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Best Custom Work Shirts for Clients & Employees

September 7, 2026
Gemnote Staff
10 min read

The right custom work shirts can help your team look polished, feel comfortable, and represent your brand wherever the workday takes them. From everyday uniforms and new-hire apparel to conferences, client events, and company outings, a well-chosen shirt can make branded apparel feel like something employees actually want to wear.

Whether you’re looking for custom embroidered work shirts, performance polos, durable button-ups, or casual everyday styles, there are options for nearly every team and work environment. Ahead, we’ve rounded up 20 of the best custom work shirts from trusted brands, with styles that can be personalized with your company logo for employees, clients, and corporate gifting.

Shown: AS Colour Check shirt

Why Choose Custom Work Shirts for Your Team?

Custom work shirts do more than put your company logo on an employee’s back. The right apparel can create a cohesive look across teams while giving employees something practical enough to wear again and again.

For customer-facing roles, branded shirts can make employees easy to identify while reinforcing your company’s visual identity. For internal teams, comfortable apparel can work for everything from onboarding kits and company events to everyday office wear.

Also, because today’s custom work shirts go far beyond traditional uniforms, companies can choose styles that fit their culture. A polished polo may be right for a sales team, while a rugged work shirt makes more sense for employees in the field. Casual T-shirts, button-ups, performance fabrics, and outdoor-friendly styles give you even more ways to build a collection that works across departments.

What to Look for in Custom Work Shirts

The best work shirt for your team depends on where employees will wear it, how often they’ll use it, and how you plan to customize it.

Fabric and comfort: Consider the environment first. Breathable and moisture-wicking materials can work well for active or outdoor teams, while soft cotton blends and stretch fabrics may be a better fit for office or client-facing employees.

Durability: If employees will wear their shirts frequently, choose fabrics and construction designed to stand up to repeated wear and washing.

Fit and sizing: Look for styles that come in a broad size range and, when possible, complementary men’s, women’s, or unisex fits. Offering employees choices can make branded apparel much more wearable.

Customization: Some shirts are especially well suited to embroidery, while others work beautifully with screen printing or other customization methods. Fabric weight, texture, logo size, and placement can all affect the finished look.

Brand: Recognizable brands can add value to employee apparel, client gifts, and premium company programs. For larger uniform orders, dependable midrange and value brands can also deliver a polished look without pushing the budget too far.

Price and order quantity: Think about the total project, not just the cost of the blank shirt. Decoration, order size, packaging, and fulfillment can all affect the final price.

20 Best Custom Work Shirts for Employees & Clients

The best company shirts aren’t all the same. A corporate polo serves a very different purpose from a rugged field shirt or soft branded tee, so we’ve divided our picks by style and use case to help you find the right fit.

Best Custom Polo Shirts for Business

Custom polo shirts are one of the most versatile options for business apparel. They’re polished enough for customer-facing teams but comfortable enough for everyday wear, events, conferences, golf outings, and company retreats.

  1. AS Colour Chad Polo, from $16.47. A heavyweight 100% combed cotton polo with a slim fit, three-button placket, and UPF 50+ protection. Best for: Everyday employee uniforms and casual office wear.

  1. Nike Dri-FIT Classic Polo, from $51.14. A 4.7-ounce, 100% polyester polo with Nike Dri-FIT moisture-management technology, a flat-knit collar, and a three-button placket. Best for: Outdoor teams, events, and active employee uniforms.

  1. The North Face Canyon Crest Polo, from $57.75. A recycled polyester-elastane polo with FlashDry-XD™ moisture management, UPF 40+ protection, and a three-button placket. Best for: Outdoor teams, events, and active employee uniforms. See more styles from The North Face →

  1. Travismathew Oceanside Solid Polo, from $78.74. A 4.6-ounce cotton-polyester polo with wrinkle-resistant, quick-drying performance, a self-fabric collar, and a three-button placket. Best for: Sales teams, client meetings, and polished everyday office wear.

  1. Port Authority Women’s Wearever Performance Pique Polo, from $17.86. A 4.4-ounce, 100% polyester pique polo with moisture-wicking and snag-resistant performance, a flat-knit collar, and five-button placket. Best for: Everyday uniforms, hospitality teams, and customer-facing employees.

