How to Order Custom Embroidered Shirts for Your Business
Custom embroidered shirts are one of the most effective ways to build brand recognition for your business. Whether you need uniforms for your team, promotional apparel for an event, or branded merchandise for corporate clients, embroidery delivers a professional, long-lasting result that DTF printing or screen printing simply can't match in terms of perceived quality.
This guide walks you through everything you need to know to place a smooth, stress-free bulk embroidery order — from choosing the right garment to submitting your logo file.
Step 1: Choose Your Garment
The foundation of any great embroidery order is the blank garment. At CraftTory, we work with premium blank brands including Comfort Colors, BELLA+CANVAS, and Gildan — each suited to different use cases:
- Comfort Colors 1717 — garment-dyed, soft hand feel, ideal for lifestyle brands and creative agencies
- BELLA+CANVAS 3001 — fitted cut, retail-quality feel, popular for tech companies and startups
- Gildan 5000 Heavy Cotton — durable and cost-effective, great for high-volume uniform orders
Available in 70+ colors with no minimum order requirement, so you can order exactly what you need.
Step 2: Prepare Your Logo File
Embroidery is stitched directly into the fabric, which means your logo needs to be digitized — converted from a graphic file into a stitch file that our embroidery machines can read.
Best file formats to submit:
- Vector files: AI, EPS, SVG (preferred — clean lines, scalable)
- High-resolution raster: PNG at 300 DPI or higher
- PDF with embedded fonts
If you only have a low-resolution PNG or a JPEG, don't worry — send us what you have and our team will assess it. Logo digitizing is included with your order at no extra charge.
Step 3: Decide on Placement and Size
The most common embroidery placements for business apparel are:
- Left chest — standard for polos, t-shirts, and button-downs; typically 3–4 inches wide
- Right chest — often used for name or department text alongside a left chest logo
- Center chest — bold, impactful; popular for hoodies and sweatshirts
- Sleeve — great for secondary branding or event details
- Back yoke — visible from behind, ideal for team uniforms
If you're unsure about placement, tell us your use case and we'll recommend what works best for your garment type.
Step 4: Select Your Quantity
At CraftTory, there is no minimum order — you can order a single embroidered piece if needed. However, bulk orders of 12+ pieces qualify for volume discounts, and orders of 50+ pieces get priority pricing.
For most business uniform programs, we recommend ordering in multiples of 6 to simplify size distribution across your team.
Step 5: Place Your Order and Approve the Proof
Once you've selected your garment and submitted your logo, our production team will create a digital proof showing the embroidery placement, size, and thread color mapping. You'll receive this for approval before we run a single stitch.
This step ensures your finished order looks exactly as expected — no surprises.
Turnaround Time
Standard production is 1–2 business days for single pieces, 3–5 business days for bulk orders after proof approval, plus shipping. Rush orders may be available depending on current production volume — contact us to discuss your deadline.
Related Guides
- DTF Printing vs Embroidery vs HTV — compare all three decoration methods
- Best T-Shirts for Company Uniforms in 2026 — find the right blank for your team
- Custom Hoodies for Teams: Complete Buying Guide — hoodies from $29 to $79
- Our Decoration Services — full details on embroidery, DTF, and HTV
- Industries We Serve — corporate, construction, sports, hospitality
Ready to Order?
The easiest way to get started is to send us a message with your garment choice, quantity, and logo file. We'll respond within one business day with a quote and next steps.
Or browse our full catalog of custom apparel options — t-shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts, polos, and hats, all available for embroidery decoration.