FITNESS UNIFORM BUYING GUIDE

By David Allen, Personal Trainer Clothing
UK specialists in custom printed gym uniforms since 2013.
Last updated: 19 October 2026

Quick Answers

  • Garments: choose performance T-shirts or vests for active roles, polos for a smarter appearance, and layers for cooler or outdoor work.
  • Quantities: start with 2–3 T-shirts or polos and 1–2 hoodies or midlayers per employee. Adjust for shifts, activity levels and washing.
  • Fabrics: choose moisture-wicking performance fabrics for active work, considering comfort and freedom of movement.
  • Colours: coordinate garment colours and logo placement across different styles for a consistent, professional appearance.
  • Sizing: check each garment’s size guide, as fit varies between styles.
  • Design preview: use our Online Designer to preview your logo and text on your chosen garments.

Whether you’re launching a new fitness business, refreshing your uniforms or rebranding, this guide will help you choose garments, fabrics, colours and quantities to create a professional, practical and comfortable uniform that suits your business.

Choosing Garments for Each Role: What Should Fitness Staff Wear?

Every fitness business is different, so your uniform should reflect the roles your staff perform.

When choosing garments, consider how active each role is, whether staff work indoors, outdoors or both, and the image you want your business to project. Allow for seasonal requirements, different clothing needs across roles, and the availability of men’s and women’s fits.

Performance T-shirts and vests: lightweight, moisture-wicking options for personal trainers and active instructors.

Polo shirts: a smarter option for reception and other customer-facing roles.

Hoodies, sweatshirts and midlayers: additional layers for cooler conditions.

Jackets and bodywarmers: practical options for outdoor work or moving between locations.

Shorts, leggings and joggers or track pants: suitable choices for different activities and working environments.

Many businesses choose coordinating garments rather than dressing every employee identically. For example, personal trainers may wear performance T-shirts while reception staff wear polo shirts in coordinating colours, with consistent logo placement.

Suggested Garments by Role

Role Suggested garments Why
Personal trainer or fitness instructor Performance T-shirt or vest, shorts, leggings or joggers, hoodie or midlayer Lightweight, moisture-wicking and easy to move in
Reception and front of house Polo shirt, sweatshirt or quarter zip Smarter look for customer-facing work
Gym floor or duty manager Polo shirt or performance T-shirt, midlayer Easy to spot, comfortable on the move
Outdoor or boot camp instructor Performance T-shirt, midlayer, jacket or bodywarmer Layers for changing weather
Spa, pool or hotel health club staff Polo shirt, lightweight midlayer Professional appearance in a hospitality setting

For advice tailored to your type of business, explore who we help.

How Many Uniforms Does Each Employee Need?

2–3 performance T-shirts or polo shirts: allow for regular changes while other garments are being washed. Staff working frequent or particularly active shifts may need more.

  • 1–2 hoodies or midlayers: provide extra warmth during cooler periods, between activities or when moving between indoor and outdoor areas.

1 jacket, where required: useful for staff working outdoors or travelling between locations.

Shorts, leggings or track pants appropriate to the role: choose quantities that allow for regular washing and reflect how often they will be worn.

Choose Colours and Your Logo Design

Before selecting garment colours, consider how they complement your business identity and allow your logo to stand out. Different garment styles can create a coordinated uniform when colours and print placement are consistent.

Plain or contrast garments: plain garments offer a simple, consistent look, while contrast panels or trims can introduce an additional colour. Choose colours that work with your logo and overall business identity.

Logo contrast: you may need light and dark versions of your logo for different garment colours. For example, a white logo stands out on navy or black clothing, while a darker version is more suitable for light-grey or white garments.

Consistent placement: keep logo size and position consistent where garment construction and available print areas allow.

Additional text: include your business name or staff role where it helps customers identify your staff.

For advice on logo file requirements and print placement, read our Logo Guide.

Select Fabric

Choose fabrics based on how active and how customer-facing a shift is, not only on job title. Many gyms and spas choose moisture-wicking polyester for the whole team, reception included, because it stays comfortable through a long shift.

Check Fit

Check each garment’s size guide to help staff choose a comfortable fit, as sizing varies between styles. Where garments come in both men’s and women’s fits, make sure staff know which is available.

Preview Your Design

Use our Online Designer to preview your logo and text. Print areas vary between garments and sizes, but we check your artwork before production and will contact you if any adjustments are needed. For step-by-step instructions, follow our Online Designer Guide.

Quick Planning Checklist

Before placing your order, ask yourself:

Plan your uniforms Check before ordering
  • How many employees require uniforms?
  • Which garments are appropriate for each role?
  • How many changes of clothing does each employee need?
  • Have you considered seasonal clothing requirements?
  • Have you checked the relevant size guides?
  • Have you confirmed garment colours, artwork and print placement?
  • Have you checked production times and delivery arrangements?
  • Have you set a budget and planned how you will reorder for new starters?

Thank you for reading our Fitness Uniform Buying Guide. We hope it has helped you choose the most suitable garments for your business.

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Helpful Resources

Explore our other resources for practical advice, answers to common questions and real examples of how businesses have created professionally customised uniforms with Personal Trainer Clothing.

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