Vinyl Decal Size Chart: For Shirts, Bags, And Many More

Decals On Other Parts Of The Shirts

When designing t-shirts for teenagers using heat transfer vinyl, place the decal 1.5 to 2 inches below the neckline depending on shirt size.

If you are designing hoodies or sweatshirts, the decal size will be 12×16 inches. For hats, it should be 4.75×2.75 inches.

These recommended vinyl decal sizes are for regular t-shirts or shirts. If you have an Asian-fit shirt, you can make the design a bit smaller, at least 0.5 to 1 inch. For American-size shirts, you can add 1 to 2 inches to the decal size.

General Rule To Remember

One important rule to remember: avoid printing on the whole surface. Make sure the vinyl decal is 3 to 5 inches away from the edges of the blank canvas. You have to remember that edges have stitches, so you can’t print over them. Also, you can’t print till the bottom of the shirt because usually it is tucked in and won't look good.

Vinyl Decal Size Chart For Bags

Bags are of different sizes. For determining the right decal size for them it is important to take their dimensions. Leave space from all sides. The decal should be centralized properly if placed on a tote bag. Keep a tape measure or ruler handy for this. Cut a piece of paper the size of your decal and place it against your bag to get an idea of how it will look.

Where Else Can You Print Heat Transfer Vinyl Decals

Other than t-shirts, there are many different things you can print on using heat transfer vinyl such as:

• Towels
• Laundry bags
• Table cloth linen
• Handkerchief
• Face mask
• Any material made of canvas (tote bags, sneakers, coin purses, pillowcases, etc)

Vinyl Decal Size Tips

• Follow the vinyl decal size of the shirts you already have. This can guide you in the right direction if you have any doubts.
• You can also go to a clothing store with a tape measure and take the dimensions of the vinyl decal of the different shirt sizes available on the rack. Follow what other big clothing brands do, and you’ll do great!
• Visualize the design using your cutting machine’s software. Silhouette or Cricut’s software boasts this feature. You can upload a blank template of a shirt and adjust the sizing according to the shirt size. Then upload the design and place it over the shirt template. Adjust the decal size accordingly. The top and left parts of the screen have measurements in inches, so you’ll be able to visualize properly how the design would look.
• Visualize the vinyl decal size using an old carrier sheet. Place it over your canvas and determine if you need a larger or smaller dimension. Use a ruler or measuring tape to manually measure if you need smaller or bigger sizes for your decal. The old-school way always works best!

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How are vinyl decals measured?
Vinyl decals can be measured using your cutting machine’s software through a template visualizer. You can also use a ruler or tape measure for this. Follow the decal size tips mentioned in this guide.

Q. What is a good size for a decal on a shirt?
As a general rule, a good decal size for adult t-shirts should be between 9 to 14 inches. This will depend on how you want your decal to look on the blank canvas.

Q. How do I ensure the decal size fits the shirt perfectly?
Measure the width and height of the shirt area where you plan to place the decal. Compare these measurements to the decal size to ensure a good fit. Adjust as necessary.

Q. What are the different parts of the t-shirt where you can place the decal?
You can place the decal on the front center, back center, left side of the chest, pockets, and sleeves.

Final Thoughts

Hopefully, this vinyl decal size chart will help you in designing shirts efficiently. Practice makes perfect when it comes to HTV printing. For premium-quality craft vinyl in many different colors and finishes near you, visit TeckWrap Craft. Happy crafting!