
There are several factors to consider when deciding where to place a print on a T-shirt. The location of the print will depend on the design, the size and colour of the T-shirt, and the printing technique used.
The front of the shirt is the most common placement location. A centre chest placement is often used for print manufacturing and is about four inches below the collar. A full-front design placement is also common and allows for a wide variety of print sizes.
The left chest is another option and is usually about three inches from the top of the shirt. This is typically used for logos and brand imagery.
The back of the shirt can also be used for designs, especially if there is a complementary design on the front. The upper back area is often used for employee uniforms, while the full back is a good option for more intricate designs.
The sleeve is another placement option, usually about one to three inches above the hem. This is usually used for simple designs or brand logos.
When deciding on the placement of a print, it is important to consider the size and shape of the design, as well as the overall look of the T-shirt. It is also important to ensure that the design is properly centred and symmetrical.
What You'll Learn
Front of shirt design placement
The front of a shirt is a classic design placement—it's one of the most popular you'll see. This placement is versatile and works well with graphics of various sizes and complexity. It is also a great way to show off beloved art or rep a brand, team, or favourite band.
Center Chest Design Placement
The center chest is one of the most commonly used spots for blank t-shirts. This placement is in a highly visible location that grabs attention right away. It is best suited for smaller designs like logos, text, quotes, or small artwork. The standard size for this placement is 8" wide and tall, but can vary between 6"-10" in either dimension. The placement should be about 4" below the collar.
Left Chest Design Placement
The left chest design placement is a classic, understated look that has been popular for decades. This placement doesn't offer a lot of room for detailed art but works great for logos, symbols, smaller designs, and text. It is also a good choice for a dressed-down corporate or professional look. The standard size for this placement is 2.5"-5" tall and wide, with an average placement of 3" down from the top of the sleeve, and ending no lower than the armpit seam.
Full Front Design Placement
A full front placement means even more space for your art. This is a bold look with maximum visibility. It is best to centre your design from the middle point of the neck collar, about 3"-4" down from the collar. The average design size is 10"-12" wide and 10"-14" tall, but can vary depending on the t-shirt size, design technique used, and supplier.
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Back of shirt design placement
The back of a t-shirt provides more room for intricate designs and larger frames. Many custom t-shirts with back designs have a complementary visual on the front.
Collar/Small Upper Back
This is one of the most intricate design placements. The back collar print area is best for branding. It's placed around one inch from the base of the neck collar. This placement is coupled with more prominent designs on the front or sleeves. It can be considered a watermark or signature placement for your logo.
Since this is one of the smallest placement types, opt for an effortless design with fewer details. Remember that most people will see it while waiting in lines or sitting behind the wearer, not from a distance.
The average size range is 1"-3" wide and tall. If it's any smaller, the design loses most of its detail.
Upper Back Placement
Upper back placement is versatile and medium-sized, similar to the front chest area. This placement covers the shoulder-blade region and prioritises the width of the back for complete visibility, around four inches below the collar.
The t-shirt industry often chooses this placement for employee uniforms since it naturally covers an eye-level position. Event organisers, security staff, and any design important enough to be noticed in a crowd take the upper back as a standard.
You may also see more typographic design elements in this location. It is commonly used to promote events, businesses, or a specific cause. A non-standard equivalent is the lower back area, where the design is printed slightly lower than usual. While it might draw a curious eye, it's prone to creases and folds.
The average size range is 10"-14" wide and 1"-6" tall. The difference between the dimensions makes this an excellent choice for typographic designs.
Full-Back Design Placements
Full-back design placements are popular with t-shirt graphic designers, much like their front alternative. Since the back is usually flatter and more forgiving than the front, the full-back design can cover a larger print area for your designs, starting around three to four inches from the collar.
This is your go-to for grandiose design projects with many colours and intricate details that deserve a larger canvas. Just remember that a back design placement rarely exists on its own. You'll often see it complemented by a simpler logo placement on shirt sleeves or the chest.
A great example is a sports jersey with a large name on the back of the shirt and a smaller one on the left chest.
The average size range is 10"-14" wide and 6"-15" tall. This is the most versatile option when it comes to larger design placements.
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Sleeve logo placement
The sleeve area is smaller than the front or back of the shirt, so it is necessary to carefully consider the size, readability, and proportionality of your design. Small prints are recommended for this area. The standard size is around 3" wide x 1.5" tall, but the width can go up to 4.5" (not recommended unless your logo is very wide), or as small as 1".
- Choose a simple logo design that will be easy to read and understand, even at a smaller size.
- Avoid using too much text in your logo.
- Use high-contrast colours to make your logo stand out.
- Consider placing your logo on the left or right sleeve, depending on where you want the focus of your design to be.
- Experiment with different sleeve placements to find the one that looks best with your design.
The sleeve placement location provides its own added design benefit, but not all Print Providers offer this option. It is usually judged from the hem's far centre, typically one to three inches above it. One inch is usually the preferred distance for a standard design as it gives more room before the border on the left and right seams.
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Transfer paper type
There are two types of transfer paper: light transfer paper and dark transfer paper. Light transfer paper is used for light or white shirts, whereas dark transfer paper is suitable for all darker colours. Light transfer paper is generally thin and transparent, and will create a mirror image on your shirt. When using light transfer paper on black or dark-coloured t-shirts, the quality of your prints will not be great and may look opaque.
Dark transfer paper has a white, more opaque polymer coating. You can use dark transfer paper on light-coloured t-shirts, but this may not be economical as it is more expensive than light transfer paper. Dark transfer paper does not require mirroring.
The best option is to use light transfer paper for light fabric and dark transfer paper for dark-coloured shirts. Dark transfer paper made for dark fabrics will have a white background, which makes the image visible on a dark fabric.
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Transfer paper size
Transfer paper is a sheet of paper or a translucent film that gets in contact with a desired surface so that an image printed on it can be transferred. Transfer paper is applied to a t-shirt using heat and pressure. You will need a heat press machine or a household iron to apply the right pressure and heat.
Heat transfer paper is available in the same dimensions as printer paper (Letter size or A4 depending on your country). Before purchasing an unusual size, make sure your printer can handle it.
There are two main types of transfer paper:
- Light transfer paper: This is used for printing on light-coloured shirts. The ink used with light transfer paper is translucent and will only be visible on light-coloured fabrics.
- Dark transfer paper: This is used for printing on dark fabrics. The ink usually gets transferred onto a white background to help block the fabric colour from showing.
The process of applying transfer paper to a t-shirt is as follows:
- Create a design on your computer using appropriate software.
- Print the design on transfer paper, remembering to reverse or mirror the image if printing on light transfer paper.
- Prepare your workplace by finding a hard surface that can withstand heat and covering it with a cloth or other material.
- Set up your heat press machine or iron according to the instructions on the transfer paper.
- Place your t-shirt on the heat press or ironing surface and apply the transfer paper, ensuring it is straight and in the correct position.
- Apply heat and pressure for the specified amount of time.
- Remove the heat press or iron and allow the t-shirt to cool.
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Frequently asked questions
Place the logo on the centre chest or left chest, ensuring it aligns symmetrically with the collar and is placed about four inches below it for centre placement. However, feel free to get creative, as the rules aren’t set in stone.
Logos are typically left chest design elements, aligning with the shoulder end and placed about three inches from the top.
Select a printing location (front, back, sleeve), make sure your design fits within the print area, and adjust the image resolution (DPI) for optimal clarity and quality. Ensure accurate placement for a symmetrical look.