7 Best DTG Printer In 2023 [Compared & Tested]

DTG printer has revolutionized the t-shirt printing industry by providing a fast, affordable, and easy-to-use solution for small businesses and hobbyists. DTG printing is printing directly onto garments using inkjet technology, and printers are purpose-built machines designed specifically for this task.
In the past, DTG printers were expensive and difficult to use, but today there are many high-quality printers on the market that are affordable and easy to operate. This article will look at the best DTG printers in 2022 and beyond.
What Is a DTG Printer?
DTG printing is an affordable, flexible, and scalable way to get into the garment printing business. Direct To Garment printers are purpose-built machines explicitly designed for printing directly onto garments using inkjet technology. Direct To Garment printers can print high-quality images and text on various garments, including t-shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies, and more.
Direct To Garment printers utilize inkjet technology to print directly onto the garment. Direct To Garment printers are typically built around an industrial-grade inkjet printer, such as those used in commercial printing applications. Direct To Garment printing does not need screens, films, or transfers—the design is printed directly onto the garment.
The digital nature of DTG printing makes it possible to print intricate designs and images easily. Direct To Garment printers can print at resolutions up to 2880 dpi (higher than this in some cases), which results in sharp and clear prints.
With a DTG printer, you are not limited by the number of colors in your design—you can easily print full-color images and graphics. Direct To Garment printers use CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, black) inks to produce a wide range of colors. DTG printing is fast and efficient and offers a high print quality level.
Comparison of Best DTG Printer
IMAGE | MODEL | FEATURES | COST | RATING |
Epson F2100 DTG Printer | A purpose-built system for high-quality prints, Designed exclusively for direct-to-garment printing, Offer consistent print quality twice the speed of the previous generation one | CHECK PRICE | 4.8 / 5 | |
Brother GTX DTG Printer | Great for start-ups, Consistent print quality, Reliable operation | CHECK PRICE | 4.4 / 5 | |
Polyprint Texjet Echo 2 | Deliver breathtaking DTG & DTF results, Flawless ink distribution, Automatic height adjustment | CHECK PRICE | 4.6 / 5 | |
Coldesi DTG G4 | Features a patented Vacuum Platen, Custom designed Kodacolor inks, New touch screen interface | CHECK PRICE | 4.4 / 5 | |
DTG Digital M2 Direct to Garment Printer | Designed with a bespoke firmware, Better engineered, Great ink management | CHECK PRICE | 4.2 / 5 | |
Freejet 330TX Plus Printer | Super fast dtg printer, Wetcap system prevents head clogs, Automatic laser height adjustment | CHECK PRICE | 4.6 / 5 | |
Polyprint Texjet Shortee2 | Six quick-switch platens, Print area of 30×45 cm, Excellent quality printer | CHECK PRICE | 4.5 / 5 |
Let us explore each of the listed DTG printers.
Top 7 DTG Printer You Can Buy Right Now
Epson F2100 DTG Printer
SPECIFICATIONS
- Purpose-built system for high-quality prints
- Designed exclusively for direct-to-garment printing
- Offer consistent print quality twice the speed of the previous generation one
- 1-year limited on-site warranty
TODAY’S BEST DEALS
The Epson F2100 DTG printer is a high-quality Direct To Garment printer with resolutions up to 1440 dpi. The Epson F2100 Direct To Garment printer uses Epson’s UltraChrome DG ink, a water-based pigment ink explicitly designed for DTG printing. Whether you’re looking to print on t-shirts, sweatshirts, or hoodies, the Epson F2100 Direct To Garment printer is a great option.
Users will appreciate the quick-load platen and easy-to-use ink system on the Epson F2100 DTG printer. The Epson F2100 Direct To Garment printer also features the Epson Garment Creator Software, a great design tool for creating DTG prints.
With a maximum printing area of 16” x 20”, the Epson F2100 Direct To Garment printer is an excellent option for printing smaller prints. The Epson F2100 Direct To Garment printer also features a compact design, which makes it easy to fit into any workspace.
Brother GTX DTG Printer
SPECIFICATIONS
- Great for start-ups
- Consistent print quality
- Reliable operation
- Standard, operator-friendly feature
TODAY’S BEST DEALS
The Brother GTX DTG printer, specifically the GTXpro B, is a high-performance DTG printer that offers up to 1200 dpi resolutions. As a high-volume DTG printer, the Brother GTX Direct To Garment printer is designed for printing large quantities of garments.
The Brother GTX Direct To Garment printer features a high-speed platen system that can print up to 57 light garments & 42 dark garments per hour.
