10 Top Hoodies Perfect for Printing & Embroidery in the UK
Published
Looking for the best hoodies for printing and embroidery available in the UK? Choosing the right blank is the biggest decision behind a custom hoodie, because the weight, fit and fabric decide how your print or logo looks and how long the hoodie gets worn. In this guide we pick the 10 blank hoodies we print and embroider most, compare them side by side and show you how to choose.
Every hoodie shown in this blog is a blank we print and embroider in house, so this is a list of what actually goes through our machines on a regular basis, rather than a catalogue skim. We update it every year as fabrics, fits and stock change, and you can browse the wider range in our full clothing catalogue or on our custom hoodies page.
Key points
- The AS Colour 5161 Relax Hood is our safest all round pick for printing and embroidery.
- For embroidery, choose 320gsm or heavier, such as the AWDis JH120 or the BY162.
- For organic hoodies, choose Stanley/Stella or Earth Positive.
- Label free hoodies such as the B&C ID.223 let your own neck label go straight in.
- Embroidery, DTG and DTF start at 8 units, and screen printing starts at 20.
In this guide
- Our Top 10 Blank Hoodies for Printing and Embroidery
- The Best Hoodies for Printing and Embroidery Compared
- How to Choose the Best Blank Hoodie
- Hoodie Brands at a Glance
- Also Worth a Look
- The Sustainable Choice
- Printing or Embroidery on a Hoodie?
- How to Order Printed Hoodies
- Printed Hoodie FAQs
Our Top 10 Blank Hoodies for Printing and Embroidery
We have printed and embroidered our way through thousands of blank hoodies. These are the 10 that keep earning their place, along with the garment code in order to get a quote, the weight, the fit and what each one is best for.
AS Colour Relax Hood
Drop shoulder, kangaroo pocket, ribbed cuffs and a self fabric lined hood. The mid-weight all rounder, and the safe pick if you are ordering one style for everyone. We are an official AS Colour printer, and this is the hoodie we recommend most often.
Best for: everyday merch, team wear and first orders.
Stanley/Stella Slammer 2.0
Double layered hood, colour matched drawcord and embroidered eyelets. The one to pick when the hoodie is the product rather than the uniform. Certified organic cotton in a fit that looks current, and the cotton takes ink cleanly.
Best for: retail collections and brands with a sustainability story.
Anthem hoodie
A tailored everyday essential with a classic kangaroo pocket, made from sustainable materials, so the credentials show on the shop floor.
Best for: sustainable staff and everyday hoodies.
Earth Positive pullover hoodie
Made without any polyester at all, so it sheds no microplastics in the wash. It also comes in a wide choice of colours. Earth Positive, formerly Continental Clothing, include a size tab in some garments, a real help when your own neck label goes in.
Best for: organic ranges and rebranding the hoodie as your own product.
B&C ID.223 hoodie
A versatile unisex pullover that arrives with no manufacturer's neck label, so your own can go straight in. B&C are a certified B Corp, and their colours match across styles, so a hoodie and a tee in one shade look like a set.
Best for: matched sets across garment types and your own neck label.
Ultra Heavy Hoodie
The heaviest on the list, with extra long sleeves and wide ribbed cuffs. Popular with skate and streetwear brands who want the garment to feel like a product.
Best for: heavyweight merch that has to feel premium.
AWDis Just Hoods Signature heavyweight
A large pouch pocket with ribbed cuffs and hem. The densest surface on this list, which makes it the best of the ten for a detailed embroidered logo. Part of the AWDis Just Hoods family, known for one of the widest colour ranges in hoodies. Its classic 280gsm JH001 College Hoodie is the one we screen printed for Maggie Rogers, shown further down.
Best for: detailed embroidery and hard to match brand colours.
Organic Label Free Hoodie
Metal tipped drawstrings and a completely clean neck, which makes it the easiest of the ten to print inside the collar.
Best for: printing inside the neck and own label brands.
