Screen Printing vs Embroidery: Which Is Best for Team Apparel?

When you order custom team apparel, school spirit wear or staff uniforms, one of the first decisions is how your logo goes on the garment. The two most common methods are screen printing and embroidery. Both look great when done well, but each suits different garments, designs and order sizes. Here's how to choose.

What is screen printing?

Screen printing pushes ink through a fine mesh stencil (a "screen") onto the fabric. Each colour in your design uses its own screen, layered one at a time. The result is a bold, flat, vibrant print that sits on the surface of the garment.

Screen printing works best for

• T-shirts, long sleeves, hoodies and crewnecks
• Larger designs such as full-front or full-back prints
• Bold logos with a limited number of solid colours
• Larger quantities, where the setup is spread across many pieces

What is embroidery?

Embroidery stitches your logo directly into the fabric with thread. It creates a raised, textured finish that looks premium and holds up to years of wear and washing.

Embroidery works best for

• Quarter-zips, polos, jackets and staff apparel
• Hats, caps and toques
• Small chest or sleeve logos
• A professional, upscale look for coaches, staff and boards

Screen printing vs embroidery at a glance

• Look: screen printing is flat and vibrant; embroidery is raised and textured.
• Design size: screen printing handles large designs; embroidery is best for smaller logos.
• Detail: very fine lines and tiny text can be tricky in embroidery; screen printing captures them more easily.
• Garments: screen printing suits tees and hoodies; embroidery suits outerwear, polos and hats.
• Durability: both last well with proper care. Embroidery is especially long-lasting.

Which should your team or school choose?

Many organizations use both. A common setup for a BC school or sports team store looks like this:

• Screen-printed spirit hoodies and t-shirts with a large front logo
• Embroidered quarter-zips or jackets for coaches and staff
• Embroidered caps and toques to round out the store

If your logo has many colours, gradients or very fine detail, send it to us first. We'll check how it will reproduce and suggest small adjustments if needed.

Tips for getting the best result

1. Send the highest-quality version of your logo you have, ideally a vector file (AI, EPS, SVG or PDF).
2. Keep text large enough to read, especially for embroidery on hats and chest logos.
3. Choose garment colours that contrast with your logo colours.
4. Approve a digital proof of every item before production starts.

Get expert advice

55 Sportswear in Victoria, BC offers both screen printing and embroidery for schools, PACs, sports teams and organizations across British Columbia. Browse our custom team apparel, learn how our free online team stores work, or send us your logo for a recommendation.