Embroidery Placement Guide: Logo Sizes And Locations That Look Right
Left chest, cap front, sleeve, back yoke and more: standard embroidery logo placements and typical sizes for shirts, jackets, caps and bags, in one guide.
The most common embroidery logo placement is the left chest, at roughly 2.5 to 3.5 inches wide, centered about 7 to 9 inches below the top of the shoulder seam. Caps carry their main logo on the front panel at up to about 4 to 4.5 inches wide, and jackets add a large design across the back. Get the placement and size right and even a simple logo looks like a real uniform program.
Placement is where good embroidery meets good design. Here are the standard locations for shirts, outerwear, caps and bags, the sizes that typically fit each one, and how to choose the right combination for your team.
Standard Embroidery Placements And Typical Sizes
These are industry norms rather than hard limits. Garment size, style and the shape of your logo all shift the final numbers, and every size is confirmed on your proof.
| Placement | Typical Width | Typical Height | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Left chest | 2.5 to 3.5 in | Up to 3.5 in | Primary logo on polos, shirts, jackets |
| Right chest | 2.5 to 3.5 in | Up to 1.5 in | Names, titles, secondary marks |
| Center chest | 4 to 8 in | Up to 5 in | Hoodies, sweatshirts, athletic wear |
| Sleeve | 2 to 3.5 in | Up to 3 in | Flags, secondary logos, web addresses |
| Back yoke | 3 to 4 in | Up to 1.5 in | A name or short mark below the collar |
| Full back | 8 to 12 in | Up to 10 in | Jackets and fleece |
| Cap front | Up to 4.5 in | Up to 2.25 in | The main cap logo |
| Cap side | About 2 in | About 1.25 in | Flags and small marks |
| Cap back arch | About 2.5 in | About 1 in | Text or a website above the strap |
| Beanie cuff | Up to 5 in | About 2 in | Knit hat logos |
| Bag front or pocket | 3 to 6 in | Varies | Totes, backpacks, duffels |
Shirts And Polos
The left chest is the default for a reason: it sits over the heart, reads at a conversational distance and leaves room for a name on the right chest. Center the logo roughly 7 to 9 inches down from the top of the shoulder seam and about 4 inches from the center line, then adjust for garment size. On a polo, the logo usually sits level with the lower part of the placket so it clears the collar.
- Right chest. The natural home for an employee name, a title or a second logo.
- Sleeve. Suits flags, secondary marks and web addresses at about 2 to 3.5 inches wide.
- Back yoke. A short name or web address just below the collar on the back, about 3 to 4 inches wide.
Jackets, Fleece And Hoodies
Outerwear gives you the most room to work with. A left chest logo stays the anchor, and a full back design turns a jacket into a statement piece for crews, clubs and events. Full back embroidery typically runs up to about 10 to 12 inches wide. Stitch count climbs quickly at that size, so large back designs work best with open layouts that let the garment color show through. On hoodies, a center chest logo sits above the front pocket, roughly 3 to 4 inches below the neckline.
Caps And Beanies
A structured cap front holds a design up to about 4 to 4.5 inches wide and 2 to 2.25 inches tall, while low profile caps drop closer to 1.75 inches of height. The side panels take a small flag or mark at about 2 inches wide, and the back arch above the strap fits a line of text. Beanies carry their logo on the folded cuff at about 2 inches tall. Our Embroidered Hats FAQs go deeper on cap styles.
Bags And Accessories
Bag placements depend on which panels the machine can reach. Totes usually take a centered front logo, backpacks a mark on the front pocket, and duffels a logo on the end panel or the side. Towels and blankets are embroidered in a corner or centered along one edge, where the logo shows when folded.
How To Choose Placements For Your Program
- Start with one hero location. For most programs that is the left chest or the cap front.
- Add a secondary mark with a purpose. A sleeve flag, a name on the right chest or a web address on the back yoke.
- Keep sizes consistent across garments. A logo that is the same width on the polo, jacket and quarter zip reads as one uniform.
- Remember that cost follows locations and stitches. Each placement adds its own setup, and bigger designs add stitches.
Sizing a logo for thread? Our Embroidery FAQs explain digitizing and stitch counts, and the embroidery stitch types guide shows how small details translate to thread.
Frequently Asked Questions
Left chest means the wearer’s left side, over the heart. When you look at the shirt face on, the logo appears on your right.
About 2.5 to 3.5 inches wide, roughly the footprint of a business card. Tall or stacked logos are usually kept to about 3 inches high.
Typically about 7 to 9 inches below the top of the shoulder seam, adjusted for garment size, so the logo sits on the chest rather than up near the collar.
Full back embroidery on jackets and fleece typically runs up to about 10 to 12 inches wide. Very large designs add many stitches, so open layouts keep them flexible and affordable.
Yes. Many programs pair a left chest logo with a sleeve or back yoke mark, or a cap front logo with a side flag. Each location is quoted as its own placement.
Let Us Map Your Placements
Send your logo and garment list, and we will recommend placements and sizes, then confirm everything on a proof before production.