Embroidery vs DTG printing
Embroidery sews the design in thread for a raised, durable, upmarket look that suits logos on polos, caps and workwear; DTG sprays water-based ink into cotton for a soft, full-color print with no setup, ideal for detailed art and one-off tees but prone to fading over many washes and weaker on polyester. Choose embroidery for branding and gifts, DTG for photo-like prints on cotton.
What it is
Embroidery
Machine embroidery stitches the design into the fabric with thread, color by color, from a stitch file made by digitizing the artwork.
What it is
DTG printing
Direct-to-garment (DTG) is inkjet printing straight into the fabric, much like a desktop printer on a T-shirt.
| Embroidery | DTG printing | |
|---|---|---|
| Look and feel | Raised thread with depth and sheen | Soft, almost no feel on cotton |
| Detail and colors | Bold shapes, a few thread colors | Photos and unlimited colors |
| Durability | Usually outlasts the garment | Fades gradually; lasts best with cold washes |
| Best garments | Polos, caps, jackets, fleece, bags, towels | 100% cotton or high-cotton tees and hoodies |
| Dark garments | No difference | Needs a white underbase and pretreatment |
| Small orders | One-time digitizing per logo | No setup; one-offs are easy |
Which should you choose?
Choose embroidery for
- Company logos and uniforms
- Caps, polos, jackets and bags
- A finish that won't fade or wash out
- Personalized gifts with names
Choose DTG printing for
- Full-color artwork and photos on cotton tees
- Print-on-demand and single shirts
- Large designs where stitching would cost too much
Going with embroidery?
From logo to stitch file in minutes
Upload your logo and Embrizo digitizes it with satin, fill and underlay tuned for the fabric, shows a realistic stitch preview and the stitch count, and saves the file for any machine.
Free account
See your logo stitched before you order
Create a free account to digitize any image, try every setting and watch it sew. Choose a plan only when you want to download files.
- Digitize and preview any image
- Realistic stitch preview and sew-out
- Download free ready-made designs
- No credit card needed
Embroidery vs DTG questions
The quickest way to see what it does with your artwork is to try it. With a free account, digitizing and previewing cost nothing and take about a minute.
What is the difference between embroidery and DTG printing?
Embroidery sews the design in thread for a raised, durable, upmarket look that suits logos on polos, caps and workwear; DTG sprays water-based ink into cotton for a soft, full-color print with no setup, ideal for detailed art and one-off tees but prone to fading over many washes and weaker on polyester. Choose embroidery for branding and gifts, DTG for photo-like prints on cotton.
Which lasts longer, embroidery or DTG?
Embroidery usually lasts longer. DTG ink sits in the cotton fibers and gradually fades with washing; thread colors hold up for the life of most garments.
Can DTG print on polyester?
DTG works best on cotton. Polyester and performance fabrics are better suited to embroidery, DTF or sublimation.
Is embroidery better for business logos?
For polos, caps and workwear, most businesses choose embroidery for its premium look and durability. DTG suits colorful, detailed artwork on cotton tees.
More comparisons
How embroidery is pricedReady to embroider your logo?
Sign up free, upload your logo and get a ready-to-sew file with the exact stitch count and colors.