B&C ID.224 zip hoodie
The zip companion to the ID.223 above, so a team can take the pullover and the zip from one range with the same logo on both.
Best for: teams that want a pullover and a zip from one range.
Gildan Heavy Blend full-zip
A robust zip hoodie that holds its size through repeated hot washes. The zip splits the front, so plan a left chest logo and put anything larger on the back. Gildan is consistent from batch to batch and priced so that large orders work out.
Best for: large runs, events and giveaways where cost per unit decides.
The Best Hoodies for Printing and Embroidery Compared
Here we place all 10 side by side. Quote the code when you ask for pricing and we will know exactly which hoodie you are referring to.
| Hoodie | Code | Weight or fabric | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| AS Colour Relax Hood | 5161 | 320gsm, relaxed fit | One style for a whole team |
| Stanley/Stella Slammer 2.0 | STSU209 (SX707) | 350gsm, organic, oversized | Retail and sustainable ranges |
| Anthem hoodie | AM001 | Brushed interior, sustainable materials | Sustainable staff hoodies |
| Earth Positive pullover hoodie | EP301 | 100% GOTS organic, polyester free | Organic and own label ranges |
| B&C ID.223 hoodie | BA434 (WG008) | 280gsm, label free neck | Matched sets and own labels |
| Ultra Heavy Hoodie | BY162 | 460gsm, French terry | Streetwear and skate brands |
| AWDis Just Hoods Signature heavyweight | JH120 | 440gsm, boxy | Detailed embroidery |
| Organic Label Free Hoodie | UCC361 | 360gsm, organic, no internal labels | Inside neck prints |
| B&C ID.224 zip hoodie | BA435 | Full zip, label free neck | Pullover and zip in one range |
| Gildan Heavy Blend full zip | GD058 (18600) | Pre-shrunk fleece, full zip | Large runs and events |
Get a hoodie quoteor call 0208 064 1315
How to Choose the Best Blank Hoodie for Printing and Embroidery
The cheapest hoodie is rarely the best one to brand. These are the things that matter most, in the order we would think about them.
1. Weight
Weight is measured in grams per square metre (gsm), and it sets both how the hoodie feels and how the decoration sits on it.
| Weight | How it feels | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Under 280gsm | Light and easy to layer | Warm weather and printed logos, but a dense embroidery can show through |
| 280 to 330gsm | The everyday mid-weight | Most teams, uniforms and merch, all year round |
| 350gsm and above | Substantial and premium | Merch you are selling, detailed embroidery and colder months |
A heavier hoodie is not automatically a better hoodie. A 460gsm hoodie will be too warm for people working hard indoors, and a hoodie that stays on the hanger does nothing for your brand. If you are kitting out your staff rather than selling merch, our guide to work hoodies for teams goes through it by job.
2. Fit
A garment with a standard fit suits a standard chest print and is the safe choice for staff and team wear. Relaxed and dropped shoulder cuts suit merch and streetwear. Oversized and boxy fits allow for a much bigger flat area across the chest and back, which suits bold graphics, and our jumbo screen printing covers designs up to 45cm by 55cm for a big back print.
3. Pullover or zip
A pullover gives you an unbroken front panel for a chest print or a large centre graphic. A zip splits the front in two, so the logo usually moves to the left or right chest and the main artwork goes on the back. Decide before the artwork is finalised.
4. The neck label
A labelless hoodie lets your own branding be printed inside the neck, which is the detail that makes a blank feel like your own product. On other hoodies we can remove the manufacturer label and replace it, as our guide to relabelling explains.
5. The finishing details
These small details are what make a hoodie feel premium rather than a cheap giveaway:
- Metal or antique finish drawcord tips instead of plain plastic.
- A double layer or fleece lined hood that keeps its shape after being washed many times.
- Ribbed cuffs and hem that keep their shape.
- Stock that stays available, so a top up order in three months matches the first, and you don't have to start looking for a new blank.
