Whether you're setting up your first home studio in Hackney, running a busy print shop in Shoreditch, or supplying garments to clients across the capital, having the right screen printing supplies makes the difference between prints that wow and prints that disappoint. London's screen printing scene is one of the most vibrant in the world — and getting your materials from a local, knowledgeable supplier means faster turnarounds, better advice, and consistently brilliant results.
At London Screen Service, we've spent years stocking the supplies, inks, and equipment that London's printers actually use. Browse our full range of screen printing supplies or read on as this guide walks you through every essential category — what to look for, and how to choose the right products for your projects.
Why Source Your Screen Printing Supplies in London?
Buying screen printing supplies locally in London gives you three advantages most online-only suppliers can't match:
- Speed. Same-day dispatch and next-day delivery across Greater London means you're never stuck waiting for emulsion to arrive when a deadline is looming.
- Expert advice. Choosing the right mesh count for plastisol vs. water-based ink, or troubleshooting a curing issue, is far easier when you can speak to someone who's been printing for decades.
- Trade pricing without minimum orders. London Screen Service supplies independent printers, studios, schools, and large production shops — and we keep prices competitive for all of them. Check out our bestselling products to see what London printers rely on most.
1. Screen Printing Inks: The Heart of Every Print
Choosing the right ink is the single biggest decision in any print job. Explore our full ready-mix screen printing ink range — or read on for a breakdown of each type.
Plastisol Inks
The industry workhorse for textile printing. Plastisol is forgiving, vibrant, and stays wet on the screen until cured at around 160°C. Ideal for T-shirts, hoodies and garments, bold opaque prints on dark fabrics, and high-volume is a great starting point for anyone printing on black or navy garments.
Water-Based Inks
Softer hand feel, more sustainable, and increasingly popular with London's eco-conscious brands. Best for soft, breathable prints on light fabrics, tonal and watercolour-style designs, and studios moving towards lower-VOC workflows. Pair with one of our silk screen printing binders for the best results on natural fibres.
Discharge Inks
Remove the dye from cotton fabric and replace it with pigment, leaving an ultra-soft finish. The go-to for premium streetwear printing. Browse our auxiliaries for dyeing and printing for the additives and activators you'll need alongside discharge inks.
Specialty Inks
Metallic, glow-in-the-dark, puff, glitter, and high-density inks let you push designs further. Explore our special effects and finishes collection to upsell custom orders and add serious wow-factor to your prints. You'll also find a range of pigment colours and metallic powders for mixing your own custom shades.
Pro tip: Always match your ink type to your fabric and your curing equipment. Water-based inks need higher heat for longer than plastisol. Browse our inks or get in touch if you're unsure which is right for your job.
2. Mesh and Pre-Stretched Screens
Mesh count (measured in threads per inch or per cm) determines how much ink passes through and how fine your detail can be. Browse our silk screen frames collection for pre-stretched aluminium and wooden frames in a range of sizes.
| Mesh Count | Best For |
|---|---|
| 43–60 (110–156 US) | Underbases, white ink, glitter, heavy plastisol |
| 77–90 (196–230 US) | Standard plastisol, simple designs |
| 110–120 (280–305 US) | Water-based inks, halftones, fine detail |
| 150+ (380+ US) | Photographic detail, four-colour process |
We supply pre-stretched aluminium frames in standard A3, A2 and custom sizes, plus wooden frames for budget setups and educational use. Aluminium is the long-term choice — they don't warp, they last for years, and they can be re-stretched. Shop screens and frames →
3. Squeegees: Get the Right Pull
A good squeegee delivers consistent ink coverage and reduces fatigue over long print runs. We stock a full range of squeegees in our squeegee collection — from 10cm hobby sizes right up to large production widths, in all standard durometers and edge profiles.
- Durometer (hardness): Soft (60 shore) for heavy ink deposits, medium (70 shore) for general use, hard (80+ shore) for fine detail.
- Edge profile: Square edges for textiles, rounded or bevelled for graphics on flat substrates.
- Handle material: Wooden handles are traditional and comfortable; aluminium handles are lighter and don't warp from solvents.
