Embroidery vs printing
Embroidery sews the design in thread for a raised, textured, long-lasting finish that reads as premium, and it costs by stitch count, so small logos are best; printing lays ink or film on the surface, which handles big designs, photos and many colors cheaply but looks flatter and can fade or crack. Choose embroidery for logos on polos, caps, jackets and gifts, printing for large or colorful designs on tees.
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
Printing
Printing covers screen printing, DTF, DTG and vinyl: ink or film laid on the fabric surface rather than thread sewn into it.
| Embroidery | Printing | |
|---|---|---|
| Look | Raised, textured, premium | Flat, smooth and bright |
| Design size | Best small to medium: logos, names | Any size, including full backs |
| Colors | A handful of thread colors | Unlimited, including photos |
| Durability | Usually outlasts the garment | Varies by method: can fade, crack or peel |
| Garments | Polos, caps, jackets, fleece, bags, towels | Tees, hoodies, tote bags |
| Perceived value | High: uniforms and corporate wear | Casual and promotional |
Which should you choose?
Choose embroidery for
- Corporate logos and uniforms
- Caps, polos and jackets
- Gifts and personalization
- A finish that lasts
Choose printing for
- Big, colorful T-shirt designs
- Photos and gradients
- Cheap promotional tees in volume
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 Printing 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 printing?
Embroidery sews the design in thread for a raised, textured, long-lasting finish that reads as premium, and it costs by stitch count, so small logos are best; printing lays ink or film on the surface, which handles big designs, photos and many colors cheaply but looks flatter and can fade or crack. Choose embroidery for logos on polos, caps, jackets and gifts, printing for large or colorful designs on tees.
Is embroidery better than printing?
Neither is better everywhere. Embroidery looks more premium and lasts longer on polos, caps and workwear; printing is better for big, colorful designs on tees.
Why does embroidery cost more than printing?
Embroidery is priced by stitch count: machine time and thread. A small logo is affordable, but a full-back design can take tens of thousands of stitches.
Can any logo be embroidered?
Most can. Tiny text under about 5 mm, photos and fine gradients need simplifying. Upload your logo to the digitizer to see how it stitches before you order.
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.