Print Placement Guide: Where to Put Your Design
By The Velocity Wear Team
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A great design in the wrong place can ruin an otherwise perfect garment. Print placement is one of the most overlooked parts of custom apparel, yet it decides whether a piece looks professional or homemade. This guide covers the standard print positions, the measurements decorators actually use, and how to choose the right placement for hoodies, tees, caps and more.
The standard placements you should know
Most custom apparel uses a handful of tried-and-tested positions. Sticking to these keeps your designs looking balanced and makes production predictable. Mix and match them across a range so each piece feels considered rather than random.
- Left chest — small logos, around 7 to 10 cm wide, ideal for branded and corporate looks.
- Full front — large central graphics, typically 25 to 30 cm wide on adult sizes.
- Full back — bold statements and event details, sized similar to the full front.
- Sleeve — small text or logos running down or around the arm.
- Nape and hood — subtle branding at the back neck or across a hood.
Getting the measurements right
Placement is measured from a fixed point, usually down from the collar seam, not from the top of the fabric. A common rule for a full front print is to start the top of the design roughly 7 to 9 cm below the collar so it sits on the chest, not the shoulders. Left chest logos typically sit about 18 to 20 cm down from the shoulder seam and in from the centre, aligned with where a breast pocket would be.
Remember that the same measurement reads differently across sizes. A print centred for a medium can look low on a small and high on an XL, so many brands scale placement slightly by size band rather than using one fixed position for every garment.
Placement by garment type
Each garment has its own quirks. Hoodies have a front pocket and drawstrings that designs must work around, so large front prints usually sit above the pocket. Caps print on the front panel, side or back, with embroidery the most popular method. Polos and workwear almost always use left chest plus an optional back or sleeve mark for a clean, uniform feel.
Placement is the difference between a garment that looks bought and one that looks made. Measure twice, print once.
Common placement mistakes to avoid
- Printing too high so the design creeps onto the shoulders or collar.
- Centring a chest logo so it looks like a misplaced full front.
- Ignoring seams, pockets and zips that cut through the print area.
- Using one fixed position across every size instead of scaling.
- Forgetting how the design sits when the garment is worn, not flat.
When you are ready to put your artwork in exactly the right place, Velocity Wear sets up every print with proper measurements and a digital mockup before production, with a low 50-piece minimum and delivery to the UK, USA, Europe and worldwide. Send your design for a free quote and placement proof.
