Embroidery digitizing prices at a glance
| Design size | Typical use | Starting price | Delivery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 4″ | Left chest, caps, sleeves Polo shirts, hats, uniforms, small text logos. | $10 | 12–24 hours |
| 4″ – 8″ | Full front, bags, large patches T-shirt fronts, tote bags, towels, badges. | $16 | 12–24 hours |
| 8″ – 12″ | Jacket backs Club jackets, hoodies, detailed illustrations. | $28 | 24 hours |
| 15k+ stitches | Very dense designs Full-fill badges, photo-style artwork. | +$5 per 5,000 stitches | Quoted first |
Want a number for your own design? Use the stitch count estimator on the pricing section. Enter the width, height and how filled the logo is, and it shows an estimated price.
What changes the price of digitizing?
- Size. A bigger design needs more stitches and more planning, so a jacket back costs more than a cap logo.
- Stitch count and fill. Outlines and text are quick. Large solid fills, gradients and badge-style designs take longer.
- Detail and small text. Letters under about 5 mm need careful work so they stay readable once stitched.
- Garment and placement. Caps, stretchy knits, towels and 3D puff each need different underlay and push-pull settings.
- Number of colours. More colours mean more colour changes and trims to plan.
Flat rate vs. price per 1,000 stitches
Digitizers price their work in one of two ways. Some charge per 1,000 stitches: the stitch count of the finished file decides the bill. Others, like StitchNova, charge a flat rate by design size, so the price is fixed before any work starts. Both are fair when done honestly, but they suit different buyers.
| Flat rate by size | Per 1,000 stitches | |
|---|---|---|
| When you know the price | Before work starts | After the file is finished and the stitch count is known |
| Budgeting a run of logos | Easy: size × price list | Harder: every design needs its own estimate |
| Dense, fully filled designs | Same price up to 15,000 stitches, then a stated add-on (+$5 per 5,000 at StitchNova) | Cost rises with every extra stitch |
| Very simple text logos | Still the size price | Can be cheaper, but many digitizers set a minimum charge |
| Incentive for the digitizer | Use only the stitches the design needs | More stitches mean a bigger bill, so ask how density is set |
| Best for | Shops and brands that want a fixed quote per job | Buyers comparing very simple designs on price alone |
How to compare two quotes
To compare a per-stitch quote with a flat price, multiply the stitch count by the rate per 1,000. For example, at $1.00 per 1,000 stitches a 12,000-stitch design costs $12.00; at $1.50 per 1,000 the same file costs $18.00. Ask the per-stitch digitizer for an estimated stitch count before they start, and ask what happens if the final count is higher. With a flat rate you only need to confirm the size band and whether any add-on applies.
Remember that the cheapest file is the one that sews right the first time. A low per-stitch rate is no saving if the file puckers your first three shirts.
Hire a digitizer or buy digitizing software?
If you embroider a lot of new logos, buying software and learning to digitize can make sense. For most shops and small brands, paying per design is cheaper and faster. Here is what each route costs. Software prices below were checked on each maker's official website on 28 October 2026; they change with promotions and region, so check the official site before you buy.
| Option | Upfront cost | What you still need |
|---|---|---|
| Hire a digitizer (StitchNova) | $10 left chest or cap · $16 4″–8″ · $28 jacket back. Pay per design, nothing upfront. | Your artwork, size and machine brand. Edits included. |
| Embrilliance StitchArtist Level 1 to Level 3 | About $179 to $699 one-time list price, depending on level (sale prices are sometimes lower) | Learning time, test sew-outs, blanks and thread for practice |
| Hatch Embroidery Digitizer by Wilcom | US$1,199 one-time, or monthly FlexPay instalments; a free 30-day trial is offered | Learning time, test sew-outs, a Windows PC |
| Pro suites Wilcom EmbroideryStudio, Brother PE-DESIGN | Sold through dealers; no public list price on the makers' sites. Ask a local dealer for a quote. | Training, a capable PC, months of practice for production-grade files |
The break-even maths
Divide the software price by what you would pay per design. At $10 per left chest logo, a $179 program equals about 18 logos, and a $1,199 program equals about 120 logos, before you count any learning time. The software price is only the start: good digitizing takes practice with underlay, density and pull compensation, and every failed test sew-out costs a garment.
- Buy software if you digitize new designs every week, enjoy learning the craft and have time to practise.
- Hire a digitizer if you need a few designs a month, want production-ready files the next day, or would rather keep your machines running than sit at a computer.
- Do both: many shops own basic software for lettering and small edits, and outsource logos, caps, 3D puff and jacket backs. See the print shop partner page for regular work.
Why very cheap digitizing costs you more
A $3–$5 file is often made with auto-digitizing software. The software guesses stitch directions and density, and it usually shows on the machine: puckered fabric, broken threads, gaps between colours and small text that turns into a blob.
Every failed sew-out wastes a blank shirt or cap, thread and machine time. A hand-digitized file costs a few dollars more, but it sews cleanly the first time, which is cheaper by the second or third garment.
What's included in every StitchNova order
- Your machine format: DST, PES, EXP, JEF, VP3 or XXX (not sure which?)
- The editable EMB master file for future changes
- A colour sheet and stitch preview
- Small edits after your test sew-out
- Delivery usually within 12–24 hours
How to get an exact quote
Send a clear image of your logo (JPG, PNG, PDF or AI), the size in inches, the garment (cap, polo, jacket, patch) and your machine brand. With those four details I can give you a fixed price, usually within the hour.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to digitize a logo for embroidery?
At StitchNova, a left chest or cap logo up to 4 inches starts at $10. Designs between 4 and 8 inches start at $16, and jacket backs of 8 to 12 inches start at $28.
Why do some digitizers charge per 1,000 stitches?
Stitch count is a simple way to measure how much work and thread a design needs. A flat price by size is easier to budget, which is why StitchNova quotes by size and only adds $5 for every extra 5,000 stitches above 15,000.
Is it worth paying for manual digitizing instead of auto-digitizing?
Usually yes. Auto-digitizing software guesses stitch direction, underlay and density, which often causes puckering, thread breaks and unreadable small text. A hand-digitized file sews cleanly the first time, which saves thread, blanks and machine time.
Do I pay again for a different machine format?
No. One digitizing order includes your machine format such as DST or PES, plus the editable EMB file, so you can export other formats later.
Is it cheaper to buy digitizing software or hire a digitizer?
For most shops it is cheaper to hire a digitizer. Entry digitizing software such as Embrilliance StitchArtist lists at about $179 to $699, and Hatch Embroidery Digitizer at US$1,199 (official prices, October 2026). At $10 per left chest logo, that equals about 18 to 120 designs before you count learning time and test sew-outs. Software pays off if you digitize new designs every week.
Is flat-rate or per-stitch digitizing pricing better?
A flat rate by size tells you the price before work starts, which makes budgeting easy and removes any reason to add extra stitches. Per-stitch pricing can be cheaper for very simple text, but you only learn the final cost after the file is made. If you get a per-stitch quote, ask for an estimated stitch count first.
Are edits included in the price?
Yes. Small edits, like adjusting density or fixing a letter after your test sew-out, are included.
Get your logo hand-digitized from $10.
Send your artwork, size and machine brand. You get a clean stitch file plus the editable EMB, usually within 12–24 hours.