How Much Does Embroidered Workwear Cost? A Complete UK Pricing Guide
If you are comparing embroidered workwear for your team, this guide explains what you can expect to pay, which factors affect the price and how to build a realistic budget for a uniform rollout.
How Much Does Embroidered Workwear Cost?
Embroidered workwear typically costs between £6.50 and £35.00 per garment in the UK. The final price depends on the garment, order quantity, logo size and complexity, and the number of embroidered positions required.
The following examples show typical prices for commonly ordered embroidered workwear. They are intended as a guide; the final cost will depend on the garment selected, the order quantity and the embroidery required.
- Embroidered polo shirt: £7.50
- Embroidered T-Shirt: £6.50
- Embroidered Sweatshirt: £12.50
- Embroidered Hoodie: £18.00
- Embroidered Jacket: £35.00
The larger the order, the lower the cost per garment is likely to be.
However, embroidered workwear is not a fixed-cost product. Several factors can significantly affect the final price.
This guide covers typical garment prices, embroidery and digitising charges, volume discounts, embroidery versus print, recommended workwear brands and example budgets for complete uniform rollouts.
What Affects The Cost of Embroidered Workwear
Many customers assume embroidery is a fixed-price service, but in reality, several variables influence the overall cost.
1. Garment Choice
The garment itself is usually the biggest factor affecting the final price.
As a general guide:
- T-Shirts
- Polo Shirts
- Sweatshirts
- Hoodies
- Fleeces
- Softshell Jackets
- Waterproof Jackets
A premium softshell jacket will naturally cost more to embroider than a basic polo shirt because the garment itself costs significantly more.
2. Quantity Ordered
Embroidery becomes more cost-effective as quantities increase.
This is because embroidery machines have multiple heads, allowing several garments to be embroidered simultaneously. Additionally, garment suppliers offer volume discounts which are often passed on to customers.
For this reason, a 100-piece order will usually cost substantially less per garment than a 10-piece order.
For example, using one of our most popular products, the following prices show the typical cost per embroidered polo shirt at different order quantities:
- 1 embroidered polo shirt: £10.95
- 10 embroidered polo shirts: £8.20 each
- 50 embroidered polo shirts: £6.45 each
- 100 embroidered polo shirts: £5.70 each
If you place regular repeat orders throughout the year, it's worth discussing this with your supplier. Many businesses can still benefit from volume pricing even when orders are split across multiple deliveries.
3. Number Of Logo Positions
Every embroidered logo position requires additional production time.
For example:
- Left chest logo
- Right chest logo
- Sleeve logo
- Rear shoulder logo
The example prices above include a standard embroidered logo on the left chest.
Adding a second embroidered logo may increase the cost by anything from £1.75 to £6.00 per garment, depending on the size of the logo and the quantity ordered.
4. Personalised Names
Adding individual employee names is a popular option for customer-facing staff.
However, each personalised name must be embroidered separately, creating an additional embroidery application charge.
Examples include:
- Driver names
- Engineer names
- Site manager names
- Hospitality staff names
Whilst this increases costs slightly, many businesses feel it adds a more professional and personal appearance.
Is Embroidery More Expensive Than Print
Yes.
However, embroidery is also significantly more durable and generally creates a more premium appearance.
For a standard left chest logo, the cost difference is often smaller than many customers expect.
The prices below compare the cost of adding a standard left-chest logo to a garment. They do not include the cost of the garment itself.
|
Quantity |
Embroidery |
|
|
1 Garment |
£6.00 |
£4.00 |
|
2-5 Garments |
£4.25 |
£4.00 |
|
6-19 Garments |
£3.25 |
£3.00 |
|
20-49 Garments |
£2.50 |
£2.00 |
For small logos on polo shirts, sweatshirts and jackets, embroidery is often the preferred option because the additional cost is relatively modest.
The situation changes when larger logo positions are required.
For example, a large embroidered logo across the back or shoulders can cost anywhere between £6 and £25 per garment, depending on the stitch count and complexity of the design.
The same design may cost only £2 to £4 when printed.
Because of this, many businesses choose:
- Embroidery on the left chest
- Print for larger back logos
This combination often provides the best balance of appearance, durability and cost.
