How to Make Custom Emoji T-Shirts: Design Ideas, Tips, and Inspiration
Posted By Sofia Fox —
Sofia loves compiling data on custom swag our customers love and working with our internal experts to bring you the very best buying guides, advice, and industry stats.
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Emojis have become a universal language, and they translate perfectly onto custom t-shirts. Our Design Lab has hundreds of emoji clipart options you can search, place, resize, and colorize without any design experience. Whether you want a single oversized poop emoji on the front or a mix of your crew’s favorites scattered across the chest, this guide walks you through the whole process.
In This Article
- When Emoji T-Shirts Work Best
- How to Design Emoji T-Shirts in the Design Lab
- Emoji Design Ideas
- Emoji Shirts for Kids and Teams
- Frequently Asked Questions
Key Takeaways
- The Design Lab makes emoji design easy — search hundreds of emoji clipart options by keyword, then customize color, size, and placement with no design skills required.
- Scale matters more than you’d think — a single large emoji centered on the chest makes a bolder statement than a cluster of small ones; go big or go scattered pattern, not in between.
- Tie-dye and bold colors amplify the effect — emoji designs pop especially well on colorful or tie-dyed shirts, where the bright base adds to the playful tone of the design.
When Emoji T-Shirts Work Best
Emoji designs work for almost any occasion — they’re recognizable, easy to customize, and universally understood. Some occasions where they really shine:
| Occasion | Design idea |
|---|---|
| Birthday parties | Party popper, birthday cake, or “birthday girl” emoji centered on the chest |
| Girls trips and bachelorettes | Custom phrase with emoji accents (sunglasses, champagne, heart eyes) |
| Kids’ camps and school events | Let kids vote on their favorite emoji — poop is always popular |
| Sports teams | Trophy, fire, and muscle arm emojis for the competitive crowd |
| Work and corporate events | Thumbs up, star, or rocket for team spirit and motivation themes |
| Friend groups | Each person’s “signature emoji” on their own shirt — no two alike |
One of our favorites: using emoji shirts to give someone in the group a playful title. Samantha Sutton and her mom do an annual cruise together — just the two of them. This year they invited her dad, and the shirts said everything with very few words.
“My mother and I go on a cruise annually to get away from the stress of every day life. However, this year we decided to invite my father to come since it was free to invite a third guest. So we thought it would be fun to make tshirts to imply that my dad was tagging along on our annual girls trip. They turned out to be a big hit and throughout the entire cruise my dad was referred to as ‘him’ by the other cruisers.”
How to Design Emoji T-Shirts in the Design Lab
You don’t need Photoshop or a design background. Here’s the whole process from start to finish:
- Start in the Design Lab. Go to our Design Lab and choose your product. You can start with a t-shirt and swap it later if you change your mind.
- Click “Add Art” and search for emojis. Type any emoji name into the clipart search bar — “smiley,” “poop,” “fire,” “heart eyes,” or just “emoji” to browse everything available.
- Click to add the emoji to your design. Once added, an options panel opens on the left side of the Lab with controls for size, position, rotation, and color.
- Resize and position it. Drag a corner handle to scale the emoji, or enter exact dimensions in the options panel. For a bold single-emoji look, go large and center it on the chest. For a scattered pattern, add multiples and stagger the sizes.
- Change the color if you want. Many emoji clipart pieces have adjustable colors — use the options panel to match your shirt color or event theme.
- Add text or more art. Pair your emoji with a name, year, tagline, or inside joke using the “Add Text” tab. You can layer multiple clipart pieces, too.
- Preview and order. The Lab shows you a live preview on the actual product. When it looks right, add to cart. Our design experts review every order before it prints.
Pro tip: Scale up emojis large and center them on the chest for maximum impact, or create a fun pattern with multiple smaller emojis scattered across the design. Avoid the middle ground of medium-sized emojis placed off-center — go big and bold, or go full scatter.
Popular Products for Emoji Shirts
Gildan Softstyle Jersey T-shirt — Clean Print Surface
- 4.5 oz. ring-spun cotton with a tight weave and smooth finish; 30+ colors including brights that make emoji designs pop.
