Two ways to measure a sleeve, and they differ by inches
Centre-back length measures from the middle of the back neck, across the shoulder and down the arm. Shoulder-seam length measures from the shoulder seam to the cuff. The first number is always larger, often by 4–6 inches.
If you compare two suppliers using different methods, you will conclude one shirt has a longer sleeve when the measurement simply started somewhere else. Always ask which method the chart uses.
Cuff type changes the price and the feel
An open hem is cheaper: the sleeve is cut and hemmed like the body. A ribbed cuff costs more but holds the sleeve at the wrist and stops it riding up under a jacket.
For retail, ribbed cuffs read as more finished. For workwear and giveaways, open hems are common and nobody complains.
Print area and placement
Long sleeves add two surfaces: the sleeve itself and the cuff area. Sleeve prints are a cheap way to add a second brand mark without paying for a back print.
A full front print on a long sleeve sits higher than on a short sleeve because the shoulder line is different — check the placement before approving artwork.
What we hold
We hold 1 long-sleeve styles today: a heavyweight snow-washed cotton long sleeve in the US warehouse. Price starts at $5.50 a piece.
Long sleeve is a seasonal category: it sells in autumn and winter, and it is the category most likely to be out of stock at the end of the season. If you need it for a December campaign, buy in September.