Best t-shirt printers for 2022

It can be difficult to find the right t-shirt printing machine, with so many available. 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 unique designs.

Print your photos on a shirt, or create t-shirts that you can customize for companies or sports teams. Let us help you choose by comparing the best t-shirt printing machines. 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.

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 tees each year. If you go above that figure, you’ll want to invest in a Direct to Garment (DTG) printer.

Method of printing

There are many printing options for t-shirt printing. Each method has its pros and cons. A thin layer of ink is sprayed onto the fabric by printers, which creates a softening effect. These printers are ideal for intricate designs that require smooth transitions between different colors such as 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. The process involves ink being pushed through a stencil (the screen), onto fabric. A different screen is needed for each color. Screen printing produces vivid, long-lasting designs with almost unlimited color options. It is great for bulk orders but isn’t ideal for highly detailed designs. 

For t-shirts with printed designs, dye sublimation is the best choice. It uses a unique color vaporizing method that creates soft, breathable prints. Sublimation is only possible on polyester and synthetic fabrics. 

For those who are starting to experiment with their designs, heat press printing is the best option. Print a design using your laser printer or inkjet and use heat and pressure to stick 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. Small orders are not as efficient due to the labor involved in setting up screens. 

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. A printer that can be automated cleaned and has low maintenance costs is a good choice. 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.

These are our top picks for the best t-shirt printers of 2022

Overall: F2C 5-in-1 Pro Heat Press Machine

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

Specs:

• Printing method Heat press
• Dimensions: 20.6×19.6×20.2inches
• Printing area: 12×15 inches
• Weight: 55.8 pounds

Pros:

• For durability, a sturdy body
• 360° rotation for high accuracy
• Pressure-adjustment knob with full range 
• 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 professional heat press machine seamlessly combines form with function. The machine is strong enough to withstand both novice and professional use. 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.

This machine is the best for t-shirt printing. The machine is simple to use. It is easy to adjust the settings using the temperature control, the adjustable pressure knob and the timer. The plate is 12 x 15.5″ and can be used to print large designs. It also has built-in structural support that helps ensure even heat distribution.

The machine’s many features make it superior to its competition. It has attachments that enable you to print on apparel and plates. 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. The attachments are cumbersome and heavy to remove. And because it’s not a dedicated t-shirt printing machine, it doesn’t accommodate extra-large prints. It takes some time for the 1200 W heating element to reach 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 very user-friendly and offers exceptional quality. It can also be easily converted to a dye sublimation printer.

Specs:

• Printing method Sublimation
• Dimensions13.7 x 14.8x 8.7 inches
• Printing area8.5 x 14.4 inches
• Weight: 11.88 pounds

Pros:

• Prints of high quality
• 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 speeds
• 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. It is one of the most affordable sublimation printers available.  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. Although it will need to be converted, it is still able to compete with dedicated dye-sublimation printing machines. The maximum print resolution is 5760×1440 DPI. This allows for high-quality prints that are perfect for printing photos on shirts.  

Epson’s EcoTank printers hold plenty of ink, so your ink may last for months, based on your usage. However, the ET-2720 does have a few drawbacks like many entry-level inkjet printers. 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 of 5-in-1 heat presses, but it is much more affordable than many. 

Specs:

• Printing method Heat press
• Dimensions: 15 x12 x 18 inches
• Printing area12 x 15 inches
• Weight: 40.6 pounds

Pros:

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

Cons:

• Unclear user manual
• The timer setting does not make it easy for beginners.

Although the best shirt-making machine won’t save you any money, it will help you save time. 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. It is the most affordable printer without sacrificing quality. You can print on glass, wood and apparel with the five attachments included.

The digital temperature and time controls make it easy to set the temperature and time you want. The pressure knob can be adjusted to match the fabric thickness and the desired pressure. The detachable lower plate can be swapped easily with a Phillips wrench. The heating element can be rotated 360 degrees to prevent accidental contact.

The SURPCOS heat presses have a large heating plate measuring 12 x 15 inches and an innovative design that allows for quick assembly and disassembly. However, it does not come without its problems. The user manual is confusing and poorly translated from Chinese to English. Also, you’ll need to set aside time to learn how to configure the timer.

Ideal for screen printing VEVOR Screen Printing Machine

It made it to the topThe VEVOR screen-printing machine is compact and simple to assemble. The machine can print on complicated materials and applies four colors of ink to each side.

Specs:

• Printing method Screenprint
• Dimensions55 x 7.9×32 inches
• Printing area21.7 x 17.7 Inches
• Weight: 43.2 pounds

Pros:

• Easy to assemble
• Prints of high quality
• Sturdy build
• 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. You can print on metal, wood, paper and glass.

This four-color one station screen printing machine makes multi-color design printing more efficient. Simply attach the screens and rotate the printhead to suit your needs. 

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 printing is the best machine to print t-shirts for artists or small businesses. But it does have some downsides. 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 Transfer 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 for printing Direct to film
• Dimensions: 12.99 x 5,87 x 5.12 in
• Printing area: 
• Weight: 61.6 pounds

Pros:

• You can print on many materials
• Requires no pre-treatment
• It uses less ink than DTG printers
• High-quality prints that are durable
• 3-year warranty

Cons:

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

Direct to film (DTF), a unique method, involves printing on special films and then transferring the designs onto clothing. DTF prints are as durable as traditional silkscreen prints so your printed shirts will last for years. This PUNEHOOD model, one of the most popular clothing printers on market, will be a great addition in your t-shirt printing set up. This model is able to print on all 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 provides excellent customer service that can help you with 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 keep them in a safe place for future reference. 

FAQ

Methodology

This product roundup compares t-shirt printing machines from different manufacturers. We look at features like build quality, portability, printing area and ease of use. To get a fair verdict, we compared the printers based on their printing technology. 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 t-shirt printing machine that prints the exact type of print you require and can work with the designs you have in mind.