The Brother GTX Direct To Garment printer uses a variety of inks, including CMYK, white, and primer. The Brother GTX Direct To Garment printer also features an advanced cleaning system that helps keep the print heads clean and free of clogs.
The Brother GTX Direct To Garment printer will deliver dependable and consistent prints because it has a piezo head with two print heads and eight ink channels each. The Brother GTX Direct To Garment printer is also one of the few DTG printers on the market that offers white ink calibration.
Polyprint Texjet Echo 2
SPECIFICATIONS
- Deliver breathtaking DTG & DTF results
- Flawless ink distribution
- Automatic height adjustment
- 10 quick-swap platens
- The print area of 41×60 cm
TODAY’S BEST DEALS
Screen printing is essential though not entirely necessary, aspect of DTG printing, so it would only make sense to get a hybrid DTG/screen printing machine like the Polyprint Texjet Echo 2.
This DTG printer is a versatile machine that can print DTG and perform screen printing functions when combined with traditional screen printing presses.
The Polyprint Texjet Echo 2 Direct To Garment printer is designed for small to medium-sized businesses. The machine offers resolutions up to 1440×720 dpi (white) and 720×720 dpi (CMYK) and can print up to 25 T-shirts per hour.
With a spacious printing area of 16.1″ × 23.6″ (41 cm × 60 cm), the Polyprint Texjet Echo 2 Direct To Garment printer can accommodate various garment sizes.
The Polyprint Texjet Echo 2 Direct To Garment printer uses DTG inks specifically formulated for printing on natural fabrics. These inks are water-based and free of harmful chemicals, making them safe for the environment and the user.
Plus, the 14 platen configuration means you can print on various garment types, including long sleeves, infant clothes, and adult garments.
Coldesi DTG G4
SPECIFICATIONS
- Features a patented Vacuum Platen
- Custom-designed Kodacolor inks
- The new touch screen interface
TODAY’S BEST DEALS
User-friendliness plays a significant role in DTG printing, and the Coldesi DTG G4 DTG printer hits all the marks in this category. The machine is designed for easy operation, with an intuitive control panel that makes it simple to navigate. The color touch screen display provides clear instructions for every printing process step.
The Coldesi DTG G4 Direct To Garment printer produces excellent results in terms of print quality. The machine uses a piezo print head that delivers up to 1200 dpi resolutions. The Coldesi DTG G4 Direct To Garment printer can print a white T-shirt with an 8×10 inch CMYK design in less than 30 seconds, while a black T-shirt with the same design can be printed in approximately 55 seconds.
In terms of efficiency, the Coldesi DTG G4 DTG printer is hard to beat. The machine has a vacuum platen system that holds the garment in place during printing, ensuring precise registration and alignment. Additionally, the 7″ touch screen interface makes it easy to input data and monitor the printing process.
DTG Digital M2 Direct to Garment Printer
SPECIFICATIONS
- Designed with a bespoke firmware
- Better engineered
- Great ink management
TODAY’S BEST DEALS
The DTG Digital M2 DTG printer is a high-performance machine designed for businesses requiring higher volumes of DTG prints. The machine can print over 50 graphics on light garments per hour, making it one of the fastest DTG printers on the market.
The revolutionary WIMS (white ink management system) on the DTG Digital M2 Direct To Garment printer ensures white ink reliability and consistency. Additionally, the machine is equipped with One Pass print technology, which means it can print a full-color design in a single pass. It significantly reduces printing times and increases efficiency.
The DTG Digital M2 Direct To Garment printer also features iQ Interweave, which eliminates banding at resolutions up to 1200 dpi. This technology creates a more natural print that closely resembles traditional screen printing.
Freejet 330TX Plus Printer
SPECIFICATIONS
- Super fast dtg printer
- The wetcap system prevents head clogs
- Automatic laser height adjustment
TODAY’S BEST DEALS
If versatility is what you’re after in a DTG printer, then the Freejet 330TX Plus DTG printer is perfect. The machine can print on a wide variety of fabrics, including 100% cotton, polyester, blends, and even dark garments.
DTG is a great print technology, but it’s often criticized for its lack of quality compared to traditional screen printing.
The Freejet 330TX Plus Direct To Garment printer uses a full print head that can print at resolutions up to 5760 dpi, which isn’t a resolution most DTG printers are known for. However, the Freejet 330TX Plus DTG printer produces prints that rival traditional screen printing.
One of the most effective DTG printers on the market, the Freejet 330TX Plus DTG printer uses 8 ink channels.
Additionally, the Freejet 330TX Plus DTG printer comes with automatic laser height adjustment, which ensures that the print head is always at the optimal distance from the garment. It results in consistent print quality and registration.
