Best DTF Printers for Beginners in 2025
Stepping into the printing industry (possibly apparel printing) for the first time? Heard a lot about the versatility of the DTF printer and want to try it out? But unsure which’s the best?
We get it. Breaking into a new industry is daunting, especially if you lack hands-on experience or familiarity with the technical details. We also understand the hesitation in investing money in something that may not return the ROI you’re hoping for.
That’s why we have created this beginner-friendly guide to help you navigate your first DTF printer purchase. Below, we’ll break down the top DTF printers on the market, simplify the technical jargon, and highlight the key factors to prioritize.
In This Article
- The Best DTF Printers for Beginners
- How to Choose a DTF Printer as a Beginner?
- Verdict
The Best DTF Printers for Beginners
Before reviewing and sharing our experience regarding all machines, here’s a quick snapshot of how these DTF printers stack up in their print speeds, print heads, and prices.
If you’re unaware of technical jargon, you can skip and read the last section.
| Table header 0 | xTool Apparel Printer | Procolored Panda F13 | Uninet 100 | Lancelot M1630 | DTF Station Prestige A4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $3,999 | $2,899 | $3,795 | $3,199 | $1,995 |
| Print Speed | 50 ft2/hour | 8–9 ft2/hour | 10 ft2/hour | 8.6 ft2/hour | 9 ft2/hour |
| Max. Width | 14″ | 13″ | 13″(Sheet Only) | 13″ | 8″ |
| Print Resolution | 720 × 1800 DPI | 1440 × 1440 DPI | 1440 DPI | 1440 DPI | 1440 × 720 DPI |
| Printing Head | Epson I1600 (×2) | L1800(×1) | --- | XP600 (F1080)(×1) | L805(×1) |
| Control Software | XCS (Windows, Mac) | Procolored RIP (Windows) | ProRIP(Windows) | Colorbox | DigiRIP(Windows) |
| W. Ink Circulation | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | × |
| Auto-Powdering Unit (Add-On) | ✔ | ✔ | × | × | ✔ |
| AI Integration | ✔ | × | × | × | × |
| Device Monitoring App | ✔ | × | × | × | × |
1. xTool Apparel Printer
Reasons to Buy
- Dual Epson I1600 print heads (for speed)
- High print quality (720 × 1800 DPI)
- AI 16 MP camera for auto-calibration
- Always-on head cleaning system
- All-in-one workflow (printing, powdering, baking)
- Software (XCS) works on Mac and Windows
- Printer health monitoring app
From a beginner’s perspective, the xTool Apparel Printer feels like a glimpse of the future. It makes DTF transfers as simple as printing on paper – with a single command, you obtain a cured, adhesive transfer film for heat transfer.
This one is a “true” DTF printer built from the ground up – not a converted office printer – and it shows in performance. It uses dual Epson I1600 print heads working in tandem that can churn out vibrant full-size transfers (14″ wide) as fast as 50 square feet per hour (at 720 × 1800 DPI). That’s quite impressive for a desktop unit.
xTool has an “always-on” automatic maintenance routine that kicks in whenever it’s idle but powered, periodically circulating white ink and cleaning the printheads to prevent clogs. The device's health is constantly monitored, and you get updates via an app.
Although the Apparel printer brings speed, high-resolution prints, and auto-maintenance, things move to the next level with an automated Shaker Oven unit. The innovative oven unit takes in the printed film, applies powder, and cures it, all by itself, saving the user the hassle of manually performing the messy job.
The xTool Printer is G7 certified, which means it's great at keeping colors consistent and accurate. Our test prints looked just like the designs on the screen, and the colors stayed the same across different fabrics.
Regarding its usage, the machine is largely plug-and-play; just connect it to the xTool Creative Space software (compatible with Windows and Mac) and you’re ready to print within minutes. No external RIP software or dongles are needed. The software also has AI features that aid in creating designs and fixing low-resolution images.
