Branded Polo Shirts for Your Team: Everything You Need to Know

The humble polo shirt is the single most popular item of branded workwear in the UK, and for good reason. It strikes the perfect balance between casual and professional, it is comfortable enough for a full working day, and it looks fantastic with an embroidered logo. Whether your team works in a warehouse, a showroom, behind a bar, or out on the road, there is a polo shirt that fits the bill.

This guide covers everything you need to know about choosing, branding, and ordering polo shirts for your team.

Why Polo Shirts?

Polo shirts have become the default workwear choice for businesses across virtually every industry. Here is why:

• Versatile — Suitable for everything from manual work to client-facing roles. Smart enough for meetings, comfortable enough for physical work.
• Year-round wear — Light enough for summer, easy to layer under fleeces and jackets in winter.
• Easy care — Machine washable, quick drying, and most do not need ironing.
• Perfect for branding — The flat, structured fabric of a polo shirt is ideal for embroidery. A logo on the left chest looks clean and professional every time.
• Affordable — Quality branded polo shirts are available at every price point, from budget-friendly basics to premium performance fabrics.

Choosing the Right Fabric

Not all polo shirts are created equal. The fabric makes a significant difference to comfort, durability, and appearance.

Polycotton (65% Polyester / 35% Cotton)

The most popular choice for workwear polos. Polycotton combines the comfort and breathability of cotton with the durability and colour-retention of polyester. It resists creasing, holds its shape well through repeated washing, and takes embroidery beautifully. If you are not sure what to go for, polycotton is almost always a safe bet.

100% Cotton

Softer against the skin and more breathable than polycotton. A great choice for warmer environments or for staff who value comfort above all else. Be aware that 100% cotton polos can shrink slightly on the first wash (consider sizing up) and may crease more than polycotton.

100% Polyester / Performance Fabrics

Moisture-wicking polyester polos are increasingly popular, especially for active roles. They draw sweat away from the body, dry quickly, and feel lightweight. Popular with gym staff, outdoor teams, and anyone working in warm conditions. Some premium options include UV protection and anti-microbial treatments.

Piqué vs Jersey Knit

Most workwear polos use a piqué knit — the textured, waffle-like fabric that gives polo shirts their distinctive look. Piqué is breathable, durable, and holds its shape well. Jersey knit polos are smoother and stretchier, offering a more casual, modern feel.

Getting the Fit Right

Sizing varies between brands, so it is important to check size charts before ordering. Here is a rough guide to the main fit types:

• Classic fit — Relaxed, traditional cut with plenty of room through the body. Comfortable for all body types and popular for general workwear.
• Modern fit — Slightly more tailored than classic fit, without being tight. A good middle ground for teams that want a smarter look.
• Slim fit — Narrower through the chest and waist. Popular for corporate and client-facing roles where a sharper silhouette is preferred.
• Female fit — Shaped for women rather than simply scaled down from men’s sizes. Shorter body, shaped waist, and proportioned sleeves. Always worth offering female-fit options alongside unisex sizing.

Our advice is always to order a size set before committing to a bulk order, especially if you are trying a new brand. We can arrange this for you.

Popular Polo Shirt Brands

We stock polo shirts from all the major workwear and promotional clothing brands. Here are some of the most popular:

Uneek

Outstanding value for money. The Uneek UC101 Classic Polo is one of the best-selling workwear polos in the UK — durable, available in a huge range of colours, and very competitively priced. Uneek also offers the UC105 Active Polo for more technical applications and the UC128 Ladies Polo for female fit.

Fruit of the Loom

A household name. Their 63/402 polo is a reliable, mid-weight polycotton option available in an extensive colour palette. Fruit of the Loom is known for consistent sizing and good colour accuracy — a safe choice for businesses that need to match specific brand colours.

Russell

Positioned slightly above budget brands, Russell polos offer a more refined fit and feel. The Russell 539M is a popular choice for corporate environments where a smarter appearance is needed.

Kustom Kit

Premium promotional polos with a tailored, modern fit. Kustom Kit garments tend to look and feel a step above standard workwear — ideal for client-facing teams, hospitality, and retail.

AWDis / Just Cool

Specialising in performance and sports-inspired polos. The Just Cool range offers moisture-wicking, lightweight polos in vibrant colours — perfect for active roles and warm working environments.

See our full range of polo shirts in the online shop.

Logo Placement on Polo Shirts

The most common embroidery position on a polo shirt is the left chest — it is visible, professional, and works with virtually every logo. Typical left-chest embroidery is 80-100mm wide.

Other popular positions include:

• Right chest — For a name, job title, or secondary logo alongside the main left-chest design.
• Sleeve — Modern and distinctive. Works well for a small logo or motif.
• Back of collar — A subtle, premium placement. Less visible but adds a nice touch of branding when the collar is lifted.

For larger designs — like a full company name and website across the upper back — printing may be more appropriate than embroidery. We can advise on the best approach for your specific design. See our customisation and pricing page for more details.

How Many Should You Order?

For staff who wear polo shirts daily, we recommend three to five per person — enough for a working week with a couple in the wash at any time. For less frequent wear (e.g. event staff or part-time employees), two per person is usually sufficient.

Remember, we have no minimum order, so you can always top up later. Once your logo is on file, reordering is quick and easy with no repeat setup fee.

Pricing

The total cost of a branded polo shirt depends on three things:

1. The garment itself — Ranging from around £4-5 for budget options to £15-20+ for premium brands.
2. Embroidery setup — A one-off digitising fee for your logo (this is not charged on repeat orders).
3. Embroidery per item — Based on the stitch count of your design and the number of positions.

For a typical order of 10 polo shirts with a standard left-chest logo, you are looking at a very cost-effective per-item price. Contact us for a specific quote tailored to your requirements.

Order Your Branded Polo Shirts

Whether you need 3 polos for a small team or 300 for a large organisation, the process is the same: choose your garment, send us your logo, approve your free digital proof, and we will handle the rest. Free delivery on orders over £99+VAT.

Call us on 01440 712290 or contact us online to get started. Based in Haverhill, Suffolk, Xceluk has been branding polo shirts for businesses across the UK for nearly 20 years.