How Much Does Custom Embroidery Cost in 2026?
The embroidery itself runs $3.06 to $13.48 per piece from 24 pieces up (a 5,000-stitch logo in bulk to a 15,000-stitch design at the minimum, garment not included), plus a one-time $45.00 digitizing fee per design. This guide breaks down every pricing factor with real examples so you can budget your project accurately.
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Price by quantity
Embroidery cost per piece at 24, 48, 100, 250 and 500 pieces
Stitching only, at the quantity you actually have. A 5,000-stitch logo, one location. Stitches past 5,000 are billed per thousand. Decoration only, blank garment extra.
24
pieces
Left chest, 5,000 stitches
$9.63 /pc
Cap front, 5,000 stitches
$7.88 /pc
One-time setup
One-time digitizing $45.00 per design. Your stitch file is kept on file, so reorders carry no digitizing charge.
24-47 pcs tier · our minimum order
48
pieces
Left chest, 5,000 stitches
$7.88 /pc
Cap front, 5,000 stitches
$6.56 /pc
One-time setup
One-time digitizing $45.00 per design. Your stitch file is kept on file, so reorders carry no digitizing charge.
48-99 pcs tier
100
pieces
Left chest, 5,000 stitches
$6.56 /pc
Cap front, 5,000 stitches
$5.25 /pc
One-time setup
One-time digitizing $45.00 per design. Your stitch file is kept on file, so reorders carry no digitizing charge.
100-199 pcs tier
250
pieces
Left chest, 5,000 stitches
$5.25 /pc
Cap front, 5,000 stitches
$4.38 /pc
One-time setup
One-time digitizing $45.00 per design. Your stitch file is kept on file, so reorders carry no digitizing charge.
200-399 pcs tier
500
pieces
Left chest, 5,000 stitches
$4.38 /pc
Cap front, 5,000 stitches
$3.50 /pc
One-time setup
One-time digitizing $45.00 per design. Your stitch file is kept on file, so reorders carry no digitizing charge.
400-999 pcs tier
Decoration only, blank garment extra. Excludes CA sales tax (10.5%), which applies to the blank garment. Minimum 24 pieces.
Prices last updated . Every figure on this page is generated from the same pricing engine our quote calculator runs on, read fresh each time the page is served, so it changes the day our prices do.
Worked example
24 Gildan 8800 polos, 5,000-stitch left-chest logo
| Blanks (Gildan 8800)24 x $12.76 | $306.24 |
| Decoration (5,000-stitch left-chest logo)24 x $9.63 | $231.12 |
| One-time setuponce for the order | $45.00 |
| Total for the run | $582.36 |
| Per piece | $24.27 |
Digitizing is a one-time charge for the design, not per piece. Reorders of the same logo reuse the stitch file, so the digitizing line disappears entirely.
Blank priced from the live S&S Activewear catalog at our standard markup; size upcharges apply on extended sizes and CA sales tax applies to the blank. Decoration and setup come from the pricing engine at the quantity shown.
2026 Pricing
Embroidery Cost by Quantity and Stitch Count
Decoration cost per piece (does not include the blank garment). Base price includes up to 5,000 stitches.
| Quantity | Up to 5K stitches | 5K-8K stitches | 8K-10K stitches | 10K-15K stitches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 24Below our minimum | DTG printing has no minimum and no setup fee → | |||
| 24-47Minimum order, most popular | $9.63 | $10.78 | $11.55 | $13.48 |
| 48-99Best value starts | $7.88 | $9.03 | $9.80 | $11.73 |
| 100-199Bulk pricing | $6.56 | $7.67 | $8.40 | $10.24 |
| 200-399High-volume | $5.25 | $6.30 | $7.00 | $8.75 |
| 400-999High-volume | $4.38 | $5.37 | $6.04 | $7.70 |
| 1000-2399Best rate | $3.50 | $4.50 | $5.16 | $6.83 |
| 2400+Best rate available | $3.06 | $4.01 | $4.64 | $6.21 |
* Prices shown are decoration cost only (per piece, per location); the blank garment is priced separately from live wholesale catalogs at wholesale x 1.75. One-time digitizing fee of $45.00 per design. All prices exclude CA sales tax (10.5%), which applies to the garment only.
Instant Pricing
Get your real price in 60 seconds
The tiers above are starting points. Enter your garment, quantity, and logo details for an exact per-piece price - no email required to see it. Real embroidery orders at the 24-piece minimum quote a median of about $28/piece all-in.
Stitch Count Guide
How Many Stitches Does Your Design Need?
Use this reference to estimate your stitch count before requesting a quote.
| Design Type | Est. Stitches | Approx. Size |
|---|---|---|
| Small text logo (company name) | 2,000-3,500 | ~2" x 0.5" |
| Simple icon + text | 4,000-6,000 | ~3" x 2" |
| Detailed logo with fill | 6,000-10,000 | ~3.5" x 3" |
| Large back design | 10,000-20,000 | ~8" x 6" |
| Hat front panel (full) | 8,000-15,000 | ~4" x 2.5" |
Price Factors
What Affects Embroidery Cost?
Six factors determine your final per-piece price. Understanding them helps you budget accurately.
Stitch Count
Stitch count is the primary cost driver. A simple text logo might be 3,000 stitches. A detailed logo with fill areas could be 8,000-12,000 stitches. At 24 pieces a 5,000-stitch logo runs $9.63 per piece and an 8,000-stitch logo $10.78. Our base price includes up to 5,000 stitches.
