How to Place Your Design for the Best Look (Front, Pocket, Back, Sleeve)

One of the easiest ways to make a shirt look professional is simple: good placement and the right size.

At Primal Graphx - Charlotte's #1 Premium DTF Provider, we help customers every day choose placements that look clean, balanced, and ready to sell.

Below is a simple guide you can follow for the most common placements.

Quick placement cheat sheet (most common locations)

• Left chest (pocket area)

• Full front

• Full back

• Sleeve

Left chest (pocket area)

This is the go-to for business logos and clean branding.

Typical size: 3.5 to 4.5 inches wide

Best for:

• company logos

• small brand marks

• clean, professional uniforms

Placement tip: keep it slightly higher than you think so it does not sink too low on the chest.

Full front

This is the classic statement design.

Typical size: 10 to 12 inches wide

Best for:

• bold graphics

• brand drops

• event shirts

Placement tip: start about 2 to 3 inches below the collar for most adult tees.

Full back

Back prints look premium and are perfect for teams and businesses.

Typical size: 11 to 13 inches wide

Best for:

• large logos

• sponsor lists

• team names and numbers

• merch that needs a big impact

Placement tip: if you are doing front and back, keep the front smaller (left chest or small front) so the shirt does not feel overloaded.

Sleeve

Sleeve prints are a simple upgrade that makes a shirt look custom.

Typical size: 2 to 3 inches wide

Best for:

• small logos

• flags

• brand marks

• short phrases

Placement tip: keep the design centered on the sleeve and avoid placing too close to the seam.

Want your shirt to look premium? Try a combo

Some of the best selling layouts:

• Left chest + full back

• Small front + full back

• Left chest + sleeve

• Left chest + full back + sleeve (premium look)

Common mistakes to avoid

• Making the design too small for the placement

• Putting a left chest logo too low

• Using tiny text on sleeves

• Not planning for seams, pockets, or thick hoodie areas

Need help sizing or setting up your file?

If you are not sure what size to order, send us what you are making and the garment type. We will help you choose the right size so it looks right the first time.

And if your artwork needs help, Primal Graphx offers graphic designing to clean up images, adjust sizing, and set your file up as a PNG with transparent background.

Primal Graphx Team

Charlotte's #1 Premium DTF Provider