Holiday DTF transfers are full-color designs printed on film that you press onto a shirt with heat. At Marie Gems they cost $2.00 at 4" and $4.00 at 12", and Christmas is 46 days from Monday, November 9. Below are five designs for work crews, coffee lovers and grandmas, plus what a family order costs.
I run Marie Gems, a DTF transfer shop in Wichita, Kansas, with sizes from 4" to 12", no minimum order and more than 500 orders shipped. I print every transfer myself, in house, on my own printer, film, ink, powder and heat press.
What are holiday DTF transfers?
A holiday DTF transfer is a seasonal design printed on specialized film and finished with a hot-melt adhesive powder, so a heat press bonds it to fabric. DTF stands for direct-to-film. The printing is already done when it reaches you, so you need only a compatible blank and a heat press, not a DTF printer.
That is the whole difference from a finished holiday shirt: you buy the design and press it onto a shirt, sweatshirt or tote you already own or buy separately. My complete guide to DTF transfers explains the idea from the start, and my post on DTF vs. sublimation vs. vinyl compares it with the other methods.
Which five holiday designs are not just Santa?
Five designs show how wide the holiday catalog goes: a firefighter gift, a coffee mug, a mountain scene, a classic wreath and a grandma keepsake. Each single design comes in five sizes from 4" to 12", and I checked the listing photo for each one before writing this.
- Home for the Holidays Firefighter: the listing calls it a Christmas gift for first responders. The photo shows a black firefighter helmet wrapped in pine, berries and a red bow, with HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS lettered in red and black beneath it.
- Fueled by Coffee Christmas Cheer: a funny, festive design for coffee lovers. It shows a cream mug with a Christmas tree on it, candy canes, pencils, books and cinnamon sticks, in red and green lettering.
- Season's Greetings Mountains: a nature-inspired holiday design for outdoorsy shoppers. A red ribbon banner says Season's, blue script says Greetings, and snowy mountains and pine trees sit below.
- Merry and Bright Wreath: the listing calls it a traditional holiday design. Red script sits inside a wreath of holly, pine and pinecones.
- Making Memories: a grandma-themed keepsake. It is a pink line drawing of a grandmother reading a photo book with two children.
The Christmas DTF Transfers collection holds 75 products. If you want the funny animal designs, my posts on the Christmas raccoon series and on 12x12 DTF transfers cover other Christmas picks.
How much do holiday DTF transfers cost for a family or work crew?
One holiday transfer costs $2.00 at 4" and $4.00 at 12", and ordering 5, 10 or 20 of the same design in one size lowers the price per shirt. All five designs above use the same price ladder.
| Size | 1 transfer | 5 transfers | 10 transfers | 20 transfers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4" | $2.00 | $9.00 | $17.00 | $32.00 |
| 6" | $2.50 | $11.25 | $21.25 | $40.00 |
| 8" | $3.00 | $13.50 | $25.50 | $48.00 |
| 10" | $3.50 | $15.75 | $29.75 | $56.00 |
| 12" | $4.00 | $18.00 | $34.00 | $64.00 |
Two examples with those prices. Eight matching family shirts at 10" cost $26.25 as one 5-transfer order ($15.75) plus three singles ($10.50), against $28.00 for eight singles. A fire station gift for ten crew members at 12" costs $34.00 as one 10-transfer order, against $40.00 for ten singles. My price comparison of singles, 5-packs and 20-packs has the breakdown for other counts.
What size should a holiday design be?
Choose 10" for an adult shirt front and 12" for the largest designs, and use 4" for a pocket or small chest placement. My size guide lists 10" as popular for adult shirt-front designs, 12" as the full-size option, 6" for youth apparel and 8" for larger youth designs. The listed size is the maximum design dimension, so the artwork keeps its own proportions.
How do I press holiday DTF transfers, and when should I order?
Press at 320°F for 15 seconds with firm, even pressure, let the film cool, then cold peel it. That is the starting point from my pressing guide, and my post on how to apply a DTF transfer at home walks through each step. Wait 24 hours before the first wash, then wash the shirt inside out in cold or warm water.
For timing, my shipping policy says orders are typically processed within 1 to 2 business days after payment confirmation, and I ship Monday through Friday, excluding weekends and holidays. Estimated delivery times show at checkout, so check that date against your own event, whether that is Thanksgiving on Thursday, November 26 or a December party. My post on shipping and returns has the details.
Where can I see every holiday design?
The Holiday & Seasonal DTF Transfers collection groups Halloween, fall, Christmas and winter designs and bundles in one place. For one season at a time, use the Fall & Autumn or Halloween collection, or the DTF Transfer Bundles collection for five-design sets at $18. If the design you want is not there, you can upload your own on the custom DTF upload page.