Best t-shirt printers for 2022

Given the number of options available, it can be difficult finding the best tshirt printer. But if you know what to look for, you’ll be able to choose a printing machine made specifically for your application. Modern t-shirt printing machines are small, fast and can produce multiple colors. This allows you to create iconic designs.

You want something that prints to print your favorite photos or personalize t-shirts for businesses and sports teams. To help you make a decision, we break down the options and compare top-rated t-shirt printers. These are the top t-shirt printers in 2022. 

Whether you’re getting a t-shirt printer for commercial or personal use, the quality of the prints will depend on the machine you get. And while it’s important to read reviews and product descriptions, your individual needs should determine the printer you choose. These are the things you should consider when looking for the best t shirt printer.

All your printing needs

Are you planning to print t-shirts for a hobby or business? Do you prefer to start small before starting a t shirt printing business? What number of shirts will you print each month? A small sublimation printer will suffice if you plan on printing less than 500 t-shirts each year. If you go above that figure, you’ll want to invest in a Direct to Garment (DTG) printer.

Printing method

There are many printing options for t-shirt printing. Each method has its pros and cons. The printer sprays a thin layer ink onto the fabric, which results in a soft print. They’re great for creating intricate designs, which require smooth transitions from colors like photos. They are very similar to traditional inkjet printers and can be used for switching between designs with no complicated setup. But, DTG printers are expensive, so it’s probably more than you need unless you are printing high-volume orders.

Screen printing is one of the most common–and oldest–methods of printing on shirts. Screen printing involves pressing ink through a screen (the stencil) onto fabric. Each color requires a different screen. It produces vibrant, durable designs that can be used in a variety of colors. This is why screen printing is so popular with artists. It is great for bulk orders but isn’t ideal for highly detailed designs. 

T-shirts printed with dye sublimation are a great choice. It uses a unique color vaporizing method that creates soft, breathable prints. Sublimation works only on synthetic fabrics such as polyester, and is therefore expensive. 

If you are just starting out and want to try your hand at creating designs from scratch, heat press printing might be the right choice. A design can be printed on special transfer paper using an inkjet printer or laser printer. Then heat and pressure are used to press it onto the shirt. It won’t hold up as well to washing as other methods but is more beginner-friendly.

Material costs

The printer’s cost is an important factor in choosing the right t-shirt printer. However, heat press printing is the most affordable. You can use any standard inkjet printer you have, and then get transfer paper and a heating press. 

Screen printing can be affordable but will cost more when you add many colors to your designs. For small orders, the cost of setting up screens is prohibitive due to the labor involved. 

DTG printing is not cheap as it requires an expensive printer to get started, but it’s ideal for small orders or switching between designs frequently. 

Maintenance

When shopping for a tshirt printing machine, maintenance should be your top priority. You will save time and have less hassle by choosing a printer that is easy to clean and requires minimal maintenance. You’ll also want something with minimal manual maintenance time. Some printers will alert you when they need cleaning, so you don’t have to keep track of when you last cleaned it.

Our picks for 2022’s best tshirt printers

Overall, this is the best: F2C 5-in-1 Pro Heat Press Machine

Why it was chosen: The 5-in-1 printer can be used by even beginners. It can be used for personal and commercial printing, as well as small businesses.

Specs:

• Method of printing: Heat press
• Dimensions: 20.6×19.6×20.2 inches
• Printing area12 x 15 inches
• Weight: 55.8 pounds

Pros:

• For durability, a sturdy body
• 360° rotation for high precision
• Adjustment knob for full-range pressure adjustment 
• Intelligent alarm and timer
• Simple to use

Cons:

• Heating the 1200W heating element to the desired temperature takes a while.
• Can’t print on extra-large t-shirts

F2C 5-in-1 Pro Heat Press Machine perfectly combines function and form. It can withstand the daily use of both beginners and professionals. This heat press has many useful features—a non-stick surface, swing-away 360-degree rotation, and a full-range pressure-adjustment knob.  Despite its industrial-grade metallic body, it’s portable and can be used on small working surfaces, making it ideal for someone who doesn’t have a dedicated workspace.

What makes it the best machine to print t-shirts? The machine is simple to use. The adjustable pressure knob, temperature control and timer allow you to easily adjust the settings. The plate measures 12 x 15 inches and allows you to print large designs. Built-in structural support maintains flatness, which ensures even pressure distribution.

The machine’s many features make it superior to its competition. You can print on apparel, plates, cups, and hats with the attachments included. You can heat or apply pressure on different areas because the 360-degree rotation of this device allows it to rotate 360°.

Interestingly, the machine’s versatility is also its undoing. It is difficult to replace the attachments because they are so heavy. And because it’s not a dedicated t-shirt printing machine, it doesn’t accommodate extra-large prints. The 1200 W heating element can take a while before it reaches the desired temperature.

The best sublimation printer Epson EcoTank ET-2720 Wireless printer

It made it to the topThe Epson EcoTank ET-2720 wireless print printer is excellent quality and novice-friendly. It can also be easily converted to a dye sublimation printer.

Specs:

• Method of printing: Sublimation
• Dimensions: 13.7 x 14.8x 8.7 inches
• Printing area8.5 x 14.5 inches
• Weight: 11.88 pounds

Pros:

• High-quality prints
• Low operating expenses
• Affordable
• Supports wireless printing and WiFi-direct printing
• Can be used as a Sublimation Printer
• Features a built-in scanner, copier, and fax machine

Cons:

• Slower printing speed
• Can only print up to  8.5 x 14 inches

If you’re looking for the best machine for sublimation t-shirt printing, look no further than the Epson EcoTank ET-2720. This printer is the best value for money and one of the top sublimation printers.  However, since the EcoTank isn’t a dedicated sublimation printer, you will need to convert it. For best–and easiest–results, you should do this with a brand new printer, but be aware that it does void the warranty, and you can only use it as a sublimation printer moving forward. 

