Reference · October 2026
Screen printing mesh count chart
Which mesh count for which ink and which job, from glitter at 36 to fine halftones at 305, with the halftone line count rule, thread diameter, and US to metric conversion.
By Travis Moher · Published October 28, 2026
Use 110 mesh for white plastisol and bold coverage, 156 for general plastisol, 180 to 230 for water-based ink, and 230 to 305 for halftones and process work. Mesh count is threads per inch, so a higher number means finer openings, less ink through the screen, and more detail held. The rule of thumb from Ryonet, the US screen printing supplier behind ScreenPrinting.com, is simple: thick ink and simple art on low mesh, thin ink and fine art on high mesh.
Mesh count by use and ink
| Mesh (threads/in) | Approx threads/cm | Use | Ink | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36 to 64 | 14 to 25 | Glitter | Glitter plastisol (largest particles) | Ryonet |
| 86 to 110 | 34 to 43 | Shimmer | Shimmer plastisol (large flake) | Ryonet |
| 110 | 43 | White and bold spot color on darks, heavy coverage | Thick plastisol, white | Ryonet, Saati via Ryonet, Speedball |
| 156 to 160 | 61 to 63 | General purpose, the default plastisol screen | Plastisol | Ryonet |
| 180 to 230 | 71 to 91 | Standard water-based and discharge range | Water-based | Ryonet |
| 200 and up | 79 and up | Fine lines, detail, and paper or poster prints | Water-based, plastisol, paper inks | Ryonet |
| Up to 230 | Up to 91 | Metallic (smallest flakes) | Metallic plastisol | Ryonet |
| 230 and up | 91 and up | Simulated process, wet-on-wet, high-resolution work | Plastisol or water-based | Ryonet |
| 200 to 305 | 79 to 120 | Soft hand prints with a hard squeegee | Plastisol or water-based | Ryonet |
| 280 to 305 | 110 to 120 | Fine halftones and four-color process | Thin inks, UV and graphic inks | LPI rule below |
Ranges from Ryonet's mesh count guide unless noted. Metric column is our conversion (threads per inch divided by 2.54, rounded). Ryonet's guide gives glitter as 36 to 64 in its text; some of its product links use 38 and 60, so treat the ends of that range loosely. The 280 to 305 row is derived from the halftone rule in the next section rather than stated by Ryonet, which puts process work at “230 and above.”
The one-line version
Starting out with one screen? Buy a 156 for plastisol on shirts or a 200 to 230 for water-based ink and paper. Add a 110 when you print white on dark shirts, and a 305 when you start doing halftones.
Halftone LPI rule of thumb
For halftones, mesh count should be about 4 to 5 times the halftone line count (LPI). Blue Cotton states the 4 to 5 times rule and gives the example of a 45 LPI halftone printing well on a 205 mesh. Too low a ratio and the dots fall through the mesh openings or interfere with the threads, which shows up as moiré.
| Mesh | LPI at 5x (safer) | LPI at 4x (upper limit) |
|---|---|---|
| 110 | 22 | 27 |
| 156 | 31 | 39 |
| 160 | 32 | 40 |
| 200 | 40 | 50 |
| 230 | 46 | 57 |
| 280 | 56 | 70 |
| 305 | 61 | 76 |
Arithmetic: mesh count divided by 5 and by 4, rounded down.
Treat the ratio as a starting point, not a law. A 2003 column in Screen Printing magazine notes that the two ratios printers most often hear are 3.5 and 4, and argues that thread diameter, emulsion, and dot shape make precise prediction impossible. The practical takeaway is the same either way: if your halftones are blowing out or showing moiré, drop the LPI or go up a mesh.
Ready to shop
A kit, screens at the three mesh counts that cover most work, and the stencil and squeegee to use them. Affiliate links, so we may earn a commission at no cost to you. Prices are what Amazon listed on October 28, 2026.
Speedball Advanced All-In-One Screen Printing Kit with LED UV Exposure LampThe full photo-emulsion workflow in one box, including the exposure light most beginner kits leave out. (about $149.00)Check price →
Speedball 110 Monofilament Screen Printing Frame, 12 x 16 inThe 110 screen for white, bold spot color, and thick fabric inks. (about $31.49)Check price →
GoldUpUSAInc 20 x 24 in Pre-Stretched Aluminum Frames, 230 Yellow Mesh (2 pack)230 is the top of Ryonet's water-based range and the start of its simulated process range. (about $62.95)Check price →
GoldUpUSAInc 20 x 24 in Pre-Stretched Aluminum Frames, 305 Yellow Mesh (2 pack)For halftones up to roughly 61 to 76 LPI on the 4x to 5x rule. (about $64.95)Check price →
Speedball Diazo Photo Emulsion KitEmulsion and sensitizer for burning the stencil on any of the screens above. (about $29.99)Check price →
Speedball 12 in Nitrile Squeegee, 65 DurometerA general fabric squeegee. Ryonet pairs higher mesh counts with harder squeegees. (about $18.49)Check price →Thread diameter matters too
Two screens with the same mesh count can print differently because the threads are different thicknesses. Thicker thread means smaller openings and a thicker, tougher screen; thinner thread means bigger openings and more ink through at the same count. Ryonet's listings for Saati HiTex mesh show the spread across the range:
| Mesh | Thread diameter | Mesh opening |
|---|---|---|
| 110 (white) | 80 microns | 150 microns |
| 230 (yellow) | 48 microns | 55 microns |
Ryonet also sells thin-thread mesh and is direct about the tradeoff: the thinner profile and wider openings let every ink flow more easily, but thin-thread mesh is more delicate, while standard thread is more resistant to popping and tearing on press. If you are learning, standard thread forgives more mistakes.
