How to Order Custom Hoodies for Your Team
Whether you're outfitting a sports team, kitting out your startup crew, or building school spirit, custom hoodies are one of the most versatile and beloved pieces of branded apparel you can order. In Canada, demand for custom team hoodies has grown steadily, and for good reason. A quality hoodie is worn year-round, turning your team into walking brand ambassadors every time they step outside.
This guide covers everything you need to know: which style to choose, the best blanks available, how to decorate them, what it costs, and how to get your order started with Only Custom Apparel's hoodie collection.
Why Custom Hoodies Work for Team Branding
Hoodies punch above their weight as branded merchandise. Unlike a t-shirt, a hoodie is a statement piece, it's worn in the office, at the gym, at the coffee shop, and on the weekend. That kind of visibility makes it one of the highest-ROI branded items you can invest in.
For Canadian teams specifically, hoodies make practical sense. Our climate means most people are reaching for a sweatshirt eight or nine months of the year. A branded hoodie isn't just a gift, it's something people will actually wear, repeatedly.
Custom hoodies work especially well for:
- Sports teams and leagues — warm-ups, sideline gear, and fan apparel
- Corporate teams — onboarding kits, company retreats, and remote team swag
- Schools and universities — student clubs, varsity teams, and spirit wear
- Events and fundraisers — charity runs, tournaments, and galas
- Restaurants and hospitality — staff uniforms that double as marketing
Pullover vs Zip-Up — Which to Choose
The first decision you'll face is choosing between a pullover and a zip-up. Both have loyal fans and practical use cases, so the right choice depends on your team's needs.
Pullover hoodies offer a clean, uninterrupted front panel, which is ideal if you want a large chest or full-front graphic. They tend to be slightly more affordable and are popular for athletic and lifestyle applications. The Gildan 18500 is the gold standard for pullovers in Canada: heavy, durable, and budget-friendly.
Zip-up hoodies give wearers more flexibility. They're easy to layer, great for workplaces where people move between indoor and outdoor environments, and offer placement options on both chest panels. The tradeoff is that decorating a zip-up is slightly more complex if your design spans the zipper.
Our recommendation: if branding impact is the primary goal, go with a pullover. If comfort and day-to-day usability are the priority, a zip-up will get more wear.
Best Hoodie Blanks for Custom Orders in Canada
The blank you choose affects the look, feel, and longevity of your final product. Here's a comparison of the most popular options we carry:
| Brand & Model | Weight | Fit | Price Range (CAD) | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gildan 18500 | 8 oz | Classic / Relaxed | $24–$32 | Budget teams, large orders, events |
| BELLA+CANVAS 3719 | 7.2 oz | Sponge Fleece / Slim | $34–$43 | Fashion-forward brands, retail feel |
| Independent Trading SS4500 | 8.5 oz | Classic / Boxy | $36–$42 | Premium corporate gifts, streetwear |
| Champion S700 | 9 oz | Athletic / Regular | $37–$48 | Sports teams, universities, high-wear use |
Not sure which blank is right for your order? Our team is happy to arrange samples before you commit. Request a quote and mention samples in the notes.
Decoration Methods for Custom Hoodies
The way your logo is applied to a hoodie affects how it looks, how long it lasts, and how much it costs. Here are the three most common methods:
Screen Printing
Screen printing is the most popular decoration method for custom hoodies. It produces bold, vibrant colours at a low per-unit cost on larger orders. Screen printing is best for designs with 1–6 solid colours and for orders of 12 pieces or more. The ink sits on top of the fabric and can last for hundreds of washes when done correctly.
Embroidery
Embroidery gives your logo a premium, three-dimensional look associated with corporate and athletic brands. It's ideal for small chest logos, sleeve branding, or any design where you want a tactile, upscale finish. Embroidery is slightly more expensive per piece, but the result is highly durable and professional. Minimum orders are typically 6–12 pieces.
Direct-to-Garment (DTG)
DTG printing applies ink directly to the fabric using an inkjet-style process, making it ideal for complex, full-colour designs or photographic graphics. It's the best option for very small orders where screen printing setup fees aren't economical. DTG works best on lighter-coloured garments with 100% cotton or high-cotton blends.
