How Long Does It Take to Order Custom Football Kits?

If you’re a club secretary, manager, or committee member who has ever realised in July that the new season is suddenly around the corner — you’re not alone.

One of the most common questions grassroots clubs ask is simple:

How long does it REALLY take to order custom football kits?

The short answer is that production typically takes around 4–5 weeks once the design is approved and the order is confirmed.

But the full timeline usually starts earlier than that.

Because before a single shirt gets made, there’s a bit of groundwork that needs to happen first.

The Journey from Idea to Kick-Off

Ordering custom kits isn’t just about manufacturing time. There are usually three stages involved and understanding them helps clubs avoid the usual pre-season rush.

Stage 1 — Design & Approvals (1–3 Weeks)

This stage often takes the longest — not because the work is difficult, but because clubs are busy places and decisions take time.

Designing a custom kit usually involves:

• Choosing your shirt style and colours
• Providing your club badge in a high-resolution format
• Confirming sponsor logos and placements
• Selecting fonts for names and numbers
• Finalising the squad list

And of course, there’s usually a final round of approval from the manager, the chairman, the committee — or the one person who always replies slightly later than everyone else.

For most grassroots clubs, this stage realistically takes between one and three weeks depending on how quickly decisions are made.

Stage 2 — Production (Around 4–5 Weeks)

Once the design is approved and payment is confirmed, the kits move into production.

At th13tn, every kit is made to order rather than taken from warehouse stock.

That means:

• Your club badge is applied specifically for your team
• Colours are matched to your design
• Names and numbers are printed individually
• Every garment is produced for your club

Because everything is made specifically for each team, manufacturing typically takes around four to five weeks from final approval.

Stage 3 — Delivery

Once production is complete, kits are dispatched and usually arrive within a few days depending on where your club is based in the UK.

And then the exciting part starts……

Handing them out on Matchday and seeing the squad wearing the new colours for the first time.

Typical Timeline

For most clubs the process looks something like this:

• Design & approvals → 1–3 weeks
• Production → 4–5 weeks
• Delivery → 3–5 days

Total time: usually 5–8 weeks from first conversation to kits in hand.

The biggest variable in the timeline is normally the design stage. Clubs that make decisions quickly often move from idea to finished kits much faster.

The Most Common Mistake Clubs Make

Leaving it until July.

By mid-summer, clubs across the country suddenly realise they need new kits for the upcoming season. Lead times stretch, design decisions get rushed, and someone inevitably guesses their size instead of trying one on.

The clubs that get it right are the ones who start the process early — while the current season is still running and the squad is easy to gather.

How to Speed the Process Up

A few simple things make the whole process smoother:

• Have your club badge ready in a high-resolution format (AI, EPS or PNG)
• Gather sizes at training rather than asking players to guess
• Set a clear deadline for names and numbers
• Nominate one person to make final decisions

Clubs that organise these things early usually receive their kits quickly — and without the usual stress.

Planning Kits for Next Season?

If your club is thinking about new kits, the best time to start the process is while the current season is still running.

That gives you time to design something the club is proud of — rather than rushing decisions in the middle of summer.

th13tn works directly with grassroots clubs across the UK to create custom football kits built around each club’s identity.

Start the conversation at th13tn.com — the earlier you begin the process; the more time your club has to get the kit exactly right.