Polyprint Texjet Shortee2
SPECIFICATIONS
- Six quick-switch platens
- The print area of 30×45 cm
- Excellent quality printer
TODAY’S BEST DEALS
For entry-level DTG printers, the Polyprint Texjet Shortee2 DTG printer is one of the best options. The machine is designed for small and home-based businesses, and it’s one of the most affordable DTG printers on the market.
This small and reliable DTG printer can print on various fabrics, including 100% cotton, polyester, and blends. The 11.8″ x 17.7″ printing area is also large enough to print on most garments. In terms of print quality, the Polyprint Texjet Shortee2 DTG printer can print at resolutions up to 1400 dpi.
It is a lower resolution than some of the other DTG printers on this list, but it’s still sufficient for most applications.
The six quick-switch platens, however, make up for the lower print quality. These interchangeable platens allow you to quickly switch between different garment sizes, which is a huge time-saver. Additionally, the automatic pretreatment system simplifies the DTG printing process by automatically applying a pretreatment solution to the garment.
Key Considerations for Buying a DTG Printer
Shopping for a DTG printer can be daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. Here’s few points to remember when shopping for a DTG printer:
1. Print Quality
Concerning DTG printers, print quality is one of the most important considerations. DTG printers use inkjet technology to print directly onto garments, and the quality of the prints can vary greatly from one DTG printer to another.
If you’re looking for high-quality DTG prints, you’ll need to find a DTG printer that uses a high-resolution print head. DTG printers with resolutions up to 1200 dpi are typically considered high-quality DTG printers, although you can also find DTG printers with resolutions up to 5760 dpi.
2. Printing Speed
While the printing speed may not matter if you’re simply a hobbyist who is printing for yourself, it can be a critical consideration if you’re running a business. DTG printers can vary greatly in terms of printing speed, with some DTG printers being able to print up to 60 garments per hour.
The hourly printing speed is important, but you should also consider the DTG printer’s price-per-garment cost. DTG printers with higher hourly printing speeds typically have higher price-per-garment costs, so you’ll need to decide if the increase in printing speed is worth the extra cost.
3. Ease of Use
If you’re a beginner, you’ll want to find a DTG printer that is easy to use. Some DTG printers have built-in tutorials and step-by-step instructions, while others require you to download a PDF manual.
A DTG printer that is easy to use will have a shorter learning curve than a DTG printer that is more complex. Additionally, the printing time is also somewhat dependent on the DTG printer’s ease of use.
4. Maintenance
DTG printers require regular maintenance, such as cleaning the print heads and purging the ink lines. Additionally, DTG printers typically have a limited number of prints before they need to be cleaned or serviced.
Maintenance requirements should be considered because they may raise the total cost of ownership for the DTG printer. Some DTG printers frequent maintenance, so you’ll need to decide if the added cost is worth it.
5. Garment Compatibility
DTG printers can only print on certain fabrics, so it’s important to ensure that the DTG printer you’re considering is compatible with the garments you want to print. Most DTG printers can print on 100% cotton and polyester fabrics, but some DTG printers can also print on blends.
It’s also important to consider the DTG printer’s garment size compatibility. Some DTG printers can only print on small garments, while others can accommodate larger garments. If you’re planning on printing on a variety of garment sizes, then you’ll need to find a DTG printer that can accommodate your needs.
FAQs on DTG Printer
1. Which is better DTG or DTF?
DTG can only be printed on cotton. Whereas, DTF can be applied to a wide variety of materials. If you want to restrict your customers’ options to cotton garments, DTG may be a good option. However, if you want to be able to print on any material or garment, DTF might be a better choice.
2. Is DTG cheaper than screen printing?
Small orders can be printed using DTG technology for less than screen printing; large orders can be printed using screen printing for less than DTG technology.
3. What is the cost of a direct to garment printer?
DTG printers can range from $20,000 to $250,000, depending on the size of your company. Since DTG requires pre-treatment, you must have a pre-treatment machine ($3,000-$4,000) and a pre-treatment solution ($50-$100 per gallon).
Related Topics:
- Top 12 Tshirt Press Machines in 2022 [Compared & Tested]
- 10 Best Sublimation Printer for T-shirts: The Ultimate Guide
- 7 Best Screen Printing Machines in 2022 [Compared & Tested]
Conclusion
DTG printers have come a long way in recent years, and technology is continually improving. DTG printers can be a great investment for businesses and individuals who want to produce high-quality, custom-printed garments.
The 7 printers reviewed above represent some of the best DTG printers on the market.