Embroidery vs Screen Printing for Corporate Apparel
When it comes to branded company apparel — whether that is employee uniforms, trade show giveaways, executive polos, or new hire welcome kits — the two dominant decoration methods are embroidery and screen printing. Each has distinct advantages, and choosing the wrong one can cost you money or leave you with a result that does not represent your brand well.
At French Press Custom, we do both in-house, so we can give you an unbiased comparison.
Embroidery Overview
Embroidery uses threaded needles controlled by a computerized machine to stitch your design directly into the fabric. The result is a raised, textured, premium-looking logo.
Embroidery Strengths
- Premium, professional appearance — embroidered logos look executive-level
- Incredible durability — stitched designs outlast the garment itself
- Wash-proof — will not crack, fade, or peel. Ever.
- Works on structured fabrics — polos, jackets, hats, bags, fleece
- Perceived value — customers and employees perceive embroidered items as higher quality
Embroidery Limitations
- Not suited for complex, detailed designs — fine lines and small text can be lost
- Color limitations — each color is a separate thread change; 6+ colors gets expensive
- Higher per-unit cost for simple designs compared to screen printing
- Design size restrictions — large embroidered designs are expensive and stiff
- Stitch count matters — more stitches = more cost and more production time
Embroidery Pricing
Pricing is based on stitch count, not colors or design area:
- Up to 5,000 stitches: $5-7 per piece
- 5,001-10,000 stitches: $7-10 per piece
- 10,001-15,000 stitches: $10-14 per piece
- One-time digitizing fee: $45-75
A typical left-chest logo runs 5,000-8,000 stitches.
Screen Printing Overview
Screen printing pushes ink through mesh stencils onto the fabric. It is the most common method for custom apparel and handles everything from simple logos to complex multicolor designs.
Screen Printing Strengths
- Cost-effective at scale — per-unit cost drops significantly with volume
- Vibrant colors on any fabric — bold, opaque, eye-catching
- Large print areas — full front, full back, all-over prints
- Special effects — puff, metallic, glow, discharge, foil
- Fast production for large orders
Screen Printing Limitations
- Setup fees per color — small orders are proportionally more expensive
- Less premium feel than embroidery on polos and jackets
- Can crack or fade with improper care (though quality prints last years)
- Minimums — most shops require 24+ pieces
Screen Printing Pricing
- 1-color print: $3-5 per piece (at 100+ units)
- 2-3 color print: $5-8 per piece
- Setup: $25 per screen (one-time)
When to Choose Embroidery
Embroidery is the right choice when:
- Employee uniforms — polos, button-downs, jackets for daily wear
- Executive gifts — leather portfolios, premium outerwear
- Hats and caps — embroidery is the default for structured caps
- Small, simple logos — left chest placement, 1-3 colors
- Durability is paramount — workwear, outdoor gear, medical scrubs
- Professional services — law firms, real estate agencies, financial companies
- Trade shows — when your booth staff needs to look polished
When to Choose Screen Printing
Screen printing is the right choice when:
- Event t-shirts — company picnics, team building, holiday parties
- Marketing swag — giveaway tees with large, colorful designs
- Large quantities — 100+ pieces where per-unit cost matters
- Complex artwork — detailed illustrations, photographs, gradients
- Large print areas — full front or full back designs
- Tote bags, towels, blankets — large flat items
- New hire welcome kits — budget-friendly branded tees
The Hybrid Approach
Many of our corporate clients use both methods strategically:
| Product | Method | Use Case | |---------|--------|----------| | Employee polos | Embroidery | Daily uniform | | Company jackets | Embroidery | Executive/outdoor | | Hats | Embroidery | Brand visibility | | Event t-shirts | Screen print | Company events | | Welcome kit tees | Screen print | New hire onboarding | | Trade show handouts | Screen print | Lead generation | | Holiday gifts | Embroidery | Premium presentation |
This approach gives you the premium look where it matters and cost savings where volume matters.
Corporate Apparel Best Practices
Brand Consistency
- Have your logo digitized once (embroidery) and vectorized once (screen printing)
- Specify exact Pantone colors for both thread and ink
- Create a brand apparel guide — which logo, which placement, which colors
Size Ranges
- Always order S through 3XL at minimum
- Consider tall sizes for warehouse and field teams
- Order 10-15% extra in popular sizes (L, XL) for new hires
Garment Selection for Corporate
- Polos: Travis Mathew, Nike, Under Armour (premium) or Gildan, Jerzees (budget)
- Jackets: Port Authority, Eddie Bauer, The North Face
- T-shirts: Bella+Canvas 3001, Next Level 3600
- Button-downs: Port Authority, Brooks Brothers
- Hats: Richardson 112, Nike, Flexfit
Reorder Planning
Set up an annual apparel plan:
- Q1: Spring polos and lightweight jackets
- Q2: Summer event tees
- Q3: Back to school / onboarding stock
- Q4: Holiday gifts and cold weather gear
Get Started
French Press Custom handles both embroidery and screen printing in-house at our Santa Fe Springs facility. We work with companies from 5 employees to 5,000 and handle everything from design to delivery.
Request a corporate apparel quote at (562) 407-3800 or fill out our online form. We offer free mockups, guaranteed turnaround times, and dedicated account management for corporate clients.
