outdated

Stop Quoting by Stitches: Try Flat-Rate Embroidery

In today’s fast-paced custom embroidery market, quoting by stitch count is the equivalent of using a rotary phone in the age of smartphones. It’s outdated, confusing, and benefits no one — except the shops that want to nickel-and-dime their customers. At Inkdnylon Custom Apparel, we’ve left dinosaur pricing models behind and replaced them with a transparent, flat-rate system that simplifies every order for customers across Chicago, Cook County, and the Midwest.

custom embroidery Chicago, flat-rate embroidery Cook County, embroidery pricing Midwest, no minimum embroidery near me, left chest embroidery services, flat-rate cap embroidery Chicago, best embroidery pricing Illinois, affordable embroidery service, Inkdnylon embroidery quote, embroidery for schools Chicago, embroidery for nonprofits Cook County, small batch embroidery Midwest

Stitch Count Pricing: The Old Way That Everyone Still Uses

The traditional embroidery industry quotes based on "stitch count per 1,000 stitches." For example:

  • A small logo with 5,000 stitches might be quoted at $10
  • A larger logo with 9,000 stitches could jump to $16.50

Here’s the catch — most customers have no idea how many stitches are in their design, and decorators know that. It creates a pricing system that hides the real cost until it's too late to turn back. Worse, different shops calculate stitch count differently, leading to inconsistent pricing for the same design.

Stitch count pricing may be standard, but that doesn’t make it right. It’s an outdated model that was never designed for the modern customer who wants fast, upfront answers.

Inkdnylon’s Flat-Rate Model: The Transparent Future

At Inkdnylon Custom Apparel, we flipped the model and made things simple:

  • ✅ Flat-rate pricing by size and placement
  • ✅ No hidden stitch fees
  • ✅ Clear minimums and clear costs
  • ✅ No surprises

Example pricing:

  • Left Chest or Cap Logo (Flat Rate)
  • 6 items: $15
  • 12 items: $14
  • 24 items: $9.50
  • 72 items: $6.90
  • 250 items: $4

Why Stitch Count Is a Problem — and Why We Don’t Use It

The embroidery world has clung to stitch count for decades. But at Inkdnylon, we believe just because “everyone’s doing it” doesn’t mean it’s right. If anything, the fact that it’s the industry norm makes it the problem.

Stitch count quoting:

  • Confuses customers
  • Delays approvals
  • Makes budgeting unpredictable
  • Penalizes designs with small details

Flat-rate quoting:

  • Speeds up decision making
  • Simplifies invoicing
  • Makes embroidery accessible to more businesses and organizations

🔒 Industry Minimums vs Inkdnylon Flexibility

Most embroidery shops require a minimum of 24 to 50 items just to start an order — regardless of design size. That locks out small businesses, one-off projects, and low-volume needs.

Inkdnylon Custom Apparel accepts embroidery orders starting at just 1 item.

  • 1 item: $60
  • 2 items: $100 total
  • 3 items: $120 total
  • 4 items: $140 total
  • 5 items: $125 total
  • 6+ items: flat-rate pricing begins ($15 and drops with quantity)

Whether you need a single hoodie or hundreds of polos, you’ll get the same premium quality — and pricing that fits your size.

🧵 Stitch Count vs Flat-Rate Pricing: Side-by-Side Comparison

Qty Industry Avg (Stitch Count – $12.25/item, 24+ min) Inkdnylon Flat Rate (No Minimum) Savings or Difference
1 Item ❌ Not Accepted $60.00 Inkdnylon accepts solo orders
2 Items ❌ Not Accepted $100 total / $50 each Inkdnylon accepts
3 Items ❌ Not Accepted $120 total / $40 each Inkdnylon accepts
4 Items ❌ Not Accepted $140 total / $35 each Inkdnylon accepts
5 Items ❌ Not Accepted $125 total / $25 each Inkdnylon accepts
6 Items ❌ Not Accepted $15.00 each Inkdnylon accepts
12 Items ❌ Not Accepted $14.00 each Inkdnylon accepts
24 Items $12.25 each $9.50 each ✅ Save $2.75/item
36 Items $12.25 each $8.75 each ✅ Save $3.50/item
48 Items $12.25 each $7.85 each ✅ Save $4.40/item
72 Items $12.25 each $6.90 each ✅ Save $5.35/item
144 Items $12.25 each $4.50 each ✅ Save $7.75/item
250 Items $12.25 each $4.00 each ✅ Save $8.25/item

🦕 Stitch Count Pricing is Outdated
Every decorator still quoting by the thousand stitches is part of the problem.
Inkdnylon Custom Apparel simplifies your cost — no stitch guessing, no overpaying, just flat rates that scale down the more you order.

Conclusion: Stop Accepting Dinosaur Pricing

If your current decorator is quoting you by stitch count, ask yourself why. At Inkdnylon Custom Apparel, we’ve made it our mission to simplify embroidery pricing and give our customers what they deserve — speed, transparency, and unbeatable value.

Stop guessing what your logo will cost. Start knowing.

Back to blog