Embroidery vs Screen Printing vs Heat Transfer
Three decoration methods, real pricing and minimum order quantities for each, and which one actually suits your garment and artwork.
The three methods, in short
Embroidery stitches your logo directly into the fabric with thread. It's durable and reads as premium, and generally suits structured or woven garments — polos, jackets, caps — rather than soft knits.
Heat transfer applies a pre-printed design to the garment using heat and pressure. It suits small runs and detailed, full-colour artwork, and works across a wider range of fabrics than embroidery.
Screen printing presses ink through a stencil screen onto the garment. It's the most cost-effective method for larger quantities of a simple, limited-colour design, and the least suited to small runs or complex gradients.
Pricing and minimums
Embroidery: a $65 (inc. GST) setup fee for a new logo, then $9.95 (inc. GST) per item per position for a basic logo (roughly 80–90mm wide, up to about 9,000 stitches). A larger size or higher stitch count needs a specific quote. The setup fee is not charged again on a repeat order using the same logo file.
Heat transfer: $10.50–$17.40 (inc. GST) per item per position, with a $60 (inc. GST) setup fee for a new logo. Final price depends on size, placement and quantity.
Screen printing: a $60 (inc. GST) setup fee, a $180 minimum print charge, and a minimum order of 5 items — the same 5-garment minimum applies across all three methods at VANTREK. Up to 6 colours are included; more requires a quote. Repeat orders more than 12 months apart incur a reduced $25 (inc. GST) setup fee rather than the full rate.
Artwork and approval
A new logo setup always includes a digital proof, with two free minor revisions after the first draft — a third revision onward is $15 each, and you're told before it's charged. Production only starts once you approve the proof. Accepted file formats are PDF, AI, EPS, SVG, PNG, JPG/JPEG and PSD.
Cancellation before artwork starts carries no charge. Once digitising or proofing has begun, the setup fee is non-refundable. Once you've approved the proof and production has started, the order can't be cancelled for a change of mind — though anything faulty, misprinted or not matching the approved proof is handled under the Australian Consumer Law regardless of what stage it's at.
Ready to order, or have a specific job in mind?