Sublimated vs. Screen-Printed Jerseys: Which Is Right for Your Team?
September 20, 2026 · Sandstar Graphics, Saskatoon SK
Sublimation and screen printing produce jerseys that can look similar in a photo and behave completely differently on the ice, field, or court. Neither one is simply better. Each fits a different combination of budget, design ambition, and how far ahead your team can plan.
Quick answer
Choose screen printing for a straightforward crest and number set on stock jerseys, ordered on a normal timeline. Choose sublimation when you want a fully custom design with gradients or all-over patterns and can order 6 or more weeks ahead, since the jerseys themselves are made to order.
How Do the Two Methods Actually Work?
Screen printing pushes ink through a stencil screen onto the surface of an off-the-shelf jersey, one screen per colour. Sublimation dyes the design directly into polyester fibres as part of manufacturing the garment, so the jersey is cut and sewn to your exact artwork rather than decorated afterward. That single difference drives almost every other tradeoff between the two.
Which Looks More Custom?
Sublimation wins here without much competition. Because the design is part of the fabric rather than printed on top, it supports gradients, photographic elements, and full-jersey patterns with no visible print texture and no added weight. Screen printing is better suited to a clean crest, team name, and number set on a solid base colour, since each additional colour or gradient adds real cost and complexity.
Which Holds Up Better?
A sublimated design cannot crack, peel, or fade the way a print sitting on top of fabric eventually can, because there is no separate ink layer. A quality screen print holds up for years of normal wear, but heavy use and repeated hard washing will eventually show at fold lines and high-friction areas before a sublimated design would.
Which Costs Less and Ships Faster?
Screen printing on stock jerseys is generally the cheaper option, especially as quantity grows and the setup cost spreads across more jerseys, and turnaround is typically 1.5 to 2 weeks after artwork and roster approval. Sublimation costs more per jersey because the garment itself is custom-made, and needs 6 weeks or more since production only starts once your design is finalized.
Can a Team Use Both?
Often the best answer. Sublimate the game jersey where the custom look matters most, and screen print or vinyl warm-up shirts, practice gear, and fan merchandise. That keeps the highest cost concentrated on the piece that actually gets seen and worn the most, while everything else stays budget-friendly.
How Do You Decide for Your Team?
Start with your timeline. If your season starts in under 6 weeks, screen printing on stock jerseys is the realistic option. If you have the lead time and want a design that could not be done any other way, sublimation is worth the wait. Send us your roster and design idea and we will tell you which fits your timeline.
Also worth reading: Where to Get Team Jerseys and Sports Uniforms Printed in Saskatchewan and Custom Team Apparel for Saskatoon Sports Teams and Recreation Leagues.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the actual difference between sublimation and screen printing?
Screen printing applies ink on top of the fabric through a screen, one colour per screen. Sublimation dyes the design directly into a polyester jersey during manufacturing, so there is no ink layer sitting on top of the fabric at all.
Which is more durable, sublimation or screen printing?
Sublimated designs cannot crack or peel because the dye is part of the fabric itself. A quality screen print holds up for years of normal wear and washing, but the ink sits on the surface and can eventually crack with heavy use, particularly at fold lines.
Why does sublimation take longer to produce?
Sublimated jerseys are cut and sewn to your design, so the garment itself is made to order rather than decorated after the fact. That adds real manufacturing time on top of the design and approval process, which is why it needs a longer lead time than printing onto stock blanks.
Can you mix both methods on one team?
Yes. Some teams sublimate the main jersey for a fully custom look and screen print or vinyl warm-up shirts and fan gear, which keeps the biggest cost on the jersey itself and controls the cost of everything else the team orders.
Which method is cheaper?
Screen printing on stock jerseys is generally cheaper per unit, especially at larger quantities where the setup cost spreads out. Sublimation costs more per jersey because the garment is custom-made, but it is the only way to get an all-over custom design with no visible print texture.
Deciding Between Sublimation and Screen Printing?
Tell us your timeline and design goals and we will recommend the right method for your team.
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