Best Custom Button Up Work Shirts

Custom uniform shirts can help create a consistent, professional look across customer-facing, office, and field teams. For teams that need something more polished than a polo or T-shirt, custom button-up work shirts are a versatile option. Classic Oxfords work well in office settings, while stretch fabrics, casual wovens, and short-sleeve styles offer added comfort and flexibility.

Custom button-ups are especially useful for sales teams, hospitality employees, executives, conferences, client meetings, and everyday uniforms. Work shirts with a company logo can also help reinforce your brand across onboarding, events, and other client-facing roles.

  1. Port Authority® Heavyweight Denim Shirt, from $18.99. A 7.5-ounce, 100% cotton denim shirt with a stonewashed finish, button-down collar, chest pocket, and reinforced double- and triple-needle stitching. Best for: Casual uniforms, field teams, and durable everyday workwear.

  1. Mercer+Mettle® Stretch Pique Full-Button Polo, from $33.50. A 5.5-ounce cotton-poly-spandex pique shirt with moisture-wicking performance, a button-down collar, and a full-button front. Best for: Client-facing teams, office wear, and polished everyday uniforms.

  1. AS Colour Oxford Shirt, from $44. A midweight 100% woven cotton button-up with a button-down collar, chest pocket, adjustable cuffs, and preshrunk construction. Best for: Office teams, meetings, and classic employee uniforms.

  1. Port Authority® Women’s Short Sleeve UV Dockside Shirt, from $37.26. A lightweight 100% polyester ripstop shirt with moisture-wicking performance, UPF 30+ protection, and an open collar. Best for: Outdoor teams, warm-weather uniforms, and company events.

  1. Carhartt® Rugged Flex® Plaid Long Sleeve Shirt, from $55.65. A cotton-elastane plaid shirt with Rugged Flex® stretch technology, a relaxed fit, and two chest pockets. Best for: Field teams, outdoor work, and casual employee uniforms.

Best Custom Work Shirts for Field & Outdoor Teams

Not every work shirt is headed to a conference room. Employees who work outdoors, travel between job sites, spend long days on their feet, or need clothing that can handle more demanding environments have different priorities.

Look for durable construction, functional fabrics, breathable materials, useful details, and styles employees can comfortably layer. Custom logo work shirts in this category can be a strong fit for technicians, contractors, maintenance teams, outdoor staff, delivery teams, field sales employees, and event crews.

  1. CornerStone® 1/2-Zip Job Shirt, from $62.58. A 9-ounce cotton-poly fleece job shirt with a 1/2-zip front, dual mic clips, chest storage pocket, and multiple utility pockets. Best for: Emergency services, field crews, speakers, and layered work uniforms.

  1. Dickies Women's Industrial Short Sleeve Work Shirt, from $39.08. A 4.25-ounce polyester-cotton poplin work shirt with a wrinkle-resistant finish, convertible collar, and chest pockets. Best for: Industrial teams, maintenance crews, and everyday uniforms.


  1. Red Kap Men's Mimix™ Short Sleeve Work Shirt, from $38.59. A polyester-cotton ripstop work shirt with moisture-managing mesh panels, a wrinkle-resistant finish, and reinforced chest pockets. Best for: Industrial teams, technicians, and active field work.

  1. Dickies Men's Long Sleeve Work Shirt, from $34.99. A 5.25-ounce polyester-cotton twill shirt with stain-release and moisture-management properties, a convertible collar, and button-flap chest pockets. Best for: Mechanics, maintenance teams, and durable everyday workwear.

Best Casual Custom Work Shirts

A work shirt doesn’t always have to look like a uniform. Casual styles such as flannels, relaxed wovens, chambray shirts, overshirts, and shirt jackets can give your team a cohesive look without feeling overly corporate.

These personalized work shirts work especially well for creative companies, startups, casual offices, employee gifts, retreats, and brands that want merchandise employees might reach for even when they’re off the clock.

  1. Mercer+Mettle® Long Sleeve Twill Overshirt, from $62.08. A 7.2-ounce poly-rayon-spandex stretch twill overshirt with an open collar, double chest pockets, adjustable cuffs, and side-seam pockets. Best for: Casual office wear, creative teams, and polished layering.