What Is An Embroidery Setup Fee?
An embroidery setup fee, often called a digitising fee, is a one-off charge that covers converting your logo into a format that embroidery machines can read.
A typical setup fee is around £20 per logo.
This is usually only paid the first time a logo is embroidered.
Once digitised, your logo can normally be reused on future orders without additional setup costs.
What Is Logo Digitising?
Before a logo can be embroidered, it must be converted into thousands of individual stitches.
This process is known as digitising.
A digitiser will:
- Convert your logo into embroidery stitches
- Choose the correct stitch types
- Set stitch directions
- Determine stitch density
- Optimise the design for embroidery
A good digitised file can dramatically improve the final result.
A poor digitised file can make even an expensive garment look unprofessional.
Is Embroidery Worth The Extra Cost?
For most workwear applications, yes.
If a customer asks us whether they should choose embroidery or print for employee uniforms, we recommend embroidery in the majority of cases.
That's because embroidery offers:
- Better durability
- Professional appearance
- Long-term value
- Stronger perceived quality
- Excellent colour retention
In our experience, embroidery often lasts longer than the garment itself.
However, there are situations where print makes more sense:
- Temporary staff clothing
- Event clothing
- Promotional giveaways
- Large back logos
- Budget-sensitive projects
If the branding cost exceeds the value of the garment itself, print is often the more sensible option.
Which Workwear Brands Are Most Popular for Embroidered Uniforms?
One of the most common questions we are asked is: “Which workwear brands do other businesses choose?” Brand choice affects both the initial garment price and the long-term value of a uniform programme. Most embroidered uniform programmes fall into three broad categories—value, mid-range and premium—and the right option depends on your budget, working environment, replacement expectations and the image you want your team to present.
Uneek
Uneek is the most popular brand we supply for full uniform rollouts. It offers an excellent balance of cost, quality, durability and consistency across a broad range of garments.
Popular Uneek products include the UC101 Polo Shirt, UC203 Sweatshirt, UC502 Hooded Sweatshirt and UC611 Softshell Jacket.
Best suited to: warehousing, logistics, manufacturing, transport and general trades.
Pro RTX
Pro RTX is another frequently selected workwear brand, particularly for polo shirts, sweatshirts and hoodies. Its garments are designed specifically for the workwear market and tend to offer a modern fit and appearance.
Popular products include the RX101 Polo Shirt, RX301 Sweatshirt and RX350 Hoodie.
Best suited to: customer-facing employees, transport companies, service businesses, offices and warehouse teams.
Regatta Professional
Regatta Professional is often one of our first recommendations when a uniform programme requires outerwear. Its range includes softshell jackets, fleeces, waterproof jackets and gilets that combine comfort, durability and a recognisable brand.
Best suited to: drivers, engineers, construction supervisors and field-based staff.
Portwest
Portwest is a popular choice for construction, industrial and safety clothing. Its extensive range includes hi-vis garments, work trousers, jackets and PPE designed for demanding working environments.
Best suited to: construction companies, utilities, rail contractors and industrial workplaces.
Brook Taverner
Brook Taverner is one of the most respected choices when a business wants a more formal or premium corporate appearance. The brand specialises in business shirts, blouses, tailored jackets, trousers, waistcoats and corporate knitwear.
Businesses often choose Brook Taverner when employees are customer-facing, regularly visit clients or need a uniform that bridges the gap between practical workwear and business attire.
Best suited to: coach operators, corporate transport providers, reception teams, sales teams, hotels, hospitality businesses, office-based staff and management teams.
Which Brand Would We Recommend?
For a typical business rolling out uniforms to 25–250 employees, Uneek is our most commonly recommended starting point because it offers strong value, dependable quality and a consistent garment range. Businesses should still compare fit, fabric weight, colour availability and replacement stock before standardising on any brand.
For customer-facing teams that want a slightly more modern workwear look, Regatta Professional is often a strong option and is a reliable choice for outerwear. Construction and industrial businesses will often combine Uneek garments with Portwest hi-vis and PPE. Where presentation and corporate image are especially important, Brook Taverner can justify the higher investment.
There is no single best brand for every organisation. The best uniform solution depends on the job being performed, the working environment, the available budget and the image the business wants to project.
