Best DTF Printer for Small Business + Free Comparison Tool (2026)

The DTF printer market looks a lot different than it did a few years ago. When desktop direct to film printers first hit the market, a lot of people rushed to buy one for their custom t shirt business. And a lot of us found out pretty quickly that owning a DTF printer comes with a lot of maintenance. 

So before I tell you the best DTF printer for your small business, I want to do something most of these "best printer" posts won't - I want to help some of you decide whether you should buy a printer at all.

The honest question: printer or transfers?

DTF transfers are ready-to-press t shirt transfers you can apply to any color or type of garment. They are not limited to lights or polyester like sublimation, they don't require cutting, weeding or layering like HTV, and they don't require pretreat like direct to garment. That flexibility is exactly why DTF took off.

But here is what a lot of people learned the hard way: a DTF printer is a real commitment. White ink needs constant maintenance or it clogs. There is a learning curve. There is troubleshooting.  There is DTF file prep. There is the cost of the printer, the ink, the film, the powder, and a curing setup on top of it. For a lot of small shops, that turned out to be more than they bargained for. And that is why so many people who started out wanting a printer now just buy transfers.

The bottom line is: you are probably better off buying DTF transfers if:

• Your volume is low or inconsistent
• You don't want to deal with white ink maintenance and troubleshooting
• You are tight on space
• You are just getting started and don't want to invest thousands up front

If you said yes to any of them...I'd save yourself the headache and order DTF transfers or custom gang sheets. 

But, you should consider a DTF printer if:

• You are printing consistent volume and the numbers justify it
• You want full control over your designs, sizing, and turnaround
• You are ready to take on the maintenance that comes with any white ink printer
• You don't want you (or your customer) to wait the added time for transfers to be printed and shipped from a third party printer

If you want to confirm whether a DTF printer or transfers are the better option for you, I actually have a free DTF printer tool to help you. Just answer a few quick question and it will give you customized results and recommendations. And you can then compare DTF printers as well! 

The DTF printer I keep coming back to

Let me start by saying I've set up, tested, used, and maintained more than a dozen different DTF printers. 

But there's one I use regularly. The xTool Apparel Printer is the only DTF printer I've had over the years where I haven't move it to the storage room or Marketplace eventually.  So everything I am telling you about it comes from actually running it and maintaining it. 

What I like about it for a small business is first off the footprint. You won't find another DTF printer with oven and shaker that has this small of a footprint. It can literally be tucked in a corner thanks for the vertical set up. Most in-line DTF systems have each piece of the workflow in a line which takes up a lot of floor space. But the xTool DTF printer sits on top of the shaker and oven.   

I spent years using desktop DTF printers, that because I didn't have enough room for the in line set up, I had to manually powder and then use a curing oven. It's hands on and time consuming. 

But with the xTool DTF printer set up you can literally hit a button and 10 minutes later you have a ready-to-press DTF transfer. 

It includes maintenance features that reduce headaches - like automatic white ink stirring and auto cleanings. Yes..I've thought my Apparel Printer was done for more than once because I had not printed on it in a month and the nozzle check came out really scary looking.  But I've never not been able to get it printing perfectly again with a few power cleanings, ink injections, and removing the white gunk off the print head and wiper. 

It runs on the xTool Studio software which is both Mac and PC compatible and is far more than a rip. With regular updates the software is bordering on a robust design software allowing for things like color knockout, half toning, and seamless compatibility with xTool's lasers (so easy if you want to put DTF on your wood or acrylic cuts!).

Yes, the xTool DTF printer is an investment but I think for a small business it's well worth it for all of these reasons - plus tons of bundle options. 

Other Good DTF Printer Options for Business

Here is where I want to be straight with you. The DTF printer market moves fast, and the models on the market right now are not the same ones that were here a couple years ago. I have run earlier versions of most of these lines, so I know how the companies build them, how they support them, and what to expect - plus maybe most importantly the improvements they've added to the new models that were previous pain points. 

