Embroidery vs screen printing comes down to look, fabric, and run size: embroidery stitches thread for a premium, near-permanent finish on polos, fleece, and caps, while screen printing lays ink for bold, large, low-cost graphics on tees at volume. Blanks for both start at 99¢/unit by the pack.
The choice comes down to look, fabric, and run: embroidery for premium stitched logos, screen printing for bold, large, low-cost graphics.
Embroidery stitches thread into the fabric for a raised, near-permanent finish that lasts the life of the garment; screen printing lays ink flat and holds 40–60+ washes.
Embroidery looks most premium on structured garments — polos, fleece, jackets, and caps; screen printing looks best on tees and hoodies.
Embroidery is priced by stitch count, so added colors are free once the logo is digitized; screen printing charges per color, with a screen set up for each.
Screen printing is cheapest per shirt at volume for big runs of few-color art; embroidery wins small runs and simple logos, with lower minimums (often 6+).
The blank costs the same either way — tees and polos a flat 99¢/unit, fleece $1.50/unit, the same per-unit price at every pack and size.
— The Press Room, Bayou Blanks"Stitch the polos and fleece, screen the tees: logos and longevity go to thread, bold graphics and volume go to ink."
Embroidery and screen printing solve different jobs. One stitches thread for a premium, lasting logo; the other lays ink for bold, large, low-cost graphics. The right call depends on the garment, the design, and how many you're making. Here's how they stack up.
| Attribute | Embroidery | Screen Printing |
|---|---|---|
| Best for 5.3–6.0 oz | Logos on polos, fleece, caps, uniforms | Tees & hoodies, bold or large graphics |
| Look & feel 5.3–6.0 oz | Raised, dimensional stitched thread | Flat ink, smooth on the fabric |
| Color & detail 5.3–6.0 oz | Solid thread colors; photos/gradients hard | Bold spot colors to full-color, large coverage |
| Best fabric 5.3–6.0 oz | Dense & structured — piqué polos, fleece, twill | Almost any — cotton, blends, poly, darks |
| Durability 5.3–6.0 oz | Lasts the life of the garment — won't crack or fade | 40–60+ washes; heavy plastisol can crack over years |
| Minimums 5.3–6.0 oz | Low — often 6+ pieces | Usually 25+; setup pays off across a batch |
| Cost driver 5.3–6.0 oz | Per stitch count (colors free once digitized) | Per color (one screen each) |
| From (per unit) By the pack | 99¢ polo · $1.50 fleece | $2 tee |
Structured polos and fleece that grip stitches, plus smooth cotton tees for bold screen prints — on the floor in Hattiesburg, sold by the pack. Prices shown per unit, no account.
A structured striated-knit polo — embroidery's natural home. The textured surface grips stitches and resists puckering, so a left-chest logo lays clean and crisp with a cut-away stabilizer.
S, M, L, 2XL–5XL
A smooth cotton crew with deep stock — the classic screen-print blank. The tight, even knit holds bold spot colors and large graphics flat and sharp.
S–2XL
A midweight pullover fleece with deep stock — cotton-rich fleece embroiders cleanly with a cut-away backing for a premium left-chest crest. It screen-prints well too.
S–3XL
A contrast crew raglan in a full size run — built for bold screen graphics across a big order, with extended sizes that hold one flat price.
S–5XL
Tees and polos are a flat 99¢/unit, fleece $1.50/unit — the same per-unit price whether you buy a 4-pack or a 12-pack, same price across every size. Stock is liquidation overstock, so specific colors and sizes rotate — check each product for live availability.
Neither is universally better — it depends on the garment, the design, and the run. Embroidery gives a premium, near-permanent finish for logos on structured garments like polos, fleece, and caps. Screen printing wins bold, large, or full-color graphics on tees and hoodies, at the lowest per-shirt cost once the run gets big.
Embroidery generally lasts longest — the polyester thread is stitched into the fabric and won't crack, peel, or fade, so it often outlives the garment. Quality screen printing holds up well too (typically 40–60+ washes, and premium plastisol for years), but ink can eventually fade or crack, especially on large solid prints.
For small orders and simple logos, embroidery is often competitive or cheaper — it has low minimums and no per-color charge. For large runs of bold, few-color designs, screen printing is cheaper per shirt because the setup cost spreads across the batch. Embroidery is priced by stitch count; screen printing by the number of colors. The blank itself costs the same either way.
Dense, structured pieces hold stitches best: piqué polos, fleece and sweatshirts, twill caps, jackets, and woven button-downs. Lightweight single-jersey tees can pucker under heavy stitching, so on a thin tee embroidery is usually limited to a small left-chest logo with a cut-away stabilizer.
Yes, but keep it small. A left-chest logo or a sleeve hit works well with the right cut-away backing. Large or dense designs can distort a thin jersey tee, so for big graphics on a t-shirt, screen printing (or DTF) is the better fit.
Embroidery reads as higher-end — the raised, dimensional thread signals quality, which is why it's the standard for corporate polos, uniforms, and caps. Screen printing looks best for casual, graphic-forward tees and hoodies where you want bold color and large coverage.
The real cost per piece — tees and polos a flat 99¢/unit, fleece $1.50/unit. Shown up front, no account, same price every size and pack.
Structured polos and fleece that grip stitches, plus smooth cotton tees for bold screen prints — S–5XL, print-ready, with new pallets landing weekly.
Packed and shipped from our Mississippi warehouse — central, fast, and real people on the floor.
No account, no resale certificate, no business required — buy a single pack at the same per-unit price.
Whichever way you decorate — stitched or screened — the blank is the same flat price. Structured polos and fleece for embroidery, smooth cotton tees for screen printing, from 99¢/unit, every size one price, no account, inspected and shipped from Hattiesburg.
