For a restaurant team of 24, we price an embroidered Gildan 8800 polo for front of house at $21.69 per polo. A black kitchen tee with a small left-chest DTF logo is $9.77, an embroidered dad hat is $18.26, and an embroidered black waist apron is $15.18. Those prices are per piece before sales tax, and embroidery adds a one-time $45 digitizing fee per design. At 50 staff the same polo drops to $19.94, and a screen printed kitchen tee comes in at $11.11.
French Press Custom is in Santa Fe Springs, in LA County, right next to the Orange County line. We print and embroider staff shirts, aprons and hats for restaurants on both sides of the county line. Every price below comes from the same engine as our instant quote calculator.
Restaurant staff uniform prices at 24 and 50 staff
All prices are per piece in sizes S to XL (hats in their standard size), before sales tax. Screen print setup is already included in the per-piece price. Embroidered items add the $45 digitizing fee once per design. Our standard turnaround is about 2-3 weeks after art approval.
| Item | Garment | Who wears it | Decoration | Price per piece, 24 staff | Price per piece, 50 staff | Minimum |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen tee, small logo | Gildan 5000, black, 5.3 oz 100% cotton | Line cooks, prep, dish | DTF left chest | $9.77 | $8.79 | 12 |
| Kitchen tee, small logo | Gildan 5000, black | Line cooks, prep, dish | Screen print, 1 color left chest | Below minimum (36) | $11.11 | 36 per design |
| Kitchen tee, logo front and back | Gildan 5000, black | Kitchen crew, delivery, events | Screen print, 1 color left chest and 1 color back | Below minimum (36) | $16.80 | 36 per design |
| Kitchen tee, stitched logo | Gildan 5000, black | Kitchen leads, expo | Embroidery, left chest | $14.27 + $45 once | $12.52 + $45 once | 24 per design |
| Front of house polo | Gildan 8800, black, 6 oz 52/48 cotton/poly | Servers, hosts, bar | Embroidery, left chest | $21.69 + $45 once | $19.94 + $45 once | 24 per design |
| Performance polo | CORE365 88181, black, 4.1 oz 100% polyester pique | Patio, catering, hot rooms | Embroidery, left chest | $26.12 + $45 once | $24.37 + $45 once | 24 per design |
| Dad hat | YP Classics 6245CM, black, 100% cotton chino twill | Servers, bar, counter | Embroidery, front | $18.26 + $45 once | $16.94 + $45 once | 24 |
| Trucker hat | Richardson 112, black, mesh back | Kitchen, grill, counter | Embroidery, front | $19.00 + $45 once | $17.68 + $45 once | 24 |
The embroidery price assumes a typical small logo of about 5,000 stitches. Sizes 2XL and up carry a supplier upcharge. For example, a 2XL black Gildan 5000 with the same one-color left-chest screen print is $13.95 at 50 pieces instead of $11.11, so a real order with a size spread lands a little above the table. The calculator prices each size for you.
Custom aprons: waist, bistro and bib
We order aprons from S&S Activewear, the same supplier as most of our shirts, and decorate them in house. All 51 S&S apron styles are in our quote calculator, and you can browse them on our aprons page. The prices below come from that calculator.
| Apron | Style and fabric | Best for | Embroidered logo, 24 pcs | Embroidered logo, 50 pcs | Screen print 1 color, 50 pcs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty Bags 5501 Waist Apron | 9 oz 70/30 poly/cotton twill, three pockets, wraparound ties; Black, Navy, Red, White | Servers, counter, bar | $15.18 + $45 once | $13.43 + $45 once | $12.02 |
| Liberty Bags 5508 Bistro Apron | 9 oz 70/30 poly/cotton twill, two pockets, extra-long wraparound ties; Black | Fine dining, wine service | $18.77 + $45 once | $17.02 + $45 once | $15.61 |
| Q-Tees Q4250 Med-Length Apron | 7.5 oz 55/45 cotton/poly, adjustable neck strap with buckle, three-section pouch pocket; 7 colors | Cafes, counter service | $17.95 + $45 once | $16.20 + $45 once | $14.79 |
| Liberty Bags 5502 Two-Pocket Butcher Apron | 9 oz 70/30 poly/cotton heavy twill, adjustable neck strap, two pockets; Black, Forest, Navy, Red | Kitchen, grill, prep | $19.79 + $45 once | $18.04 + $45 once | $16.63 |
| Artisan Collection RP130 Calibre Canvas Bib Apron | 9.4 oz 100% heavy cotton canvas, adjustable neck strap, metal eyelet; 8 colors | Coffee shops, open kitchens, retail counters | $26.22 + $45 once | $24.47 + $45 once | $23.06 |
Prices are per apron in black (the 5501 and 5502 also come in other colors), before sales tax. Embroidery assumes a logo of about 5,000 stitches and starts at 24 pieces per design. Screen printing starts at 36, so it shows only at 50. Supplier prices change, so check the calculator for today's number.
Embroider or print an apron? Embroidery is the standard for a logo that survives daily washing. The heavy poly/cotton twill aprons give the stitches a stable base. Screen printing works well on canvas and twill when you want a larger, bolder graphic across the bib, and it is the lowest price at 50 or more. If you already have embroidered polos, putting the same stitch file on the aprons keeps the whole team matched, though each new item still needs its own $45 digitizing.
Kitchen vs front of house: two different jobs
Most restaurants should not put the whole team in one garment. The kitchen and the dining room ask different things of a uniform.
Back of house needs cheap, tough and replaceable. Kitchen shirts get splashed, stained and washed constantly, and they get replaced more often than any other piece. A black or charcoal tee hides stains, and a 100% cotton tee like the Gildan 5000 is a sturdy, low-cost blank. Keep the logo small (left chest) so the decoration cost stays low. When a shirt is ruined, you replace a tee, not a polo.