2. Procolored Panda F13 DTF Printer
Reasons to Buy
- 13″ wide format with roll feeding
- Prints at 1440× 1400 DPI
- Can create up to 50 prints daily
- Sturdy metal build and integrated cutter
- White Ink Circulation system
Limitations
- No Mac OS support
Procolored’s F13 Panda is a 13-inch (A3+) DTF printer, with a good reputation among small shop owners. The unit we tested uses the popular Epson L1800 printhead. Its “Pro” is also available, which offers dual Epson XP600 heads.
With a single printhead, its cutting speed is comparatively slow compared to the xTool printer, but the overall prints turned out well. It takes about 5–10 minutes for a letter/A4 size print and 10–20 minutes for a full A3 sheet.
F13 can handle 13″ wide roll-fed film and has an integrated cutter that automatically slices your prints to length – very handy when doing batches of transfers.
When it comes to ease of use, the Procolored F13 has its pros and cons for beginners. The hardware setup is straightforward. We had to attach the roll feeder and the output tray, but that was just a few screws. Filling the ink tanks (250ml reservoirs) was a bit messy (wear gloves!), but nothing out of the ordinary for bulk-ink systems.
Maintenance on the F13 Panda is semi-automated. It has a White Ink Circulation System that constantly stirs and pumps the white ink to prevent settling. The printer also does an automatic printhead cleaning every 10 hours when left on.
Software is a tricky part. The software (Procolored RIP) and drivers came on a USB stick, and you must use a provided USB dongle for the software license each time you print. It currently works for Windows only.
3. Uninet 100 DTF Printer
Reasons to Buy
- Built on Epson print engine
- Prints at 1440 DPI
- Has white ink circulation system (WICS) for preventing clogs
- User-friendly, pre-configured software
Limitations
- No automation in powdering
- Support DTF sheets only
Uninet is known for its white toner and sublimation printers, and with the 100 DTF they’ve essentially taken a reliable Epson 13″ printer and professionally converted it for DTF.
It’s an A3+ sheet-fed printer (13″ x 19″ max) rather than a roll-fed machine, which means it prints on individual sheets of film. It’s equipped with a custom DTF feed tray attachment that guides the film out flat, preventing jams and smears.
Since it has a single printhead, it takes about 8 to 10 minutes to complete an A3 sheet, roughly about 10 square feet per hour. Considering its speed and sheet-based approach, it’s best suited to one-off prints. Uninent explicitly says it’s not made for batch production.
It doesn’t have full automation like the xTool, but it has thoughtful touches. For example, the White Ink Circulation System (WICS) is built in – the printer periodically pumps the white ink to keep it running.
4. Lancelot M1630 DTF Printer
Reasons to Buy
- High-quality prints with Epson F1080 printhead
- Supports both roll and sheets
- White ink circulation system
- Ink shortage alarm
Limitations
- Manual maintenance may still be required
- Limited brand users
Lancelot may seem like a new name, but they’ve been making digital printing solutions for a decade. This particular model, M1630, is a 13″ (30cm) desktop DTF printer that comes with a roll feeder and is equipped with a single Epson XP600 (F1080) printhead - a faster alternative to the Epson L1800-based models since the XP600 head has double the nozzle count.
The printing speed is decent, about 0.8 square meters/hour (~8.6 sq ft/hr), which means you can print roughly 10–12 A4 prints per hour. If you were printing lots of small logos, the Lancelot could feed and print them continuously on roll film.
Beyond speed, the print quality met our expectations for an XP600 head. The XP600 can do up to 1440 dpi. Our prints on the Lancelot came out vibrant and detailed, very much on par with the Procolored’s output.
The pro version/holiday model has a cleaning feature, that provides cleaning of nozzles that have been out of use for a long time. A white circulation system is also present.
You’ll find some control buttons on the machine. A handy one is the “Film cutting switch” that has both manual and automated options. There’s also an alert system for ink shortages.
5. DTF Station Prestige A4
Reasons to Buy
- Most affordable
- Epson L805 printhead
- Prints at 9 ft2/hour
- Compact and lightweight
Limitations
- No automatic white ink mixing
- A4 print size limit
The Prestige A4 DTF Printer by DTF Station is the smallest DTF printer in our roundup. The compact size is both a blessing and a limitation. On one hand, it’s awesome that this unit fits anywhere. On the other hand, you are limited to A4-size prints.
