Last updated: August 2026. By Ben B., founder of Embroidery Inc, Woodland CA. Every number below is our live storefront pricing and our three active automatic discounts, verified August 31, 2026. No quote form between you and the math.
Bulk pricing in this industry usually means "submit a form and wait for a salesperson." Ours is automatic and public, so this article can just show you the math. The short version: at Embroidery Inc, quantity discounts trigger on their own at 12 pieces (5% off), 24 pieces (10% off), and 48 pieces (15% off), the $30 digitizing fee is waived at 12 or more, and every order still gets the sewn proof and ships 3 to 5 business days after you approve it.
The worked math, using the $20 Richardson 112
| Quantity | Hats subtotal | Discount | Digitizing | Total | Per hat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | $120.00 | none yet | $30 (first order) | $150.00 | $25.00 |
| 12 | $240.00 | 5% (-$12.00) | waived | $228.00 | $19.00 |
| 24 | $480.00 | 10% (-$48.00) | waived | $432.00 | $18.00 |
| 48 | $960.00 | 15% (-$144.00) | waived | $816.00 | $17.00 |
| 100 | $2,000.00 | 15% (-$300.00) | waived | $1,700.00 | $17.00 |
Two things worth noticing. First, the jump from 6 to 12 hats costs less than it looks: 6 hats run $150 all-in, while 12 run $228, so the second six hats effectively cost $13 each because the fee disappears and the discount starts. If you are on the fence at 8 or 10, going to 12 is nearly always the right call. Second, the 15% tier keeps going: 100 hats, 500 hats, same per-hat price, and our floor runs 24/7 in three shifts, so the 3 to 5 day production window holds at volume.
Bulk pricing on other gear
The same three tiers apply storewide, on live catalog prices (pulled August 2026):
| Category | Starting price w/ logo | Typical range | At 24+ (10% off) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hats | $18 | $18 to $28.75 | from $16.20 |
| Polos | $24 | most $24 to $46 | from $21.60 |
| Jackets | $42 | commonly $45 to $90 | from $37.80 |
Premium brands (Brooks Brothers polos, The North Face and lined Carhartt outerwear) run higher; the discount math works the same way on them. Full hat-by-hat pricing is in the complete hat price list.
What a bulk order looks like in practice
- One proof covers the whole run. We sew your logo on a real test hat within 24 to 48 hours. You approve that one sample, and the entire order runs from the same approved stitch file, whether it is 12 pieces or 500.
- Mixed items share the quantity count. The tiers count items, so 12 hats, or 6 hats and 6 polos, both cross the first threshold.
- Reorders skip everything. Your file is on record. Restocking 48 more hats is a 3 to 5 business day production job at the same 15% tier, no fee, no proof wait unless you want one.
- No rush fees at any size. Large orders do not go to the back of a line; the 24/7 floor can run thousands of hats in a day.
Bulk custom hats vs wholesale blanks
Honest distinction: if you own embroidery machines, buying wholesale blank hats directly from a distributor and decorating them yourself will always beat a decorator's per-piece price. Bulk custom pricing like ours is for everyone who wants finished, logo-ready hats without running machines. If a site advertises "wholesale custom hats" under about $12, check whether that is stitching or printing; verified embroidered pricing across the market runs roughly $16 to $37 per hat.
FAQ
How much do 100 custom embroidered hats cost?
One hundred Richardson 112s run $1,700 at Embroidery Inc: $20 each, minus the automatic 15% volume discount, digitizing and sewn proof included. That is $17 per finished hat.
What quantity do bulk discounts start at?
Twelve items: 5% off and the $30 digitizing fee is waived. Ten percent starts at 24, fifteen percent at 48. The discounts apply automatically at checkout.
Is there a maximum order size?
No practical one. Production runs 24/7 in three shifts on industrial machines, so the 3 to 5 business day window holds even for very large runs.
Do bulk orders still get the sewn proof?
Yes, every first-run logo does, at no extra charge at 12 or more pieces. One approved test hat covers the whole run.
Can I mix hats and apparel to reach a discount tier?
Yes. The tiers count total items in the cart, so mixed orders qualify together.
Ben B., founder of Embroidery Inc, Woodland CA