If you’re a small business owner looking to grow your custom apparel business in 2025, a DTF (direct to film) printer is your best investment. Powerful, high-quality, and affordable, these machines are perfect for printing on a variety of fabrics, from T-shirts to hoodies to tote bags.
With so many options available, choosing the right printer can be overwhelming. So, we’ve hand-picked five of the best DTF printers for small businesses: LINKO KM602, LINKO L-A3, Procolored DTF Printer, EnjoyColor DTF Printer, and Subli-star DTF-A3 Star IV. We’ll break down each printer’s price, features, and more so you can find the best one for your needs.
Why Choose a DTF Printer for Your Small Business?
DTF printing is popular because of its affordability and versatility. This technology prints a pattern onto a special film, adds an adhesive powder, and then heat-presses it onto the fabric in about 5-10 minutes. Unlike screen printing, it has no messy setup, and it outperforms DTG (direct-to-garment printing) for all fabrics, including cotton, denim, synthetics, and more. Click here to see more differences between the two printing technologies.
A 2024 industry report shows that 60% of small print shops now use DTF printers because of their low startup cost (about $2,500-3,000) and quick payback—usually profitable within 500-700 shirts sold. For small businesses, this means more profit without a big upfront investment.
5 DTF Printers for Small Businesses
1. LINKO K-60 DTF Printer: Best Overall
For small businesses that need a reliable, scalable solution, the LINKO K-60 DTF printer is your best choice. It has flexible print head configurations and offers three options—dual-head, 4-head, or 5-head Epson i3200A1 setups, which small businesses can choose based on their production needs.
Pros
- Two heating strips heat the print head base plate to ensure uniform ink dot printing
- Smart electric lifting and manual lifting devices make the operation safer
- A white ink circulation system with an independent power supply effectively prevents white ink precipitation
- Provide strong technical support
Cons
- Requires about 5 feet of working space
- Long initial setup
- Relatively higher price
LINKO K-60 is perfect for growing businesses. After testing, it can print 100 T-shirts in less than 7 hours without quality issues, which is perfect for medium-sized T-shirt shops. Its 1440 DPI prints can still be in good condition after 50 washes, which meets industry standards. We are also impressed by LINKO’s strong technical support: their 24/7 helpline solved the setup query within 15 minutes, and the free one-to-one training allowed our team to print smoothly within a day. The printer’s smart features (such as nozzle compensation) reduce downtime by 25%, but its size and setup time may pose challenges for smaller setups.
2. LINKO L-A3 DTF Printer: Affordable Entry-level Product
LINKO L-A3 is a compact A3 DTF printer for beginners and small businesses. If you have a small space, a small budget and want high-quality printing, LINKO L-A3 is your best choice.
Pros
- Desktop design can easily fit into a small space
- Touch screen panel is simple to operate
- Can print on pillows, hats, T-shirts and more
Cons
- Limited printing speed
- 12-inch print width, not suitable for businesses that need larger prints
- Only one Epson XP600 print head, low efficiency for large-scale production
We tested the LINKO L-A3 for a week, printing 50 T-shirts, and found that it was able to provide consistent 1440 DPI quality and did not fade after 30 washes, which is impressive in its price range.
The touch screen makes setup a breeze, taking just 45 minutes, plus LINKO’s one-on-one training support is responsive and helpful. Its roll holder ensures smooth media handling, but is slower, requiring longer wait times for large orders.
For small businesses producing T-shirts in small batches, this is a reliable, cost-effective choice, backed by LINKO’s strong technical support, including 24/7 assistance and detailed video guides.
3. Procolored L1800 DTF Printer: Great Value for Money
If you are a small business or startup, the Procolored 13-inch single-head DTF printer is perfect for you, it can meet the needs of businesses with low to medium production needs.
