"How much will it cost to put our logo on some workwear?" is one of the first questions every business owner asks — and the honest answer is "it depends." Branded workwear pricing is built from a few separate parts, and once you understand them you can budget accurately and avoid surprises.
This guide breaks down exactly what you are paying for in 2026, what moves the price up or down, and how to get the best value without cutting corners on quality.
The three parts of any branded workwear price
Almost every branded workwear quote is made up of three things:
- The garment itself — the blank polo, hoodie, jacket or trousers.
- The decoration — embroidering or printing your logo onto it.
- The setup — a one-off charge to prepare your logo for production.
Understanding these separately is the key to reading any quote and comparing suppliers fairly.
1. The garment
This is the biggest variable. A basic t-shirt and a waterproof softshell jacket are worlds apart in price. As a rough 2026 guide for blank business garments before decoration:
- T-shirts: entry-level cotton tees are the cheapest starting point, with premium and organic options costing more.
- Polo shirts: a small step up from t-shirts, and the workhorse of most staff uniforms.
- Sweatshirts and hoodies: more fabric means a higher price than polos, with heavyweight styles costing more again.
- Fleeces and softshell jackets: a mid-to-higher tier, reflecting the technical fabric and construction.
- Waterproof and insulated outerwear: the top of the range, where you are paying for serious weather protection.
Within each category, the brand and fabric weight matter. It is usually worth paying a little more for a garment your team will actually wear and that survives repeated washing — cheap blanks that fade or bobble cost more in the long run.
2. The decoration: embroidery vs print
How your logo is applied is the second big factor.
Embroidery is stitched directly into the garment. It looks premium, lasts for years and is the natural choice for polos, fleeces, jackets and hoodies. Embroidery is generally priced by the size and stitch count of the design rather than the number of colours — a logo with ten colours costs the same to stitch as one with two.
Printing (including screen printing and DTF transfers) is better for large, detailed or full-colour designs, and for t-shirts. Screen printing becomes very cost-effective at higher volumes but can carry a per-colour setup, while DTF handles complex, multi-colour artwork without that penalty.
If you would like a fuller comparison, our guide to embroidery vs screen printing walks through which suits different jobs.
3. Logo setup fees
Most of the setup cost is a one-off charge, not a per-item one.
For embroidery, your logo has to be "digitised" — converted into a stitch file the machine can read. This is a single fee per logo, and once it is done, repeat orders of the same design do not pay it again.
For screen printing, screens are prepared per colour, which is why simple, few-colour designs are cheaper to print than complex ones at low volumes.
The practical takeaway: setup feels expensive on a tiny first order but becomes almost irrelevant once spread across a larger run or repeat orders.
What makes the price go up or down
A few levers have the biggest effect on your final per-item cost:
- Quantity. This is the single biggest factor. Unit prices fall as volumes rise because setup is shared and garments are bought in bulk. Ordering twenty hoodies is far cheaper per item than ordering three.
- Number of logo positions. A left-chest logo is the standard. Adding a back print, sleeve detail or personalised names increases the decoration cost per garment.
- Garment choice. As above — moving from polos to softshells changes the bill significantly.
- Personalisation. Individual names or job titles add a small per-garment cost but look highly professional.
- Turnaround. Standard lead times are the most economical; very tight deadlines may carry a premium.
How to budget and get the best value
You do not need a huge budget to look professional. A few simple habits keep costs sensible:
- Order together, not in dribs and drabs. Pooling everyone's items into one order spreads setup costs and unlocks better garment pricing. Our guide to building a branded workwear pack for new starters shows how to plan this around your team.
- Keep the logo consistent. Using the same digitised logo across polos, hoodies and jackets means you only pay setup once.
- Match garment to the job. Don't pay for waterproof outerwear where a polo will do — and don't skimp on outdoor teams who need real protection.
- Ask for a full quote, not just a headline price. A good supplier will show you garment, decoration and setup separately so you can see exactly what you are paying for.
- Plan ahead. Standard lead times are cheaper and less stressful than rush orders.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a minimum order for branded workwear?
At CentralCustom there is no strict minimum — we handle small teams and large fleets alike. Larger orders simply earn better per-item pricing.
Do I pay the setup fee every time I reorder?
No. Embroidery digitising is a one-off cost per logo. Reorders of the same design skip it, which is why repeat orders are cheaper per item.
Is embroidery or printing cheaper?
It depends on the garment, the design and the quantity. Embroidery is priced by stitch area and is excellent value on polos and outerwear; printing wins for large, colourful designs and high-volume t-shirt runs.
Can I mix garment types in one order?
Yes — and it often makes sense to, so you share setup costs across polos, hoodies and jackets in a single uniform package.
Get an accurate quote for your team
The best way to know what your workwear will cost is to tell us what you need. Send us your garments, quantities and logo, and we will give you a clear, itemised quote. Request a free quote or browse our custom workwear range to get started.
