When it comes to branding clothing, the primary distinction between professional and amateur merchandise revolves around the math of logo placement. With continued demand for custom T-shirts, personalised apparel, and branded techwear, one fact always remains: consistent logo size and logo placement on XS-XXL apparel is not up for debate if you want a polished look.
At In-House, it all starts with a brand-first approach - math, proportion, and purposeful design. Logo placement is not random; it is an obtainable, repeatable system that gives your brand the right look across any size or style.
In this blog, we'll share our framework for logo placement, how to achieve consistency between sizes, and the exact measurements we use to guarantee a premium, consistent look every time.
The Fundamentals of Placing a Brand on Clothing:
Placing a premium logo requires three pillars:
1. Proportion: Your logo needs to scale with the garment. A stamped approach does not work. A 3.5” chest print looks great on a medium but may look oversized on an XS or lost on an XXL. It MUST be proportional to the body width of the garment.
2. Balance: Balance is how the logo sits visually on the garment. An error in balance can make even a perfectly sized logo look off if the logo is too low or too far over the notch.
3. Purpose: The logo placement needs to fit within the tone of the brand—subtle and premium, bold and graphic, or functional and uniform-based.
This is the reason we always adjust for the size curve. An XS does not have the same neck drop, shoulder width, or torso width as an XL. Logo placement math accommodates these discrepancies.
Front Chest Logos: The Most Common Branding Zone:
A left-chest logo is the traditional standard for branded apparel.
Suggested Size Range: 3”–4”, adjusted for the full width of the garment.
Placement Math:
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3 - 4 inches below the neckline seam
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Centered over the left chest panel
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Percentage-based approach: 18% - 22% of the overall garment width
This placement is ideal for screen printing, embroidery, and subtle premium branding. This is also a common placement for custom company shirts and officer uniforms.
Full Front Logos: Bold Identity Statements:
Full-front prints create a bold and memorable branding impact.
Ideal dimension: 8" to 12", depending on garment type.
What we consider:
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Design density
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Fabric stretch
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Print method (screen printed vs DTF)
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Consistency across XS–XXL
For custom t-shirts or branded staff wear, this placement is reliable, repeatable, and highly visible, especially if you screen print them.
Back Prints: High Visibility Branding
The back prints give the biggest landscape for creativity.
Ideal Size: 10"–14" depending on shoulder width.
Positioning Guidelines:
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Start 2–3 inches below the back neck opening
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Center between shoulder seams
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Alter width based on garment type (hoodies vs. tees)
This is a must-have for all lifestyle clothing, streetwear drops, and event merch where visibility is important.
Sleeves, Hems & Micro-Branding Zones
Prints on the sleeves: 1.5" to 3" logos
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For short sleeves, mid-bicep
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Shoulder length for long sleeves
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Micro Logos & Hem Tags
These understated placements convey premium identification, particularly on retail drops or customised shirts where understated branding exudes luxury appeal.
Hoodies, Crewnecks & Outerwear: Placement Challenges + Solutions
Hoodies have drawstrings, stitch lines, pockets, and seams, which are obstacles compared to t-shirts.
We take into account:
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Oversized vs. center-chest placements
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Positioning of the back yoke
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In wash testing, bulk, drape, and shrinkage
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Limitations on hoodie seams for screen printing
It is necessary to test each placement using proportion checks and sampling.
Women’s vs Men’s Fit: Adjusting the Placement Curve
Placement is influenced by the silhouette. Women's clothing frequently has:
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Deeper or higher neckline
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Narrower shoulders
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Various seam forms
For the best balance, women's t-shirts typically have the chest logo positioned a little higher. Consistency in brands across all sizes and genders is our constant aim.
Choosing the Right Print Method for the Right Placement
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Printing on a screen: Perfect for big, striking front and back printing. Unsuitable for traversing large seams.
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Embroidery: Ideal for premium branded merchandise, sleeve details, and chest logos.
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DTF/DTG: Adaptable to intricate images, many colors, and tiny runs. Great for custom tees.
Depending on the approach taken to guarantee alignment, durability, and clarity, several placement strategies are employed.
Common Mistakes in Logo Placement (and How to Avoid Them)
Placement mistakes, even minor ones, can ruin an entire garment. Here are the missteps that we see most often, and how we counteract them:
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Logo is too low on the chest: Always measure from the neckline, not the edge of the collar.
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Ignoring the size curve: What looks good on a medium will not necessarily drape the same on an XS or an XXL. Always evaluate size distribution proportionately.
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Not accounting for stretch or shrinkage: It is always best practice to perform a test placement after wash/wear.
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Placing the logo too close to seams and pockets: This can cause misalignment and distortion of the prints.
Nearly all issues associated with misplacing the logo can be avoided with proper testing of measurements and testing of designs before production. If all is properly tested, the outcome can maintain consistency in both measurements and quality across all sizes of product.
Logo Placement Math for Sustainable Branding
Sustainability lives in every measurement. At In-House, we size and position logos with precise math to cut waste, prevent errors, and make merch that lasts.
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Accurate sizing saves resources: Proportions are set from garment width, height, and size curves, which avoids misalignment, inconsistent placement, and costly reprints.
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Smarter placement reduces impact: We print in low-ink zones, avoid high-tension areas that distort graphics, and choose stitch paths that use less thread. Even shifting a mark a few centimeters off a seam improves durability and lowers material use.
The result is branding that looks intentional, lasts longer in the real world, and reduces rework and waste.
Why In-House Is the Partner for Clothing Branding Done Right
Here’s how we combine design precision and manufacturing control to deliver consistent, retail-ready branding on every garment.
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Expertise in Product Development
We study fabric behavior, size curves, and silhouettes first. This lets us plan placements that stay consistent from XS to XXL. -
Precision Manufacturing and Sampling
Alignment checks, wash tests, and stitch audits are built into sampling. What you approve in development is what arrives in production. -
Proportion and Placement Math
We place logos using neckline depth, shoulder width, seam distances, and garment width. Results look balanced and intentional on every size. -
Screen Printing Built for Each Garment
We tune mesh counts, cure temps, and print angles by substrate. Large front and back graphics stay crisp and aligned. -
Deep Canadian Brand Experience
Decades with designers, startups, and corporate teams inform fit on real bodies. We know how placement shapes perception and retail success. -
Brand-First Methodology
Every step protects brand identity, from first measurement to final stitch. You get precision processes, not guesswork.
Bring us your next drop, and we will engineer placements that look intentional, wear well, and sell.
Precision Branding Isn’t Art or Science: It’s Both
Great branding blends creativity and precision. Thoughtful placement sets the mood, and exact measurements keep results consistent across fabrics and sizes. We prototype, test wash, and validate so your logo lands cleanly on XS through XXL and looks intentional in real life, not just in mockups.
Ready to elevate your line?
Explore our full branding services and start your project with In-House today.
