How Much Does Custom Embroidery Cost? A No-B.S. Guide

The Honest Answer to a Common Question

Custom embroidery pricing can feel mysterious — some shops won't even give you a ballpark without a quote request. At Kraft Life, we believe in transparency. Here's a straightforward breakdown of how embroidery is priced and what you can expect when you order from us.

It's Priced by Stitch Count

Embroidery is priced primarily by stitch count — the total number of individual stitches in your design. A small left-chest logo (about 3.5 inches wide) typically runs 5,000–8,000 stitches. A full back design can run 20,000–50,000 stitches or more. The higher the stitch count, the more thread used and the longer the machine runs — so it costs more.

Typical Price Ranges

• Small logo (left chest, hat front): $8–$15 per item
• Medium design (full chest, sleeve): $12–$25 per item
• Large design (full back): $20–$45+ per item

These are ranges — the actual price depends on stitch count, garment cost, and whether a digitizing fee applies to your design.

What's a Digitizing Fee?

Before a design can be embroidered, it needs to be converted into a stitch file — a process called digitizing. If you don't already have a digitized file, we charge a one-time fee (usually $15–$30) to create one. You own the file and can reuse it for future orders at no extra charge.

No Minimums — Pay for Only What You Need

At Kraft Life, we don't require a minimum order quantity. You're not forced to order 12 shirts just to get a logo embroidered. Order one, order fifty — the price per item is the same either way.

Get a Real Quote

Use our stitch cost estimator to get a quick estimate, or fill out our custom order form and we'll send you an exact quote, usually within one business day.