US vs metric mesh count
US suppliers sell mesh by threads per inch. European suppliers usually count threads per centimeter, often with the thread diameter in microns as a second number. To convert, divide threads per inch by 2.54.
| Threads per inch (US) | Threads per cm (approx) |
|---|---|
| 86 | 34 |
| 110 | 43 |
| 156 | 61 |
| 160 | 63 |
| 200 | 79 |
| 230 | 91 |
| 280 | 110 |
| 305 | 120 |
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Ink type pairing
- Plastisol: 156 is Ryonet's general standard. Drop to 110 for white and heavy coverage on darks; go up for detail and soft hand.
- Water-based and discharge: 180 to 230 per Ryonet, as low as 156 once you are comfortable. Thinner ink needs finer mesh to control the deposit.
- Specialty plastisol: glitter 36 to 64, shimmer 86 to 110, metallic up to 230. Particle size sets the floor: if the flake will not pass the opening, the mesh clogs.
- Paper and posters: above 200 per Ryonet. Paper does not drink ink the way cotton does.
- Squeegee: Ryonet pairs higher mesh counts with harder squeegees, especially for underbases and soft hand prints.
Speedball, whose kits are where most hobby printers start, sells its entry screens in 110 monofilament. If you print posters and fine art prints on paper, add a 200 to 230 screen. Pairing screen printing with relief or intaglio? Our printmaking press guide and printmaking paper guide cover the rest of the studio.
Ranked picks
Setting up to print? Start with our guides.
Sources
- Ryonet (ScreenPrinting.com), Which Mesh Count Is Right for Me? Mesh ranges by ink and job, thin vs standard thread, squeegee pairing.
- Ryonet product listings for Saati HiTex 110 white mesh and Saati HiTex 230 yellow mesh. Thread diameter and opening in microns; 110 for white and thick inks.
- Blue Cotton, Halftone Screen Printing: The Balance Between Detail and Print Stability. Mesh count about 4 to 5 times LPI; 45 LPI on 205 mesh.
- Screen Printing magazine, “All Things Are Not as They Appear” (2003). The 3.5x and 4x ratios and their limits.
- Speedball, Screen Printing 101 manual. Speedball's 110 monofilament screens and basic process.
Questions
What mesh count is best for screen printing t-shirts?
156 is the general-purpose answer for plastisol on shirts, per Ryonet. Go down to 110 for white ink and bold, heavy coverage on dark shirts, and up to 180 to 230 for water-based ink or fine detail.
What mesh count should I use for water-based ink?
Ryonet calls 180 to 230 a good standard range for water-based ink, and says printers can go as low as 156 once they are comfortable. Water-based ink is thinner than plastisol, so a finer mesh controls the deposit.
What mesh count for halftones?
Divide the mesh count by 4 to 5 to get the halftone line count it will hold, per Blue Cotton's rule of thumb. A 230 mesh holds roughly 46 to 57 LPI, and a 305 mesh roughly 61 to 76 LPI. Ryonet puts simulated process and high-resolution work at 230 and above.
What mesh count for paper and posters?
Above 200, per Ryonet. Paper does not absorb ink the way fabric does, so a finer mesh keeps edges crisp and avoids a heavy, slow-drying deposit.
Is 110 mesh the same as 43T?
Approximately. US mesh counts are threads per inch and metric counts are threads per centimeter, so divide by 2.54: 110 per inch is about 43 per cm, 156 is about 61, 230 is about 91, and 305 is about 120. Thread diameter can differ between two meshes with the same count.
Are these affiliate links?
Some are. Austin Gallery is an Amazon affiliate, so if you buy through a product link on this page Amazon pays us a small commission at no extra cost to you. The chart comes from the suppliers named and does not change based on what anyone sells. See our full affiliate disclosure.
Keep reading
- The best screen printing kits: kits ranked by what they include and the mesh they ship with.
- The best printmaking presses: etching and relief presses for the rest of the print studio.
- Gifts for printmakers: a spare screen at the right mesh count is one of them.
Mesh recommendations are reproduced from the suppliers and publications listed above, with the source named on each row. Metric and LPI columns are arithmetic. Austin Gallery did not test these screens. Compiled by Travis Moher, October 2026. Austin Gallery may earn a commission from product links on this page at no cost to you.