When you order custom hoodies from us, you’re not limited to one type of print. We offer multiple production methods so you can match your design to the right process. Each method delivers a different look and feel, and the right choice depends on your artwork, fabric, and budget. Here's a closer look at the options:
Embroidery for Custom Hoodies
Embroidery gives your custom hoodies a raised, textured finish by stitching thread directly into the fabric. It's one of the most durable decoration methods, often used for high-impact branding that needs to hold up long-term.
- Pros:
- Extremely durable finish that won’t wear out: Embroidery uses tightly stitched thread that holds up through years of wear, even with frequent washing. This makes it ideal for custom hoodies worn in tough work or outdoor conditions.
- Premium, tactile appearance that adds perceived value: The raised thread design gives custom hoodies a structured, professional look that can’t be achieved with ink or heat transfers.
- Thread colors stay consistent across hoodie colors: Since the thread is pre-dyed, embroidery maintains color accuracy regardless of the hoodie fabric. This ensures consistent branding on any color variant of your custom hoodies.
- Performs well on thick fabrics like fleece: Heavier hoodie materials support the stitching process, making embroidery a great fit for heavyweight or lined custom hoodies.
- Cons:
- Not suitable for photo-quality or gradient-based designs: Embroidery can’t recreate detailed graphics, shadows, or multi-color illustrations common in artistic or promotional custom hoodie designs.
- Higher cost for complex or large graphics: The more stitches your design requires, the more time and thread it takes, which increases pricing on your custom hoodie order.
- Can feel stiff on lightweight hoodies: On thinner materials, the stitched design may weigh down the fabric or feel bulky from the inside of the hoodie.
- Limited to traditional logo placements: Embroidery works best on flat areas like the chest, sleeves, or the back. It’s not viable for oversized or full-front graphics on custom hoodies.
Use Case: Embroidery is best for businesses, schools, or sports teams that need durable, professional-looking custom hoodies with a logo or name that stays sharp after years of use.
Screen Printing for Custom Hoodies
Screen printing remains one of the most popular methods for decorating custom hoodies. It’s great for high-volume orders, sharp text, and bold graphic layouts that don’t rely on fine detail.
- Pros:
- Solid, vibrant prints that hold color well: Inks used in screen printing soak deep into the hoodie fabric, creating bold, long-lasting designs that remain vivid even after dozens of washes.
- Cost-effective for large custom hoodie orders: Once the screen is made, you can print hundreds of custom hoodies quickly with consistent results at a low per-unit price.
- Sharp, defined edges are ideal for bold graphics: Text, logos, and basic art print extremely clean on custom hoodies, especially with fewer than four colors in the design.
- Works best on cotton and cotton-blend hoodies: Screen printing bonds well with natural fibers, making it an excellent option for standard fleece or brushed cotton custom hoodies.
- Cons:
- Multiple ink colors increase setup costs: Each color requires a separate screen and alignment process, which adds cost and production time to your custom hoodie order.
- Not ideal for photographic or highly detailed artwork: Screen printing struggles with smooth color transitions, small lines, or illustrations that rely on precision detail.
- May crack or fade if not properly washed: While durable, screen prints can wear over time if exposed to high-heat drying or harsh detergents on your custom hoodies.
- Less compatible with synthetic performance hoodies: Polyester or stretch-fabric hoodies may not hold ink as well, causing issues with print durability or vibrancy.
Use Case: Screen printing is the best choice for promotional campaigns, brand drops, school spirit wear, and event merchandise where you're producing custom hoodies in bulk with bold, simple artwork.
DTG Printing for Custom Hoodies
Direct-to-garment (DTG) printing allows for full-color, high-detail artwork printed directly onto your custom hoodies using inkjet-style technology. It's the preferred method for lower quantities with photo-level detail.
- Pros:
- High-resolution detail perfect for artwork or photography: DTG prints directly onto your custom hoodie, capturing gradients, color blends, and intricate lines with a level of accuracy that screen printing and embroidery can’t match.
- No setup fees or minimum order requirements: DTG is ideal for printing one or a few custom hoodies at a time. This makes it the most flexible option for new designs, samples, or on-demand fulfillment.
- Soft, natural feel on the fabric: The ink integrates into the fibers of your custom hoodie, resulting in a print that feels like part of the fabric rather than sitting on top.
- Quick turnaround for small jobs: Since there’s no screen setup or heat pressing, DTG allows for fast production of small custom hoodie batches.
- Cons:
- Works best only on 100% cotton custom hoodies: DTG ink needs natural fibers to bond properly. Cotton-blend or polyester hoodies may not hold the print well, resulting in faded or inconsistent outcomes.
- Requires pre-treatment for dark hoodie colors: Black or navy custom hoodies must be pre-treated to keep colors from soaking in, which can stiffen the fabric or create an uneven surface feel.
- Not built for heavy-duty use or industrial washing: DTG ink can fade faster than screen or DTF if the custom hoodie is exposed to frequent wash-and-wear cycles.
- Limited to flat print areas: You can’t print over seams, zippers, or sleeves without risking distortion on your custom hoodies.
Use Case: DTG is the best fit for small brands, artists, or creators who want to offer custom hoodies with full-color designs, detailed artwork, or short-run product drops without bulk commitment.
DTF Printing for Custom Hoodies
Direct-to-film (DTF) printing is a heat-transfer method that prints designs onto a film, applies adhesive powder, and then presses it onto the hoodie. It’s one of the most versatile methods for applying vivid artwork to custom hoodies of any fabric type.
- Pros:
- Applies to any hoodie material, including polyester and blends: DTF doesn’t rely on fabric type for ink bonding. You can print custom hoodies made of nylon, performance fleece, tri-blends, or recycled synthetics with the same print quality.
- Sharp color reproduction with fine detail and gradients: DTF handles vivid, high-contrast images and clean lines well, making it a solid option for colorful, modern artwork on custom hoodies
- Durable finish with excellent stretch recovery: Once applied, DTF transfers stretch with the fabric. Your custom hoodies won’t experience cracking or splitting in the print area, even with frequent wear.
- No pre-treatment or drying required: DTF skips the soaking and setting steps required by DTG, allowing faster production of custom hoodies without sacrificing quality.
- Cons:
- Slightly thicker texture on the surface of the hoodie: Because DTF transfers sit on top of the fabric, they may feel less breathable or more rubbery than DTG prints, especially on lightweight custom hoodies.
- Shiny finish depending on the film used: Some DTF prints have a gloss or sheen, which might not suit matte or vintage hoodie styles.
- More material waste during production: Since DTF uses films and adhesive powder, there’s more physical waste than embroidery or DTG when printing custom hoodies in large batches.
- Doesn't offer the stitched aesthetic of embroidery: While DTF is flexible, it can’t replicate the high-end visual impact or texture that embroidered custom hoodies provide.
Use Case: DTF is the most flexible option for printing custom hoodies in full color across any material, including synthetics. It’s ideal for athletic brands, detailed streetwear, or mid-volume orders that require fast, repeatable results with no fabric limitations.
If you need help choosing the right method for your custom hoodies, we can help match your design and hoodie type to the process that will give the best results. Whether you're printing bold graphics, embroidered logos, or high-resolution art, we’ve got the equipment and experience to get it done right.
No Minimums