  1. Port Authority Summit Fleece Full Zip, from $46.92. A 6.2-ounce, 100% polyester microfleece jacket with a low-pill finish, zippered pockets, a welded sleeve pocket, and an adjustable hem. Best for: Outdoor teams, cool-weather uniforms, and employee layering.

  1. Columbia Men's Cornell Woods™ Flannel Shirt, from $65. A cotton-elastane flannel shirt with two-way comfort stretch, a regular fit, a chest pocket, and dual-button cuffs. Best for: Casual offices, outdoor teams, and cool-weather uniforms.

Best Custom T-Shirts for Employees & Teams

Sometimes, the simplest option is the most useful. Custom T-shirts are comfortable, easy to layer, and versatile enough for everything from everyday employee apparel to company events, volunteer days, conferences, retail teams, warehouse staff, and onboarding kits.

The key is choosing a tee that feels good enough to keep wearing. Fabric weight, softness, fit, and construction can make the difference between a shirt employees love and one that stays in the back of a drawer.

  1. Carhartt® Long Sleeve Henley T-Shirt, from $33. A 6.75-ounce heavyweight cotton jersey Henley with a three-button front, chest pocket, rib-knit cuffs, and loose fit. Best for: Field teams, trades, and durable cool-weather workwear.

  1. Stanley/Stella® Unisex Creator 2.0 Tee, from $10.90. A 5.3-ounce, 100% organic combed ring-spun cotton tee with a modern medium fit and reinforced construction. Best for: Everyday employee uniforms, events, and sustainable branded apparel.

  1. AS Colour Classic Organic Tee, from $26. A heavyweight 6.5-ounce, 100% organic combed cotton tee with a regular fit, rib-knit collar, and preshrunk construction. Best for: Casual uniforms, company events, and premium everyday team apparel.

How to Choose the Right Custom Work Shirt

With so many styles available, start by thinking about how employees will actually use the shirt. The best option for a client-facing sales team probably isn’t the same shirt you’d choose for a technician spending eight hours outdoors.

Consider Where Employees Will Wear Them

For office and client-facing employees, polos and button-ups offer a professional look without requiring formal business attire.

Field teams may benefit more from durable fabrics, moisture management, pockets, or easy layering. Employees working at events, retail locations, restaurants, warehouses, or casual offices may prefer T-shirts or relaxed woven styles.

If your company has several types of employees, you don’t necessarily have to choose one shirt for everyone. Building a coordinated collection can give each team an option that makes sense for the job while maintaining consistent branding.

Choose the Right Fabric

Cotton is soft, breathable, and familiar, making it a popular choice for casual work shirts and T-shirts.

Polyester and performance blends can offer moisture-wicking properties and quicker drying, which makes them useful for active teams and warmer environments.

Cotton-polyester blends combine characteristics of both fibers and can be a practical choice for everyday company apparel. Stretch fabrics can also make button-ups and polos more comfortable for employees who move throughout the day.

The right fabric depends on the employee, environment, desired look, and how frequently the garment will be worn.

Match the Decoration Method to the Shirt

Embroidery is a classic choice for polos, button-ups, jackets, and heavier work shirts. The raised stitching can create a polished finish that works especially well for smaller company logos and chest placement.

Screen printing is often a strong choice for T-shirts and larger graphics. It can accommodate bold artwork, back prints, event designs, and other branding that would be difficult to reproduce with embroidery.

Your decoration method should complement both the fabric and the artwork. An experienced merch partner can help determine the best technique, size, and placement for your logo.

Think About Budget and Order Size

Before choosing a shirt, consider how many employees you’re ordering for, how many styles you want, and what level of apparel makes sense for the program.

A premium branded polo may be perfect for executives, sales teams, or a special client-facing program, while a more affordable T-shirt or work shirt may make sense when outfitting hundreds of employees.

Minimum order quantities can vary by product, brand, decoration method, and project, so it’s helpful to confirm those details before settling on a style.

How to Customize Work Shirts With Your Company Logo

Customization can turn a great shirt into something that feels distinctly yours, but more branding isn’t always better.

