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When placing logos on t-shirts, long sleeves, shorts and pants there are a few things to keep in mind. Size and placement will make a huge difference in the way the finished product will turn out.
We’ve put together a sizing guide for logo placements using heat transfer vinyl and answered some common questions you may have down the road.
Sizing and placement will differ according to what you kind of garment you are working on, but these are just some general guidelines to follow.
Full Front:
How big should a logo be for a full front transfer?
A full front logo is the most popular placement for t-shirts. A great rule of thumb to find the center of your shirt is to fold it in half (lengthwise) lining up the shoulder and bottoms hems, then press.
This will leave a crease on the shirt, giving you a visual aid of where to center the design after measuring and remove any moisture that it may have as well.
Based on our own practices, we’ve come up with a few suggestion sizes for shirts of adult, youth, and infant sizes.
Suggested Imprint Size:
Adult: 8″ to 13″ wide
Youth: 6″ to 9.5″ wide
Infant: 3″ to 5.5″ wide
Adult: 15″ wide to 15″ high
Youth: 9.5″ wide
Infant: 5.5″ wide
Small Front:
How big should a logo be for a small front transfer?
The small front placement on a shirt is also a popular request. You will most likely see these being used for half-height designs or logos.
It’s important to make sure the design isn’t centered too low on the shirt or it will be on the breast or stomach area for some women.
5″ to 7″ wide
Maximum Imprint Size:
15″ wide
Left Chest:
How big should a logo be for a left chest transfer?
Left chest logos are a classic, go-to way to decorate a shirt, especially with logos. Typically, you’ll see a left chest logo on a shirt for a business logo, organization, school, and much more.
You’ll want to be careful not to place the logo too far down, covering the breast area, or too far left into the armpit area.
Although some left chest logos are smaller, it is recommended that these logos shouldn’t be bigger than 4 to 5 inches.
If you’re creating custom shirts using a left chest logo for employees or event staff, below are standard size guidelines you may want to reference.
2.5″ to 4″ wide
4″ wide x 4″ high
Right Chest:
How big should a logo be for a right chest transfer?
Not to be confused with left chest logos, a right chest logo means that once the shirt is put on, the logo will sit on your right side.
Like the left chest, make sure not to place the logo too far down or too far right into the armpit area.
This placement is not as commonly used like left chest logos are however, they attract the eye due to its unusual positioning.
We want you to be prepared for any time it does get requested.
Above Pocket:
How big should a logo be for an above-the-pocket transfer?
Like the left and right chest placements, the above pocket sizing is similar. These should be placed right above the pocket opening.
If the logo is too small it may be unreadable. If it’s too big, it may shift over in becoming an armpit logo!
4″ wide x 3″ high
On the Pocket:
How big should a logo be for a pocket transfer?
On the pocket, placements have become increasingly popular over the years and are highly visible which will help companies attract exposure.
When creating an on-the-pocket transfer, it’s important to make sure not to create the logo smaller than the pocket so that it’s readable and visually appealing. Avoid making the logo too big to not overlap out of the pocket and onto the shirt. These placements are pretty straightforward, just make sure to center the design on the pocket.
3″ wide
3.5″ high
Full Back:
How big should a logo be for a full back transfer?
Full back logos on shirts are very common and a great way to show off a business due to high visibility. Most shirts that have a full back are usually paired with a left chest logo. Small logos don’t look right on a full-back placement, the bigger the better. If you’re looking to add a bigger logo, graphic, or design to a shirt, the full-back placement is the way to go.
8″ x 13″ wide
15″ wide x 15″ high
Locker Patch:
How big should a logo be for a locker patch transfer?
Locker patches, also known as a tag print, are popular for logos that are small and simple. These small patches are a subtle way to represent a brand or company.
Combined with a full front, center chest, or a left chest placement, sizing sometimes can be based on the design and how it relates to the shirt.
Most of these designs are smaller in order to be less conspicuous and allow companies to take a less aggressive approach in advertising their company.
1″ x 4″ wide
Right/Left Shoulder Short/Long Sleeve:
How big should a logo be for a right/left shoulder sleeve?
Left or right shoulder sleeve placements can vary depending on the logo or design. When trying to center the design, flattening out the sleeves can help tremendously.
In the case that the design is wide, line it up horizontally to the cuff for the best look.
Keeping these logos to a smaller scale will allow you to send your message in a discrete manner. Designs like these have become increasingly popular in giveaway clothing, not necessarily just for employees.
2″ x 4″ wide
5.5″ wide
Right/Left Long Sleeve:
How big should a logo be for a right/left long sleeve transfer?
Usually, when you see a logo placed on the right or left side of a long sleeve shirt, it usually consists of a combination of thin, large lettering and a mascot.
This can be used on both sleeves or on one depending on what approach you or the customer you’re making it for is looking for.
Be sure to position the design as close as possible to the sleeve fold line.
2″ to 3″ wide
10″ to 12″ long
3.5″ wide x 15″ long
Right/Left Hip:
How big should a logo be for a right/left hip transfer?
Depending on the size of the logo, left or right logos will vary. Smaller designs near the pocket have become increasingly fashionable and popularly seen in clothing brands.
Tall logos look best when placed horizontally, while wider logos are better suited in a vertical position on the pants. The same can go for shorts.
3″ to 4″ wide
Right/Left Long Leg:
How big should a logo be for a right/left long leg transfer?
Left or right logos on pants are usually placed vertically with a larger logo although it will depend on the shape of it.
The logo should be aligned so that you can read it straight up or down.
Sometimes, you will see a logo that is small enough to sit horizontally on the pants but this is not as common as the vertical placement. The most popular side for a standard vertical logo is the left side.
Placing the transfer as close to the seam as possible will help for ideal placement.
10″ to 14″ long
5.5″ wide x 15″ long
Right/Left Oversized Leg
How big should a logo be for a right/left oversized leg transfer?
You will notice that these measurements will differ significantly from a regular pant leg due to the sizing. However, you will use the same method in placing the transfer closer to the seam. Although it may not be completely centered, the design will look better as the pants are worn.
Be mindful that since the pant leg is oversized, you will want to use a logo that is big enough and legible when placed on the pants.
22″ long
5.5″ wide x 22″ long
Right/Left Shorts:
How big should a logo be for a right/left shorts transfer?
Like most sports teams’ shorts, you will usually see the logo on the bottom. Logos placed here are usually a bit smaller depending on the size of the shorts.
A good rule of thumb for placing a logo on a pair of shorts is to line the logo up to the bottom hem.
It’s very popular to see both sides of the shorts decorated with one side using the logo and the other side using a design.
Why does the size matter?
When working with logos and how to place them on shirts or pants, it’s important to make them the appropriate size.
If your transfer is too small, the finished product will look unprofessional and unappealing. This is not the method to use if a business is wanting to create a lasting impression.
On the other hand, if the transfer is oversized, it will appear to others that the wrong sized cloth was bought and used.
If you don’t take the time to double check the sizing for logos and the vinyl, you may send away clients and create a bad reputation for your business.
Think about it, you wouldn’t use the same size logo and vinyl on a baby’s onesie that you would use on an adult’s XL t-shirt.
How many more logos can you get on a transfer if you shrink the size a bit?
If you are creating custom garments in mass, you may want to avoid wasting vinyl buy printing one logo at a time. A good way to get around this is to shrink the logos a bit to fit multiple on one sheet.
Depending on the size of vinyl you are using, will determine how many more logos you can add to the sheet.
Remember, you don’t want to shrink the logos significantly smaller, just enough to still produce professional results while making the most out of the vinyl.
