For most embroidered company uniforms, the Port Authority K500 Silk Touch is the best polo: a 5-ounce poly/cotton pique that holds a left-chest logo cleanly, resists wrinkles and shrinking, and comes to $30.70 per polo at 24 pieces with a standard logo. Choose the Sport-Tek ST650 or Port Authority K540 for crews who work outside or on their feet, and the Gildan 8800 when the budget per person is tight.
All four take embroidery well. The real decision is fabric (cotton blend pique versus 100% polyester performance knit), who is wearing it, and the price per person across a whole team.
Four uniform polos side by side
Prices come from our live quote engine: a left-chest logo of about 5,000 stitches (a typical small company logo), sizes S to XL, per piece before sales tax, polo and embroidery included. Digitizing is a one-time $45 per design on top, and it is not charged again on reorders.
| Polo | Weight and fabric | Fit and feel | Best decoration | FPC price, 24 pcs | FPC price, 50 pcs | Minimum | Turnaround |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Port Authority K500 Silk Touch | 5 oz, 65/35 poly/cotton pique | Classic pique polo, flat knit collar and cuffs, metal buttons; wrinkle and shrink resistant | Embroidery | $30.70 | $28.95 | 24 | About 2-3 weeks after art approval |
| Port Authority K540 Silk Touch Performance | 4 oz, 100% polyester double knit with PosiCharge | Lighter, smooth performance knit; snag resistant | Embroidery (with care on stitch density); DTF or vinyl for names | $28.76 | $27.01 | 24 | About 2-3 weeks after art approval |
| Sport-Tek ST650 Micropique Sport-Wick | 3.8 oz, 100% polyester tricot | Lightest of the four, moisture wicking, athletic feel | Embroidery (with care on stitch density); DTF or vinyl for names | $34.97 | $33.22 | 24 | About 2-3 weeks after art approval |
| Gildan 8800 DryBlend | 6 oz/yd², 52/48 ring-spun cotton/polyester knit, 20 singles | Modern classic fit, welt collar and cuffs; moisture wicking | Embroidery | $21.69 | $19.94 | 24 | About 2-3 weeks after art approval |
Fabric specs for the K500, K540 and ST650 are from SanMar's published spec sheets (K500, K540, ST650); the Gildan 8800 spec is from the S&S Activewear catalog. The three SanMar polos run XS to 6XL; the 8800 runs S to 5XL. Our live catalog lists 34 colors of the K500, 19 of the ST650 and the 8800, and 17 of the K540.
What the price is made of
The embroidery is the same on every polo. A 5,000-stitch left-chest logo costs $9.63 per piece in the 24 to 47 piece tier and $7.88 in the 48 to 99 piece tier. A more detailed logo of about 8,000 stitches is $10.78 per piece at 24. The rest is the polo itself: $12.06 for the Gildan 8800, $19.13 for the K540, $21.07 for the K500 and $25.34 for the ST650 in our catalog, before decoration. Sizes 2XL and up carry an upcharge.
Need a women's cut that matches? The Port Authority L500 is the women's Silk Touch and prices the same as the K500, so a mixed team can wear one look at one price.
How we keep a logo flat on a polo
When we hoop a polo, a stabilizer backing goes behind the fabric to stop it stretching or puckering under the needles, and the hoop size and backing are matched to the fabric. After stitching, the backing is trimmed, loose threads are cut flush and the polo is steamed to smooth the area around the logo.
The digitizing matters as much as the machine. Every logo is digitized by a person, not an automatic conversion, because a good stitch file is the difference between a clean logo and one with puckering and gaps. That is what the one-time $45 covers: the file is saved and reused on every reorder, so a new hire's polo next year matches the first run.
Fabric is the other half. The K500 and 8800 pique and cotton-blend knits anchor stitches easily. The thin performance knits (K540 at 4 oz, ST650 at 3.8 oz) are lighter, so we keep dense fills in check on them. If you want individual employee names on a performance polo, heat transfer vinyl or DTF is often the cleaner choice than more stitching.
Which polo should you pick?
Port Authority K500: the default office and front-desk uniform. Property managers, dental and medical offices, real estate teams and corporate staff. It looks professional, survives the wash, and comes in enough colors to match most brands.
Sport-Tek ST650 or Port Authority K540: crews who sweat. HVAC and solar crews, field technicians and event staff. Both are 100% polyester performance knits that wick moisture. The K540 costs less and keeps the "Silk Touch" look; the ST650 is the lightest and most athletic.
Gildan 8800: the most people for the budget. Volunteers, seasonal staff and large teams where price per person decides. At 50 pieces it is $19.94 with a logo, the lowest of the four by a wide margin.
Browse more styles in our polo catalog, or see how a full program fits together on our corporate apparel and company uniforms page and uniform printing page. Restaurants and hotels can start with restaurant and hospitality uniforms.
Ordering embroidered polos
- Where it is made. Every polo is embroidered at our shop at 14130 Rosecrans Ave in Santa Fe Springs, with free pickup, local delivery for a fee, or UPS and FedEx shipping anywhere in the US. Orange County teams can read our Orange County embroidery page.
- Cost detail. The embroidery cost guide shows the stitch-count tiers, and Embroidery Stitch Count Explained shows how to read them.
- Embroidery or print? For polos, embroidery is the usual choice. Our screen printing vs embroidery page covers when a print makes more sense.
- Thread colors. How to pick embroidery thread colors helps you match your brand.
Every order gets a free digital proof, and production starts only after your written approval. Price your polos in the quote calculator; it uses the same engine as the prices above. For the full service, see embroidery.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best polo for an embroidered company logo?
The Port Authority K500 Silk Touch is the workhorse: a 5 oz 65/35 poly/cotton pique that anchors stitches cleanly and resists wrinkles and shrinking. At 24 pieces with a standard left-chest logo it is $30.70 per polo before tax.
How much do embroidered polos cost?
With a 5,000-stitch left-chest logo, sizes S to XL, before tax: from $21.69 per polo at 24 pieces on a Gildan 8800 up to $34.97 on a Sport-Tek ST650. Add a one-time $45 digitizing fee per design.
What is the minimum order for embroidered polos?
Embroidery starts at 24 pieces. Below that, ask us about DTF or heat transfer vinyl for a smaller run of polos.
Can you embroider performance polyester polos?
Yes. The K540 and ST650 are lightweight 100% polyester knits, so we use the right backing and keep stitch density in check to avoid puckering. For individual names, heat transfer vinyl or DTF is often cleaner than extra stitching.
Do reorders cost the digitizing fee again?
No. The $45 digitizing is one time; your stitch file stays on file and is reused for every reorder and new-hire add-on, so later polos match the first run.
How long does an embroidered polo order take?
About 2-3 weeks after art approval. Rush depends on the schedule, so tell us your date.
