Custom embroidered polos are one of the most effective ways to make your team look professional — whether you're outfitting a sales team, a service crew, or a customer-facing staff. Done right, they look clean, last for years, and tell your customers you take your business seriously.
But there are things to know before you order. This guide covers all of it.
Why embroidery — not print — for polos
You can technically print on a polo, but embroidery is the standard for good reason. The textured, dimensional look of embroidery reads as premium in a way that a flat print doesn't. For customer-facing roles, the difference is noticeable. Embroidered logos also hold up better on the heavier fabrics used in polos — they don't crack or peel the way printed designs can over time.
Choosing the right polo
Not all polos are created equal. Here's what to pay attention to:
Fabric weight and blend
100% cotton polos are comfortable and breathable but wrinkle easily and can shrink. Moisture-wicking performance polos (polyester blends) stay crisp through long shifts and are better for physical roles. Cotton/poly blends split the difference. For most business applications, a 60/40 or 65/35 cotton-poly blend is the sweet spot.
Fit
Standard fit works for most workplaces. If your staff is customer-facing or sales-oriented, a more tailored fit can look sharper. Avoid super-slim fits for crews that need to move — they restrict movement and look unprofessional when stretched.
Color
Embroidery thread colors are mixed to match your brand colors. Keep in mind that embroidery on dark fabrics reads differently than on light fabrics — a white-thread logo on a navy polo looks different than the same logo on a white polo. Request a proof before approving the full order.
Getting your logo embroidery-ready
Embroidery requires a process called digitizing — converting your logo into a stitch file that the embroidery machine can read. This is done by a skilled digitizer and is a one-time cost. Once your logo is digitized, that file is yours and can be used for any future order.
What makes a logo embroidery-friendly
- Simple shapes and clean lines. Fine details, thin lines, and small text can get lost in stitching. What looks sharp on screen may not translate at 1-inch embroidery size.
- Limited colors. Each color is a separate thread. 1–4 colors is ideal. 8+ colors gets expensive and can look busy.
- Adequate size. Most chest logos are 3–4 inches wide. Logos smaller than 2 inches lose detail quickly.
💡 Don't have a clean logo file? Turbo Tees offers free artwork help. Send us what you have and we'll tell you what we need, or recreate it if necessary.
Pricing and minimums
Embroidery pricing depends on stitch count (the complexity of your logo) and quantity. There's a setup/digitizing fee for new logos, but it's a one-time cost. After that, per-unit pricing scales down with quantity — ordering 24 polos costs significantly less per piece than ordering 6.
At Turbo Tees, we have no minimum order for embroidered polos. Need 6 for a small team? No problem. Need 200 for a large company rollout? Also no problem.
Turnaround time
Standard turnaround for embroidered polos is 10–15 business days from artwork approval. If you need them faster, ask about rush options — availability depends on our current production schedule.
Before you place your order
- Have a clean logo file ready (vector preferred, high-res PNG works)
- Know your size breakdown across your team
- Decide on polo color and fabric type
- Know your in-hand date
Call us at 855-TSHIRT-5 and we'll walk you through the rest. Real people answer during business hours.