If you’re planning to get your company’s logo embroidered on polos, jackets, hats, or uniforms, there’s one key thing you need: a logo designed with embroidery in mind.
Not all logos are created equal— in this guide, we’ll explain what makes a logo embroidery-friendly, what file formats we need, how digitizing works, and why working with Village Custom Embroidery & Screen Printing ensures the highest-quality results for your brand.
What Makes a Logo Good for Embroidery?
Embroidery uses needle and thread—not ink or pixels—so your logo needs to be clean, clear, and optimized for stitching. Here are the features that make a logo ideal for machine embroidery:
✅ Simple Shapes and Bold Lines
Thicker lines, bold fonts, and high-contrast design elements are easier to stitch cleanly—especially on textured garments like fleece or pique polos.
✅ Limited Colors (Flat, Not Gradient)
Embroidery machines use thread, not ink, so gradients and shading don’t translate well. A flat color logo with 1–5 colors will give you the cleanest, most professional look.
✅ Minimal Tiny Details
Fine lines, tiny text, and intricate layers often get lost when shrunk down to left-chest or hat sizes. Consider simplifying the design to the boldest shapes and lettering or resizing small details so they stand out accordingly.
Examples: Simple vs. Complex Embroidery Logos
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Simple Logo: A bold font, flat colors, and clean shapes (ideal for caps, chest logos, and uniform patches)
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Moderate Logo: Some layered text or icons or small details
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Complex Logo: Gradients, tiny elements, overlapping layers, or a detailed emblem that may require adaptation
Here are three examples of a mock logo where the cost to digitize would go from $75, $130, and $200. The first uses basic shapes, the second requires mulitple layers and outlines, the final requires layers and complex gradients.
Why We Need a Vector File
To get your logo embroidered, we require your artwork in vector format—such as .AI (Adobe Illustrator) or .EPS files.
A vector file allows us to scale your design without losing quality and separate out the layers needed to stitch the logo correctly.
Don’t have a vector file? No problem! We can convert your existing logo (such as a .JPG or .PNG) into a vector for a one-time fee of $25.
Learn more about vector files and their differences. (Adobe)
What Is Digitizing—and Why Does it cost so much?
Once we have your vector file, we still need to digitize your logo. This is the process of converting your artwork into a stitch file that our embroidery machines can read. Digitizing tells the machine:
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What type of stitch to use
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The path the needle should follow
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The stitch density, direction, and layering
This is not an automatic process—it requires careful attention to how the design will behave on fabric. That’s why our one-time digitizing fee starts at $75 per logo (per size). Cost is dependent on the complexity of the logo so it is not uncommon for costs to range up to $200 for complex designs.
You’ll only pay this fee once per logo, and we'll keep it on file as long as you'd like.
Ready to Elevate Your Brand with Embroidery?
Whether you’re outfitting a team of 10 or 1000, Village Custom Embroidery & Screen Printing is here to help you every step of the way.
Feel free to reach out about getting great service and awesome gear for your team.
- Shop for shirts, polos, hats, jackets, and more from our extensive catalog. We carry fan-favorite brands like Carhartt, Nike, New Era, TravisMathew, OGIO, and The North Face in addition to Richardson, Columbia, and others!
- Email us at info@villagecustomembroidery.com or fill out an inquiry form here.
- Call us today at 317.733.3110
- Or stop by our showroom to see samples in person
Let’s make your brand look it's best—one stitch at a time!
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