Embroidery feels premium. A stitched logo on a polo shirt reads more expensive than the same logo printed on. But embroidery is not always the right answer. Here is the honest comparison.
What embroidery does well
Embroidery stitches the design directly into the fabric using coloured thread. The result:
- Raised, tactile finish
- Premium look and feel
- Permanent (the stitches are physically part of the garment)
- Survives commercial laundering
- No cracking, peeling, or fading
It is the natural choice for:
- Chest logos on polos and formal shirts
- Corporate uniforms
- Caps and hats
- Staff name badges (stitched on)
- Premium gift items
Where embroidery struggles
- Photos or shaded artwork: not possible, only solid colour fills
- Large designs: cost rises sharply past 10cm across
- Thin fabrics: can cause puckering or distortion
- Very small text: usually not readable below 4 to 5mm letter height
- Complex gradients: simplify to blocks of solid colour
What printing does well
Printing (DTG, DTF, vinyl, screen) covers everything embroidery cannot:
- Full-colour graphics
- Photo-realistic artwork
- Large prints (up to A3 and beyond)
- Fine detail and small text
- Cost-effective on thin fabrics
See our guide to printing methods for which print type to use.
Cost comparison
For a 10cm chest logo, 50 units:
| Method | Cost per unit |
|---|---|
| Embroidery | £4 to £6 |
| DTG print | £3 to £5 |
| Vinyl | £3 to £4 |
| DTF print | £3.50 to £5 |
Embroidery adds a one-off digitising fee of £25 for new logos, waived over 50 units.
Decision framework
Choose embroidery when:
- The logo is 10cm or smaller
- It goes on a polo, shirt, hoodie, cap, or jacket
- The brand values premium feel over cost
- The garment will be worn regularly for years
- The logo has 1 to 4 solid colours
Choose printing when:
- The design is large (T-shirt chest or back)
- It includes photos, gradients, or small text
- Budget is tight
- The garment is a one-time event piece
- The order is 1 to 10 units (printing has no setup)
Combining both
Some of our best-looking orders combine the two:
- Embroidered small logo on chest
- Printed large graphic on back
This is common on streetwear drops and premium event pieces. Costs add up but the finished product looks polished.
Our embroidery service in London
We run commercial embroidery machines at our Putney shop. Typical specs:
- Minimum order: 1 piece (though 10+ preferable for cost)
- Digitising: £25 one-off per logo, waived over 50 units
- Turnaround: 3 to 5 working days for 1 to 30 units
- Max design size: around 30 x 30cm (standard hoop)
Preparing a logo for embroidery
Embroidery digitising converts your logo into stitch paths. For a clean result:
- Supply a vector file (.ai, .eps, .pdf, .svg)
- Simplify the logo to solid colours (remove gradients)
- Remove very small text (under 5mm letter height)
- Check minimum line thickness: 1mm or more
Our digitiser can advise on simplification before we produce the first sample.
Common embroidery use cases
- Restaurant staff polos: embroidered chest logo, typically 7 to 9cm wide
- Golf and sports society kit: chest logo plus sleeve sponsor
- Corporate jackets: embroidered left chest, clean and formal
- Hotel uniforms: embroidered logo plus optional name badge
- Caps and beanies: embroidered front and back
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