How much does custom embroidery cost per shirt, polo or hat?
Embroidery costs $24 a piece for 1–5 pieces, falling to $14 at 24 and $9 at 250+, on a basic tee. A better garment adds its own price: an embroidered Gildan 8800 polo is $22 each at 24 and a Richardson 112 trucker hat is $21. A new logo needs a one-time $55 digitizing fee, which is waived on 24 or more embroidered pieces.
Embroidery price ladder
| Pieces (same style) | Embroidery, per piece |
|---|---|
| 1–5 | $24 |
| 6–11 | $20 |
| 12–23 | $16 |
| 24–47 | $14 |
| 48–99 | $12 |
| 100–249 | $10 |
| 250+ | $9 |
Includes one logo up to 4 × 4 inches on the chest or the front of a hat, and the stitching itself — no per-stitch charge on a standard logo. The garment price is added on top (a basic Gildan 5000 tee adds nothing).
What polos and hats actually cost
| Order | Each | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 12 Gildan 8800 polos | $24 | $343 incl. $55 digitizing |
| 24 Gildan 8800 polos | $22 | $528 (digitizing waived) |
| 24 Harriton M200 piqué polos | $21 | $504 |
| 12 Richardson 112 trucker hats | $23 | $331 incl. digitizing |
| 48 Richardson 112 trucker hats | $19 | $912 |
| 24 embroidered hoodies (Gildan 18500) | $26 | $624 |
S–XL, one logo, shipped free. Garment prices follow the supplier and are shown live on each product page.
What digitizing is, and why it is charged once
An embroidery machine cannot read a JPG or PDF. Each logo is redrawn as a stitch file that tells the machine where every stitch goes, in what order and in which direction — that is digitizing. It is skilled work, so it is $55 the first time; after that the file is kept and every reorder of the same logo is free of digitizing for good. Order 24 or more embroidered pieces and the first one is free too.
When a second location is worth it
A second embroidered location (left chest plus a back logo) adds $14 a piece; a sleeve adds $5. For staff wear, one chest logo is usually enough — if you want a large back design, a print is cheaper and lighter on fleece.
Embroidery or print?
Embroider small logos on polos, hats, jackets and staff fleece — it looks premium and outlasts the garment. Print large, colorful or photographic designs, and anything on thin performance tees. Embroidery vs. printing for workwear goes deeper.
Questions people ask
Is there a minimum for embroidery?
No quantity minimum. Under 24 embroidered pieces the one-time $55 digitizing fee applies to a new logo; reorders never pay it again.
Do you charge by stitch count?
Not for a standard logo up to 4 × 4 inches — the price is per piece. A back logo added to a chest logo is priced as a second location.
How big can an embroidered logo be?
Up to 4 × 4 inches on a left chest and about 4.5 × 2.25 inches on the front of a cap. Your proof shows the exact stitched size.
How long does embroidery take?
4 business days after proof approval; rush is 2 business days for a flat $50.
Prices are our live checkout prices on October 7, 2026 for the garments named; garment prices follow the supplier and every product page shows today's price. No setup fees, no quantity minimum, free shipping over $50.