One of the most common questions we receive from first-time buyers is: “How exactly does my logo end up on the cooler?” It is a great question, and understanding the customization process helps you make better decisions about artwork preparation, product selection, and what to expect from your finished order.
At BrandedCoolers.com, we specialize in applying company logos to a wide range of soft cooler bags, cooler bags and totes, backpack coolers, and lunch coolers. This guide walks you through the entire process — from artwork submission to final delivery — so you know exactly what to expect.
Step 1: Choose Your Soft Cooler Bag
The first step is selecting the right product for your needs. Our soft-sided cooler and cooler bag collections include hundreds of options across a wide range of styles, sizes, and price points.
Popular choices for logo printing include:
- Cooler Bags & Totes: Lightweight, foldable options perfect for trade show giveaways and promotional mailers. Available in 6-pack, 12-can, and large-capacity styles.
- Backpack Coolers: Hands-free options ideal for outdoor events, corporate retreats, and active recipients.
- Lunch Coolers: Compact, practical options for employee gifts and daily-use promotional items.
- Insulated Totes: Stylish, versatile carriers that double as grocery bags or beach totes.
- RTIC Soft Pack Coolers: Premium, fully waterproof soft coolers with excellent insulation for more demanding use cases.
- YETI Hopper Soft Coolers: The most prestigious soft cooler option, featuring HydroShield™ technology and YETI’s signature branding.
Each product page on our website lists the available imprint area (the dimensions of the space available for your logo), the decoration method, and the minimum order quantity — all the information you need to make an informed decision.
Step 2: Prepare and Submit Your Artwork
Once you have selected your product, the next step is preparing and submitting your logo or artwork. Here is what you need to know:
Preferred File Formats
For the best results, we recommend submitting your logo in a vector format:
- AI (Adobe Illustrator) — the gold standard for vector artwork.
- EPS (Encapsulated PostScript) — widely compatible vector format.
- PDF — acceptable if saved with vector data intact.
If you do not have a vector version of your logo, we also accept high-resolution raster files:
- PNG — preferred for raster files, especially with transparent backgrounds.
- JPG/JPEG — acceptable for photographic or complex artwork.
For raster files, a minimum resolution of 300 DPI at the final print size is required to ensure sharp, clean results.
What If I Don’t Have a Vector Logo?
Do not worry — our team provides complimentary art assistance with every order. If you only have a low-resolution version of your logo, our designers can often recreate it in vector format at no additional charge. Simply upload what you have, and our team will assess whether conversion is needed.
Step 3: The Decoration Methods We Use
The method used to apply your logo depends on the material of the cooler bag and the complexity of your artwork. Here are the primary decoration methods we use for soft cooler bags:
Screen Printing
Screen printing is the most common decoration method for soft-sided cooler bags and totes. In this process, a mesh screen is used to transfer ink directly onto the fabric surface of the bag, one color at a time.
Best for: Simple logos with 1–4 solid colors. Produces vibrant, durable results on most fabric cooler bags.
Advantages: Cost-effective for large orders, excellent color vibrancy, long-lasting results.
Limitations: Not ideal for photographic images or designs with gradients. Each additional color adds to the setup cost.
4-Color Process Printing (CMYK)
For logos or designs that contain multiple colors, gradients, or photographic elements, 4-color process printing (also known as CMYK or full-color printing) is the ideal solution. This method uses four ink colors — Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black — to reproduce virtually any color or image.
Best for: Complex logos, full-color artwork, photographic designs.
Advantages: Reproduces virtually any color or image, ideal for detailed artwork.
Limitations: Slightly higher cost than single-color screen printing. Best results on lighter-colored bags.
This is the standard decoration method for RTIC Soft Pack Coolers and many of our premium soft cooler bags, with a typical imprint area of 3″ W x 3″ H on the front panel.
Embroidery
For select fabric cooler bags and totes, embroidery is available as a premium decoration option. Embroidery uses thread to stitch your logo directly into the fabric, creating a textured, three-dimensional effect that conveys quality and craftsmanship.
Best for: Corporate gifts, premium bags, logos with clean lines and limited colors.
Advantages: Premium, tactile appearance. Extremely durable — the logo will never fade or peel.
Limitations: Not suitable for highly detailed artwork or designs with fine lines. Works best with simplified logo versions.
Step 4: Review Your Free Digital Proof
Before any production begins, our team will prepare a free digital proof — a mockup showing exactly how your logo will appear on the selected product. You will receive this proof via email, typically within 1–2 business days of artwork submission.
The proof will show:
- The exact placement of your logo on the bag.
- The size of the imprint relative to the bag.
- The colors as they will appear in production.
You will have the opportunity to review and approve the proof, or request changes before production begins. We do not start production until you have given your explicit approval, ensuring that the final product matches your expectations exactly.
Step 5: Production & Shipping
Once your proof is approved, production begins. Standard production time for soft cooler bags is 5 to 7 business days after artwork approval. If you are working against a tight deadline, rush production is available in 1 to 3 business days for most products.
After production, your order is shipped directly to your specified address. We offer express shipping options to ensure your promotional coolers arrive on time for your event or distribution date.
Tips for the Best Logo Results on Soft Cooler Bags
Based on years of experience printing logos on soft cooler bags, here are our top tips for achieving the best possible results:
Use a vector logo whenever possible. Vector files scale to any size without losing quality, ensuring your logo looks sharp whether it is printed at 2 inches or 10 inches.
Simplify your logo for small imprint areas. If your logo contains fine details or small text, consider creating a simplified version for use on cooler bags with smaller imprint areas. Our design team can help with this.
Choose a bag color that contrasts with your logo. Dark logos on light bags (or vice versa) produce the most visible, impactful results. Avoid printing dark logos on dark bags unless you have a specific design reason.
Order a sample before committing to a large run. For orders of 500+ units, we recommend ordering a pre-production sample to verify the final appearance before full production begins.
Ready to Get Started?
Printing your logo on a soft cooler bag is one of the most effective ways to keep your brand visible in the hands of clients, employees, and prospects. With BrandedCoolers.com, the process is simple, transparent, and backed by our commitment to quality.
Browse all soft cooler bags and soft-sided coolers, or contact our team at 800-927-2630 to discuss your specific needs. We are here to help you find the perfect product and ensure your logo looks its best.