Epson F1060 vs F2260 vs F3000: Choosing the Right Epson Garment Printer

Epson F1060 vs F2260 vs F3000: Choosing the Right Epson Garment Printer

Choosing a garment printer should never be about buying the biggest machine you can afford.

It should be about choosing the machine that matches your workflow, production volume, available space, garment type and business goals.

Within Epson’s garment printer range, the SureColor F1060, SureColor F2260 and SureColor F3000 all have a place. They are not simply “good, better, best”. They are designed for different stages of business and different production needs.

The F1060 is compact and flexible.
The F2260 is a stronger production desktop option.
The F3000 is built for higher-volume output.

There is no perfect printer for every business. There is only the right printer for the right workflow.

Epson SureColor F1060: Compact, Flexible and Accessible

The Epson SureColor F1060 is the most compact option in this comparison. It is a desktop DTG/DTFilm printer with a maximum print area of 254 x 305 mm using the included small platen, and it uses 5 x 250 ml ink pouches with UltraChrome DG2 ink. Epson lists it as supporting both direct-to-garment and direct-to-film production.

This makes it a strong option for businesses that want to enter garment printing without immediately stepping into a larger production setup.

The F1060 suits:

• Startups
• Small shops
• Event printing
• Retail personalisation
• Low-to-medium volume custom work
• Businesses with limited space
• Users wanting both DTG and DTFilm capability in a compact unit

Its real advantage is accessibility. It gives a business a way to produce DTG and DTFilm work without needing the space, budget or production demand required for a larger system.

But it is important to be honest: the F1060 is not the machine you buy if your plan is to produce large volumes of transfers or garments all day. It is compact, flexible and useful, but it is not a high-volume production machine.

Epson SureColor F2260: The Flexible Production Workhorse

The Epson SureColor F2260 sits in the middle of the range and is arguably the sweet spot for many growing garment businesses.

It offers a larger maximum print area of 406 x 508 mm with the optional large platen, uses 6 x 800 ml ink pouches, and supports direct-to-garment with direct-to-film capability. Epson also lists interchangeable platen options, including large, standard, small, extra-small and sleeve platens.

This makes the F2260 a more serious production option than the F1060 while still keeping the format manageable.

The F2260 suits:

• Growing garment print businesses
• Businesses producing daily DTG work
• Businesses wanting DTG and DTF flexibility
• Custom T-shirt printers
• Uniform suppliers
• Merchandise businesses
• Small-to-medium production environments

The F2260 gives you more production room than the F1060. The larger print area matters for bigger graphics, hoodies, oversized designs and commercial garment work.

It is also a better option when the business has regular print demand but may not yet justify stepping into an F3000.

In simple terms:

The F2260 is the practical middle ground.

It is not just an entry-level printer, and it is not an industrial production machine. It is the machine for businesses that need flexibility, reliability and stronger production capacity without going straight to the largest Epson garment printer.

Epson SureColor F3000: Built for High-Volume Production

The Epson SureColor F3000 is the production-class machine in this comparison.

It is floor-standing, uses dual 2.6-inch PrecisionCore MicroTFP printheads, has a maximum print area of 406 x 508 mm with the optional large platen, and uses a bulk ink system with 7 x 1.5 L ink capacity. Epson’s listed print speeds for A4 output include 26 seconds for white plus colour in fast mode and 40 seconds in production mode.

This is not the machine for someone “thinking about getting into T-shirt printing”.

The F3000 suits:

• Established garment print shops
• High-volume DTG production
• Businesses with steady daily output
• Production teams
• Commercial print environments
• Businesses where speed and lower running cost per print matter
• Operators who need a more industrial workflow

The F3000 is about productivity. It is designed for businesses that already have the work or have a clear plan to generate the work.

That is the key point.

Buying an F3000 without enough volume can create pressure. Buying an F1060 when you really need F3000-level output can create bottlenecks. The machine needs to match the business model.

Where DTG and DTF Fit In

One of the reasons Epson’s current garment range is attractive is that it allows businesses to think beyond one print method.

The F1060 and F2260 are clearly positioned by Epson as DTG and DTFilm-capable machines. Epson’s DTFilm solutions page also positions the F3000 within its volume DTG and DTFilm offering, while the F3000 specification page itself identifies the printer as a direct-to-garment printer with direct-to-garment ink technology. That means the exact workflow and suitability should always be discussed properly before purchase, rather than assumed from one headline.

This is where proper advice matters.

DTG is excellent for soft-feel cotton garments.
DTFilm gives more flexibility across garment types and applications.
A good business may need both.

The machine choice should be built around how the customer actually intends to make money.

When the F1060 Makes Sense

The F1060 makes sense when the customer needs a compact, flexible and lower-entry option.

It is a good fit when:

• Space is limited
• Budget needs to be controlled
• Production volume is moderate
• The business is still testing demand
• Jobs are mostly small runs or personalised work
• The customer wants DTG and DTFilm flexibility without over-investing

The F1060 is not “small” in a negative sense. It is small in the sense that it fits a specific market: compact, flexible and accessible.

When the F2260 Makes Sense

The F2260 makes sense when the customer is ready for more serious production but does not yet need the scale of the F3000.

It is a good fit when:

• Print demand is regular
• Larger designs are required
• The customer wants a stronger desktop production system
• DTG and DTFilm are both part of the workflow
• The business needs better efficiency than an entry-level setup
• The customer wants room to grow

For many businesses, the F2260 is the most balanced option.

It gives more capability than the F1060 without forcing the customer into the larger footprint and higher commitment of the F3000.

When the F3000 Makes Sense

The F3000 makes sense when production volume justifies the investment.

It is a good fit when:

• The business prints garments every day
• Speed matters
• Staff are running production
• Downtime and bottlenecks cost money
• Bulk ink efficiency matters
• The business has consistent order flow
• The customer wants a serious production-class Epson DTG platform

The F3000 is not about “starting small”. It is about scaling properly.

If the customer has the work, the F3000 can be a powerful production tool. If they do not have the work, it may be too much machine too early.

Final Thoughts

The Epson F1060, F2260 and F3000 are not competing for the exact same customer.

They represent different stages of garment printing.

The F1060 is for compact, flexible entry into DTG and DTFilm.
The F2260 is for growing businesses that need stronger production capacity and flexibility.
The F3000 is for established production environments where speed, volume and efficiency matter.

The right decision is not about buying the biggest printer.

It is about choosing the printer that fits the work you are actually doing, and the business you are trying to build.

At Machines Plus, we help customers look beyond the brochure and choose equipment based on real workflow, real production needs and real commercial outcomes.