Editor
Direct to Garment (DTG) printing has provided businesses and individuals with a cheaper, safer, and easier method of creating custom garments and textile merchandise. Rather than enduring the safety risk and potential for human error that comes with methods like screen-printing, sublimation or heat transfer, DTG printing allows you to apply designs directly to fabric, using the same technologies as a conventional inkjet printer. However, although DTG printing can lower your costs-per-print in the long run, a single machine can set you back over twenty thousand dollars on average. For some users, that’s way out of price range. That’s why we’ve reviewed a wide range of machines to find you the best affordable DTG printer available in 2022. We’ve compared machines and essential accessories on the criteria that matter – price, speed, format and quality – to help you make the right choice for your business, and your budget.
Product Comparison Table: Best Affordable DTG Printer
| Title | Price | Best in class | Buy | |
 | HRM Automatic A3 DTG Printer | $$$$ | Best Large Format | Amazon |
 | HRM A4 DTG Printer | $ | Best Overall | Amazon |
 | H-E DTG Pretreatment Machine | $$$ | Best Pretreatment Machine | Amazon |
 | Slendor Pro 8 in 1 Heat Press Machine | $ | Best Heat Press | Amazon |
HRM Automatic A3 DTG Printer
The HRM Automatic A3 Digital DTG T-Shirt printer can do more than it says on the box; as well as t-shirts, it can print on a variety of other garments including hoodies, sweatshirts, pants, bags, jeans, hats and socks. In short, it can print on any colour garment with over 50% cotton content. The sophisticated print head uses a 90 nozzle setup with six colours – in YKWWMC configuration – to consistently achieve a resolution of 5760×2880 dpi. Intelligent drop transform technology varies the size of droplet dispensed by the nozzle system to sizes as small as 1.5 picoliters, ensuring no barring or inconsistencies in even the most intricate prints. The maximum print size is 329x500mm. As for speed, the HRM A3 can print a white t-shirt in 3-5 minutes, and a black in 6-8. Best of all, the machine comes with free AcroRIP printing software, allowing you to estimate the cost-per-garment; for a white t-shirt this can go as low as 35 cents per piece. It also comes with a free set of inks, enough for 540 A4 size prints. However, connection with the machine is only possible via USB 2.0 cable.
Pros
- High resolution for high quality prints
- Large printable area allows wide format printing
- Sophisticated print head technology
- Prints on a variety of garments
Cons
- Only compatible with DuPont textile inks
- Only connects via USB cable
- Prints must be post-processed with a heat press
Verdict
If you’re looking for a wide format machine the HRM Automatic A3 Digital DTG T-Shirt printer is a perfect fit. The printable area is large enough for even oversized shirts, and accommodates a huge variety of alternate garments too. The incompatibility with third party inks is also less of a downside when you consider the high quality of inks it requires; DuPont textile inks are the same p5000+ series ones used with the Epson L1800, known for its vibrant and clear prints.
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HRM A4 DTG Printer
The HRM A4 DTG Printer has a lot of the same exceptional features as the HRM A3, reconfigured to achieve the best possible results at a smaller size. This machine can handle a faster printing speed, however, achieving 12ppm – enough to print a dark colour t-shirt in under five minutes. It can print on sizes up to 210x300mm. The maximum resolution is an extremely respectable 5760×1440 dpi, enough to produce any level of intricacy to a professional-looking standard. This printer also uses DuPont p5000+ series textile inks (suitable for Epson L1800 printers), achieving crystal clear results, strong vibrancy and complete water and scratch resistance. To achieve maximum colour fastness, HRM recommends running the garment through a heat press machine after printing. Connection is only available via USB cable, but you do also get free AcroRip 9.0 software included for configuration and costing estimations.
Pros
- High resolution for high quality prints
- Fast printing speeds
- Water and scratch resistant prints
- Free AcroRip software included
Cons
- Connection only available via USB
- Requires heat press after printing
Verdict
The HRM A4 DTG Printer is our recommendation for the overall best affordable DTG printer. It has a very respectable speed, exceptional quality and a lot of included extras. Considering that DTG printing machines usually can cost between 20k and 250k, the negatives are very bearable. The ink restrictions actually work to augment quality, while USB connection is not so much of a problem with a completely non-portable machine like this one. The HRM A3 provides practically all of the same benefits, just in a wider format; which one you choose entirely depends on your or your business’s needs.
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H-E DTG Pretreatment Machine
If you want to elevate the results of a low-cost DTG printer machine to a high-cost standard, you’ll need a pretreatment machine. These work by spraying the fabric to increase opacity, so colours seem to “pop” more than they would usually. The H-E DTG Pretreatment Machine fulfils this function without the use of an air compressor, meaning it is reliable and longlasting. It sprays a maximum area of 40×50 cm, making it perfect for either of the printer models reviewed above. An easy purge system allows for easy cleanup, while a precision nozzle maintains consistent pre-treatment quality; the nozzle can also be cleaned on-demand with a liquid switch to clear any blockages instantly. Simple speed controls also allow you to calibrate the machine to lay down as much or as little pretreatment as you like. A small compact design means you can easily incorporate this machine into your DTG printing setup – however, it is worth bearing in mind the machine’s significant weight.
Pros
- Brightens colours and increases vibrancy
- Sophisticated anti-blockage nozzle technology
- Simple and effective maintenance protocols
- Large maximum treatment are
Cons
- Heavyweight construction
- Expensive price
Verdict
A pretreatment machine can really level up the quality of your prints. With the H-E DTG Pretreatment Machine, you can easily upgrade your prints while saving time on cleanup and maintenance. However, the heavyweight construction (the machine weighs 70kg, as much as a human being) limits the machine’s ability to fit in small spaces, and the expensive price could exclude some users. If your business is focussed on artistic quality, however, this is an essential piece of kit.
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Slendor 8 in 1 Heat Press Machine
Both of our recommended DTG printers advise using a heat press machine after printing. These presses work by sealing the inks with high heat, helping them to sink into the fibres of textiles for long-lasting colour. The Slendor 8 in 1 Heat Press Machine features a large-size professional Teflon coated platen (15×15 inches), helping to prevent burning or sticking; this is just large enough to encompass almost all of both the HRM printers’ maximum print scales. It also has an upgraded slide out drawer with 360 degree rotation for easy setting and removal of substrates, as well as an aluminium hat and cone-shaped presses for alternate garments. Best of all, it comes with a plethora of safety functions. Firstly, it auto-stops heating when the preset temperature is reached, playing an alarm sound to notify you and prevent overheating. Secondly, an overload protector button pops out and lights up when the voltage is unstable or too high, providing protection for the control box and heat platen. Best of all, the machine comes with a one-year warranty on the controller and heating plate – plus lifelong online technical support.
Pros
- 360 degree rotation and slide-out drawer
- Includes hat and cone-shaped presses
- Multiple safety features
- Warranty and technical support
Cons
- Doesn’t cover the maximum printable area of HRM A3
Verdict
The Slendor 8 in 1 Heat Press Machine is the best performing – and best value – heat press machine we reviewed. It represents a perfect way to complete your DTG printing setup, at an affordable price. A common concern with cheaper heat-based technology is overheating or lack of electrical safety; with this machine’s safety features, this won’t be a concern. The one downside of this machine is the platen doesn’t fit the HRM A3’s maximum print scale; however, considering that extra inch of platen space puts the price of the machine up by around one thousand dollars, this seems a fairly acceptable compromise.
