A standard adult full-front print is about 11 in wide, a left-chest logo about 3.5 to 4.5 in wide, a youth full front about 9 in, and a short-sleeve print about 3 in. At French Press Custom in Santa Fe Springs, a left-chest logo and a full-front print cost the same per piece: $11.11 each on 50 black Gildan 5000 tees with one color.
So the choice of placement is about how the shirt looks, not about saving money on a smaller print. This guide gives the common sizes for each location in inches, the largest print each method can do, how youth shirts and hoodies change the numbers, and what each extra location adds to the price. Prices come from the same engine as our quote calculator.
Standard print sizes by location
These are common starting sizes for adult and youth tees. They are conventions, not rules, and your proof is where the final size is set.
| Location | Adult | Youth | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Left chest | about 3.5 to 4.5 in wide | about 3 to 3.5 in wide | Wearer's left side, over the heart |
| Full front | about 11 in wide | about 9 in wide | Centered on the chest |
| Full back | up to 14 in wide in our standard back area | Sized to the shirt on the proof | Centered between the shoulder blades |
| Upper back (yoke) | about 2 to 3 in wide | Sized to the shirt on the proof | Just below the back collar |
| Short sleeve | about 3 x 3 in | about 2 to 2.5 in wide | Centered on the sleeve |
| Long sleeve, down the arm | about 2 x 11.25 in, up to 2.5 x 14 in | Smaller, sized on the proof | From shoulder toward cuff |
| Inside neck tag print | about 2.5 to 3 in wide | Sized to the shirt on the proof | Inside the back collar |
Left chest, full front, youth, sleeve, yoke and tag sizes follow the published placement guide from Transfer Express, a heat transfer maker. The full back range follows our standard back print area below. One size for a mixed youth and adult order: Transfer Express suggests about 10 to 10.5 in wide, so the same print works on the smallest and largest shirts.
For embroidered left-chest logos we size by stitch area. As a guide, a simple icon with text is about 3 x 2 in, and a detailed logo with fill about 3.5 x 3 in. See embroidery stitch counts explained.
Live price
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What is the largest print size by method?
| Method | Largest print we publish | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Screen printing | 14 x 16 in standard, 16 x 20 in oversized | Standard print areas up to 12 x 14 in on the front and 14 x 17 in on the back are in the base price; oversized prints may carry an extra charge |
| DTG | up to 16 x 21 in | Priced per print, so a left chest and a full front fall in the same tier |
| DTF | 12 x 14 in at the standard price | Larger transfers add $1.50 per piece, per location |
| Embroidery | hoop up to about 12 x 14 in on garments | Most chest logos are far smaller, and large designs mean high stitch counts |
These limits come from our FAQ, our screen printing cost guide and our DTF pricing page. The garment can set a smaller limit than the machine: a youth S or a hoodie front rarely has room for the maximum.
How do youth shirts change print size?
A youth shirt is narrower, so a full-front design that looks right on an adult L can wrap toward the side seams on a youth S. Laid flat, a Gildan 5000B youth S measures 17 in across the chest and a youth XL 20 in, while an adult L Gildan 5000 is 22 in (manufacturer spec data from S&S Activewear).
| Shirt | Chest width laid flat | An 11 in print covers | A 9 in print covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gildan 5000B youth S | 17 in | about 65% of the width | about 53% |
| Gildan 5000B youth XL | 20 in | 55% | 45% |
| Gildan 5000 adult L | 22 in | 50% | about 41% |
| Gildan 5000 adult 3XL | 28 in | about 39% | about 32% |
For a mixed order, choose either one middle size, such as 10 in, or two print sizes. Ask about two sizes when you quote, because a second size can mean a second set of screens. The Gildan 5000B page covers the youth shirt itself.
How big can a print be on a hoodie?
On a pullover hoodie the kangaroo pocket sits across the lower front, so a front print has to sit above it and clear of the drawcords. The pocket, not the printer, usually sets how tall a front print can be. That means a hoodie front design should be wider than it is tall, or moved to the back.
- Left chest: works the same as on a tee, sitting above the pocket and off to the side of the drawcord eyelets.
- Full front: sized to the space between the collar and the top of the pocket. We lay it out around the pocket on your proof, so you see where it lands before anything prints.
- Back: the open canvas, with no pocket or drawcords. Big graphics usually go here.
