We live in a world where self-expression matters. You want to show off your individuality. And what better way to do that than with some one-of-a-kind artwork on your custom logo hats? While there are many aspects of hat design you can customize, there’s nothing that gives you the freedom that making your own logo does. And there’s no better place to design it than Hat.Co.
Our team is here to help you bring your logo ideas to life. All you have to bring is an idea, and our experts will help you tailor it for your custom hat. If you’re ready to dive in, you can call us at (636) 926-2777, get a quote online, or dive into our design studio to get started.
Below, you’ll go over why custom logos are important for hats, the different ways you can put your logo onto your hat, pro tips to get the most out of your design, and other things to keep in mind while designing your hat. You can jump ahead with the links below:
- Why Get A Custom Logo for Your Hat?
- 3 Custom Logo Design Pro Tips for Hats
- Custom Logo Hats — Artwork Options
- Other Hat Design Options to Go With Your Custom Logo
- Start Designing Custom Logo Hats
Why Get A Custom Logo for Your Hat?
Custom logo hats are an excellent way to showcase your branding, whether for your business, a team, or just for you. In some cases, you might have a preexisting logo that you’re thinking about putting on a hat, but don’t get too far ahead of yourself.
Hats (as opposed to shirts) require some special design considerations when creating a custom logo. You’ll want to consider the following:
- The size of the logo on the hat
- Where it will be placed
- The type of hat and the material it will be made of
- How important is durability versus detail to you
We’ll talk about pro tips for some custom logo hats next, but in the meantime, it’s important to realize that an existing logo may not be the right fit for a new custom hat. At Hat.Co, we’re able to help with either creating a brand new logo or adjusting an existing one to fit just right on your head.
Bonus: On top of getting a custom logo as a way to adapt to the hat medium or show off your unique style, custom designs are a great way to showcase a special event and make a keepsake for it.
3 Custom Logo Design Pro Tips for Hats
If you want to get the most out of your custom logo hats while designing them, keep in mind the following:
Custom Logo Hats Pro Tip 1: Use a Bold, Readable Logo
Whatever kind of design you’re going for, keep the medium in mind: Hats. Hats are prominent, but don’t have the display area of a billboard or even a custom shirt. Because of this, you need to make your design stand out.
Strong designs with large shapes are good fits for hats. When people see your logo on someone’s head in a crowd, you want them to be able to make it out without squinting.
Custom Logo Hats Pro Tip 2: Avoid Small Details
Finely detailed art can be incredible, but only in the right medium. A design that looks great on a poster can lose its aesthetic when it’s shrunk down. Because of this, existing logos aren’t always a good fit on hats.
Simpler designs not only improve your hat’s readability, but also tie in to pro tip #1 — a more straightforward, bold design keeps things readable and distinguishes your design from the rest.
Custom Logo Hats Pro Tip 3: Consider Adding a Rear Design
We spoke above about how hats don’t have a large amount of display space. However, one way you can get more out of your hat is by adding a logo on the back.
When customizing, many people overlook the back of the hat, which gives you an opportunity to make your design distinct. With a rear logo, you can add something specific to an event, create a secondary logo, or add a slogan.
Custom Logo Hats — Artwork Options
When thinking about your custom logo hats, one of the most important decisions you have to make is how the logo will make it onto the hat. The four main logo application methods are Embroidery, Patches, Screen Printing, and Direct-to-Film(DTF)/Heat Transfer. Each method has its pros and cons, and we’re going over them below to help you decide between them:
DTF/Heat Transfer:
DTF/Heat transfer is a game-changer for custom logo hats. It gives creators more options than ever before when it comes to finishes and overall designs. Here are the main advantages you get from DTF/Heat Transfer for your custom hat:
- Very affordable method, especially for smaller orders
- Unlimited color options and special finishes, such as reflective prints
- Fast turnarounds, for help when you need your custom hats ASAP
Screen Printing:
Screen Printing is the traditional method of putting a custom logo on your hat. As you might have guessed, it involves using screens as guides to paint layers of ink onto the fabric of your hat. Here are some reasons why you should consider screen printing:
- Designs are long-lasting when properly cared for
- Vivid colors that stand out strongly on the fabric
- Extremely cost-effective for large orders
Embroidery:
Embroidery does away with the inks of DTF and Screen printing, and instead uses colored thread to create your design. This thread is sewn into the fabric of your hat, creating a one-of-a-kind effect for your logo and giving it texture. Embroidery is a popular choice for the following reasons:
- A 3-D, one-of-a-kind effect that makes your logo stand out
- A classic look with a lot of history behind it
- Long-lasting designs, since the logo is integrated into the hat
Patches:
Patches, the final artwork option for your custom logo hats, put your logo on a separate piece of apparel that is then affixed to your hat. The patch itself could be made from a variety of materials, depending on what fits your design. Below are some of the main reasons why people order patches for their custom hat logos:
- Variety of patch types to choose from
- The most durable and long-lasting logo option
- Patches can also be ordered standalone if you want to put your logo on more things
As you can see above, there’s no always-right answer for how to get your design on your hat. Custom logo hats are, as the name suggests, unique. And you should go with a method that will make your logo stand out. If you’re not sure which method to go with, give us a call, and we’ll help you find the best one for your project. And as an added bonus, we save your artwork so you can reorder the same custom hat later and/or get matching apparel.
Other Hat Design Options to Go With Your Custom Logo
You’ve got your logo design ready — that’s great! But you’ve still got the hat itself to figure out. It’s important to give your design a solid base, and most of that comes down to the style and color of the hat it’s on:
Hat Styles:
While many hat styles can be customized, you’ll want to pick the right style for both your design and audience. A custom dad hat gives a very different impression than a custom fitted hat. With that in mind, here are the main hat style choices and what to know about each of them:
- Baseball Caps: Baseball caps are good all-arounders with lots of history, and work well with any logo style.
- Trucker Hats: Trucker hats have a large, padded front which displays screen printing and DTF well, but the mesh back isn’t as convenient for logos.
- Snapback Hats: Snapbacks have large fronts like trucker hats, but also have lots of space in the rear.
- Dad Hats: The unstructured nature of a dad hat makes embroidery a good fit, with its timeless look and pliable nature.
- Flexfit Hats: Flexfits are great for activewear, and a hyper-durable logo like a patch should stand up to the increased wear.
- Beanie Hats: Beanies are most often worn outdoors in colder weather. Because of this, patches are frequently used to give added endurance against the elements.
Color Theory:
Researching a bit of color theory can be beneficial for both your logo and the hat itself. You want to pick a canvas that will let your logo shine. Using the right background color will give you that advantage.
You don’t need a full art degree to pick out your colors, though. The main color schemes to look for are those that are complementary to your design. Complementary colors help each other stand out, adding to your design’s boldness.
One last color tip — use a color wheel to check out your colors before you decide on them. This can give you an idea of how your logo will look against a given background.
Design and Create Custom Logo Hats with Hat.Co
When you want custom logo hats, you want to work with the best to make it happen. And that’s where Hat.Co comes in. We’ve been in the custom apparel industry for over 50 years, and we offer high-quality, union printing services.
If you’re looking for help with creating custom logo hats, or if you need anything hat-related in general, we’re ready to help right away. Call (636) 926-2777 or contact us online now to get started.