Embroidery placement chart
These are the usual starting positions shops use. Garment sizes vary, so use the lower number on small sizes and the higher number on large ones, and check the first piece before the run.
| Placement | Measure from | Position |
|---|---|---|
| Left chest (polo, tee, sweatshirt) | Left shoulder seam at the collar | 7 to 9 in down, centered between placket and side seam, or 3 to 5 in from center |
| Jacket left chest | Left shoulder seam | 6.5 to 8 in down, about 4 in from center |
| Full front | Neckline | 4 to 6 in down to the top of the design (1.5 to 3 in on small sizes), centered |
| Full back (shirt) | Back collar seam | About 5 in down (about 3 in on small sizes), centered |
| Jacket back | Back collar seam | 9 to 10 in down, centered |
| Shirt pocket | Top of the pocket | 0.5 in down, centered on the pocket |
| Structured cap front | Brim seam | Bottom of the design about 0.5 in above the seam, centered |
| Bath towel | Bottom hem | 4 in up, centered |
| Hand towel | Bottom hem | 2 to 3 in up, centered |
| Apron | Top of the bib | 4 in down, centered |
Garment positions follow the placement charts published by embroidery suppliers, such as the AllStitch placement chart. Cap positions come from our hat logo size guide.
Left chest embroidery placement
Left chest is the most ordered position on polos, tees, button-downs and sweatshirts. Measure down from the high point of the shoulder, where the shoulder seam meets the collar, not from the armhole. On a polo, center the design between the edge of the placket and the side seam; on a tee without a placket, center it between the center front and the side seam, or place its center 3 to 5 in from the center front.
The size matters as much as the position. A left chest logo is usually 3 to 4 in wide, and our left chest logo size guide covers the sizes for wide, stacked and round logos. On women's cuts the chest is narrower and the bust is higher, so many shops use a slightly smaller design placed a little higher.
Shirt embroidery placement beyond the chest
- Full front. A large design across the chest. Its top edge sits 4 to 6 in below the neckline on adult sizes, so it reads above the belly rather than on it.
- Full back. Usually the largest design on a shirt, with the top about 5 in below the collar. Size it to the garment and to your largest hoop.
- Back yoke. A small logo or web address just below the back collar, kept small so it sits flat across the shoulders.
- Sleeve. A small mark on the upper sleeve or near the cuff, centered on the sleeve. Our sleeve digitizing page covers sizes and hooping.
- Pocket. Just below the top of the pocket, smaller than the pocket opening, and sewn so the pocket still opens.
How to use the printable template
- Pick the placement and enter the finished design width and height in inches.
- Print it with "Print a real-size template". In the print dialog, choose 100% scale or "Actual size", not "Fit to page".
- Check the scale. Measure the 1 inch square with a ruler. If it is not exactly 1 in, the printer scaled the page, so print again at 100%.
- Place it on the garment. Measure the distance from the reference point shown, line up the red center lines with the garment center, and mark the corners or the center with chalk or a pin.
- Hoop to the marks. Hoop so the marks sit where the machine's center point is, then trace the design on the machine to confirm before you sew.
For a run of identical garments, tape the printed template to a piece of card and cut a window for the design. It is quicker than measuring every piece.
Placement on caps, towels and aprons
On a structured cap, the bottom of the design sits about 0.5 in above the brim seam and the design is centered on the front. A six-panel cap has a seam down the middle of the front, so fine details should stay off that seam. Side designs sit low on the side panel, clear of the seams and the air holes, and a back design sits just above the strap opening, usually as a short arched word.
Towels are embroidered near the bottom hem so the design shows when the towel hangs folded over a rail: about 4 in up on a bath towel and 2 to 3 in up on a hand towel, or centered in the woven border. Use a water-soluble topping so the stitches sit on top of the loops. On an apron, the design usually sits about 4 in below the top of the bib, where it is not hidden by the neck strap.
Measuring tools that make placement faster
- A clear placement ruler with a center line and inch marks, laid from the shoulder seam, is the quickest way to mark a left chest.
- Printed templates like the one on this page, taped to card, let a helper mark every garment in a run the same way.
- Chalk or a water-soluble marker for the center point and the top of the design, removed after sewing.
- The machine's trace function, which moves the hoop around the outline of the design before sewing, so you can see it lands inside the marks.
Common placement mistakes
| Mistake | What happens | How to avoid it |
|---|---|---|
| Measuring from the armhole | The logo sits too low and too far to the side | Measure from the shoulder seam at the collar |
| One position for every size | The logo looks low on small sizes and high on large ones | Use the low end of the range on small sizes, the high end on large |
| Ignoring seams and plackets | Stitches sink into a seam or hit buttons | Keep small details off seams and clear of plackets and zippers |
| A design too big for the spot | It wraps around the body or distorts | Check the typical size for the placement before digitizing |
The size you order the file in should match the placement. A file digitized for a left chest does not scale up well to a full back, so tell your digitizer the placement when you order. Check that the design fits your hoop with the hoop size checker.
Know the placement and size? Order the file at that size and see the price before you submit.