Special occasions require showstopping outfits. For her coronation in 1952, Queen Elizabeth II accessorized with a 21-foot-long silk and velvet robe, complete with ornate gold embroidery and beadwork. According to the Royal School of Needlework, this elaborate design took a team of 12 embroiderers a total of 3,500 hours to complete.
Traditional, hand-stitched embroidery requires a great deal of time and skill. Historically, this made custom embroidered fabric an expensive luxury good. Modern technology changed this by introducing alternatives to hand-stitching and enabling mass production of embroidered products—first with hand-operated sewing machines and more recently with computerized sewing machines.
Today, business owners can use print-on-demand services to sell custom embroidery products without ever picking up a needle. Learn how to find the right print-on-demand embroidery service for your business.
What is print-on-demand embroidery?
Print-on-demand (POD) embroidery companies use computerized sewing machines to manufacture designs. Merchants create product designs and provide POD companies with digital files. Embroidery machines interpret these files and translate them into a pattern of sewing stitches. POD embroidery companies manufacture products only after a customer places a custom order.
In a print-on-demand model, business owners are responsible for selecting products, creating designs, and marketing—but they don’t have to manage inventory. Meanwhile, the print-on-demand embroidery companies fulfill the orders through their embroidery services and are responsible for shipping the products. Print-on-demand shirts, hoodies, tote bags, backpacks, and towels are a few types of popular items that can be embroidered by a print-on-demand service.
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Embroidery vs. screen printing
Embroidery is typically more expensive than screen printing. Embroidered products are also generally perceived as higher quality, so customers may be willing to pay more for the right product. These are some of the reasons business owners may want to choose embroidery over screen printing:
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Durability. Printed designs can crack and fade over time. The embroidery process uses durable thread and tight stitching that won’t fade or fray.
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Design flexibility. There are several types of embroidery stitches, and different embroidery techniques can add texture and dimension to embroidered apparel. Screen-printed designs are always two-dimensional.
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Premium appeal. Customers may prefer the look and feel of embroidery. The durable properties of embroidery may make customers more willing to invest.
Considerations for choosing a print-on-demand embroidery service
- Pricing structure
- Product offerings
- Turnaround time
- Customer support
- Company reputation
- Customization opportunities
Print-on-demand services often handle fulfillment, production, packing, and shipping. Finding a trustworthy partner is essential for entrepreneurs looking to start selling custom embroidery items like embroidered hats or embroidered hoodies online. These are some of the factors to consider when selecting a print-on-demand embroidery service:
Pricing structure
The cost per item typically includes the cost of the blank product, a shipping fee, and taxes. Some POD companies also charge a one-time digitization fee for embroidery designs. While there are no order minimums, companies may offer discounts for larger orders.
Product offerings
Many popular print-on-demand companies advertise catalogs with thousands of products and a variety of production techniques. If you have a specific vision—a pink baseball cap with white and red stitching, for example—double-check to confirm that your partner supports those options. Additionally, consider:
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Thread palette. Review each company’s thread palette to ensure they offer the colors you’ll need for your embroidered clothing designs.
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Compatible products. Verify that the product you’re looking for is in stock and eligible for embroidery.
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Stitch options. Companies that support various embroidery techniques allow for greater customization and flexibility, ensuring you have the opportunity to create unique, high-quality designs. Popular offerings include flat embroidery, 3D puff embroidery, and embroidered patches.
Turnaround time
Quick delivery is essential for customer satisfaction. Ecommerce entrepreneurs operating with a print-on-demand model rely on their partners to provide fast and accurate delivery. A printing partner with multiple domestic fulfillment centers can help eliminate long waits for shipments.
Customer support
A good customer support team will help you navigate day-to-day business operations and troubleshoot any manufacturing or shipping issues as they arise. Look for a partner with a responsive customer service team, and consider the team’s working hours and the available contact methods (phone, email, chat service, etc.).
Company reputation
Client reviews can tell you a lot about what it’s like to partner with a print-on-demand company. Seek out reviews from current customers to verify a company’s reputation. If any themes emerge—such as frequent negative comments about product quality, shipping times, or customer service—it might be a red flag.
Customization opportunities
Little details make a big difference when it comes to customer experience. Including branded elements like unique shipping boxes and specially designed printed pack-ins can make the product unboxing experience feel more boutique. Adding custom sewn-in clothing labels will help bolster brand recognition as well.
