Tobias Reed Production Knowledge Lead at 4OVER4.COM
Tobias is our voice for cutting, binding and large format, built from the knowledge of our production team, with over 20 years in printing.
Question
Which is cheaper - screen printing or vinyl printing?
Answer
Which is cheaper depends almost entirely on quantity. Screen printing has upfront setup costs that pay off at volume, while vinyl skips setup and wins on small runs.
| Order size | Cheaper option | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Under about 25 units | Vinyl printing | No screen setup fee |
| Above about 25 to 30 units | Screen printing | Setup spreads across many garments |
- Screen printing charges per color for screen creation, so simple, high-volume designs favor it.
- Vinyl has no setup fee, which makes short runs and one-offs affordable.
- Always compare the total project cost, not just the per-unit price.
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