Placement Options for Custom Hoodies
Where your logo goes matters as much as how it's applied. The most common placement options are:
- Left chest: The classic placement, subtle, professional, great for team names or small logos
- Full front centre: Maximum impact for bold graphics, team numbers, or event designs
- Full back: Ideal for names, numbers, slogans, or large illustrative artwork
- Sleeve: Great for secondary logos, year markings, or sponsor branding
- Hood: A unique, eye-catching placement for brand names or taglines
Many of our team orders combine a left-chest logo with a full back design to maximize brand presence. When you submit your quote request, let us know your preferred placement and we'll advise on sizing and print area.
Pricing and Minimums for Custom Hoodies in Canada
Pricing depends on the blank you choose, the number of colours in your design, the decoration method, and your order quantity. Here's a general guide:
- Screen printing: Minimums typically start at 12 pieces. Per-unit cost decreases significantly at 24, 48, and 72+ pieces. Setup fees apply per colour and print location.
- Embroidery: Minimums start at 6–12 pieces. There's a one-time digitizing fee to convert your artwork into an embroidery file.
- DTG: No minimum. Pricing is per piece and doesn't scale down with volume as dramatically as screen printing.
As a rough guide for screen-printed hoodies on Gildan 18500 blanks in Canada:
- 12–23 pieces: approximately $37–$42 per hoodie (1 colour, 1 location)
- 24–47 pieces: approximately $31–$36 per hoodie
- 48+ pieces: approximately $26-$30 per hoodie
All pricing is in Canadian dollars and includes decoration. Rush orders and shipping outside the GTA may carry additional charges. For an accurate quote specific to your order, fill out our quote form and we'll respond within one business day.
How to Place Your Custom Hoodie Order, Step by Step
Ordering custom team hoodies from Only Custom Apparel is straightforward. Here's what the process looks like:
- Choose your style and blank: Browse our custom hoodies and sweatshirts collection to find the right style, colour, and blank for your team.
- Prepare your artwork: Vector files (AI, EPS, PDF) are ideal. If you only have a JPG or PNG, our in-house design team can recreate or refine your logo — just let us know.
- Request a quote: Use our custom quote form to share your quantities, sizes, placement preferences, and artwork. The more detail you provide, the faster we can turn around a quote.
- Review your proof: We'll send a digital mockup for your approval before any production begins. This is your chance to confirm colours, placement, and sizing.
- Approve and pay: Once you approve the proof, we collect a deposit (or full payment on small orders) and get your order into production.
- Production and delivery: Standard turnaround is 7–10 business days from artwork approval. Rush options are available. We ship across Canada and offer local pickup in the Oakville/GTA area.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum order quantity for custom hoodies in Canada?
For screen printing, our minimum is typically 12 pieces. For embroidery, we can work with orders as small as 6 pieces. If you need fewer than 6 items, DTG printing is the most cost-effective option and has no minimum. Contact us and we'll find the right solution for your order size.
Can I mix sizes and colours in the same order?
Yes! You can mix sizes (S through 3XL) within a single order without affecting your pricing tier. Mixing garment colours in the same design may require separate screen setups depending on the decoration method, we'll advise you during the quoting process.
How long does it take to get custom hoodies made in Canada?
Our standard production turnaround is 7–10 business days from the date your artwork proof is approved. Rush production (3–5 business days) is available on most orders for an additional fee. We ship from Oakville, Ontario and typically reach anywhere in Canada within 1–4 business days via courier.
What file formats do you accept for artwork?
We prefer vector files: .AI, .EPS, or print-ready PDFs with outlined fonts. We can also work with high-resolution .PNG files at 300 DPI or higher. If your artwork needs cleanup, resizing, or recreation, our in-house design team can assist, just mention it when you submit your quote request.
Ready to get started? Request your free custom hoodie quote today, or browse our full range of custom hoodies and sweatshirts to find the perfect blank for your team.