Most workwear quotes arrive as a range so wide it is useless. Here is how
the number is actually built, so you can judge any quote you are given.
Typical budgets per person
- Starter set — around £45–55 a head.
Two branded polos and one fleece or softshell. Enough to look consistent
without kitting anyone out fully.
- Working set — around £70–90 a head.
Three polos, a softshell and work trousers, chest logo included. This is
what most trade teams buy.
- Full set with hi-vis and PPE — £110–160 a head.
Adds certified hi-vis and heavier outerwear. Site-based teams land here.
These are working figures, not quotes. Garment brand moves them
considerably: an entry-level polo and a heavyweight branded one can differ by
a factor of three.
What drives the price
- Garment choice. The single biggest factor. Fabric weight,
brand and construction matter more than anything decorative.
- Number of logo positions. A chest logo is a few pounds.
Add a back logo and sleeves and decoration can rival the garment cost.
- Quantity. Both garment and decoration get cheaper with
volume, with noticeable steps around 10, 25 and 50 pieces.
- Decoration method. Embroidery has a one-off digitising
cost then scales flat. Screen printing has per-colour setup then gets very
cheap at volume.
- Sizes. Most sizes cost the same; some garments carry a
small surcharge above 2XL.
The cheapest quote is often a lighter garment, or one that
excludes the logo. Compare like for like before comparing price.
One-off costs to expect
Digitising your logo runs roughly £15–30 and is charged once,
not per order. Screen setup for printing is per colour, per design. Neither
recurs on reorders, which is why a second order of the same kit is always
cheaper per unit than the first.
Where to spend and where to save
If budget is tight, spend it on outerwear and trousers, which are worn
daily and last years, and economise on tops, which wear out anyway. The
reverse — good polos under a cheap jacket — looks worse and costs
more over three years.