Printful assesses market potential for digital printing
13/02/2026
The on-demand business model removes minimum order quantities, and the company’s global fulfilment network streamlines manufacturing, while reducing distances. It operates several fulfilment centres across North America and Europe (UK, Latvia), with partners in Japan, Australia, and Brazil.
Its market research indicates that the global tee-shirt market is projected to reach $52.8 billion by 2029, with revenue estimated at $46.99 billion in 2025. Growth, it said, is fuelled by demand for casual wear, athleisure and made-to-order apparel.
Company research found that screen printing still accounts for 56% of the custom tee-shirt printing market, but it said that digital printing is growing faster, by 12.5% annually through 2030. Digital methods like direct-to-garment (DTG) and direct-to-film (DTF) printing allow for faster turnaround and offer greater design flexibility.
“The tee-shirt category isn’t slowing down, it’s getting smarter,” commented Printful marketing manager Davis Sarmins. “Sellers who understand where demand is shifting can scale faster and protect margins in an increasingly competitive market.”
Last year the company produced on average 1 million items per month and shipped more than 100 million products worldwide. It has now also connected its ordering process with e-commerce platform Shopify.
Since its launch in 2023, the company has acquired Snow Commerce, a provider of e-commerce solutions, and fellow on-demand digital print specialist Printify.
Photo courtesy of Printful
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