Print size
and placement guide

The same logo can look sharp and professional or awkward and amateur, depending only on where it sits and how big it is. Print size and placement are the details people notice without realising why. This guide gives you common sizes and positions for tees, hoodies and singlets, so you can get it right the first time.

Common print positions and sizes

These are typical widths for an adult garment. They are starting points, not strict rules. Smaller sizes and kids' garments need smaller prints, and larger sizes can take a little more.

At Mocked Up prints go up to A3 (29.7 x 42cm), which covers a full front or full back on most adult sizes. Embroidery works up to about 10cm on the chest, cap front or sleeve.

Where the chest print really sits

The most common mistake is placing a front print too low. When a print sits on the stomach it looks like it has slipped, and on a relaxed fit it can fold into a crease.

• Left chest logo: the centre of the logo usually sits roughly over the heart, around 7 to 10cm below the shoulder seam and set in from the centre line.
• Centre chest or full front: the top of the print usually starts about 7 to 10cm below the collar. Think collarbone height, not belly button.
• Hoodies: leave room for the pocket and drawstrings. A full front print on a pouch hoodie usually needs to sit higher and be a little shorter than on a tee.

Remember that the wearer's left chest is on the right side of the shirt when you look at it laid flat. It sounds obvious, but it catches people out.

Back, sleeve and cap placement

The back gives you the largest flat area on a garment. For a full back print, start the design around 8 to 12cm below the collar. For a small yoke print, keep it just under the collar where it sits flat across the shoulder blades.

For team gear, names usually sit across the upper back with the number centred underneath. Keep the number tall enough to read from a distance.

Sleeve prints should be small and simple. A sleeve curves, so detailed artwork and long words can distort. A small logo, flag or icon works well.

On caps, the front panel is the natural spot. It is curved and has a seam down the middle on many styles, so bold, simple logos give the cleanest result.

How to choose the right size for your design

Size depends on the shape of your artwork as much as the garment.

• Wide designs like text or a long logo can use most of the width but need little height.
• Tall designs like a portrait or a stacked badge are limited by height. Keep them from running down past the ribs.
• Square designs often look better slightly smaller than you think. A 25cm square is a big print on a tee.
• Detailed artwork needs to be larger so fine lines stay visible. Simple logos can go small.

A useful trick is to cut a piece of paper to the size you are considering and hold it against a shirt in the mirror. It takes a minute and settles most debates.

Your artwork file also has to support the size. For a sharp print, it needs enough resolution at the final print size. Around 300 DPI is the usual target. Our guide to artwork for DTF printing explains how to check your file.

Check it in the live preview

When you customise a garment at Mocked Up, the designer opens with the print area marked and the live preview is true to size. Each side of the garment is one print, so you can set up a front and a back separately. Drag your design into position, resize it, and compare it against the sizes above.

If you are pressing your own transfers instead, the same sizes apply when you lay out designs on a gang sheet. Measure each design against the garment before you build the sheet.

Ready to place your print?

Try it on a tee at design your own apparel, or if you are pressing your own, set your sizes in the gang sheet builder.