The short answer
Most digitizers price a file by its size and complexity, which in practice means its placement and its stitch count. A small left chest or cap logo is the cheapest job. A full jacket back with fine detail is the most expensive.
For reference, here's how we price it. These are starting prices, and your exact price is confirmed after we see the artwork.
| Placement | Typical stitch count | Starting price | Turnaround |
|---|---|---|---|
| Left chest & cap | Up to about 8,000 | $10 | 1–2 business days |
| Small jacket back | Up to about 15,000 | $25 | 1–2 business days |
| Full jacket back | 15,000 and up | $40–$50 | 2–3 business days |
Every file includes the machine formats you need, a thread color chart and free revisions until you approve it. More on why those matter further down.
Why price follows stitch count
A digitizer isn't charging for the file itself. They're charging for the time it takes to build it: deciding stitch types, angles, density, underlay and the order everything runs in. Stitch count is a reasonable stand-in for that time, because a design with more stitches has more shapes and more decisions behind it.
Size drives stitch count more than anything else. Double the width of a solid logo and you roughly quadruple the area that needs filling. That's why the same logo costs more as a jacket back than as a left chest, even though the artwork hasn't changed.
Detail matters too. A simple two-word logo at 3.5 inches might need a few thousand stitches. A crest of the same size with small lettering, a border and shading can easily need twice that, and each small element has to be adjusted by hand so it stays readable in thread.
What makes a quote go up
Small text and fine detail
Lettering under about a quarter of an inch tall needs careful work to stay legible. Thin outlines, tiny gaps and intricate borders all take longer to digitize well.
Specialty techniques
3D puff, appliqué and designs that mix flat and raised areas need extra setup, such as foam stops, tack-down stitches and different column settings.
Rough artwork
A clean vector logo is quick to work from. A blurry photo or a sketch means the digitizer has to interpret shapes and lettering first. It's usually still possible, but it can take longer.
Several versions of one logo
A cap file and a left chest file are two different jobs. They need different sizes and a different stitch order, so they're priced separately. More on that below.
Tight deadlines
If you need a file sooner than the usual turnaround, say so when you ask for a quote. It's better to know up front than to be surprised later.
What should be included in the price
Two quotes for the same logo aren't comparable unless they include the same things. Before you choose a digitizer, check whether the price covers:
- Multiple formats. DST, PES, EXP and so on. Some services charge extra for each additional format. We include them at no extra cost. If you're not sure which you need, read embroidery file formats explained.
- A preview before you approve. A stitch-out preview lets you catch problems before anything is sewn.
- Edits and revisions. If the first version needs a tweak, is that included or billed again?
- A thread color chart, so your operator knows which color goes where.
- Turnaround in business days, stated clearly.
How to avoid paying twice for the same logo
Digitizing is a one-time cost per design and size. Once you have a good file, you can run it on as many garments as you like. The expensive mistakes happen when the file doesn't match how it's used.
- Give the final stitched size up front. Scaling a finished file by more than a small amount throws off density and stitch length, and you may end up ordering it again.
- Order cap and flat versions together if you know you'll need both. It saves a second round of back and forth.
- Tell us the fabric. A file for a pique polo won't run the same on a fleece or a structured cap.
- Keep your files organized. Name them by placement and size, such as "logo-left-chest-3.5in.dst", so the right one gets used next time.
Is a cheaper file really cheaper?
Auto-digitizing software can produce a stitch file almost instantly, which is why some services can charge very little. The trouble shows up at the machine: thread breaks, puckering, gaps between shapes and small text that turns into a blob.
Every one of those problems costs machine time and, sometimes, the garment itself. On a run of a few dozen shirts, a file that needs constant babysitting will cost more than the price difference between a cheap file and a good one. A hand-digitized file is set up for your fabric and placement from the start, so it runs clean from the first piece to the last.
If you've had files that didn't stitch the way you expected, our guide on why embroidery looks different from your logo explains the usual causes.
Getting an accurate quote
To get a firm price quickly, send:
- Your logo in the best quality you have.
- The stitched width or height, in inches or millimeters.
- What it's going on: polo, cap, jacket, bag.
- Your machine format.
- Your deadline, if you have one.
That's enough for us to quote without back and forth. You'll find our full price list on the embroidery digitizing page.
Want a firm price for your logo?
Send your artwork and stitched size. We'll reply with a free quote within one business day.
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