Branded workwear is one of the quickest ways to make a trades business look established. But if you've never ordered it before, it's hard to know what's a fair price.
Here's a rough guide to what branded workwear costs in the UK, what affects the price, and what a sensible starter kit looks like.
Rough prices per item
These are typical ranges for a single logo, including the garment and branding. Prices vary with the brand of garment, quantity and design, so treat them as a guide rather than a quote.
- Printed t-shirt: roughly £6 to £15
- Embroidered polo: roughly £12 to £25
- Embroidered hoodie or sweatshirt: roughly £20 to £40
- Embroidered softshell jacket: roughly £30 to £60
- Printed hi-vis vest: roughly £5 to £12
- Branded hi-vis jacket: roughly £25 to £60
- Embroidered cap or beanie: roughly £8 to £15
On top of that, embroidery usually has a one-off setup charge the first time, to turn your logo into a stitch file. After that, reorders don't pay it again.
What a starter kit costs per person
A sensible kit for one person to get through a working week might be:
- 3 polos
- 2 t-shirts
- 1 hoodie
- 1 softshell or jacket
- 1 hi-vis vest
Using the rough prices above, that comes to somewhere around £120 to £250 per person, depending on the garments you pick. For a one or two person business, that's a small spend for looking the part on every job.
What pushes the price up
- Garment brand: budget workwear and premium brands can be double the price of each other
- Number of logo positions: chest, back and sleeve each add cost
- Size of design: big embroidered designs cost much more than small ones, because cost is based on stitch count
- Small quantities: ordering one or two of something usually costs more per item than ordering ten
- Rush jobs: fast turnaround can cost extra
How to keep it down
- Embroider small, print big. Small stitched chest logo, larger printed back logo. You get the premium look without paying for a huge stitched design
- Stick to one or two colours. Simpler designs cost less and look cleaner anyway
- Order sensibly. Get enough to see you through, not just one of each, so you're not paying small-order prices every month
- Pick mid-range garments. Cheapest isn't always cheapest if they fall apart after a few washes
- Keep the same logo file. Once your logo's set up for embroidery, every reorder is quicker and cheaper
A polo that falls apart after five washes isn't cheap. It just costs you twice.
Is it worth it?
For most trades, yes. Matching workwear makes a small business look established from the first job, helps customers trust who's turned up at their door, and puts your name in front of everyone who walks past while you work.
Not sure whether to embroider or print? We've covered that in embroidery vs print. Or if you'd rather just get a price for your team, get in touch.