Sublimation vs Screen Printing

Choosing how your team kit gets printed makes a real difference in how it looks on day one and how it holds up after a full season. The two most common methods for custom jerseys are dye sublimation and screen printing. They sound similar, but they work in completely different ways and produce very different results. Here is a straight-up comparison so you can pick the right one for your squad.

What is the difference between sublimation and screen printing?

Screen printing pushes ink onto the surface of an existing blank garment, one color at a time, through a mesh stencil. Each color needs its own screen, so detailed, multi-color artwork gets expensive and complicated fast. Because the ink sits on top of the fabric, it can crack, peel, and fade with washing and stretching over time.

Sublimation works the other way around. The design is printed with heat so the color turns into a gas and bonds directly into the fibers of the fabric. The color becomes part of the jersey rather than a layer stuck on top. Every jersey we make is fully sublimated and cut-and-sew, which means the artwork is dyed into the fabric before the kit is even stitched together. Learn the full process on our sublimation guide and how sublimated jerseys are made.

Sublimation vs screen printing: which lasts longer?

This is where sublimation wins clearly. Since the color is bonded into the fibers, a sublimated jersey will not crack, peel, or fade the way screen-printed ink does. There is no heavy ink layer to trap heat, so the fabric stays light and breathable for the whole game. Screen-printed numbers and names, by contrast, are usually the first thing to wear out.

• Color range: Sublimation handles unlimited colors, gradients, photo-quality logos, and edge-to-edge patterns at no extra cost per color. Screen printing charges by the color and struggles with fine detail.
• Feel: Sublimated designs add zero weight or texture. Screen-printed areas feel thick and can stick to skin in the heat.
• Durability: Sublimation is permanent. Screen print sits on the surface and breaks down over time.
• Custom areas: Sublimation prints the whole jersey, sleeves and side panels included. Screen printing is limited to flat zones.

Which one is right for your team?

If you want a few simple text shirts and nothing more, basic screen printing can do the job. But if you want full-color, pro-style team kit with your name, numbers, logos, and edge-to-edge design that survives the season, sublimation is the better choice every time. That is exactly what we build, with no minimum order quantity and a free online designer to set your colors and roster.

Ready to see it in action? Browse our custom jerseys, or jump straight to a sport like soccer jerseys or basketball jerseys and start your design. When you are ready to spec out a full set, our team kit ordering guide walks you through every step.