Top print-on-demand embroidery services
Find the best print-on-demand service to help you create custom embroidered products. All of the companies on this list are fully compatible with Shopify for simplified fulfillment and logistics:
Printful
Printful is a well-established print-on-demand service with more than 6,100 five-star reviews on the Shopify App Store. It offers an extensive selection of products for embroidery including tote bags, socks, baseball caps, beanies, and other apparel. Printful’s services include a built-in design tool and bulk purchasing discounts. Printful offers both 3D and flat embroidery stitches. For an extra fee, merchants can opt for an unlimited thread color design that uses gradient thread to create multicolored images. Products ship from the US, Mexico, and Europe, and the average turnaround time is two to five days.
Pricing: Printful offers a free plan that charges users based on the products sold. The premium plan, priced at $24.99/month, includes product discounts, branding discounts, and an annual spending cap.
Printify
Printify is a popular option, also with over 6,100 five-star reviews on the Shopify App Store. Available embroidery products include hats, t-shirts, sweatshirts, and polo shirts. Printify’s thread palette includes 15 colors, but designs are limited to six colors each. They offer 24/7 customer support and boast more than 140 international shipping hubs for speedy delivery. Product turnaround time may vary; although Printify manages the process, products are created by independent print providers.
Pricing: Printify offers free, premium, and enterprise pricing plans. Paid plans include additional storefronts, product discounts, and unlimited custom embroidery designs. The premium membership is $29/month, and the enterprise accounts are custom. Contact their team for a custom quote if you have significant daily sales.
Apliiq
Apliiq offers advanced customization options that may appeal to entrepreneurs looking to launch a fashion line. With Apliiq, store owners can add custom sewn-in product labels and garment lining. They can also design unique shipping materials. Appliq’s embroidery services include an option for extra large designs up to 13.5 inches across, two-day shipping within the US, and an average turnaround of seven days. Its product catalog includes hats, sweatpants, hoodies, and other apparel.
Pricing: Appliq is free to install. The company calculates the cost of each product using the following formula: The cost of a blank base garment plus the cost of each element added to the product design, a $1 fulfillment fee, and shipping give you the final product cost. Bulk discounts are available for large orders.
Gelato
Gelato partners with a network of more than 100 printing services, so the turnaround time may vary depending on the printing partner making your order. Gelato offers three flat embroidery stitches for custom designs: run stitch, satin stitch, and tatami fill. To ensure quick delivery, Gelato optimizes partner selection based on order location. Its catalog includes bucket hats, caps, t-shirts, and other apparel.
Pricing: Gelato is free to install. Business owners pay based on the number of products they order. Subscriptions and bulk discounts are also available. A Gelato+ subscription costs $24/month and includes up to 10% off products, and a Gelato+ Gold subscription costs $119/month and includes up to 15% off products and other added features.
Tips for creating your POD embroidery design
Mind the details
Working with thread is kind of like drawing with markers—the weight or thickness of the thread dictates the level of intricacy possible in the designs. Embroidery with a heavy, durable thread struggles to depict fine details such as dots, shading, or small serif text. For best results, focus on designs with simple shapes and clear outlines. The amount of detail you can depict will partially depend on the size of your design—larger designs have more space for ornamentation.
Consider size, color, and cost
The size and color of your pattern will have a major impact on cost. With embroidery, each new color requires an additional thread, making multi-colored designs more expensive. Many print-on-demand services limit the number of colors per design. Larger patterns take more time and material to produce, incurring a higher cost.
Order samples
Ordering a physical sample is the best way to ensure quality before launching a new product. Factors like thread weight, stitch count, fabric, and density can affect the quality and appearance of embroidered designs. Consider previewing products to verify that they meet your standards.
Print-on-demand embroidery FAQ
Can you get embroidery on Printify?
Yes. Printify can add custom embroidery designs to t-shirts, sweatshirts, baseball caps, and other basic clothing items. Printify is fully compatible with Shopify.
What is the best print-on-demand company?
Printify, Printful, Apliiq, and Gelato are all popular print-on-demand services. They are all Shopify-compatible and offer both screen printing and embroidery options.
Is embroidery more expensive than printing?
Embroidery is typically more expensive than screen printing. Embroidered products take longer to produce and require more expensive materials than their printed counterparts. Companies often charge more for embroidered products to compensate for the increased cost of production.
