A left chest embroidery logo is commonly about 3 to 4 in (75 to 100 mm) wide, and 3.5 in (90 mm) is a popular middle ground. It usually sits about 7 to 9 in (180 to 230 mm) below the shoulder seam, with its center roughly 3 to 4 in (75 to 100 mm) from the center of the shirt. These are typical ranges, not rules. Adjust them for the shape of the logo, the garment and the shirt size.
Standard left chest logo size
Most shops size a left chest logo by its width, because the width has to fit between the placket and the arm. The shape of the logo then decides how far toward the top or bottom of that range you go:
- Wide logos and word marks: often about 3.5 to 4 in (90 to 100 mm) wide. A long, thin word mark looks smaller than its width suggests, so it can take the upper end.
- Square and round logos: often about 3 to 3.5 in (75 to 90 mm) each way. A 4 in square badge can look heavy on smaller shirts.
- Tall logos: keep the height to roughly 3 to 3.5 in (75 to 90 mm), even if that makes the logo narrow.
Two logos with the same 3.5 in width can look very different on a shirt, because a thin word mark covers far less area than a solid badge. If you're unsure, print the logo at actual size, cut it out and hold it against a real shirt. It takes a minute and is more reliable than judging on screen.
Standard embroidery sizes for other placements
These are typical ranges many shops start from, alongside the matching presets in SatinSmith's Size panel. Check the garment, the hoop or frame you'll use and your machine's sewing field before you settle on a size.
| Placement | Typical size | SatinSmith preset |
|---|---|---|
| Left chest | About 3 to 4 in (75 to 100 mm) wide | Left chest: 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| Right chest name | Letters about 0.25 to 0.5 in (6 to 12 mm) tall | Lettering: Small name 8 mm, Name 12 mm |
| Cap front | About 2 to 2.5 in (50 to 65 mm) tall, up to about 4.5 to 5 in (115 to 127 mm) wide | Cap front: 55 mm (2.2 in) wide; use Custom for wider word marks |
| Sleeve | About 2.5 to 3 in (65 to 75 mm) wide | Sleeve: 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Patch | About 3 to 4 in (75 to 100 mm) | Patch: 100 mm (3.9 in) |
| Center chest | About 4 to 7 in (100 to 180 mm) wide | Custom |
| Tote bag | About 5 to 8 in (125 to 200 mm) wide | Tote bag: 180 mm (7.1 in) |
| Full back or jacket back | Up to about 10 to 12 in (250 to 300 mm) wide | Jacket back: 250 mm (9.8 in) |
Caps have their own limits because of the curve, the seam and the cap frame. Our guide to cap embroidery covers sizing and sewing order for hats. For names, the lettering tutorial shows how to set an exact letter height.
Bigger sizes need bigger hoops. SatinSmith's preview shows the smallest standard hoop each design fits (4×4, 5×7, 6×10 or 8×12 in) and warns if a design is bigger than 8×12 in, so you know which hoop you'll need before you download.
Where to place a left chest logo
Here's a common way to measure on an adult shirt. Remember that left chest means the wearer's left, so it's on your right as you face the shirt.
- Find the starting point. Lay the shirt flat and find where the left shoulder seam meets the collar.
- Measure down. Go about 7 to 9 in (180 to 230 mm) straight down. Shops differ on whether this marks the top or the center of the logo, so pick one and use it for the whole order.
- Measure across. Put the center of the logo about 3 to 4 in (75 to 100 mm) from the center front of the shirt, which is the middle of the placket on a polo. It should look centered on that side of the chest, not crowding the placket or drifting toward the arm.
- Mark it. Mark the center point with chalk, a water-soluble marker or a small piece of tape, and line your hoop up to it.
- Check by eye. Hang the shirt up or try it on. If a logo measures right but looks low, it's too low.
On a polo, make sure the logo clears the placket and buttons with room to spare. On a shirt or jacket with a chest pocket, the logo either goes above the pocket or is sized to fit on it.
Adjusting for small and large shirt sizes
The aim is the same visual position on every size, not the same number of inches. As shirts get bigger, the chest sits lower and wider; as they get smaller, it moves up and in.
| Shirt | Common adjustment |
|---|---|
| Youth and kids | A smaller logo, often around 2.5 to 3 in (65 to 75 mm) wide, placed higher and closer to the center |
| Women's fitted cuts | Often slightly smaller, around 3 to 3.5 in (75 to 90 mm), and placed a little higher |
| Adult S to L | The usual 7 to 9 in down and 3 to 4 in from center |
| Adult XL and up | Same logo size, placed toward the lower end of the range and a little further from center |
For a mixed order, many shops keep one logo size for all adult shirts so the brand looks consistent, and make a second, smaller version for youth and women's fitted shirts. A hooping station or placement ruler helps you repeat the same spot quickly across a run.
Sizing a left chest logo in SatinSmith
Upload the logo in the studio and pick Left chest in the Size panel (90 mm, 3.5 in), or choose Custom to type an exact width. Then pick the fabric: Knit for t-shirts, polos and hoodies, or Woven for twill work shirts and denim. Knits get stronger underlay and more pull compensation so shapes don't shrink. Press play to watch it sew, and open Checks for small lettering, density and hoop fit. The full walkthrough is in how to turn a logo into an embroidery file.
For logos with a few solid colors, that gets you a clean, sewable left chest file in minutes. If the logo is a detailed crest with tiny text, a professional digitizer will still do better at 3.5 in. Either way, sew one on a spare shirt before the full order.
Questions
What is the standard left chest logo size?
There's no official standard, but most left chest logos are about 3 to 4 in (75 to 100 mm) wide, and 3.5 in (90 mm) is a common default. Wide word marks often go toward 4 in, while round or square badges look better nearer 3 in.
How far down from the shoulder is a left chest logo?
Commonly about 7 to 9 in (180 to 230 mm) down from where the shoulder seam meets the collar, with the center of the logo about 3 to 4 in from the center of the shirt. Go a little higher on small and women's shirts and a little lower on XL and up.
Should the logo be the same size on every shirt size?
For adult sizes, one logo size usually looks most consistent across a team. Youth shirts and women's fitted shirts often get a smaller version, around 2.5 to 3.5 in wide.
What size should a right chest name be?
Names are usually sewn with letters about 0.25 to 0.5 in (6 to 12 mm) tall. Bold block fonts hold up at the small end of that range, while scripts need the larger end.