We also stock replacement squeegee blades in all standard durometers — view our full squeegee range here.
4. Emulsion, Coaters and Exposure Supplies
Your stencil-making process is where most print problems start (or get solved). Essential emulsion supplies include photo emulsion (diazo, dual-cure, or pure photopolymer depending on your exposure unit), sensitiser, scoop coaters, emulsion remover, and degreaser.
Find everything you need in our auxiliaries for dyeing and printing section, including chemicals, sensitisers, and screen preparation products. For exposure, we supply LED UV exposure units, inkjet film for positives, and acetate sheets.
5. Screen Printing Binders
Binders are the backbone of any water-based or pigment printing system. The right binder determines wash-fastness, hand feel, and how your ink bonds to the fabric. Our silk screen printing binders range is one of the most comprehensive available in the UK — with options for cotton, synthetic, and blended fabrics across 18 product lines. Whether you're printing fine art editions or high-volume sportswear, there's a binder in our range built for your job.
Not sure which binder to choose? Our essential print binders collection highlights our most trusted everyday options.
6. Dyes for Fabric and Textile Printing
Screen printing isn't the only way to achieve stunning colour on fabric. Our dyes range covers reactive, acid, and direct dyes for everything from tie-dye and discharge work to full immersion dyeing. Pair with the right auxiliaries to achieve consistent, wash-fast results across any fibre type.
7. Cleaning, Reclaim and Studio Hygiene
Often overlooked, but cleaning supplies are where time and money quietly disappear in a busy studio. Stock up on ink degradent/press wash, stencil remover, haze remover (for ghost images), lint-free rags and reclaim brushes, nitrile gloves and respirator masks, and chemical-resistant aprons.
Browse our auxiliaries and chemicals section for a full range of screen reclaim and cleaning products. A clean screen is a long-lasting screen. A clean studio is a safe studio.
8. Starter Kits for Beginners
Just getting into screen printing? Our starter essentials under £20 collection includes everything you need to make your first print without overspending. Priced to get you printing without overcommitting — and you can always upgrade individual components as your skills grow.
For a broader starting point, our bestsellers collection shows you exactly what experienced London printers keep coming back to order.
Why London Printers Choose London Screen Service
- ✅ Same-day dispatch on orders placed before 2pm
- ✅ Trade pricing with no minimum order — shop the full range
- ✅ Expert support from printers with decades of hands-on experience
- ✅ Screen re-stretching and bespoke frame services — view our frames
- ✅ Bulk discounts for studios, schools and production shops
- ✅ Special effects inks to take your prints further — explore the range
Frequently Asked Questions
What screen printing supplies do I need to get started?
At minimum, you'll need a pre-stretched screen, photo emulsion and sensitiser, a scoop coater, a squeegee, screen printing ink, a film positive, and an exposure light source. Our starter essentials collection makes getting going affordable and straightforward.
What's the best mesh count for printing T-shirts?
For standard plastisol prints on cotton T-shirts, a mesh count of 77–90 threads/cm (196–230 US) gives the best balance of ink coverage and detail. Use a finer mesh (110+) for water-based inks or detailed artwork. Browse our pre-stretched screens in a range of mesh counts.
Can I use water-based ink without special equipment?
Yes, but you'll need a heat source capable of reaching around 160°C across the full print area for a sustained period. Browse our ready-mix inks and binders to find the right water-based system for your setup.
How long does screen printing emulsion last?
Unmixed emulsion lasts around 12 months in a cool, dark place. Once sensitised, most emulsions last 4–6 weeks refrigerated. Find emulsion and all related chemicals in our auxiliaries section.
Do you deliver screen printing supplies across London?
Yes — we offer same-day dispatch and next-day delivery across Greater London and the rest of the UK. Shop the full London Screen Service range here.
Do you supply schools and colleges?
Absolutely. We work with art departments, universities and community studios across London with educational pricing and bulk-order discounts. Our starter essentials and dyes range are particularly popular with educational settings.
Ready to Stock Up?
Browse the full London Screen Service catalogue of screen printing inks, binders, mesh and frames, squeegees, emulsion and chemicals, and special effects supplies — or get in touch for tailored advice on your next print run.