A finished polo shirt carries a neck label, a wash-care label, usually a hang tag, a logo in an agreed position, and a fold that keeps the collar crisp in the pack. Choosing custom labels for polo shirts is mostly a question of who the polo is for: retail buyers expect a branded hang tag and polybag, while staff and club orders care more about logo position, sizing and how the polos are bundled.
We apply every one of these during production. Here is how each works on a polo, and what to send us.
Labels inside the polo
Neck label
The neck label sits at the centre back neck, under the collar. On a polo the collar partly covers it, so it needs to sit flat and not show above the collar when worn.
- Woven label. The usual choice; suits the classic look of a polo.
- Size marking. On the main label, or a small size tab sewn underneath, so one main label works across all sizes.
- Whose label. For retail stock it is your brand. For corporate or club orders, it is usually your label too, unless you have agreed to supply the organisation’s own label.
Send your logo as a vector file if you have one, the label colours and how you want sizes shown.
Wash-care label
The wash-care label usually sits in the left side seam, or at the side vent if the polo has vents. It carries care instructions and, depending on the destination country, information such as fibre content and size. What it must show varies by country, so we confirm the content at quotation. We do not give legal advice on labelling.
Clear care instructions matter on polos. Staff uniforms are washed often, and instructions that keep the collar and colour looking right help the polos last.
Logo placement
The logo is the most visible branding on a polo, and its position follows some well-established conventions.
| Position | Typical use | Usual method |
|---|---|---|
| Left chest | Company or club logo, brand mark | Embroidery |
| Right chest | Secondary logo, sponsor, staff name | Embroidery |
| Sleeve | Small secondary mark, flag, year | Embroidery |
| Back yoke, below collar | Website or short text | Embroidery or print |
| Full back | Event or team design | Screen print or heat transfer |
Embroidery on the left chest is the usual choice for polos, with sleeve or back embroidery as extras. Screen print and heat transfer suit larger back designs and event wear.
When you send artwork, mark the position and the finished width you want. For left chest embroidery, say how far below the shoulder seam and how far from the placket the logo should sit. If you are unsure, we will suggest a placement that suits the style and size range.
Hang tags
Hang tags matter most for retail stock. They carry your logo, the style name, size and colour, and a barcode if you need one. On a polo, the tag usually hangs from the neck label or the sleeve.
For corporate and club orders, hang tags are often left off, since the polos go straight to staff or members. Ask yourself whether the tag adds anything for the person receiving it.
Folded packing
Polos are folded differently from T-shirts because the collar and placket need to stay neat.
- The polo is buttoned, laid face down, and the sleeves and sides folded back.
- The body is folded up so the collar sits at the top, upright and centred.
- A card insert or collar support can be added to help the collar hold its shape, if you want it.
- The folded polo goes into a polybag, with a size sticker and barcode if specified.
Packing by order type
| Order type | Typical packing |
|---|---|
| Retail stock | Folded to a set size, individual polybag, size sticker, hang tag |
| Marketplace stock | Packed to the seller’s specification, including barcodes |
| Corporate staff | Folded, bundled by size or by department, cartons marked |
| Named staff polos | Folded and labelled by person, so distribution is quick |
| Club or event | Folded and packed by size, cartons marked |
For marketplaces, the seller confirms current packing and labelling requirements with the marketplace, and we pack to the specification the seller gives us.
A checklist before ordering
- Neck label artwork, colours and size marking method
- Wash-care text and destination country
- Logo file, position and finished size for each decoration
- Hang tag artwork, or a note that tags are not needed
- Barcodes and their format, if needed
- Fold, polybag, collar support and stickers
- Packing by size, department or name, and carton marking
Our labels, tags and packaging page shows these options across all our products.
Checking it all on the sample
When the sample arrives, check the neck label sits flat under the collar and does not show. Read the wash-care label. Measure the logo position against your instructions. Fold the polo the way it will be packed and see that the collar stays neat. Bulk production follows the approved sample, so raise changes before you approve it.
Choose a style from our white label polo shirts and send us your label choices, logo file with position, tag artwork and packing needs. We will confirm every detail in the quotation.