Sublimation ink can be used to transform the printer from a standard printer into a dye-sublimation one. The machine is capable of competing with the most expensive dye-sublimation printers, even though it needs to be converted. The machine has a maximum print resolution 5760 x 1440 DPI. This makes it ideal for printing photos onto shirts.  

Epson’s EcoTank printers hold plenty of ink, so your ink may last for months, based on your usage. The ET-2720 is not without its flaws. The biggest one is its small printing area, 8.5 x 14 inches, so it’s best suited to small t-shirts.

Best value: SURPCOS 5-in-1 Heat Press

It made it to the top: The SURPCOS heat press machine features all the standard features and is cheaper than other 5-in-1 heat presses. 

Specs:

• Method of printing: Heat press
• Dimensions: 15 x12 x 18 inches
• Printing area: 12 x15 inches
• Weight: 40.6 pounds

Pros:

• 360-degree rotational swing arm
• High-temperature—up to 450⁰ F
• Built-in timer
• 5-in-1 functionality

Cons:

• Unclear user manual
• The timer setting for beginners is not user-friendly

While the best shirt machine will not save you money it will make your life easier. And if you’re lucky, you can get a machine that saves you both time and money, like the SURPCOS Heat Press 5-in-1 printer. This printer offers great value without sacrificing quality. You can print on glass, wood and apparel with the five attachments included.

You can easily set the desired temperature and time with the digital temperature and time controls. The adjustable pressure knob adjusts the pressure to match fabric thickness. The detachable lower plate can be swapped easily with a Phillips wrench. Additionally, the heating element rotates 360 degrees, which prevents accidental contact.

This SURPCOS heatpress features a large heating plate of 12 x 15, and an easy to assemble and disassemble design. However, it does not come without its problems. Its manual has confusing English-Chinese translations and is difficult to understand. Also, you’ll need to set aside time to learn how to configure the timer.

Screen printing is best: VEVOR Screen Printing Machine

It made it to the topThe VEVOR screen printer machine is small and easy to assemble. The machine can print on complicated materials and applies four colors of ink to each side.

Specs:

• Method of printing: Screenprint
• Dimensions: 55×7.9×32 inches
• Printing area21.7 x 17.7 Inches
• Weight: 43.2 pounds

Pros:

• It’s easy to assemble
• High-quality prints
• Sturdy construction
• Large printing area
• Desktop design saves space

Cons:

• Not great for mass production
• It’s hard to line up the holes during assembly

VEVOR is a custom shirt printing machine that’s ideal for a variety of materials. The machine can print on fabric, metal, wood and paper as well as other materials. It will print your designs on almost any flat surface that accepts screen printing ink.

This four-color one station screen printing machine makes multi-color design printing more efficient. Attach your screens to the machine and rotate to print. 

The VEVOR Screen Printing Machine is easy to assemble, easy to use, and its design ensures it doesn’t take up much space. It’s ideal for people with limited space or those who only print occasionally.

VEVOR screen printers are the best for artists and small businesses. However, there are some drawbacks. It is not ideal for mass production, so we don’t recommend it for busy settings. It may be difficult to align the holes during assembly.

This is the best fabric printing option: PUNEHOD DTF Printer

Why it was chosen: It produces high-quality prints on all fabrics, and it is simple to use. It’s also more affordable than DTG machines.

Specs:

• Method of printing: Direct to Film
• Dimensions: 12.99×5.87×5.12 inches
• Printing area: 
• Weight: 61.6 pounds

Pros:

• You can print on many materials
• Requires no pre-treatment
• White ink is used less than DTG printers
• Prints high-quality, durable prints
• 3-year warranty

Cons:

• The setup process is not for beginners
• Slow speed of printing

Direct to Film (DTF) printing, which involves printing designs on special film and then transferring them onto clothes, is an innovative technique. DTF prints last twice as long as traditional silkscreen prints. This means that your printed shirts can be reprinted over and over again. The PUNEHOOD model is a top-of-the-line clothing printer and will be a great addition for your t shirt printing setup. This printer can print flawlessly on both cotton and leather fabrics.

The best thing about DTF technology is that you don’t need to pre-treat fabrics after you print your designs on the PET film. . Film prints can be used immediately or stored for later use. DTF printers use less ink than DTG.

It’s worth mentioning that this printer isn’t easy to set up, and beginners may find the process quite hard. The manufacturer offers excellent customer support that can assist you remotely during the installation process. Unfortunately, the machine’s printing speed is also wanting, and it gets even slower with increased image size and resolution. We recommend that you print your favorite designs before printing and that they be stored for future use. 

FAQs

Methodology

This product roundup compares different t-shirt printers from different manufacturers. It is based on various features such as build quality and functionality, portability, printing areas, and ease-of-use. We compared printers using the same printing technology to arrive at a fair verdict. We also analyzed buyers’ reviews on major e-commerce sites like Amazon and eBay.

Final Thoughts

Printing t-shirts can be fun and rewarding, no matter if you do it as a hobby. To get the best results, find a tshirt printing machine that prints the exact type of print you require and can work with the designs you have in mind.