A logo is only as good as what it's stitched on. For embroidery, the best polos and shirts have enough body to hold the stitches flat and crisp. Soft, thin, stretchy fabric fights the needle, while a firmer knit or a heavier weave holds a logo cleanly. Here are the blanks we reach for.
Best polos for embroidery
- Port Authority Silk Touch (K500). The uniform-program standard. A pique cotton-blend knit that's affordable, durable, comes in a huge color range, and embroiders perfectly. If you're outfitting a team, start here.
- Nike Dri-FIT. The performance pick when your crew is active or outdoors. The pique knit still takes a clean logo, and the swoosh adds a premium feel.
- Brooks Brothers pima cotton. The executive tier. Soft, refined, and worth it for client-facing staff or leadership.
Browse the full custom polos collection, which also includes Sport-Tek and snag-resistant CornerStone options.
Best shirts and tees for embroidery
For tees, weight is everything. A heavyweight cotton tee holds a left chest logo far better than a thin fashion tee. The Carhartt CTK87 pocket tee is a workwear favorite, and pocket embroidery looks sharp on it. Heavyweight options like Comfort Colors give merch that retail feel. For button-downs, a structured oxford or work shirt embroiders cleanly on the chest.
What about fabric?
Pique-knit polos and heavier cotton are the sweet spot. Very thin, very stretchy, or very slick technical fabrics are the hardest to embroider well, and we'll tell you if a blank you've picked won't hold a logo nicely. That's the advantage of a real stitched proof: you see it before you commit.
Sorting out placement next? See the left chest logo size and placement guide. Ready to order? Browse custom polos and shirts. No minimums, real proof first.
Ben B., founder of Embroidery Inc, Woodland CA