyester.

Final Thoughts

Printing is a comfortable process only if you get the right printer. When looking for the best DTG printer for your small business, keep everything in mind. Everything from budget to type of printing needs to be known in advance.
Our honest advice is: "Don't just look at the printer's features, but determine if the printer is right for your needs. Also, think about how you can get the most out of it. Doing so will make the product selection process less stressful.