Garment Type
The blank garment is a significant part of the total cost and is priced separately from the stitching: a basic polo costs less than a premium softshell jacket, and caps sit in between. We bill garments at wholesale x 1.75, and the quote calculator prices the exact blank you pick from live wholesale catalogs.
Thread Colors
Most embroidery orders use 1-4 thread colors. Color changes are automated on our multi-head machines and add only seconds per change, so thread count does not move the price the way stitch count does.
Number of Locations
Each embroidery location (left chest, right sleeve, back yoke, hat front) is priced separately. Left-chest logos are the most common and most affordable. Adding a second location roughly doubles the decoration cost.
Digitizing Fee
Digitizing converts your logo into a stitch file the machine can read. This is a one-time $45.00 fee per design. The file is saved permanently, so reorders and future orders using the same logo have no digitizing charge.
Rush Orders
Turnaround depends on order size, stitch count, and our current production schedule - most jobs run on a 7-10 business day timeline from proof approval. Rush production may be available case-by-case; surcharges are quoted per project based on the timeline. Embroidery takes longer per piece than screen printing, so plan ahead for large orders.
Digitizing
Embroidery Digitizing: What It Is and What It Costs
Every embroidery order starts with digitizing - converting your logo into stitch instructions.
What is digitizing?
Digitizing is the process of converting your artwork into a stitch file (.DST) that the embroidery machine can read. A skilled digitizer maps out stitch types (satin, fill, running), stitch direction, underlay layers, density, and color sequence. This is a specialized skill that ensures your logo looks clean and professional when stitched.
How much does digitizing cost?
Our digitizing fee is a flat $45.00 per design, regardless of complexity. Some shops charge more or charge per thousand stitches. We keep it simple with one flat rate. The file is saved permanently on our system.
Is digitizing a one-time fee?
Yes. You pay for digitizing once. Every future order using the same logo - whether it is next month or next year - has zero digitizing cost. We store your file indefinitely. If you change your logo, a new digitizing fee applies for the updated version.
Real Examples
What Real Embroidery Orders Actually Cost
Three common embroidery scenarios priced through our calculator. Add the blank garment of your choice.
Corporate Polos (50 pieces)
Decoration
Left-chest logo, 5,000 stitches $7.88/ea
Setup
$45.00 digitizing (one-time)
Garment
Your blank, priced live in the calculator
Stitching + digitizing for the run
$439.00
Digitizing spreads to under a dollar per piece at 50; reorders skip it entirely. Add the polo of your choice.
Embroidered Caps (100 pieces)
Decoration
Front-panel logo, 8,000 stitches $6.35/ea
Setup
$45.00 digitizing (one-time)
Garment
Your blank, priced live in the calculator
Stitching + digitizing for the run
$680.00
Cap embroidery uses a different hoop and its own rate band; at 100 pieces the per-cap stitching is in the bulk tier. Add the blank cap.
Executive Jackets (24 pieces)
Decoration
Left-chest logo, 5,000 stitches $9.63/ea
Setup
$90.00 digitizing (one-time, 2 designs)
Garment
Your blank, priced live in the calculator
Stitching + digitizing for the run
$321.12
Two designs (logo plus a sleeve name style) means two digitizing fees; the sleeve location itself is priced as a second location on the quote. Premium garments carry most of the total on a job like this.
Save Money
5 Ways to Reduce Embroidery Costs
Smart planning can save you hundreds on your embroidery order without sacrificing quality.
1. Simplify your logo
Fewer stitches = lower cost. Remove unnecessary detail, thin outlines, and small text. A clean, bold logo embroiders better and costs less. Ask our team to optimize your design for embroidery.
2. Stay under 5,000 stitches
Our base tier includes up to 5,000 stitches at the lowest per-piece rate ($9.63 at 24 pieces versus $10.78 for 8,000 stitches). Many company logos fit within this range. We can adjust your design to hit this sweet spot.
3. Order in bulk
Per-piece cost falls from $9.63 at 24 pieces to $6.56 at 100 and $4.38 at 400 for a 5,000-stitch logo. If you need polos for 40 employees, order all at once rather than in batches of 10.
4. Limit to one location
A single left-chest logo is the most cost-effective placement. Adding sleeves, back, or collar embroidery doubles or triples the decoration cost.
5. Reuse your digitized file
Digitizing is a one-time $45.00 fee. Once created, your stitch file is saved permanently. Every future order using the same logo skips this fee entirely.
Common Questions
Embroidery Pricing FAQ
Answers to the pricing questions we hear most from customers ordering custom embroidery.
How much does it cost to embroider a shirt?
What is the embroidery price per piece at 24, 48, 500 pieces?
What does cap front, 5,000 stitches cost compared with left chest, 5,000 stitches?
How much does custom embroidery cost?
How much does it cost to embroider a polo shirt?
What is the embroidery digitizing fee?
What is a stitch count and why does it matter?
Is there a minimum order for embroidery?
How much does hat embroidery cost?
Can you embroider names on individual pieces?
How durable is embroidery?
How can I get an exact embroidery quote?
Get Your Embroidery Quote Today
Send us your logo and tell us what you need embroidered. We will provide a detailed quote with stitch count, per-piece pricing, and total cost within 24 hours.