Restaurants

Custom Printing for Restaurants & Cafes

Branded uniforms, server tees, hats, aprons, and merch for restaurants, cafes, food trucks, and bars.

Restaurants and cafes use printed apparel for two distinct purposes: staff uniforms and brand merchandise. Server tees, kitchen tees, hats, and aprons need to look sharp shift after shift and survive aggressive washing. Branded merch — t-shirts, hoodies, hats — turns loyal customers into walking billboards and adds a meaningful revenue stream for popular spots.

Embroidery is the dominant method for front-of-house staff (polos, button-downs, hats) because it looks premium and lasts. Screen printing rules for staff t-shirts and any merch you sell. Both methods are usually combined — embroidered hats for hosts, screen-printed tees for kitchen and merch.

Reorder velocity matters more than for most industries. Staff turn over, kids get hired, and a popular merch tee sells out fast. Look for printers that store your art on file, offer fast reorders without re-paying setup fees, and can ship direct to your business or pop-ups.

Recommended Printers for Restaurants

Top-rated printers from our directory who specialize in services this industry uses.

i

imprint.com®

Houston, Texas

4.6·9183 reviews·Screen Printing, Custom Apparel
V

Viralstyle

Tampa, Florida

4.2·21434 reviews·Custom Apparel
S

Safari Sun

Altamonte Springs, Florida

5·3679 reviews·Screen Printing, DTG Printing
L

Las Vegas Logos & Embroidery

Las Vegas, Nevada

5·3650 reviews·Embroidery, DTF Printing
U

UNIQLO 5th Avenue

New York, New York

4.5·8430 reviews·Embroidery
I

InkPixi

Grove City, Pennsylvania

4.8·4232 reviews·Custom Apparel, Engraving

What Restaurants Order

  • Server and kitchen t-shirts
  • Front-of-house polos with embroidered logo
  • Branded aprons (full and bistro)
  • Embroidered caps and beanies
  • Branded merch tees and hoodies for retail
  • Branded tote bags for takeout / merch
  • Staff hoodies and sweatshirts
  • Branded coffee tumblers and pint glasses

Recommended Methods

  • Embroidery
    Best for premium staff polos, hats, and aprons — looks great wash after wash.
  • Screen Printing
    Best per-piece cost for kitchen tees and any retail merch you sell to customers.
  • DTG / DTF
    Smaller runs of merch, photo-quality designs, or limited-edition drops with no minimum.

Typical Quantity

12–200 pieces per design

Pricing

Embroidered polos for staff typically run $18–$30 each (garment + stitching). Screen-printed staff tees run $7–$15. Branded merch you sell to customers usually marks up 2–3x the print cost — so a $9 print becomes a $24 retail tee.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many staff shirts should I order initially?
For a 10-person team, order 30–50 shirts (3–4 per person) so staff have rotation between washes. Add 10–20% buffer for new hires. Order in 2–3 sizes weighted to your team — for example, 30% S, 40% M, 20% L, 10% XL. You'll reorder mid-year as turnover happens.
Can a printer help with branded merch I sell to customers?
Many printers offer "merch programs" where they print, store, and fulfill orders for you — often through a dedicated online store linked from your website. This works great for restaurants with cult followings. Smaller spots can do simple short runs (50–100 pieces) and sell at the host stand or as add-on at checkout.
What's the most durable apron for a busy kitchen?
Look for 100% canvas (10–12 oz) or twill aprons with reinforced stitching — typical wholesale price $8–$18 per blank, plus $5–$10 for embroidery or $3–$7 for screen printing. Cheap polyester aprons stain quickly and look worn after 50 washes. Industry favorites for durability include Hedley & Bennett, Tilit, and Liberty Bags 5510.
Should I embroider or screen print my logo on aprons?
Embroidery looks more premium and lasts longer, but it costs more (typically $5–$10 per apron) and limits design complexity. Screen printing is cheaper ($3–$6 per apron) and lets you use full-color or detailed designs, but the print can fade over many washes. For a flagship restaurant or high-end concept, embroider. For a fast casual or food truck, screen print.

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