Hoodie Brands at a Glance
If you would rather choose from the label than the garment, this is what each brand we print most is known for and when to choose it.
| Brand | Known for | Choose it for |
|---|---|---|
| AS Colour | Clean cuts and consistent quality. We are an official AS Colour printer | Full colour prints and quality without going heavyweight |
| Stanley/Stella | Certified organic cotton in current fits | Retail collections and sustainable brands |
| Earth Positive | 100% GOTS organic cotton, formerly Continental Clothing | Organic ranges and own label products |
| B&C | Certified B Corp, colours matched across styles | Matched sets and repeat orders |
| Independent Trading Co | Heavyweight hoodies built for merch | Merch where the hoodie has to justify its price |
| AWDis Just Hoods | A very wide colour range, plus the recycled Écologie range | Colour matching and mixed teams |
| Gildan | Consistent, widely stocked and priced for volume | Large runs, events and giveaways |
| Fruit of the Loom | A dependable mid-weight with sustainably sourced cotton | Clubs, schools and staff hoodies |
Also Worth a Look
These hoodies were unfortunate not to make the top 10, but we print them often and they are the right answer for some orders.
Independent Trading Co IND4000 and IND5000P
The IND4000 at 330gsm is a strong starting point for brands launching merch, and the IND5000P steps up to 450gsm, with antique silver drawcord tips and a double fleece lined hood that feels like a retail product. They are a favourite for band merch.
New for Autumn Winter 2026: Stanley/Stella Sculpter, Chaser Vintage and Fronter
Stanley/Stella's new season adds three hoodies worth knowing about: the Sculpter, a 500gsm oversized hoodie with a boxy, shorter fit; the Chaser Vintage, a 300gsm garment dyed hoodie with a relaxed fit; and the Fronter, a 400gsm oversized zip hoodie with a two way metal zip. Our Stanley/Stella Autumn Winter 2026 guide covers the full range.
Fruit of the Loom Classic hooded sweatshirt
A dependable mid-weight in a broad colour range, with sustainably sourced cotton and the kind of availability that makes reordering easy. It sits between Gildan and the premium brands on both price and feel.
The Sustainable Choice
Sustainability shapes which brands we stock. Stanley/Stella works in certified organic cotton and recycled blends, Earth Positive uses 100% GOTS organic cotton, B&C is a certified B Corp, which is an independent standard rather than a claim a brand awards itself, and AWDis offers its Écologie range.
The decoration is very important too. Direct to garment printing uses water based inks, and a well made hoodie with your own label replaces a cheap hoodie that would be thrown away after a few wears. Our guide to sustainable promotional merchandise covers the wider range.
Printing or Embroidery on a Hoodie?
Most hoodies can be decorated in several ways. This is how the methods compare:
| Method | Minimum order | Best on hoodies for |
|---|---|---|
| Embroidery | 8 units | Chest logos and uniforms. Durable and premium, best on 320gsm and heavier |
| Screen printing | 20 units per design | Bold graphics, exact Pantone colours and the best price on bigger runs |
| Jumbo screen printing | 20 units per design | Back prints up to 45cm by 55cm |
| Direct to garment | 8 units | Full colour and photographic artwork on hoodies of at least 80% cotton |
| Direct to film | 8 units | Full colour artwork on polyester blends |
| Puff printing | 25 units | Raised 3D logos and lettering |
We screen printed the above Don't Forget Me design for Maggie Rogers on AWDis JH001 College Hoodies, a great example of how cleanly a classic 280gsm hoodie takes fine type.
Embroidery reads as permanent and will last as long as the garment does, and stitches do not crack or fade, which is why it suits uniforms and anything washed constantly. Screen printing is the best option for big graphics and exact brand colours, and our guide to Pantone colours in screen printing explains how we match them. Plenty of our clients use both: an embroidered logo on the chest and a printed graphic on the back. For the full picture, compare every method on our printing techniques page.