Prestige A4 is basically a converted Epson L805 photo printer at its core. It uses a single Epson micro-piezo printhead (6 channels) configured for CMYK + White ink.
The machine is spec’d for 1440×720 dpi in its faster mode, but can presumably do higher resolution at slower speeds if needed.
Print speed is quoted at 9 square feet per hour. A 8″ x 10″ design took roughly 3-4 minutes, and an A4 size full image took around 7-8 minutes.
Since it’s a converted one and low-priced, there’s no automated maintenance system in place; it’s going to take some manual effort to keep the ink flowing and running.
How to Choose a DTF Printer as a Beginner?
With these five printers reviewed, you might still wonder “Which one is right for me?” or “What factors should I consider before buying my first DTF printer? To choose, you need to balance budget, space, production needs, and willingness to tinker.
Here are some key factors and tips for beginners:
Converted vs True DTFs
One of the first decisions is whether to get a converted printer or a purpose-built DTF printer. Converted DTF printers (often based on Epson photo printers like L1800) are essentially regular inkjet printers that have been modified to run DTF ink and handle white ink.
Converted options are usually cheaper since the base printer is a consumer model and parts/knowledge are widely available. If you’re to choose those, then go for professionally printed ones like Uninet 100 or Prestige A4.
But again, they require more hands-on maintenance. They may lack advanced features like automatic circulation or self-cleaning (unless added by the modifier). They’re also slower since they use one printhead and were not originally designed for heavy ink like white.
Even if you’re a beginner, if you want to explore the true advantages of DTF, then dedicated DTF printers are best. They possess features that make life easier: things like built-in white ink circulation, dual printheads, heated platens, and firmware optimized for printing film. The xTool Apparel Printer is a prime example of a true DTF printer.
Number of Print heads
The print head is the core component that affects speed, quality, and cost. In entry-level printers, there’s a single printhead, that prints both CYMK and white inks. Epson L1800 and XP600 are the most common options. Such print heads have moderate speeds and can print at 1440 dpi.
Some newer DTFs (like the xTool) use industrial printheads and that too in a pair. This speeds up the printing process as one head is dedicated to white ink and the other simultaneously works with CYMKs. Epson I1600 is one of the latest print heads, found in the xTool Printer, which can print at 1800 dpi .
Size
Size means the width of the DTF sheet/roll, the printer can support. A4 or A3 size is common in most desktop models. Choose the machine size that best matches your use case.
If mostly do left-chest logos or small designs, an A4 printer might suffice. But if you want to print large front designs or gang many designs in one go, an A3 printer gives you much more real estate.
Ease of Use (Software and Maintenance)
DTF printing, by nature, requires more maintenance than say sublimation or regular inkjet printing. White ink is the big culprit as its particles settle and can clog.
So, the first thing you need to check is if the DTF system has a white circulation system in place, that keeps the inks running. That’s common for most beginners, who don’t have a lot of usage initially. In converted systems, you may not find that, but most dedicated DTF printers have that feature.
Ease of use extends to software. Some models come with built-in, user-friendly software (xTool’s approach of integrating the workflow in one app), whereas others rely on third-party RIPs that are often Windows OS. So, before you buy, check the respective software’s compatibility with your OS.
Community and Support
As a newcomer, you’ll run into issues and will have a lot of queries. This is where having a good support system and community can help.
Frankly, much of what you learn will come from other users. Facebook groups (search the printer model or general DTF groups), YouTube tutorials, and forums (like t-shirt forums, Reddit’s r/DTFPrinting, etc.) are invaluable in this regard.
We suggest joining a community for the printer you choose. If one doesn’t exist, that could be a red flag – it might mean few people have it or share info about it.
Verdict
We have seen that DTF printers range from under $2000 (for basic converted A4 printers) to 4,000 (true DTFs). A wise approach for those who’ve bigger plans for a small business in the future is to invest in a robust option like xTool.
Yes, an xTool Apparel Printer may sound like a bigger investment for now, but the results and return will be even bigger, considering the scale of business you can achieve with it.