Our Recommendation
Based on our experience supplying customised workwear and uniforms across transport, construction, healthcare and hospitality, a practical starting allocation for a full-time employee working five days per week is five everyday tops, two mid-layers and one suitable outer layer, with role-specific garments added where required.
- 5 x T-Shirts, Polo Shirts or Shirts (allowing for a clean garment each working day)
- 2 x Sweatshirts, Hoodies or Mid-Layers
- 1 x Jacket, Softshell or Fleece
- Optional extras depending on the role, such as hi-vis garments, work trousers, shorts, bodywarmers or waterproof clothing
Many businesses try to reduce costs by issuing only 2 or 3 polos per employee. Whilst this may reduce the initial spend, it often results in garments being washed more frequently, fading faster and needing replacing sooner.
Providing 5 tops allows employees to maintain a professional appearance throughout the working week without excessive washing and wear. In our experience, this approach offers the best balance between cost, employee satisfaction and garment longevity.
For customer-facing roles such as drivers, engineers, sales representatives and reception staff, maintaining a consistent and professional appearance is particularly important. Employees are far more likely to wear and look after uniforms that are comfortable, fit correctly and are supplied in sufficient quantities.
If we were advising a typical business with 25-250 employees, this is the uniform allocation we would recommend in most situations. It provides a practical starting point for creating a professional uniform programme while keeping replacement and long-term ownership costs under control.
Example Annual Uniform Allocation
|
Garment |
Recommended Quantity |
|
Polo Shirts / T-Shirts / Shirts |
5 |
|
Sweatshirts / Hoodies |
2 |
|
Fleece or Softshell |
1 |
|
Waterproof Jacket (if required) |
1 |
|
Hi-Vis Garments (if required) |
Role dependent |
|
Work Trousers / Shorts (if supplied) |
2-3 pairs |
Top tip: When budgeting for a new uniform rollout, compare the total annual cost rather than only the initial order value. Supplying the right number of garments from day one can reduce repeated delivery charges, small-order pricing and premature replacement caused by excessive washing.
What Does A Typical Uniform Rollout Cost?
One of the most common questions we get asked is:
"How much should we budget if we're rolling out a completely new uniform across the business?"
The answer depends on the garments selected, the number of employees, the branding requirements and whether hi-vis, outerwear or PPE garments are included.
Based on our experience, the following examples provide a realistic starting point for a business with around 50 employees. Actual costs will vary according to garment choice, size requirements, branding positions, stock availability and any specialist hi-vis or PPE requirements.
50-Person Coach Company
A typical uniform package might include:
- 5 embroidered polo shirts or shirts per employee
- 2 embroidered sweatshirts or knitwear options
- 1 embroidered softshell or fleece
- 2-3 pairs of suit trousers
Typical budget: £5,000 - £10,000
The large variation is usually driven by garment quality. A basic polo-and-sweatshirt package sits towards the lower end, whilst premium branded corporatewear and outerwear can significantly increase the investment.
50-Employee Warehouse Operation
A typical warehouse uniform package might include:
- 5 embroidered polo shirts
- 2 embroidered sweatshirts or hoodies
- Hi-Vis Vest
- Softshell or fleece for supervisory staff
Typical budget: £3,000 - £5,000
Warehouse uniforms are often relatively cost-effective as durability is usually prioritised over premium appearance.
50-Employee Construction Company
A typical construction uniform package might include:
- 5 embroidered hi-vis polo shirts
- 2 embroidered hi-vis hoodies
- Durable work trousers
- Waterproof jacket
- Additional PPE-compliant garments where required
Typical budget: £4,000 - £6,000
Construction companies generally spend more per employee than warehouse operations due to the need for specialist hi-vis garments, workwear fabrics and weather protection.
What If Your Business Is Larger Or Smaller?
