How much do embroidered polos cost?
Short answer: on a Port Authority K500, $19.55 each at 24 pieces and $17.55 each at 144, plus $18.99 one-time digitizing. Here is where those numbers come from and what moves them.
The two parts of the price
Every embroidered polo is a blank plus decoration. Battle Born Clothing lists both. The blank is the shirt at our published price (supplier cost x 2 under $10, otherwise cost plus 35%). The decoration is a flat left-chest embroidery rate that drops every 24 pieces.
| Quantity | Blank | Embroidery | All-in each |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12-23 | $13.55 | $6.00 | $19.55 |
| 24-47 | $13.55 | $6.00 | $19.55 |
| 48-71 | $13.55 | $5.50 | $19.05 |
| 72-95 | $13.55 | $5.50 | $19.05 |
| 96-119 | $13.55 | $5.00 | $18.55 |
| 120-143 | $13.55 | $5.00 | $18.55 |
| 144+ | $13.55 | $4.00 | $17.55 |
One-time and per-piece extras
| Item | Cost | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Digitizing | $18.99 per design | Once, the first time we stitch a design |
| 2XL and larger | $1-7 per shirt by size | Blank upcharge set by the maker |
| Sleeve, back-yoke, right-chest add | Quoted per job | Each extra location, plus its own digitizing |
| Names | Quoted per job | Per shirt, no digitizing for standard fonts |
| Customer-supplied shirts | $2 per item | Handling; 4% spoilage allowance noted, we aim for zero |
| Rush | Quoted per job | Anything faster than 28 days from proof approval |
Four worked totals
| Order | Math | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 12 polos | 12 x $19.55 + $18.99 | $253.59 |
| 24 polos | 24 x $19.55 + $18.99 | $488.19 |
| 48 polos | 48 x $19.05 + $18.99 | $933.39 |
| 144 polos | 144 x $17.55 + $18.99 | $2,546.19 |
What changes the number
The blank
The K500 is a $13.55 blank. A budget jersey polo like the Port & Company KP55 costs less; a performance knit like the Sport-Tek ST650 costs a little more; Nike, OGIO, Under Armour and Carhartt are quoted per job because the brands set minimum advertised prices. The embroidery rate is the same on all of them.
Stitch count
Up to 6,000 stitches is covered by the flat rate. A 3.5-inch-wide logo with a solid fill usually lands between 4,000 and 7,000. If your logo digitizes over 6,000 we quote it per design before you commit.
Quantity tier
Tiers break every 24 pieces: 12-23, 24-47, 48-71, 72-95, 96-119, 120-143 and 144+. Mixed styles and colors count toward one tier, so a 48-piece order of 30 K500 and 18 L500 gets the 48-71 rate on all of them.
Extra locations
A sleeve logo or back-yoke text is a second run through the machine and is quoted per job. It is the most common reason a polo quote comes in higher than the table above.
Comparing blanks at 48 pieces
| Polo | Blank | All-in each at 48 |
|---|---|---|
| Port Authority K500 Silk Touch | $13.55 | $19.05 |
| CornerStone CS410 tactical | $24.92 | $30.42 |
| Port and Company KP55 jersey | Quoted per job | Blank + $5.50 |
| Sport-Tek ST650 performance | Quoted per job | Blank + $5.50 |
| Nike, OGIO, Carhartt, adidas, Under Armour | Quoted per job (brand pricing) | Blank + $5.50 |
The embroidery column never changes between blanks. That makes it easy to compare: if a performance polo is $4 more than a K500 as a blank, it is $4 more embroidered. Ask for two or three blanks on one quote and we will price them side by side.
The screen print alternative
For a one-time event run of 48 or more, a 1-color screen print is $4.34 plus $0.25 flash per location at 48 pieces, plus $20 per screen. On a K500 that is $18.14 each at 48, slightly under the $19.05 embroidered price. Print does not wear as long as thread on a weekly-washed uniform, which is why we still recommend embroidery for true programs. Details on the screen print page.
What the quote looks like
Our quote lists the blank by style and size (with any 2XL+ upcharge shown per size), the embroidery per piece at your tier, digitizing as a single line, and any adds or names as their own lines. Shipping is quoted to your address. There are no setup or art fees beyond digitizing, and no fee to keep your file for reorders. If you supply the polos, the blank line is replaced with a $2 per item handling line.
Ways to spend less
- Order to the next tier if you are within a few pieces; 46 polos cost more than 48.
- Keep one logo across men's, women's and performance styles so you pay digitizing once.
- Skip the second location on the first order and add it on a reorder if people want it.
- Avoid 2XL+ upcharges where you can by ordering the right sizes the first time.
When you are ready, the pricing page has the full schedule and the quote form gets you a same-day number from Battle Born Clothing.
Questions
Is there a minimum order for embroidered polos?
No. Battle Born Clothing has no hard minimum on embroidery. One to 23 pieces are priced at the 12-23 tier.
Does the embroidery price include thread colors?
Yes. Up to 6,000 stitches and any number of thread colors on our two 15-needle machines are covered by the flat rate.
Why is digitizing a separate fee?
Digitizing converts your logo into a stitch file once. It is $18.99 per design and we keep the file for reorders.