Bib vs waist vs full-length aprons: which one for which job
Pick the apron by what the person does with their hands and what hits them. Here is how Battle Born Clothing matches the five Port Authority aprons we decorate to restaurant positions.
The four shapes
| Style | Shape | Coverage | Pockets | Blank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A500 | Full-length bib | Chest to knee | Front patch pockets | $13.98 |
| A700 | Extra long bib, Easy Care | Chest to below the knee | Yes | Quoted per job |
| A702 | Reversible bib, Easy Care | Chest to knee, two faces | Yes | Quoted per job |
| A510 | Medium-length waist | Waist to above the knee | Pouch pockets | Quoted per job |
| A703 | Waist (half), Easy Care | Waist to mid-thigh | Divided pockets | Quoted per job |
Servers
Waist apron (A703) in a full-service room: pockets at hand height for a pad, pens and a wine key, nothing across the chest to catch on a tray. In a fast-casual or family room where servers also bus and wipe, a full bib (A500) keeps shirts clean longer and means fewer shirt replacements.
Bartenders and barbacks
Bartenders: waist apron (A703) or a bib if the bar is a wet one with a lot of shaking and rinsing. Barbacks: reversible bib (A702). They get soaked and a second clean face halfway through a Saturday is worth the price.
Line and prep cooks
Full-length bib (A500) or extra long (A700) for taller cooks and sauce stations. The Easy Care stain-release fabric on the A700 and A702 sheds grease better in the wash than plain twill. Cooks go through aprons; plan on replacing the kitchen set once a year.
Counter, cafe and tasting room
Medium-length (A510). It covers the lap when staff kneel to restock, has pouch pockets, and does not look like a kitchen apron in a customer-facing space. Coffee shops and wineries pick this one more than any other.
Food trucks
Medium (A510) or waist (A703). A full bib catches on the service window and the neck strap gets hot. Keep it short.
Pockets, ties and neck straps
Pockets decide more than coverage does. Servers want two or three divided pockets at hand height, which is what the A703 gives. Cooks want a wide patch pocket for a towel and a thermometer, which is the A500. Counter staff want a pouch that holds a phone and a marker without swinging, which is the A510. On ties: every style we decorate has long waist ties that wrap and tie in front on most builds, so one size really does cover the crew. The bib styles add an adjustable neck strap; set it once and it stays put through the wash.
How many per person
Plan on two aprons per employee for full-service and kitchen staff so one is always clean, and one and a half for part-time counter crews. A 20-person restaurant with 12 servers and 8 cooks needs about 40 aprons, which lands in the 24-47 tier at $19.98 each on the A500. Ordering 48 instead of 40 drops the rate to $19.48 and gives you eight spares for new hires, for about $136 more total.
Where the logo goes
- Bib aprons: centered on the chest, 3 to 4 inches wide.
- Waist and medium aprons: on the pocket panel, about 3 inches wide, clear of the pocket seams.
- Names: above the opposite pocket or below the logo, quoted per job.
What it costs
Embroidery is $6.00 per apron at 12-47 pieces, $5.50 at 48-59, $4.50 at 60-79 and $4.00 at 80+, plus $18.99 digitizing once. On the A500 that is $19.98 each at 24 and $17.98 at 144. Other styles are the blank at current cost plus the same column. See pricing.
Not sure? Send your position list on the quote form and we will suggest a style per position.
Questions
Do aprons need sizes?
No. All five styles are one size with waist ties; the bibs have an adjustable neck.
Can we mix styles in one order?
Yes. One logo, one digitizing fee, several styles. Same logo, same order: every style counts toward the same price break; only the blank cost differs by style.
Black or a color?
Black hides the most and is the restaurant default. Cafes and wineries often go with a neutral or a brand color on the A510.