As a rough rule of thumb, most businesses providing a practical workwear package will spend between:
- £60 - £100 per employee for basic uniform requirements
- £100 - £200 per employee for more comprehensive workwear programmes
- £200+ per employee where premium outerwear, corporatewear or specialist garments are included
For example:
|
Employees |
Typical Rollout Budget |
|
10 |
£600 - £2,000 |
|
25 |
£1,500 - £5,000 |
|
50 |
£3,000 - £10,000 |
|
100 |
£6,000 - £20,000 |
|
250 |
£15,000 - £50,000+ |
What We'd Do If It Was Our Money
If we were creating a uniform programme for a 50-person business today, we'd focus on issuing enough garments to get employees comfortably through the working week rather than reducing the initial spend by under-supplying uniforms.
In our experience, providing five branded tops, two mid-layers and an appropriate jacket offers the best balance between cost, employee satisfaction and long-term value. Businesses that try to save money by issuing too few garments often end up spending more on replacement orders, emergency top-ups and worn-out clothing later on.
To build an accurate embroidered workwear budget, prepare your employee numbers, required garment types, preferred branding positions and expected order frequency. We can then recommend suitable garments and provide a tailored quotation for your uniform programme.
Frequently Asked Questions About Embroidered Workwear
How much does an embroidered logo cost?
A typical embroidered logo costs between £2.50 and £6.00 per garment depending on the size and complexity of the design, the number of colours used and the quantity being ordered. Larger logos and lower order quantities generally result in a higher cost per garment.
Is embroidery better than print for workwear?
In most cases, yes.
Embroidery is generally more durable, more professional-looking and better suited to everyday workwear such as polo shirts, sweatshirts, fleeces and jackets. Print is often a better option for large back logos, promotional clothing, temporary staff uniforms or projects where budget is the primary consideration.
Is there a minimum order quantity for embroidered workwear?
No. We can embroider a single garment if required.
However, the cost per garment reduces significantly as quantities increase, making embroidery far more cost-effective when ordering uniforms for multiple employees.
Can I use my existing company logo?
Yes.
Most businesses provide their logo in PDF, AI, EPS, SVG or high-resolution PNG format. We will then digitise the logo into an embroidery file that can be read by our embroidery machines.
What is an embroidery setup fee?
An embroidery setup fee is a one-off charge to convert your logo into an embroidery file.
This process is known as digitising and typically costs around £20 per logo. Once digitised, the file can usually be reused for future orders without any additional setup charges.
How long does embroidery last?
Embroidery is one of the most durable branding methods available.
Unlike print, embroidery does not peel, crack or fade easily. In most cases, the embroidery will outlast the garment itself, making it ideal for workwear and uniforms that are regularly washed and worn.
Can employee names be added to workwear?
Yes.
Many businesses choose to add embroidered names to garments for drivers, engineers, hospitality staff and customer-facing employees. Adding names usually incurs an additional embroidery charge per garment.
Does embroidery damage clothing?
No.
Professional embroidery should not damage garments when applied correctly. The embroidery process is designed to reinforce the fabric and provide a durable finish. Choosing suitable garments and working with an experienced supplier helps ensure the best results.
What garments are best suited to embroidery?
Embroidery works particularly well on:
- Polo shirts
- Sweatshirts
- Hoodies
- Fleeces
- Softshell jackets
- Workwear jackets
- Hi-vis clothing
Generally speaking, thicker and more stable fabrics produce the best embroidery results.
Can embroidery be removed from workwear?
Technically yes, but it is rarely practical.
Removing embroidery often leaves visible stitch holes in the fabric. In most cases, replacing the garment is more cost-effective and produces a better overall appearance.
How quickly can embroidered workwear be supplied?
Lead times vary depending on the size of the order and stock availability.
Most embroidered workwear orders can be supplied within 7–10 working days after artwork approval, subject to order size and stock availability. If you have a fixed deadline, confirm it before ordering because urgent production may not always be available.
What is the most popular embroidered workwear garment?
The embroidered polo shirt remains the most popular choice for businesses.
It offers an excellent balance of professional appearance, comfort, durability and value for money, making it suitable for a wide range of industries including transport, warehousing, construction, healthcare and hospitality.
Is embroidered workwear worth the extra cost?
For most businesses, yes.
If you are buying uniforms for everyday use, embroidery usually offers strong long-term value because it creates a professional appearance, withstands regular washing and helps maintain a consistent company image. Although the initial cost is often higher than print, the additional durability can make it the more economical option over the life of the garment.