Roland BY2-20 DTF Printer

I have run the Roland BY-20 and even the original Roland DTF printer (BN-20D) before that, so I can tell you what that line does well. Roland is a well respected name in digital printing and their DTF prints come out high quality. 

It is a 20 inch DTF printer, so it is the widest option here, and you can hook it up in line to shakers and ovens as you grow. The BY2-20 is the current version - that's actually still on pre order (as of July 2026) so I have not personally run yet.

With the newest model, Roland made a really important change - and that is allowing high volume ink cartridges. So now instead of being limited to the 220 ml, you will have the option for 500ml ink. 

Also just one thing to know about Roland: their base machines usually do not include ink, and you obviously need ink to print. So the price I am showing is the bundle that actually includes the inks, film and powder, which is what you want anyway. 

That BY2-20 starter bundle with ink runs $8,450 for the 220 ml ink set or $8,550 for the 500 ml set, making it the priciest option on this list. 

Since the Roland DTF printer runs on Versaworks 7, it does work on Mac and Windows. 

Uninet 1200

I owned the Uninet 100, so I know how Uninet does things. They include ink with the printer and they put a big emphasis on education during the setup process - even offering a masterclass and personalized support.  The Uninet 1200 is their current entry level model. It's a 13" desktop DTF printer with a bunch of improvements over the version in my studio including a film roll feeder and improved white ink circulation. 

On paper it is a compact dual-head desktop printer starting at $5,995 dollars. When optimized for speed, it can print 45 square feet per hour at 1440 DPI with a built-in film cutter.  

It is Windows only and just keep in mind if you want the automated set up you'll want to add on and budget for the full package with the printer, shaker, oven, and filter. 

Prestige R1 and R2

The Prestige line was the very first desktop DTF printers I used and they have really come a long way. The Prestige R1 and R2 PRO are the current models, and to be clear these are the current line rather than the earlier Prestige A3+ that I personally learned on and battled through.

The R1 now the entry level Prestige DTF printer. It is a 13 inch roll printer with a single Epson F1080 head.  It starts at just under $5k, but that doesn't include the ink - so bank on closer to $5300. 

The Prestige R2 PRO steps up to a dual Epson i1600 head at and is just shy of $9k to start.  It has the ability to print at a speed around 30 to 35 square feet per hour. This one really is better suited to a shop that's running real daily volume. 

Both are Windows only.

Final Thoughts on Picking a DTF Printer for Small Business 

Here is the thing to understand when comparing DTF printers and prices. Almost all of the printers I recommended are priced as the printer, and in some cases the printer plus ink. But if you're running a business you want to be efficient and that really requires and automated workflow - basically an inline system. So I am including links and prices for just the printer's I've mentioned and also the printer with their shaker and oven full set up package. 

• Prestige R1: $5,527 for the DTF printer with ink or $7459 for the printer with shaker and oven bundle
• Prestige R2 Pro: $8,852 for the printer with ink or $10,785 for the full inline bundle package
• Uninet 1200: $5,995 for the printer with ink. $7995 for bundle with printer, shaker and oven
• Roland BY2-20: $8,450 for the printer with ink, film and powder or $13,459 for the DTF printer, shaker and oven bundle

• xTool Apparel Printer: $4,849 for the desktop DTF printer or $7,299 for the DTF printer bundle with the oven and shaker.

So...the price is yet another reason why the xTool DTF bundle is my pick. It is one of the lowest priced options while also taking up the least amount of space and the shaker and oven are specifically designed to work with the xTool Apparel Printer - you are not piecing together different equipment from different manufacturers. 

Ready to compare DTF printers side by side? I have a free tool for that as well! 

Note: This post may contain affiliate links. By clicking on them and purchasing products through my links, I receive a small commission. That's what helps fund Silhouette School so I can keep buying new Silhouette-related products to show you how to get the most out of your machine!

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