DTF Profit Calculator
Model Your Custom Apparel Business in 60 Seconds
DTF Printing Cost & Profit Calculator
Compare 5 Popular Printers • Model Your Margins • Find Break-Even
How Much Does DTF Printing Cost?
DTF Printing Cost & Profit Calculator
Compare printer setups, model your margins, and find your break-even point
Printer Preset
Dual Epson i1600 • Honson board • Robust WIMS
Business Inputs
330 items/month (22 days)
Cost per Item Breakdown
White ink = 2-3× CMYK cost (TiO₂ pigment)
10-15% typical for first 6 months
Projected Performance
Cost Breakdown / Print
12-Month ROI Timeline
How We Calculated These Numbers
| Cost Item | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| White Ink (per A3 print) | $0.25–$0.60 | White = 2-3× CMYK cost (TiO₂ pigment) |
| CMYK Ink (per A3 print) | $0.10–$0.35 | Varies by coverage and ink brand |
| PET Film (per A3 sheet) | $0.20–$0.50 | Bulk pricing at 500+ sheets |
| TPU Adhesive Powder (per print) | $0.08–$0.15 | Hot-melt, fine mesh for detail |
| Blank T-shirt (Gildan/Bella+Canvas) | $2.00–$5.00 | Wholesale; premium blanks $5-8 |
| Labor per print (estimated) | $0.10–$0.30 | At $15/hr, ~2-4 min per shirt |
| Energy + maintenance reserve | $0.05–$0.10 | Electricity, printhead wear allocation |
| Total cost per shirt (typical) | $2.80–$6.50 | Includes 10% waste rate |
Methodology & Sources
- Ink costs derived from bulk-rate pricing across DTF Superstore, Prestige, and OMTech consumable catalogs (January 2026)
- White ink premium documented at 2-3× CMYK cost due to TiO₂ (titanium dioxide) pigment density
- Waste rate defaults to 10% — recommended allocation for the first 6 months of operation to account for nozzle checks, test prints, and operator learning curve
- Labor rate assumes $15/hour at ~2 minutes per shirt (experienced operator with batch workflow)
- Outsourced transfer pricing based on published rate cards from Supacolor, Transfer Express, and Ninja Transfers (2026)
- Equipment costs sourced from manufacturer websites as of February 2026
Cost data is representative and may vary by region, supplier relationships, and volume discounts. We recommend verifying current pricing with your preferred supplier.
Key Business Insights
In-House vs. Outsourced
Buying pre-made transfers costs $5–8/sheet. Printing them yourself costs $0.50–$1.80. This ~400% margin capture is the fundamental economic argument for owning a DTF printer.
Use the calculator's "Outsourced Transfers Only" preset to compare both approaches side by side.
The Waste Rate Factor
First 6 months: budget 10-15% for waste (test prints, nozzle checks, learning errors). After 6 months: waste should drop to 3-5%. This is the #1 factor most "DTF cost" calculators ignore.
White Ink Is the X-Factor
White ink costs 2-3× more than CMYK because of titanium dioxide pigment. On dark garments, white ink is ~60% of your total ink cost. The Epson F1070's cartridge-based system makes this even more expensive.