When you are ready, send us the hoodie code using this guide, or just tell us what the hoodies are being used for, with a quantity and your artwork. Mixed sizes come at no extra cost, and if you are deciding between two hoodies, tell us what matters most, the weight, the budget or the sustainability credentials, and we will help you choose.
How to Order Printed Hoodies
Four steps from first enquiry to delivered order, with one point of contact the whole way through.
Tell Us What You Need
Send over the hoodie you have in mind, quantity and size split, your artwork and your deadline. A dedicated Account Manager will come back to you within 15 minutes with pricing and options. Orders start at eight units.
Place Order
We send a free visual proof within 30 minutes of your order being confirmed, so you can be certain the logo is the size and in the position you want before anything is decorated.
Printed or Embroidered In House
Embroidered artwork is digitised into a stitch file and sewn out on a test piece first. Printed artwork is screen printed by our own team. Either way every hoodie is checked before it is folded and packed.
Delivered To Your Door
Tracked delivery using the most reliable couriers in the UK, with shipping into Europe and worldwide whenever you need it.
Printed Hoodie FAQs
What is the best blank hoodie for embroidery?
A heavier hoodie with a thick, smooth surface. The AWDis JH120 at 440gsm and the BY162 at 460gsm give the needle the most to work into, so a detailed logo sews out clean without puckering. Anything from 320gsm upwards embroiders really well.
What is the best blank hoodie for screen printing?
A smooth, stable face is more important than weight. The AS Colour 5161 and the B&C ID.223 both allow a large front graphic to print cleanly. If you need an exact Pantone match across a big run, tell us at quote stage and we will suggest the blank that suits the colour.
What is the minimum order for custom hoodies?
Embroidery, direct to garment and direct to film all start at 8 units, and screen printing starts at 20 per design. The more you order, the lower the price per hoodie, because the set up is the same whether it covers 20 hoodies or 800.
How much do custom hoodies cost?
It comes down to the blank you choose, the decoration and the quantity. Set up is charged once per design rather than per hoodie, so the unit price falls as the quantity rises. Send us the code from this guide with a headcount and your artwork, and pricing comes back within 15 minutes.
Can I have printing and embroidery on the same hoodie?
Yes you can, and plenty of our clients do so, with an embroidered logo on the chest and a printed graphic across the back. Both are done in house, so the order stays on one schedule.
Can you put our own label in the neck?
Yes. The B&C ID.223, the B&C ID.224 and the UCC361 are made with no manufacturer label, so your branding can go straight in. On alternative hoodies we can remove the original label and replace it with a printed or woven label of your own.
Can we mix sizes and styles in one order?
Of course, and mixed sizes cost no extra. You can mix styles too, such as pullovers for some of the team and zips for others, as long as each style meets the minimum for its technique.
Which hoodies in this guide are organic or sustainable?
The Earth Positive EP301 is 100% GOTS organic cotton with no polyester, the Stanley/Stella Slammer 2.0 is organic cotton, the UCC361 is an organic heavyweight, and the Anthem AM001 is produced with sustainable materials.
Can you print full colour images on a hoodie?
Yes. Direct to garment printing works on hoodies that are at least 80% cotton, and direct to film transfers give a similar full colour result on hoodies with more polyester.
Final Thoughts
The best hoodie for printing or embroidery is the one that suits the job: the AS Colour 5161 for one style across a team, a heavyweight like the JH120 or BY162 for embroidery and merch, and Stanley/Stella or Earth Positive when sustainability matters. Pick the weight and fit first, then the decoration.
Send us the code and your artwork and we will price it up within 15 minutes. Email hello@1worldprint.co.uk or call us on 0208 064 1315.
Ready to print or embroider your own hoodies?
hello@1worldprint.co.uk · 0208 064 1315
Locations
20-22 Wenlock Road
London
N1 7GU
0208 064 1315
Visits by appointment onlyManchester Address
First Floor, Swan Buildings
20 Swan Street
Manchester
M4 5JW
0161 457 6080
Visits by appointment only