The school uniform cost per piece depends mainly on four things: the style, the fabric, the quantity per style and the branding. We quote each style separately, by fabric, quantity and branding, so the clearest way to understand a quote is to look at what each of those choices adds to the garment.
Style and construction
Each uniform style uses a different amount of fabric and a different amount of work.
- Shirts and work shirts need collars, cuffs, buttons and buttonholes. A chest pocket or long sleeves add fabric and stitching.
- Trousers need a waistband, fastening and pockets, and use more fabric than a shirt.
- Skirts vary with the design. A plain skirt is simpler than a pleated one, where every pleat must be pressed and stitched evenly.
- Pinafores combine a bodice and skirt, often with pleats, buttons and a pocket.
More panels, pleats and trims mean more cutting and stitching, which shows in the quote.
Fabric
We make uniforms in poly-cotton and poly-viscose suiting. They differ in weight, finish and how they are woven, so they price differently. Within each, the factors that move the price are:
- The fabric chosen for each style, for example poly-viscose suiting for trousers instead of poly-cotton
- Colour, especially if a close match to an existing school or company colour is needed
- How much fabric the style uses, which grows with the size run
If you send a swatch to match, fabric is sourced to your approved swatch. A standard colour from our options is usually simpler than a specific match.
Sizes and quantity
Quantity changes the price per piece, because set-up work, such as preparing the pattern, the sample and the embroidery file, is shared across more pieces. Our minimum is 50 pieces per style, with sizes mixed within it.
Sizes matter too. Adult 2XL and 3XL use more fabric than kids’ sizes, so an order weighted towards larger sizes is quoted differently from one weighted towards younger children. A colour split within a style can also affect the quote, since each colour is cut separately.
Branding
Branding is often the part of a uniform quote that varies most between buyers.
| Branding choice | What changes the price |
|---|---|
| Embroidered crest or logo | Size of the design, number of colours, number of positions |
| Woven neck or waistband label | Label size, design, and whether size is woven in |
| Separate size label | An extra label per piece |
| Wash-care label | Content and size of the label |
| Hang tag | Card, print and whether barcodes are added |
A crest with fine detail and several thread colours takes longer to embroider than a simple logo in one colour. A second position, such as a sleeve logo on a work shirt, adds another embroidery run to every piece.
Packing and shipping
How you want uniforms packed affects the work per piece:
- A single polybag with a size sticker is the simplest.
- Folding shirts with a board insert adds a step.
- Packing by school, department or site, with marked cartons, adds sorting.
Shipping depends on the destination and method. We take enquiries from buyers worldwide. Shipping method, terms and documents are confirmed in the quotation.
Comparing quotes fairly
When you compare uniform quotes, check that each covers the same things:
- The same style and construction, including pleats, pockets and sleeves
- The same fabric, not just the same colour
- The same branding: crest size and positions, labels, tags
- The same packing method
- Whether a sample is included, and on what terms
- Whether shipping is included or quoted separately
A lower figure that leaves out labels or uses a different fabric is not a like-for-like comparison. It is also worth asking how each supplier handles colour matching and sample changes, because a quote that looks complete on paper can grow once a swatch match or a second sample is needed. Our quotations list the sample terms and every branding item, so you can see what is included before you approve anything.
Ways to keep cost in check
- Use one base style across several schools, changing only colour and crest.
- Keep crests to a sensible size and number of thread colours.
- Combine sizes into one style order rather than splitting into separate styles.
- Choose standard packing unless your sales channel needs more.
- Send complete details at enquiry, so the quote does not need to be revised later.
None of these mean cutting quality. They simply remove work that does not show on the finished uniform, so more of your budget goes into the fabric and finish that parents and staff notice.
Our post on school uniform size charts and size ratios helps you plan sizes, which affects fabric use. The full style list is on our white label uniforms page. Send us your styles, fabric preference, quantities per size and crest artwork, and we will send a quotation that lists each item clearly.