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Looking to expand your business into DTF printing? You’re in good company!
DTF or direct-to-film printing is a hot topic right now among printing and customization businesses, and for good reason.
With DTF printers, custom designs can be printed onto film and then transferred onto multiple materials and colors to create one-of-a-kind custom apparel, garments, tumblers, and home decor.
But the question is, what’s the best DTF printer for your small business?
Keep reading to discover our 4 picks and how to know which one is right for you. 💡
But before we dive in, we'd like to share one piece of advice about buying these printers.
We recommend choosing printers backed by a reliable, long-standing printer manufacturer (or at least a brand you trust personally).
If there’s anything you should know about DTF printers, it’s that they’re not a one-and-done setup process.
It takes time and effort to get one running smoothly, and you’ll be relying on the manufacturer for troubleshooting more than you expect.
So be sure to buy printers from manufacturers you trust. You want good support for years to come, so you won’t get stuck with a malfunctioning DTF transfer printer you can’t fix.
Now, we’ll get off our soapbox and let you get to it.
Here’s the list 👇
Best DTF Printers for Small Business
- Best for Beginners: Epson SureColor F1070
- Great for Growing Businesses: Epson SureColor F2270
- Lowest Cost: Prestige A4
- Plenty of Support: Ricoh Ri 1000
Epson SureColor F1070
Best DTF Transfer Printer for Beginners
The Epson SureColor F1070 is a hybrid DTF/DTG printer designed for beginners and small businesses. (Not to be confused with the SureColor F170 sublimation printer.)
It’s a reliable printer, backed up by a longstanding printer manufacturer. They have a solid warranty and tech support team, so no worries about getting help when you need it.
The F1070 lowers the barrier to entry for those who don’t want a commercial-level machine, but are ready to make more digital prints for things like various textiles and tumblers.
Here’s what we like about this DTF transfer printer:
- Supports both direct-to-film (DTF) and DTG printing
- Works with Mac OS
- Uses high-quality UltraChrome ink which creates high-quality prints with beautiful, vibrant colors
- Affordable yet delivers solid performance
- Contains an automated maintenance system that wipes the print head and internal parts
Specs
- Size: 35” x 28” x 17”
- Weight: 152 lbs.
- Max Print Size: 10” x 12”
- Max DPI: 2400 x 1200 dpi
- Film Type: Sheets
- Colors: CMYK & white
- Ink Price: $0.51 per ml
- OS Support: Mac & Windows
Pricing
Expect to pay around $7K total for this printer.
Final Verdict
For small businesses wanting to try out a super reliable entry-level printer, we give the F1070 printer an A+.
Preorder the Epson SureColor F1070 (*shipping in May 2024*)
👉 Read More: The NEW Epson SureColor F1070: Your Ultimate Guide
Epson SureColor F2270
Great for Growing Businesses & Textile Printing
If you’re willing to make a bigger investment in a direct-to-film printer for a larger print size and a more efficient workflow, the Epson SureColor F2270 is a solid choice.
Here’s what you get with this printer:
- Supports both direct-to-film (DTF) and DTG printing
- Works with Mac OS
- Up to 16” x 20” print size with the Large Grip Pad (sold separately)
- More efficient cleaning system for less downtime between prints
Specs
- Size: 39” x 54” x 20”
- Weight: 209 lbs.
- Max Print Size: 14” x 16” (Up to 16” x 20” with Large Grip Pad, sold separately)
- Max DPI: 1200 x 1200 dpi
- Film Type: Sheets
- Colors: CMYK & white
- Ink Price: $0.51 per ml
- OS Support: Mac & Windows
Pricing
This DTF printer retails for just under $19K.
Verdict
If you want to print custom apparel designs larger than 10” x 12” without straying from the Epson brand, we highly recommend the SureColor F2270 printer.
Learn more about the Epson SureColor F2270
Prestige A4
Lowest Cost
We wanted to add something in here for businesses that want the lowest-cost printer available.
This goes against our advice—usually, we recommend choosing DTF printers from an established printer manufacturer so you know they’ll be around for the long term.
This printer gets good reviews, but it’s from a lesser known brand called DTF Station. (Plus, it uses an Epson print head, so it’s kind of like a refurbished Epson printer.)
They don’t have many contact details on the website, so you’ll want to do a little more digging before you go all in with this DTF printer.
