Which textiles are suitable for DTF printing?

Updated on 14 September 2026

Not every textile works with every transfer. What matters most is the material: cotton, polyester or a blend of the two. In this article, we show you which textiles are suitable for DTF printing, which DTF transfer suits which fabric, what to look out for with polyester and dark fabrics, and which materials DTF does not adhere to.

Which transfer for which textile?

Cotton: the classic for Standard DTF

Cotton is one of the most popular textiles for DTF printing. T-shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts and bags in particular are made from it. During pressing, the adhesive of the transfer bonds well with the cotton fibres, the design sits firmly and the colours stay strong.

For textiles made of 100% cotton or cotton blends with a minimum cotton content of 70%, we recommend our Standard DTF.

Dark textiles are not a problem either. Standard DTF is printed in colour and backed with opaque white, which is why the colours stay bright even on black or navy. So the choice between Standard and Blockout does not depend on whether a fabric is light or dark, but on the material.

Polyester: Blockout against dye migration

Polyester is hard-wearing, keeps its shape and is typical of jerseys, sportswear and performance shirts. It brings one special feature to DTF printing: under the heat of the press, dyed polyester can release dyes that migrate into light areas of the design. This dye migration, also known as resublimation, often only shows after cooling, for example as a pink tinge in a white back number on a red jersey.

For textiles made of 100% polyester or polyester blends with a minimum polyester content of 40%, we recommend our Blockout DTF.

Blockout DTF works with a special adhesive that holds back dyes from the textile. It reduces the risk significantly, but cannot rule it out for every textile. Blockout is pressed slightly cooler than Standard DTF, at 120 to 130 °C instead of 130 to 140 °C. You will find all values in our heat press settings, and more about dye migration in the article Blockout DTF transfer for critical textiles.

Blockout is a recommendation, not a requirement. Where there is no risk of dye migration, for example on white polyester, Standard DTF works too, sometimes even better. A test will show you which version suits your textile.

Note: With Blockout DTF transfers, we recommend testing the textile for resublimation (dye migration) beforehand. Production batches from manufacturers can vary in the strength of the dyeing and the amount of free dye particles.

• Softshell is usually made of polyester, which makes it a case for Blockout, as long as the jacket does not have a water-repellent coating. Check the label or test on an inconspicuous area.
• Light-coloured textiles with at least 80% polyester can alternatively be decorated with sublimation. The ink dyes the fibre, so the print cannot be felt. White is not printed; white areas in the design come from the light-coloured fabric. Sublimation therefore only works if your design fits this rule.

Classifying blended fabrics

Blends of cotton and polyester combine the comfort of cotton with the durability of polyester. When choosing the transfer, the proportion stated on the label is what counts:

• At least 70% cotton: Standard DTF.
• At least 40% polyester: Blockout DTF recommended. If you want to press Blockout DTF, make sure that the synthetic fibre content really is at least 40%.
• In between, for example 65% cotton and 35% polyester: do a test press before the production run or ask us before you order.

Which materials should I not press DTF onto?

On some materials, the adhesive does not hold reliably. The main reasons are coatings and a coarse texture. Avoid DTF on these materials:

• waxed fabric
• silicone-coated fabrics
• impregnated or water-repellent coated textiles
• heavily textured textiles and very coarse linen
• nylon
• non-woven fabric

For hard, smooth surfaces such as glass, metal, plastic or ceramics, there is UV DTF. This is not a textile transfer but a rub-on sticker that is applied by rubbing, without heat.

How to test a new textile

• Take an offcut or an inconspicuous area of the same item, ideally from the same batch.
• Press using the values from our heat press settings.
• Only assess the result once it has cooled down completely, especially with polyester.
• For first tests, our Sample Pack with test prints of Standard and Blockout DTF is ideal.
• Or order one A4 sheet each of Standard DTF and Blockout DTF with your own design and compare both on your textile.

Frequently asked questions

View Standard DTFView Blockout DTFView Sample Pack

Not sure about a textile? Write to us via our contact form and we will help you choose.

Also useful: Heat press settings and FAQ.

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Wishing you every success with your projects,

DTF-King Team