How Much Does Custom Embroidery Cost?
Custom embroidery pricing depends on more than just the garment you choose. Stitch count, design size, and order quantity all play a role in what you’ll pay per item. Here’s a breakdown of what drives embroidery cost and how to get the best value on your order.
What Affects Embroidery Pricing?
Unlike printing, embroidery pricing is closely tied to how much thread and machine time your design requires, not just how many colors it uses.
- ● Stitch count of the design
- ● Design size
- ● Order quantity
- ● Garment style and base price
- ● Number of embroidery locations
Why Stitch Count Matters Most
Every embroidery machine sews a design stitch by stitch, and more stitches simply mean more machine time. A simple logo with clean lines and bold lettering uses relatively few stitches and costs less to produce. A dense, highly detailed design with fine shading or lots of small elements uses far more stitches — and more machine time — even if it’s a similar physical size to a simpler logo.
Why Design Size Affects Cost
Larger designs generally require more stitches to fill the same level of detail, which increases both thread usage and production time. A standard left-chest logo around 3.5 to 4 inches wide is one of the most cost-effective embroidery placements, while a large jacket-back design will cost more due to the added stitch count needed to cover that space.
The More You Print, the More You Save
DecorateONE uses volume-based pricing for embroidery, meaning your per-item decorating cost drops as your order size increases. Whether you’re outfitting a small team or an entire company, larger quantities unlock better per-piece rates — with no required minimum to place your order in the first place.
How to See Current Pricing
Because embroidery pricing depends on your specific logo, garment, and quantity, the most accurate way to see your cost is to select your product and quantity directly on the DecorateONE website, where pricing is shown transparently before checkout. Our formula is simple: Product Price + Decorating Price + Tax/Shipping = your total cost.
Ways to Lower Your Embroidery Cost
- ● Order in larger quantities to unlock better per-piece pricing
- ● Simplify your design to reduce stitch count
- ● Keep your logo size moderate rather than oversized
- ● Stick to one embroidery location instead of several
- ● Choose a standard garment rather than a premium fabric blend
Does a Sew-Out Sample Cost Extra?
Before your full order goes into production, you’ll typically receive a sew-out sample to approve your logo’s stitch quality and color match. This step is included as part of the ordering process and helps avoid costly reprints from a design that doesn’t translate well into thread.
Embroidery Cost vs. Printing Cost
Embroidery often costs more than printing for large, detailed designs, since it’s priced around stitch count and thread rather than ink coverage. For simple, solid-color logos in moderate sizes, though, embroidery pricing is very competitive — and the professional, long-lasting finish it provides often justifies the cost for corporate and uniform apparel.
Quick Takeaway
Custom embroidery cost comes down to stitch count, design size, garment, and quantity — with quantity having the biggest impact on your per-piece price. The more you print, the more you save, with no minimum order required to get started.