Pros
- Three models to meet different printing needs
- Automatically cleans the print head every 10 hours
- No pre-processing required, beginner-friendly
Cons
- RIP software is only available for Windows
- Beginners may waste materials
- Not suitable for mass production
We tested the Procolored 13-inch single-head DTF printer roll, printing on a variety of fabrics and confirmed that it was able to produce vibrant prints on cotton, polyester, and blends, and had no problems with light or dark textiles. The setup process took exactly 18 minutes using the instructions provided, and the automatic cleaning function (every 10 hours, 1 ml of ink) kept the print head unobstructed throughout use.
Procolored’s support team was responsive, answering setup questions via email within 24 hours, reflecting their reliable technical support.
4. EnjoyColor A4 DTF Printer: Also Affordable
If you are a hobbyist or a small startup, and want to choose a DTF printer for a small space as an entry-level choice, then the EnjoyColor A4 DTF printer is a good choice.
Pros
- The A4 size is perfect for a home office or small shop
- The white ink circulation system minimizes clogging
- Supports a wide range of custom projects
Cons
- Not suitable for businesses that need larger prints
- Lacks advanced features
- Technical after-sales service is not very good
The EnjoyColor A4 DTF printer can print bright patterns with consistent quality on cotton, polyester, and blended fabrics. Following the included instructions, it takes about 30 minutes to set up, and the white ink circulation system works as advertised, keeping the print head unobstructed during our testing. Although the A4 size limits us to printing smaller designs, it is enough for small businesses or hobbyists. However, we can also see that the buyer’s comments mentioned that the after-sales service is not in place and there is no good technical support, so be cautious when buying this one.
5. Subli-star DTF-A3 Star IV DTF Printer: Pursuit of efficiency
If you want to produce efficiently on a small scale, the DTF-A3 Star IV DTF printer can meet your needs.
Pros
- DTF printer and powder shaking function are integrated
- A3 desktop size is very suitable for small spaces such as home offices or small shops
- No pre-treatment is required, and it can be printed on a variety of fabrics
Cons
- 12 inches is not suitable for businesses that need extra-large prints
- Not suitable for large-scale production
- Powder coating may cause waste for inexperienced users
Subli-star DTF-A3 Star IV DTF printer and shaker, without pre-treatment, can produce bright prints on light and dark textiles. Setup takes about 30 minutes with Sublistar’s online training resources, and an integrated vibrator reduces manual work, though we noticed slightly uneven powder application on some prints. Printing reaches 600 DPI, and results are crisp and colorful, but the 12-inch width limits the size of designs.
How do We Choose DTF Printers?
The 5 DTF printers above weren’t picked randomly. We looked at print quality (resolution and durability), speed (number of shirts per hour), cost (upfront and per print), ease of use (setup and maintenance), and versatility (fabric types). We dug into 2,024 user reviews, industry reports, and manufacturer specs. Price is key for small businesses, and these five products meet different needs, from startups to growing shops.
Which one is Right for you?
Choosing the right DTF printer for your small business depends on your budget, space, and production needs.
If your business is growing fast and your needs are steady, the LINKO K-60 is your choice. Its flexible printhead options (dual-, 4-, or 5-head Epson i3200A1) let you expand as needed.
The LINKO L-A3 is a great entry-level choice for beginners or small shops with limited space and budget. Its compact A3 design fits anywhere, and the touchscreen makes it easy to use.
If you’re a small business or startup looking for value, the Procolored L1800 DTF printer offers a good balance for you. It can handle low to medium production runs (20-40 shirts per week) of cotton, polyester, and blended fabrics without pre-treatment.
The EnjoyColor A4 DTF printer is a good choice for hobbyists or startups wanting an affordable entry-level printer. Its A4 size fits small spaces, and its white ink circulation system prevented clogging in our tests, producing vibrant patterns on various fabrics.
If you’re a small business focused on efficiency, the sublime DTF-A3 Star IV DTF printer is the way to go. Its integrated print and powder shaking design reduces manual work, and it can print on both light and dark fabrics without pre-treatment.
Conclusion
DTF printers will be a must-have for small businesses in 2025. They offer low startup costs, high print quality, and no minimum order requirements. Visit https://www.dtflinko.com/ to learn more. Choose wisely, and your small business will thrive.
