One of the most common questions we get at Three2Tango Tees is some variation of: “How big should my design be?” A close second is: “Where exactly does it go?”
These are brilliant questions and there is genuinely no single right answer — it depends on the garment, the size, the placement, and what the design is trying to do. But after printing thousands of orders across t-shirts, hoodies, caps, and totes for Aussie customers and businesses, we’ve built a working reference we use every day. Here it is, all in one place.
Bookmark this one. You’ll come back to it.
Why Print Sizing Matters More Than You Think
A design that’s 2cm too wide on a size small t-shirt can wrap into the armpit seam and look completely different to the mockup. A logo that’s placed 3cm too low looks like it’s floating near the stomach rather than sitting confidently on the chest. And a design that works perfectly on an adult XL can look swamped on a kids size 6.
Getting the sizing right means your finished product matches your expectation — and that’s what we’re here for. All measurements below are in centimetres and based on the design size (the printed area), not the garment dimensions.
T-Shirt Front Print Size Guide (cm)
For a full front print — a centrepiece graphic sitting in the middle of the shirt front — use these as your maximum print area by size. Keep at least 1–2cm clear of the side seams on each side.
| Garment Size | Max Width | Max Height |
|---|---|---|
| Kids 4 | 18 cm | 20 cm |
| Kids 6 | 19 cm | 21 cm |
| Kids 8 | 21 cm | 23 cm |
| Kids 10 | 22 cm | 24 cm |
| Kids 12 | 23 cm | 25 cm |
| Kids 14 | 24 cm | 27 cm |
| XS / 16 | 25 cm | 28 cm |
| S | 25 cm | 30 cm |
| M | 27 cm | 33 cm |
| L | 29 cm | 36 cm |
| XL | 30 cm | 38 cm |
| 2XL | 32 cm | 39 cm |
| 3XL | 33 cm | 40 cm |
| 4XL+ | 35 cm | 42 cm |
Placement from neckline: Top of the design should sit 5–7 cm below the collar seam. Any higher and it starts crowding the neckline. Any lower and it drifts toward the belly and looks off on a worn shirt.
Left Chest Logo Size Guide (T-Shirts, Polos & Hoodies)
The left chest logo is the corporate classic — subtle, professional, and exactly right for business uniforms, polos, and team shirts. For adult garments, we use 8–10 cm wide as our standard. This matches the industry standard of 7–10 cm and gives enough presence without overpowering.
| Garment Size | Logo Width | From Neckline (down) | From Centre (across) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kids 4–6 | 5–6 cm | 6 cm | 6 cm |
| Kids 8–10 | 6–7 cm | 7 cm | 7 cm |
| Kids 12–14 | 7–8 cm | 7 cm | 7 cm |
| XS – S (Adult) | 8 cm | 8 cm | 8 cm |
| M – L (Adult) | 8–9 cm | 9 cm | 9 cm |
| XL – 2XL (Adult) | 9–10 cm | 9 cm | 9 cm |
| 3XL+ (Adult) | 10 cm | 10 cm | 10 cm |
Quick rule: For most adult orders, just go with 9 cm wide as a universal left chest size. It works across S–2XL without needing separate files per size.
Hoodie Front Print Size Guide (cm) — Above the Pocket
Hoodies are where sizing gets a little more interesting. Most pullover hoodies have a front kangaroo pocket that starts roughly halfway down the front, which means your printable area is the chest region above the pocket only. Try to print below it and you’re fighting the pocket seam and the curve of the fabric — it never looks right.
