The sizes below are the ranges used by embroidery shops and vinyl crafters for common items. They are starting points: measure the flat area of your item first, and remember that a monogram with a frame, thin script strokes or three letters needs to be at the upper end of the range to cut and stitch cleanly. In our monogram maker the “Size” field sets the SVG and PDF width and height in inches, so you can type the number straight from this chart.
Embroidery sizes
| Item | Monogram height | Placement |
|---|---|---|
| Bath towel | 3 to 4 in | Centred, 2 to 3 in above the dobby border (or hem) |
| Bath sheet | 4 to 5 in | Centred, 3 in above the border |
| Hand towel | 1.5 to 2 in | Centred, 1.5 to 2 in above the border |
| Washcloth / fingertip towel | 0.75 to 1.25 in | Centred, 1 in above the hem or in one corner |
| Bathrobe | 2 to 3 in | Left chest |
| Men’s shirt cuff | 0.25 to 0.5 in | Left cuff, 1 in from the edge, or the shirt tail |
| Shirt pocket / left chest | 1.5 to 2.5 in | Above the pocket, or 7 to 9 in down from the shoulder seam |
| Polo shirt | 2 to 2.5 in | Left chest, aligned with the second button |
| Napkin (dinner) | 1 to 1.5 in | One corner, on the diagonal, 1.5 in from the point |
| Cocktail napkin | 0.75 to 1 in | One corner |
| Pillowcase | 1.5 to 2 in | Centred on the hem band |
| Throw pillow (18 in) | 6 to 8 in | Centred |
| Sheet (flat, top hem) | 1.5 to 2 in | Centred on the hem, reading correctly when folded back |
| Tote bag | 4 to 6 in | Centred, or upper third |
| Baby blanket | 2 to 3 in | One corner or centred on the satin edge |
| Bib | 1.5 to 2 in | Centred |
| Handkerchief | 0.5 to 0.75 in | One corner |
| Cap (front) | 2 to 2.25 in | Centred on the front panels |
Vinyl (adhesive and heat transfer) sizes
| Item | Monogram width | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 20 oz skinny tumbler | 2.5 to 3 in | Flat area is about 3.25 in wide; place a third of the way down |
| 30 oz tumbler | 3 to 3.5 in | Keep below the taper |
| Coffee mug (11 oz) | 2 to 2.5 in | Centred opposite the handle for a right-hander |
| Wine glass | 1.25 to 1.75 in | Use a heavy font; curved surface |
| Water bottle (kids) | 2 to 2.5 in | Bubble fonts cut smallest |
| Phone case | 1 to 1.5 in | Single initial or two letters |
| Laptop | 3 to 4 in | Centred on the lid |
| Car rear window decal | 4 to 6 in | Old English and script need 4 in or more |
| T-shirt, left chest (HTV) | 3 to 4 in | Centre 7 to 9 in down from the shoulder seam |
| T-shirt, full front (HTV) | 8 to 10 in adult, 5 to 7 in child | Top of design 3 in below the collar |
| Sweatshirt front | 9 to 11 in | Centred |
| Tote bag (HTV) | 6 to 8 in | Centred |
| Cooler / lunch box | 3 to 4 in | Front panel |
| Wooden door hanger (18 to 24 in) | 12 to 16 in | Split monogram stencil |
| Doormat stencil | 10 to 12 in | Single initial |
| Welcome sign (wedding) | 8 to 12 in | Wedding monogram at the top |
| Invitation (5 x 7 in) | 1.5 to 2 in | Use the PNG at 300 dpi |
| Wax seal | 0.75 to 1 in | Single initial, heavy font |
Minimum sizes by font style
These are the smallest sizes at which each style of font cuts and weeds reliably in standard adhesive vinyl. Heat-transfer vinyl and glitter vinyl need about 25 percent more; embroidery satin stitch needs strokes at least 1 mm wide, which puts scripts at 2.5 in or more.
| Font style | Examples in the maker | Minimum (vinyl) |
|---|---|---|
| Bubble / heavy | Titan One, Bungee, Luckiest Guy | 1 in |
| Bold sans | Montserrat, Bebas Neue | 1 in |
| Serif | Cinzel, Playfair Display, Bodoni Moda | 1.5 in |
| Monoline / brush script | Sacramento, Alex Brush, Pacifico | 2.5 in |
| Copperplate script | Great Vibes, Pinyon Script, Herr Von Muellerhoff | 4 in |
| Blackletter | UnifrakturMaguntia, Pirata One | 3 in |
| Any style with laurel or vine frame | 4 in |
How to measure
- Measure the flat, printable area of the item, not the whole item. A tumbler’s flat area is shorter than its height.
- Take about 80 percent of the smaller dimension as your monogram size for a bold statement, 50 to 60 percent for a subtle one.
- Cut a paper copy at that size (print the PDF from the maker) and hold it against the item before cutting vinyl.
Frequently asked questions
How big should a monogram be on a bath towel?
Three to four inches tall, centred 2 to 3 inches above the border. Hand towels take 1.5 to 2 inches and washcloths about 1 inch.
What size monogram fits a 20 oz tumbler?
Two and a half to three inches wide. The flat area on most 20 oz skinny tumblers is about 3.25 inches wide, so anything larger wraps onto the taper.
How small can a script monogram be cut in vinyl?
About 2.5 inches for brush and monoline scripts and 4 inches for copperplate scripts such as Great Vibes, because of the hairlines.
Where does a monogram go on a shirt?
On the left cuff (0.25 to 0.5 in), above the pocket or on the left chest (1.5 to 2.5 in, 7 to 9 in below the shoulder seam), or on the shirt tail.
Make your monogram
Open the free monogram maker, or start from a style: circle monogram, split monogram, wedding monogram, vine monogram, diamond monogram, old english monogram, bubble letter monogram, script monogram, two-letter monogram, single initial monogram.
More guides
Last reviewed: 25 September 2026. The fonts are open-licensed (SIL OFL or Apache 2.0); see the font list for each licence. The frames are drawn by our own code. Something not working? Please let us know.