Benefits of the Prestige A4:
- Affordable
- Compact
- 3 color options (black, pink, and mint)
- Uses rolls for more efficient printing (can print multiple designs on one long sheet, called a DTF gang sheet)
- Prints up to 9 sq. ft. per hour
Downsides:
- Not as established as Epson or Ricoh for support and longevity
- Uses Epson parts (so could just buy an Epson printer)
- Max width is only 7.87”
- Doesn’t include DTG printing
Specs
- Size: 23” x 10” x 8.3”
- Weight: 22.71 lbs.
- Max Print Size: 7.87” width and variable length
- Max DPI: 1200 x 1200 dpi
- Film Type: Rolls
- Colors: CMYK & white
- Ink Price: $0.08 per ml
- OS Support: Windows
Pricing
This DTF printer is the most affordable on this list with a list price of just $3K.
Verdict
This printer is a great deal and has a ton of positive reviews. Just double check that you’ll get the right support you need from the manufacturer and/or distributor if you choose to buy this printer to print on various textiles.
Learn more about the Prestige A4 DTF Printer
Ricoh Ri 1000
Plenty of Support
To finish up this list, we’ve got a solid DTG printer from long-standing printer manufacturer Ricoh that also works for DTF transfers.
You get the reliability of Ricoh and tons of support if you buy directly from the manufacturer.
Here are some of the main perks of this printer (if you buy from Ricoh):
- A dedicated success specialist for your business
- Training from the Ricoh DTG University
- Lifetime access to tech support 6 days a week
- Fast printing—as little as 28 seconds per graphic
And the downside of this printer: Ricoh Ri 1000 is an expensive printer, but the extensive support and training options make it an attractive purchase.
Specs
- Size: 18.9” x 52.2” x 33.9”
- Weight: 242.5 lbs.
- Max Print Size: 12.6” x 18” built in (Up to 16” x 19.6” with the large platen, sold separately)
- Max DPI: 1200 x 1200 dpi
- Film Type: Sheets
- Colors: CMYK & white
- Ink Price: $0.29 per ml
- OS Support: Windows
Pricing
This printer retails for about $15K.
Verdict
The Ricoh’s Ri 1000 DTF printer has some amazing support options if you buy directly from the manufacturer. Plus, the large print size rivals that of the Epson SureColor F2270, yet for a more affordable price. However, if you’re a Mac user, this one is a no-go.
Learn more about the Ricoh Ri 1000
Best DTF Printers for Small Business: Comparison Table
| Epson SureColor F1070 | Epson SureColor F2270 | Prestige A4 | Ricoh Ri 1000 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Epson | Epson | DTF Station | Ricoh |
| Max Print Size | 10” x 12” | Up to 16” x 20” | 7.87” width, virtually unlimited length | Up to 16” x 19.6” |
| Film Type | Sheets | Sheets | Rolls | Sheets |
| Supports DTG Printing? | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | |
| Price | $7K | $19K | $3K | $15K |
| Buy Now (Pre-Order) | Learn More | Learn More | Learn More |
How to Choose the Right DTF Printer for Your Business
Buying a DTF printer is a big commitment for any direct-to-film printing business.
And finding the right one comes down to a few key factors:
- How much you’re willing to spend
- The level of support you’ll get from the manufacturer and their reliability
- The print size you need
- Whether or not you need DTG printing
That said, if we had to highlight one factor, it’d be customer support.
We can’t encourage you enough to find a manufacturer and distributor that you trust to provide you with long-term support so you can get the most out of your DTF printer.
By the way, we are an Epson distributor and carry the Epson SureColor F1070 in our shop.
If you’re interested in this printer, we’d love to help you get started.
Preorder the Epson SureColor F1070 (*expected to ship in May 2024*)
Learn More About DTF Printing
If you’re new to the world of digital direct-to-film printing, we encourage you to check out these other beginner-friendly resources we’ve created:
- What is DTF? The Crafter’s Guide to Direct-to-Film Printing
- DTF vs Sublimation Printing: Which Is Right For You?
- DTG vs DTF: Which is Best for Your Printing Business?
You'll learn more about the safety precautions when using adhesive powder for direct-to-film printing, the best printers for high-quality prints, and the pros and cons of using different printing methods.
Next, join us in our Official MakerFlo Facebook Community to share notes with thousands of other crafters and business owners on the same journey. We’re all in this together!
And with that, we wish you the best of luck in your new printing endeavor!
Let us know in the comments, which of these DTF printers is your favorite? 💌
