At 30 shirts, this is genuinely a close call — let’s walk through the factors that will tip it one way or the other for your specific situation.

Step 1: Look at Your Design’s Color Count

  • If your design has 1–3 solid colors: screen printing likely wins on cost at this quantity, since the per-color setup cost is starting to spread reasonably well across 30 units
  • If your design has 4+ colors, gradients, or photo-like detail: DTG likely wins, since screen printing’s per-color setup costs stack up fast with complex designs, while DTG prices are largely flat regardless of color complexity

Step 2: Consider Your Fabric

  • 100% cotton: both methods perform well
  • Poly-blend or performance fabric: DTG can struggle with high-polyester content; screen printing (with the right low-bleed ink) or DTF tends to be more reliable here

Step 3: Think About Turnaround

  • Screen printing requires screen setup time before production starts, which can add a few days upfront, especially for a first-time design
  • DTG typically has a faster start-to-finish timeline for smaller orders, since there’s no physical setup step

Step 4: Get Actual Quotes for Comparison

Given how close 30 shirts sits to the crossover point between these two methods, the most reliable approach is requesting quotes for both methods from your printer with your actual design and shirt style — the theoretical guidelines above are useful starting points, but real quotes will reflect your printer’s specific pricing structure.

A Simple Rule of Thumb for Your Situation

  • Simple 1–2 color logo, cotton shirts: lean screen printing
  • Colorful or detailed design, any fabric: lean DTG
  • Mixed fabric types in the same order: DTG or DTF likely offers more consistent results across different materials

What About DTF as a Third Option?

If you haven’t considered DTF (direct-to-film), it’s worth a look for a 30-shirt order too — it handles color complexity as well as DTG while working reliably across more fabric types, sometimes landing as a good middle-ground option at this quantity.

The Bottom Line

At 30 shirts, your design’s color complexity matters more than the quantity itself in determining which method makes more financial sense. Simple, low-color designs on cotton tend to favor screen printing; colorful, detailed, or gradient-heavy designs favor DTG (or DTF). Getting direct quotes for both methods with your actual design is the most reliable way to make the final call.