The measurements below are our working height limits for the printable chest area above the pocket. Width follows similar rules to t-shirts (see above) but is constrained by how the hoodie sits on the body — keep at least 2cm from the zipper line or side seams.
| Garment Size | Max Height (above pocket) | Approx Max Width |
|---|---|---|
| Kids 4 | 15 cm | 15 cm |
| Kids 6 | 15 cm | 16 cm |
| Kids 8 | 18 cm | 18 cm |
| Kids 10 | 19 cm | 19 cm |
| Kids 12 | 20 cm | 20 cm |
| Kids 14 | 22 cm | 22 cm |
| 16 / XS | 25 cm | 24 cm |
| S | 25 cm | 25 cm |
| M | 27 cm | 26 cm |
| L | 30 cm | 28 cm |
| XL | 32 cm | 29 cm |
| 2XL | 33 cm | 30 cm |
| 3XL | 34 cm | 31 cm |
| 4XL – 7XL | 35 cm | 32 cm |
Important note: These are maximum dimensions based on typical hoodie brands. Different brands (AS Colour, Biz Collection, Gildan, etc.) vary in body dimensions — always check the specific garment before finalising your design size. When in doubt, go slightly smaller than the maximum. A design that’s 2cm shorter than the maximum looks intentional. One that clips the pocket seam just looks like a mistake.
Placement from neckline on hoodies: Top of the design should sit approximately 5–8 cm below the neck seam (slightly more than a t-shirt, to account for the drawstring and thicker collar).
Back Print Size Guide (cm)
The back of a garment is a larger, flatter canvas than the front — which means you can go bigger. This is the go-to placement for event tees, team names, full artwork, and text-heavy designs.
| Placement Type | Width | Height | From Neck Seam (down) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upper back / yoke logo | 10–15 cm | 4–7 cm | 3–5 cm |
| Full back (kids S–M) | 20–26 cm | 22–28 cm | 5–7 cm |
| Full back (adult S–M) | 26–30 cm | 32–37 cm | 5–7 cm |
| Full back (adult L–XL) | 28–32 cm | 35–40 cm | 5–7 cm |
| Full back (adult 2XL+) | 32–36 cm | 38–42 cm | 5–7 cm |
For team or sports shirts with a name above and number below, leave 2–3 cm of spacing between the name baseline and the top of the number.
Cap & Hat Print Size Guide
Caps are a different beast. The printable area on a standard 6-panel structured cap front is small, and the curved surface means designs that look fine flat can warp when worn. Keep it simple, keep it compact, and it’ll look sharp.
| Cap Type | Max Width | Max Height | Placement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Structured / fitted cap | 8–10 cm | 4–5 cm | Centred on front panel, 1–2 cm above cap band |
| Dad hat / low-profile | 9–10 cm | 3.5–4 cm | Centred, 1–1.5 cm above band |
| Bucket hat (front panel) | 8–9 cm | 4–5 cm | Centred on front panel |
| Beanie (front centre) | 7–8 cm | 5–6 cm | Centred, sitting above the fold line |
DTF on caps vs. embroidery: DTF handles full colour and photographic detail far better than embroidery for complex designs. For a simple 1–2 colour logo or text, embroidery gives a premium, textured look that DTF can’t replicate. We offer both — if you’re not sure which is right for your design, send us a message and we’ll recommend.
File Setup: Getting the Resolution Right
No sizing guide is complete without a note on file resolution. The cleanest prints come from properly set up artwork:
- Vector files (.AI, .EPS, .SVG): Best option. Infinitely scalable with no quality loss. Great for logos and text-based designs.
- High-res PNG at 300 DPI: At the actual print size. So if you’re printing 30cm wide, your file should be 300 DPI at 30cm — not 300 DPI at 5cm scaled up.
- Transparent background: Always for PNG files on coloured garments.
- Avoid: Screenshots, low-res PNGs pulled from websites, photos of business cards. These will pixelate when scaled to print size.
Not sure if your file is print-ready? Send it through when you order and we’ll check it before anything goes to print. No nasty surprises.
Quick Reference Summary
- Full front t-shirt (adult L): ~29cm wide × 36cm tall, 5–7cm from neckline
- Left chest logo (adult): 8–10cm wide, 8–9cm from neckline, 8–9cm from centre
- Hoodie front above pocket (adult L): max 30cm tall × 28cm wide
- Full back (adult L): ~30cm wide × 38cm tall, 5–7cm from back neckline
- Cap front panel: max 8–10cm wide × 4–5cm tall
Need a custom size recommendation for your specific order? We’re happy to help. Browse our DTF transfer range, check out our small business merch options, or get a free quote and we’ll work out the sizing for you before anything goes to print.