Front of house needs to look like the brand. Guests see servers, hosts and bartenders up close. An embroidered polo reads as a uniform, and the stitched logo keeps looking the same wash after wash. The Gildan 8800 is our value pick: a moisture-wicking cotton/poly blend at $21.69 with a logo at 24 pieces. For patios, catering events and rooms that run hot, the CORE365 88181 is 100% polyester pique with moisture-wicking and antimicrobial properties, which helps with odor on long shifts. There is a matching women's cut, the CORE365 78181, at the same blank price in our catalog.
Aprons work for both. A waist or bistro apron dresses up a server in a plain black shirt, and a bib apron protects the kitchen crew. One logo across aprons, polos and hats is the easiest way to look like one team.
Hats tie the two together. A hat with the same logo on everyone, kitchen and floor, is the cheapest way to make a team look matched. The Richardson 112 has a polyester mesh back that breathes near a hot line. The YP Classics 6245CM is an unstructured cotton dad hat with a buckle closure, and it looks a little softer for the counter or the bar. Both start at 24 pieces.
Washing durability: what survives restaurant laundry
Restaurant uniforms get washed more than almost anything else we make, so durability is the real cost question.
- Embroidery lasts longest. Thread does not crack or peel, and the stitched logo keeps its look through repeated washing. That is why we recommend it for polos and hats that need to look sharp every shift.
- Screen printing is the budget workhorse. The ink is heat cured, and on dark shirts we print a white underbase under your color so it stays bright. Our quote includes that underbase screen automatically.
- DTF works well for small runs. A DTF transfer is printed, then pressed onto the shirt with heat. It lets a 24-person team get a full-color logo without hitting the screen print minimum.
Whatever the method, a few habits help any uniform last longer: wash it inside out, skip bleach on printed or embroidered areas, and avoid very high dryer heat. If your linens go out to a service, tell us when you quote, so we can talk through which decoration fits that wash routine best.
Screen print vs embroidery for restaurant uniforms
| Screen print | Embroidery | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Kitchen tees, crew shirts, event shirts | Polos, hats, aprons, manager shirts |
| Minimum | 36 pieces per design | 24 pieces per design |
| Look | Flat ink, can cover a large back print | Raised thread, reads as a uniform |
| One-time cost | Setup included in the per-piece price | $45 digitizing per design |
| Reorders | Priced like a new run | Stitch file kept, no new digitizing fee |
| Price example, 50 black Gildan 5000 tees, left chest | $11.11 | $12.52 + $45 once |
The rule of thumb is simple. Use screen printing when you need volume, a big back print, or the lowest price per kitchen shirt. Use embroidery for anything a guest sees up close. Our screen printing vs embroidery page goes deeper, and the embroidery cost guide explains stitch counts.
Planning for minimums and turnover
Each design and each method is priced against its own minimum. Embroidery starts at 24 pieces per design, so a small front of house team can share one embroidered polo or hat design with managers, or order extras for new hires. Once the kitchen reaches 36 shirts, screen printing opens up: a one-color left-chest print on a black Gildan 5000 is $13.84 at 36 pieces and $11.11 at 50. We keep your artwork and stitch files on file, so a reorder for new hires matches the first run exactly, and embroidery reorders skip the digitizing fee.
Ordering from Orange County
- Where we are. Our shop is at 14130 Rosecrans Ave, Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670. Our hours are Mon-Fri 8am-4pm PT, and the phone is (562) 407-3800.
- Getting it to your restaurant. Pickup at the shop is free. Local delivery is available for a fee added to the estimate, or we ship by UPS or FedEx.
- Proof first. Every order gets a free digital proof, and production starts only after your written approval.
- Timing. About 2-3 weeks after art approval. Rush available depending on the schedule. Tell us your date.
For more ideas on merch, branded gear and uniform programs, read Custom Apparel for Restaurants: Uniforms, Merch, and Branded Gear or see our restaurant and hospitality uniforms page. Orange County teams that mainly need stitched polos and hats can also start on our Orange County embroidery page. When you are ready, price your staff polos in the quote calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How much do custom restaurant staff shirts cost?
At 24 staff, a black Gildan 5000 kitchen tee with a DTF left-chest logo is $9.77 per shirt and an embroidered Gildan 8800 polo is $21.69 per polo plus a one-time $45 digitizing fee. At 50 staff the polo is $19.94 and a screen printed kitchen tee is $11.11, all before sales tax.
Do you make custom aprons for restaurants?
Yes. We embroider or screen print aprons from S&S Activewear, including waist, bistro, butcher and canvas bib styles. At 24 pieces an embroidered Liberty Bags 5501 waist apron is $15.18 each plus a one-time $45 digitizing fee, and at 50 a one-color screen printed one is $12.02, before sales tax.
Should restaurant uniforms be screen printed or embroidered?
Embroidery is the better choice for polos and hats that guests see up close, because thread does not crack or peel. Screen printing is the lower-cost choice for kitchen tees once you reach 36 pieces per design, and DTF covers smaller kitchen runs.
What is the minimum order for restaurant uniforms?
Embroidery starts at 24 pieces per design, and hats start at 24. Screen printing starts at 36 pieces per design, DTF at 12, and DTG has no minimum, so a small team can still get printed shirts.
Do you serve restaurants in Orange County?
Yes. Our shop is in Santa Fe Springs, right next to the Orange County line, and we serve Los Angeles and Orange County. Pickup is free, local delivery is available for a fee added to the estimate, and we ship by UPS or FedEx.
How long does a restaurant uniform order take?
About 2-3 weeks after art approval. Rush is available depending on the schedule, so tell us your opening date or event date when you request a quote.