- Sleeves: a standard spot on hoodies and long sleeves.
- Zip hoodies: the zipper splits the front, so a left-chest logo or a back print avoids printing across it.
Each hoodie's pocket is a different size and we do not have published pocket measurements for most styles, so the proof is the place to check it. Compare hoodie blanks in best hoodie blanks for printing.
Does a bigger print cost more?
For screen printing and DTG, not within the standard print area. You pay per location and, for screen printing, per ink color. Each extra location is priced as another print.
Prices per piece printed, before tax, black Gildan 5000 in sizes S to XL, one ink color per location, screen printed:
| Placement | 50 shirts | 100 shirts |
|---|---|---|
| Left chest only | $11.11 | $9.05 |
| Full front only | $11.11 | $9.05 |
| Back only | $11.11 | $9.05 |
| Left chest + full back | $16.80 | $12.90 |
| Full front + one sleeve | $16.80 | $12.90 |
| Left chest + back + one sleeve | $20.19 | $15.11 |
On 50 black Gildan 18500 hoodies, one location is $29.47 each and two locations are $35.16.
The exceptions are size-based. A DTF transfer larger than 12 x 14 in on 24 black Gildan 5000 tees moves from $9.77 to $11.27 each. And oversized screen prints past the standard print area may carry an extra charge. Sizes 2XL and up add a garment upcharge whatever the placement.
How to measure a placement before you order
- Lay a shirt you like flat and measure across the chest, armpit to armpit.
- Cut paper to your print size and hold it where it would go. This shows quickly whether 11 in reads as bold or too wide on your smallest size.
- Write the print width in inches with each location when you request a quote, for example "front, 11 in wide; back, 12 in wide."
- Send art large enough for that size. At 300 DPI, an 11 in wide print needs a file about 3,300 pixels wide. Vector art has no limit. Run it through our free artwork check and see our artwork preparation guide.
- Check the proof on the smallest size in your order, not just the size L mockup.
Our take
A left-chest logo with a large back print is a popular layout for staff and event shirts: the small front reads as a uniform, the back carries the message, and it costs the same as a full front and back. One shop-floor detail explains why a second location adds more than you might expect on a dark shirt: on black, navy and other dark colors we print a white underbase under the ink so it stays bright, and each location gets its own underbase screen. The most common sizing issue we see is a design that was set up on an adult L and then sent to a run that is half youth shirts. If your order has a wide size range, say so when you quote, and we will check the print size against the smallest shirt on the proof. Every order gets a free digital proof, and nothing prints until you approve it.
For more on designing for these spots, see how to design a logo that looks great on custom apparel and our screen printing service page.
Ordering from Los Angeles or Orange County
- Where we are. 14130 Rosecrans Ave, Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670, serving Los Angeles and Orange County.
- Minimums. DTG none, DTF 12, embroidery 24, screen printing 36 pieces per design.
- Timing. About 2-3 weeks after art approval. Rush available depending on the schedule. Tell us your date.
- Contact. Mon-Fri 8am-4pm PT, (562) 407-3800, sales@frenchpresscustom.com.
Frequently asked questions
What size should a left chest logo be?
About 3.5 to 4.5 in wide on adult shirts and 3 to 3.5 in on youth shirts. Embroidered chest logos are often about 3 x 2 in to 3.5 x 3 in.
How big is a full front print on a t-shirt?
A common adult full front is about 11 in wide. Screen printing goes up to 14 x 16 in standard and 16 x 20 in oversized, and DTG up to 16 x 21 in.
What size print should I use for youth shirts?
About 9 in wide for a youth full front, or about 10 to 10.5 in if one print size has to cover both youth and adult shirts.
Is a left chest print cheaper than a full front?
No, not for screen printing or DTG. On 50 black Gildan 5000 tees with one color, both are $11.11 per piece before tax.
How much does a sleeve print add?
A sleeve is priced as another location. On 50 black Gildan 5000 tees, a one-color front is $11.11 and a front plus one sleeve is $16.80 per piece.
Can you print over a hoodie pocket?
A front print normally sits above the kangaroo pocket and clear of the drawcords, so the pocket sets how tall it can be. We show the exact placement on your proof.
What is the biggest DTF transfer size?
DTF transfers up to 12 x 14 in are standard price. Larger transfers add $1.50 per piece, per location.