- Best for: bold single-emoji designs or scattered patterns where crisp edges matter.
Gildan Ultra Cotton Tank — Warm Weather Option
- Heavyweight 100% cotton tank with a classic racerback cut; the wide chest panel gives emoji designs plenty of room to breathe.
- Best for: summer events, bachelorette parties, and girls trips where the vibe calls for something a little more casual.
Port & Company Core Pullover Hoodie — Year-Round Layering
- Core weight fleece with a front pouch pocket; wide size range and large color selection make it easy to coordinate across a full group order.
- Best for: school groups, sports teams, and fall events where the emoji design needs to work on something warmer than a tee.
Emoji Design Ideas
Not sure where to start? Our emoji design templates are a great jumping-off point. Each one is fully editable — swap the colors, add text, or combine elements to make it your own.
One creative approach: make the emoji personal to your group. When Jen’s friends planned her 40th birthday, they didn’t just pick any emoji — they built the whole party around one that already meant something to them.
“My ‘fake family’ threw me a big 40th birthday party and called it ‘Jenstock’. We had already adopted the neutral emoji as our own, so it made perfect sense to design a tie-dyed t-shirt with the emoji for the event. The shirts were a hit, so we took a fake family photo in front of the fireplace.”
Featured Product from This Story
Dyenomite Rainbow Tie-Dye T-shirt — Bold Party Backdrop
- 100% cotton with a vivid multicolor tie-dye pattern; each shirt varies slightly since they’re hand-tied and individually dyed, so no two are exactly alike.
- Best for: birthday parties, group events, or anyone who wants the shirt itself to feel like part of the celebration.
Emoji Shirts for Kids and Teams
One of our favorite things about emoji shirt orders is that kids often design them themselves. The results are exactly what you’d expect — and we mean that as a compliment.
“We are using these t-shirts, designed by a group of 5 boys, for their First Lego League competition this year. The poop looks great!!!”
If you’re coordinating shirts for a school group, camp, or kids’ team, giving them input on the emoji design is a guaranteed way to get more excitement about wearing them. We’ve seen everything from science clubs to sports teams go full poop emoji — it works every time. Browse some starter templates below:
Ready to get started? Our Design Lab has hundreds of emoji options waiting, and our design experts are available seven days a week if you want a hand. Orders arrive within two weeks with free standard shipping, and rush options are available if you’re working with a tighter timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I use any emoji I want on a custom t-shirt?
Our Design Lab’s clipart library includes hundreds of emoji-style graphics you can use freely. If you have a specific emoji image you’d like to upload, you can do that too — just make sure it’s an image you own or have rights to use.
Q: How do I search for emoji designs in the Design Lab?
Click “Add Art” in the Design Lab and type any emoji name into the search bar — “smiley,” “poop,” “heart,” “fire,” or just “emoji” to browse everything. You can also visit our emoji design templates page for pre-built shirt designs you can customize and launch into the Lab with one click.
Q: What’s the minimum order for custom emoji t-shirts?
Many of our products have no minimums, so you can order as few as one. Check the product details page for the specific style you’re considering. Bulk discounts apply as quantities go up.
Q: Can different people in my group order their own sizes separately?
Yes. Our group order feature lets each person choose their own size and pay separately, with everything shipped to one location. It’s the easiest way to handle sizing for a large group without chasing anyone down.
Q: How long does it take to get custom emoji t-shirts?
Standard orders arrive within two weeks with free standard shipping. Rush and super rush options are available if you need them sooner. See all turnaround options on our delivery options page.
Q: What shirt works best for emoji designs?
Any standard cotton or cotton-blend tee prints well. If you want a vivid, colorful look like the Jenstock tie-dye shirts above, a tie-dye t-shirt makes the whole design pop. For a cleaner, more graphic look, a white or brightly colored solid shirt lets the emoji design do all the talking.
Q: Can I get help if I’m not sure how to set up my emoji design?
Absolutely. Our design experts are available seven days a week by phone, chat, or email. They can help you size clipart correctly, combine multiple emoji elements, or adjust colors — all at no extra charge.
Sofia loves compiling data on custom swag our customers love and working with our internal experts to bring you the very best buying guides, advice, and industry stats.