Print size guide for custom T-Shirt printing

Getting your print size right if you haven't printed the design on anything before can be tricky. Too small and the design gets lost, too large and it can creep onto seams, wrap awkwardly around the body or just look overpowering on the garment. This guide covers standard print sizes and placement guidelines for the most popular print positions on a t-shirt - front chest, full front, back, sleeve and inside neck.

The pictures in this article should help you brief your artwork correctly and get great looking results  on your custom t-shirt printing. They're not templates you have to stick to but will give you a really good idea of how different size prints will look. We've used real garment measurements and photos on our most popular t-shirt here, the Stanley/Stella Creator 2.0 Organic T-shirt. If you're setting up your artwork files you can also download our T-Shirt Print Size Template to get started with the correct dimensions pre-set.

Front Print Sizes

The front of a t-shirt has two distinct zones: the chest print, usually positioned in the upper left chest area for the wearer (or right if you are looking at the shirt)  and the full front which is a larger print that can take up most of the front panel.

Chest Print

A chest print commonly sits in the upper-left or sometimes upper-right of the front panel but it can also be centred across the chest. Wherever it sits this is where you will find smaller logos, brand marks and smaller graphic prints.

Placement: The top of the print typically sits 5–8cm below the collar seam when centred, and 7–10cm below the collar when positioned left or right chest. If it is a left or right chest the middle of the design is usually centred on where the neck hem meets the shoulder.

The most common size left or right chest print is between 6-8cm wide and for centred chest prints this is usually between 10-15cm wide

Here is a 7x7cm circle left chest print on a size medium, a size large and a size x-large in the Stanley Stella Creator 2.0

Here is a 10x2cm left chest print on a size medium, a size large and a size x-large in the Stanley Stella Creator 2.0

Here is a 15x4cm centre chest print on a size medium, a size large and a size x-large in the Stanley Stella Creator 2.0

What works well at these print sizes: Single-colour logo marks, wordmarks, small illustrative graphics, monograms.

Garment note: On standard garments like the Stanley/Stella Creator 2.0, chest prints may to be sized slightly smaller than on a relaxed-fit tee to avoid the print extending too close to the armhole seam. Check the garment's chest measurement at your intended size range before finalising artwork, especially if opting for a larger oversized chest print.

Full Front Print

A full front print uses the majority of the front panel below the collar. This is typical for band tees, event merchandise, statement graphics and larger illustrative designs.

Placement: Centred horizontally on the front panel. The top of the print sits approximately 5–8cm below the collar seam and the print runs down toward the waist.

The most common width of a chest print is around 30cm wide. If you are looking for a more oversized print feel then prints are usually between 34-36cm wide and if you want a more understated look then around 25cm is going to be your sweet spot.

Here is a 25x30cm centre chest print on a size medium, a size large and a size x-large in the Stanley Stella Creator 2.0

Here is a 30x40cm centre chest print on a size medium, a size large and a size x-large in the Stanley Stella Creator 2.0

Here is a 35x48cm centre chest print on a size medium, a size large and a size x-large in the Stanley Stella Creator 2.0

What works well at this size: Bold typographic designs, full illustrative prints, oversized graphics, photography-based DTG artwork.

Print method note: Full front prints are well-suited to screen printing and DTG. You can see from the images that larger prints get very close to the seams so if your design approaches the maximum dimensions always check with us before submitting if you have smaller sizes in the order.

Back Print Sizes

The back panel gives you the biggest possible area of any print position on a t-shirt. It's the default location for large event graphics, tour dates, full-panel illustrations and oversized branding.

Upper Back Print

A smaller back print positioned between the shoulder blades. Often used as a secondary print to complement a front chest design or give a logo sting to the garment.

Placement: Centred horizontally with the top of the print sitting approximately 3-5cm below the back collar seam.

Here is a 7 x 7cm back nape print on a size medium, a size large and a size x-large in the Stanley Stella Creator 2.0

Full Back Print

A full back print can cover the majority of the back panel. This is the go-to placement for large event designs, band merchandise and designs that benefit from maximum visual impact.

Placement: Centred horizontally with the top of the print starting approximately 5–8cm below the collar seam.

Here is a 25 x 30cm back print on a size medium, a size large and a size x-large in the Stanley Stella Creator 2.0

Here is a 35 x 38cm back print on a size medium, a size large and a size x-large in the Stanley Stella Creator 2.0

What works well at this size: Full illustrations, text-heavy designs with supporting graphics, tour or event date listings, all-over style graphics within the panel.

