Embroidery vs Screen Printing in 2020

Embroidery

Embroidery and screen printing are popular apparel and gift printing methods.

With embroidery, the logo is reproduced by stitching threads directly into fabric. With screen printing, your logo is reproduced by squeezing inks through mesh screens directly onto your garments.

The set-up cost for most embroidered logos is a flat fee. The set-up cost for screen printing is colour dependent – a new mesh screen is required for each colour in your logo. Since the set-up cost for a typical embroidered logo is about the same as the cost for a single screen, embroidery is generally cheaper to set-up.

Putting aside cost, which method will give you the best result? The answer to this question depends on the garments being printed.

For business shirts and polo shirts, embroidery is generally the better choice. Embroidery on these items is perceived as more prestigious. For t-shirts, screen printing is the best choice. Embroidery is often too “heavy” for t-shirts and you may notice “puckering” around the logo because the stitching creates tension.

In Summary, embroidery is the best choice for business shirts, polo shirts, caps and jackets. Screen printing is the best choice for t-shirts, hoodies and large logos.