The Best DTF Printers for Small Business in 2024

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 this printing method, it’s easy to print custom designs onto film, then transfer them onto multiple materials and colors to create one-of-a-kind 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, there’s one piece of advice we’d like to share about buying a DTF printer.

We recommend choosing a printer that’s backed up by a reliable, long-standing printer manufacturer (or at least a brand you personally trust).

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 from manufacturers you trust. You want good support for years to come, so you won’t get stuck with a malfunctioning 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 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 brings down 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 garments and tumblers.

Here’s what we like about this printer:

• Supports both DTF and DTG printing
• Works with Mac OS
• Uses high-quality UltraChrome ink which creates beautiful, vibrant colors
• Affordable yet delivers solid performance

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 the small business wanting to try out DTF printing with a super reliable entry-level printer, we give this 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

If you’re willing to make a bigger investment in a DTF 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 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 printer retails for just under $19K.

Verdict

If you want to print designs larger than 10” x 12” without straying from the Epson brand, we highly recommend the SureColor F2270.

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 a printer 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 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 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 go with this one.

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 that also works for DTF, from long-standing printer manufacturer Ricoh.

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: It’s still an expensive printer, but the extensive support and training options make it an attractive purchase for the right business.

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

Ricoh’s Ri 1000 has some amazing support options if you buy direct. 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

How to Choose the Right DTF Printer for Your Business

Buying a DTF printer is a big commitment for any 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
• 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 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?

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 DTF printer is your favorite? 💌