Sizing across garment sizes: Back print proportions can feel very different across a size range. A full back print at maximum dimensions will look appropriately large on a 2XL but just wouldn't fit on an  XS. If your order covers a wide size range, consider scaling your artwork proportionally by garment size, or choose a print dimension that reads well across the whole run. We're happy to advise on this before you commit your artwork — get in touch.

Sleeve Print Sizes

Sleeve printing has grown significantly as a placement option, particularly for streetwear, workwear and premium branded pieces and it works well on both short sleeves and long sleeves.

Short Sleeve Print

Short sleeve prints are typically a small, compact design such as a word, a logo mark, a simple icon. The available area is limited by sleeve length and the taper of the fabric.

Placement: Centred or aligned along the sleeve, positioned central or towards the edge hem of the sleeve panel. The print typically runs horizontally across the sleeve in line with the hem.

What works well here:  Small logo stamps, single-character marks, simple geometric shapes.

Practical note: Short sleeve area varies significantly between garment fits. A wide-shoulder unisex tee like the Stanley/Stella Creator 2.0 will accommodate more than a slim-fit women's tee. Always check the sleeve width of the specific garment before finalising sleeve artwork. 

Long Sleeve Print

Long sleeve tees offer far more flexibility as the sleeve can carry a print along its length, across the forearm, or around the cuff area. See our long sleeve t-shirts range for suitable garments.

Placement: The most common long sleeve placement is along the outer sleeve running from the shoulder seam toward the cuff, or as a print across the upper arm or forearm.

What works well here: Repeated text, single-line wordmarks, stripe graphics, vertical graphics.

Inside Neck Print Sizes

Inside neck printing replaces or supplements the manufacturer's neck label with a DTG-printed or screen printed brand label. It's one of the most effective finishing details for giving your garments a retail-quality feel and it is also an option as part of our print-on-demand fulfilment service.

Inside neck prints are small by nature as print area is constrained by the curve of the neck seam and and the visible space so it's best to keep it simple and most blank garments now have unbranded size pip labels off centre that means you can keep the same inside neck print across all sizes.

Placement: Centred on the inside back neck panel, positioned just below the collar seam. The print should sit clear of the seam stitching and not extend too far down the neck.

What works well here: Brand name in a single typeface, small logo mark with brand name beneath, garment care icons and country of origin text.

Artwork requirements: Inside neck artwork should be clean, vector-based where possible, and designed specifically for the small scale. Overly detailed logos or fine-line type will not read well at this size. Use a minimum font size of 6pt in your artwork file at actual print size.

Print method: Neck prints at Live Ink are printed using either screen print, DTF or DTG and we can always advise which is best for your order. 

Why Print Sizing Matters

Print size can take some getting used to, working out how to get the look you want across your merch range in different garment sizes. A design that fills a large chest correctly on an XL can look too dominant on a size S and proportions that work well in flat artwork don't always translate at scale when the garment is worn. This is why we use a set of popular placement zones as a guide for you to work out the best print size before placing an order.

The other factor is print method. Screen printing, DTG and DTF each have their own practical maximums determined by platen size and print area. At Live Ink our standard maximum print areas are very similar across all three methods but your artwork should always be sized to suit the garment before it hits the press. For embroidery you also need to consider how heavy a garment will feel depending on the size and subsequent weight of the embroidered design.

General Rules for All Print Positions

Keep artwork 3–5mm clear of any seam. This applies to shoulder seams, side seams, collar seams and cuffs. Printing too close to a seam causes distortion as the fabric pulls over the edge.

Scale artwork to the smallest size in your run. If your order covers sizes XS to 2XL, check how the print reads at the smallest garment before committing to dimensions. What looks balanced on a large garment can look oversized on a small one.

Use our print templates. Our T-Shirt Print Size Template gives you a full grid in cm so that you can scale accurately and see how your design will look. Setting up your artwork within these templates will save time and reduce the chance of us needing to ask you to adjust your file before production.

Think about print method. Screen printing is ideal for bold, limited-colour designs at most placements. DTG is better suited to photographic or full-colour artwork and DTF is great for inside neck prints. If you're unsure which method is right for your design, our screen printing and DTG printing pages explain both in detail, or get in touch and we'll point you in the right direction.

Quick Reference: Print Position Summary

Browse Our T-Shirts

All the placement guidelines above have been developed around the garments in our range. If you're choosing a t-shirt for your next print run, you can browse the full selection on our t-shirts page, including organic and GOTS-certified options from Stanley/Stella, Earth Positive and AS Colour. Our best-selling starting point is the Stanley/Stella Creator 2.0 Organic T-shirt which is an excellent garment for both screen printing and DTG.

Any questions about print placement, artwork setup or which garments work best for a specific print position just ask, we're here to help.