Is screen printing expensive?

It depends on what kind of stickers or decals you want to make ,what size ,material ,colors,quantity you need ? Where are your transfer stickers used for ? If needed UV resistant ,waterproof or weatherproof and so on. For outdoor stickers,screen printing is the excellent choice.

Why does screen printing seem expensive at first?

• Unlike other printing methods, screen printing has a somewhat complex stenciling-making process, which also makes it relatively more expensive.
• Screen printing stickers have a skilled labor requirement , cost is a little high,but compared with other printing,cost is almost the same.
• Outdoor logo stickers have UV resistant,waterproof and weatherproof requirements,so screen printing must choose high cost ink to make sure the car stickers can last for 3-7 years .
• Besides complex stenciling making,screen printing also needs mixing ink as customer requirement,clean each substrate ,printing ,dry ,quality checking ,die cut and final fish decals quality checking . So there is a multi step workflow for screen printing.

But anyway,this is only the one time cost at the beginning,there is no cost for repeat order ,or less cost once your quantity is bigger.

What factors affect screen printing cost?

When you need to produce a batch of reflective stickers but are unsure about your budget or how to plan, we’ve listed some key factors that influence screen printing costs below:

• Quantity (order volume)
• Number of colors
• Stickers size
• Ink type (outdoor / UV / solvent)
• Material (vinyl, polyester, aluminum)
• Type of screen printing
• Durability requirements (3–7 years outdoor)

  

Is screen printing expensive for outdoor labels?

No, absolutely not. If you look at the lifecycle of weatherproof stickers, screen-printed vinyl car stickers are the most cost-effective option.

Screen printing chooses UV resistant ink with thicker ink layer,confirming the window stickers can last for 3-7 years outdoors. You do not need to replace them frequently ,saving on both sticker costs and the expenses associated with the installation process.When you average the initial cost over 3 to 7 years, you’ll clearly see that screen printing offers exceptionally low long-term expenses.

Screen printing vs digital printing cost

Screen printing and digital printing each have their own advantages and disadvantages. The cost is primarily determined by the warning labels material, size, color, quantity, and production process. Please check the detail as below:

Screen Printing

• Screen printing needs some cost to make stenciling ,but this cost is one time cost ,not good for sample or small quantities,but good for repeat order and big quantities.
• Screen printing video surveillance signs or natural gas stickers can last for 3-7 years,the average annual cost is quite low.
• Screen printing supports CMYK ,spot and some special color printing,does not manufacture the ink,and experienced labor can adjust and mix the ink with low cost.

  

Digital Printing

• Digital printing funny car stickers or petrol car stickers only can last for 3 months to 6 months ,if using 3M lamination can last for 6 months to 2 years,but the cost will be very expensive. So digital printing is suitable for short time stickers.
• Digital printing costs are calculated per square foot, regardless of quantity. The cost remains fixed, the price will be higher for big quantities. But good for small quantities,lower UV resistant with short time requirements.
• Digital printing can only produce CMYK colors and does not support spot colors. To print spot colors, you must have the manufacturer custom-mix the ink, which involves a significant minimum order quantity and high costs.                        

When screen printing may not be the best option

• When you need low-cost anime car stickers,cat stickers,dog stickers with minimal requirements and small quantities that can be shipped quickly, screen printing isn’t the right choice.
• Variety designs with small quantities at low cost are all unsuitable for screen printing.
• Fine text or patterns in CMYK color printing are not suitable for screen printing.

Summy

Liyantian’s screen printing isn’t expensive; it has a slightly higher initial cost. For large quantities or repeat orders, the cost is quite low, especially when you average the cost over a year. Screen-printed outdoor stickers are the best choice with color stability,durability and weather resistance.