Start with logo placement. The left chest is a classic location for custom embroidered work shirts because it keeps the branding visible without overwhelming the garment. Sleeve embroidery, back decoration, woven labels, and other placements can add interest when they make sense for the design.

Consider contrast as well. Your logo should be easy to see against the shirt color, but it doesn’t always need to use its brightest possible colorway. Tonal embroidery can create a more subtle, elevated look, while high-contrast decoration may be better for uniforms or event staff who need to be easily recognized.

For T-shirts, screen printing opens the door to larger designs, illustrations, slogans, and back graphics. A simple chest logo can work for everyday employee wear, while larger artwork can give event or campaign shirts more personality.

Whatever approach you choose, think of the shirt and decoration as one design rather than choosing each separately.

Shown: Topo Designs Jacket

When Should Companies Order Custom Work Shirts?

There’s no single right time to refresh company apparel. The best timing depends on how your organization uses it.

New-hire onboarding: Include custom work shirts in welcome kits so new employees have branded apparel from day one.

Conferences and trade shows: Outfit employees before events to create a cohesive team presence at events and trade shows and make staff easier to identify.

Seasonal uniform updates: Different weights, sleeve lengths, and fabrics can help employees stay comfortable as the weather changes.

Company retreats and events: Custom shirts can help tie an event together while doubling as something employees can continue wearing afterward.

Rebrands: A new logo, color palette, or visual identity is a natural reason to update employee apparel.

Employee appreciation: Premium polos, button-ups, work shirts, and casual styles can also work as practical employee gifts.

Planning ahead gives your team more time to choose products, finalize artwork, order samples if needed, and coordinate customization and distribution.

Where to Buy Custom Work Shirts for Employees

Gemnote makes it easier to source, customize, and distribute work shirts for teams of all sizes.

Rather than juggling apparel vendors, decorators, packaging providers, and shipping partners separately, companies can manage more of the process in one place. Gemnote can help source custom work shirts from leading brands, coordinate logo decoration, build employee kits, and ship merchandise to one location or individual recipients.

Whether you need custom polo shirts for business, rugged field apparel, personalized work shirts for employees, or a mix of styles across company branded apparel, Gemnote can help you create a program that fits your brand, budget, and team.

Ready to create custom work shirts for your company? Start a project with Gemnote.

Shown: Topo Designs Jacket

FAQs About Custom Work Shirts

What is the best fabric for custom work shirts?

The best fabric depends on where and how employees will wear the shirt. Cotton can be soft and breathable for casual environments, while polyester and performance blends can be useful for active employees or warmer conditions. Stretch blends can add comfort to polos and button-ups, while heavier fabrics may offer extra durability for field and workwear applications.

Is embroidery or screen printing better for work shirts?

Neither is universally better. Embroidery often works well for polos, button-ups, jackets, and heavier custom work shirts because it creates a polished, durable look. Screen printing is commonly used on T-shirts and works well for larger graphics, detailed artwork, and bold designs. The shirt material, logo, budget, and desired appearance should guide the decision.

Is there a minimum order quantity for custom logo work shirts?

Minimum order quantities can vary depending on the shirt, brand, customization method, and project requirements. Some products may accommodate relatively small orders, while others are better suited to larger programs. Gemnote can help identify options that work with your quantity and budget.

How much do custom embroidered work shirts cost?

Pricing varies based on the brand, garment style, quantity, embroidery size, number of logo placements, and other customization details. Entry-level custom printed work shirts may work well for large team orders, while premium brands and specialty workwear can cost significantly more per piece. Requesting a quote based on your exact project is the best way to estimate final pricing.

Can you mix different brands and shirt styles in one company order?

In many cases, yes. Mixing polos, button-ups, T-shirts, and other custom printed work shirts can be a smart way to accommodate different roles, climates, preferences, and departments. Availability and minimums can vary by product, so it’s best to plan the assortment early and confirm requirements for each style.

Are custom work shirts good for employee onboarding?

Yes. Custom work shirts can be a practical addition to new-hire kits, especially for customer-facing, field, hospitality, and operations teams. They give employees something useful from day one and help create a consistent brand look across departments. Companies can also choose different shirt styles based on role, work environment, season, or occasion.

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