| Machine type | Best for | Startup range at Buckets of Ink | What else you need |
|---|---|---|---|
| DTF printer + powder shaker/dryer | Full-color designs, small orders, any fabric color, on-demand and gang-sheet work | $12,599.00 – $31,995.00 (CobraFlex 13" to 24" 4-head packages) | Heat press, DTF film, powder, ink, RIP software |
| Manual screen printing press | Spot-color designs in quantity (team, school, business orders); lowest cost per shirt as runs grow | $583.00 – $8,311.00 (Vastex CraftPrinter to V-2000HD 6-color 6-station) | Flash or conveyor dryer, exposure unit, screens, ink, emulsion |
| Automatic screen printing press | High-volume production shops | Quote — ROQ automatic press pricing guide | Conveyor dryer, full screen room |
| Heat press | Applying DTF transfers, vinyl and plastisol transfers; hats with a hat press | $950.00 – $3,500.00 (hat press to pneumatic dual-platen) | Transfers or a DTF printer |
Most new shops choose based on what customers order:
| Equipment | Web price | Why you need it |
|---|---|---|
| Vastex V-1000 4-color 4-station press | $3,291.00 | Prints multi-color designs with registration |
| Vastex LittleRed X1 18" conveyor dryer | $4,090.00 | Cures plastisol all the way through so prints survive washing |
| Vastex LittleRed X1 30" conveyor dryer | $4,270.00 | Wider belt for more shirts per hour |
| Vastex E20 LED exposure unit | $995.00 | Burns your designs into screens |
See the full screen room in our screen printing exposure unit guide, what size conveyor dryer do I need and screen printing machines.
At bucketsofink.com today: heat presses run $950.00–$3,500.00, manual screen printing presses $583.00–$14,575.00 (up to the V-2000HD 10-color 10-station), CobraFlex DTF printer packages $12,599.00–$42,995.00 for 13" and 24" models, and automatic presses are quoted. Add consumables (ink, film, powder, screens) and a dryer for screen printing. For a full DTF budget see how much it costs to start a DTF business. Equipment ships by freight — your exact estimate is on your quote or at checkout.
Compare methods side by side in plastisol vs DTF, DTF vs DTG and embroidery vs screen printing vs DTF. Many shops run two: screen printing for bulk orders and DTF for small, full-color jobs.
Ask about the DTF starter package (printer, shaker/dryer, heat press, film, powder, ink) or the screen printing starter package (press, dryer, exposure unit, screens, ink, emulsion). Great financing is available, and we help with delivery, setup and training. Looking for used? Browse the Buckets of Ink used equipment marketplace.
See it before you buy: equipment is on display at our Tempe showroom, 906 S Priest Dr, Suite 101, Tempe, AZ 85281 (Mon–Fri 7:30 AM–4:00 PM). Call 480-229-7806 to book a demo, ask about setup and training, or talk through the right size for your shop.
Shop: DTF printers · heat press machines · t-shirt heat press · automatic screen printing machines · Vastex manual presses · CobraFlex
The three main t-shirt printing machines are DTF printers (print full-color transfers you heat press onto shirts), screen printing presses (push ink through a stencil, best for larger orders) and heat presses (apply transfers and vinyl). Many shops combine a DTF printer with a heat press, or a screen printing press with a conveyor dryer.
For small, full-color orders a DTF printer with a powder shaker/dryer plus a heat press is the most flexible start — the CobraFlex 13" Mini package is $12,599.00. For larger spot-color orders a manual screen printing press such as the Vastex V-1000 4-color 4-station ($3,291.00) with a conveyor dryer gives the lowest cost per shirt.
At Buckets of Ink heat presses run $950.00 to $3,500.00, manual screen printing presses $583.00 to $14,575.00, and CobraFlex DTF printer packages $12,599.00 to $42,995.00. Automatic presses are quoted. Freight is quoted separately.
Yes. A tabletop screen printing press or a 13" DTF printer with a heat press fits in a garage or spare room. Check your power (some dryers and presses need 240V) and ventilation for DTF and curing.
DTF is better for small runs and full-color designs with no screen setup. Screen printing is better and cheaper per shirt for larger orders in a few colors. Many shops offer both.
Yes, great financing is available on new equipment. Call 480-229-7806 or use the quote buttons on this page and ask about financing and starter packages.
Visit the Buckets of Ink showroom at 906 S Priest Dr, Suite 101, Tempe, AZ 85281, Monday to Friday 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM. Call 480-229-7806 to book a demo.
