Buyer’s Guide: Sizes, Printing, Materials, and Best Use Cases

Custom basketballs should be your go to option for a branded item that best fits any use you have in mind for your customers (handling, wearing, environment) while ensuring your logo is visible and easy to read even from a distance.

Custom basketballs are branded basketballs made for events, teams, organizations, and businesses that want to promote consistent brands on their useful items.

Shop and customize your branded basketballs and start by choosing your basketball style. Then you can refer to this guide to help you select basketball size, material, and printing options.

Custom Basketball are imprinted versions of Custom Basketball used for events, teams, organizations, and businesses that need consistent branding on a functional item.

Shop & customize: Start with Custom Basketball to choose your base style, then use this guide to pick the right size/material/print approach.

Quick picks: best Basketball setups by goal

• Fast handout visibility (high-volume events): Choose a “standard” variant with a high-contrast, 1–2 color imprint and simple artwork.
• Pair with: Custom Basketballs vs Custom Mini Sport Balls for a complementary giveaway.
• Keepsake / repeat-use intent (people keep it): Choose a more durable material/finish and a print method that resists abrasion (avoid ultra-fine details if the surface flexes).
• Pair with: Custom Basketballs vs Custom Footballs for a “bundle” feel.
• Outdoor / high-handling environments: Choose the most scuff-resistant finish available and prioritize bold shapes + thicker lines.
• Pair with: Custom Basketballs vs Custom Soccer Balls for outdoor-friendly companions.
• Premium brand impression (executive or client gifting): Choose the cleanest finish + placement that keeps the logo centered and uncluttered.
• Pair with: Custom Basketballs vs Custom Volleyballs when you want a coordinated kit.

Sizes, variants, and what changes when you size up

Not every [Category] is sized the same way across manufacturers, so focus on use constraints (hand feel, portability, storage, and imprint real estate) instead of chasing one measurement.

Variant table: what to choose and what to avoid

How to choose custom Basketball (step-by-step)

1. Define the handling environment.

• Indoor, low-handling → more print detail can work.
• Outdoor, high-handling → prioritize durability + bold art.

1. Pick the size/format around “carry and use.”

• If it must fit in pockets/bags/holders → compact or standard.
• If it needs to be seen from a few steps away → standard or oversized.

1. Match material to wear and cleaning.

• Rigid, smooth surfaces often print crisply.
• Textured, flexible, or coated surfaces may reduce fine detail readability.

1. Choose an imprint method that fits your artwork.

• Fine lines, gradients, photos → full-color/digital when available.
• Bold logos, simple marks → spot-color methods often look cleanest.
• If unsure, design for readability first (bold shapes, limited text).

1. Lock in imprint placement based on how it’s viewed.

• “Front-and-center” placements win for recognition.
• Avoid placements that get covered by hands/attachments/closures (category-dependent).

1. Plan quantities using attendance + friction buffers.

• Don’t order exact attendance plan for breakage, extras, and late arrivals.

Decision table: use case → recommended size/material/print approach

Branding & print tips that protect readability

• Design for real viewing distance. If someone can’t read it at arm’s length, it’s decoration, not branding.
• Avoid ultra-thin strokes and tiny text. As a rule of thumb:
• keep small text short and bold
• prefer one clear brand mark over a crowded layout
• Color contrast beats cleverness.
• dark logo on light product (or the reverse) reads faster
• avoid “mid-tone on mid-tone” combinations
• Placement rule: Put the logo where the product naturally faces when used/stored. If it’s frequently rotated or covered, choose a secondary placement or larger mark.
• If your brand has a specific color: provide a PMS reference when possible (or at least a consistent RGB/HEX) so proofs don’t drift.

Quantity planning (practical baselines)

Use these ranges to avoid under ordering without guessing:

• Handout events (trade shows, fairs):
• plan 1 per attendee + 10–25% extra for spillover, staff, and late arrivals
• Station-based distribution (multiple pickup points):
• start with 40–100 units per station per day, then scale by traffic
• Staff/internal programs:
• plan 1 per person + 5–15% extra for new hires and replacements
• VIP/gifting:
• plan 1 per recipient + 10% extra to cover last minute adds and damage

Packaging note: If the item ships in case packs, align your quantity to case multiples to reduce partial cartons (helps storage and distribution).

Mistakes to avoid (most common failures)

• Trying to fit a full tagline, URL, and phone number in the smallest imprint area.
• Using a low-contrast logo on mid-tone items, as the logo will look “invisible” in real life and in photos.
• Trying to use fine-line artwork on textured surfaces, as the detail will either fill in or break up.
• Forgetting to add a buffer on exact attendance orders for staff, replacements, or unexpected demand.
• Overlooking how the product will be held or covered, which can lead to the logo being covered during use.
• Approving artwork proofs without checking the logo size at full scale.

FAQs

What’s the best size for most buyers?

If you are distributing in bulk, most buyers appreciate the use and fit of the “standard” size variant of your Custom Basketball, as it won't lead to most complaints and it will provide a good imprint space, and therefore it will be a good size for the imprint and for usability.

Which material lasts the longest?

The longest-lasting option is the most abrasion-resistant material/finish available for your Custom Basketball If it will be handled outdoors or frequently, prioritize scuff resistance over ultra-fine detail printing.

Can I print in full color?

That depends on the product itself and the printing method that can be used on that product. If the design has pictures and colors that fade or blend into one another, then you will need to request that they use a printing method that does full color. If that is not available, try to use pictures that have clearly defined colors.

What artwork files should I provide?

For the best results, they should be vector files like those used for Illustrator, Portable Document Format, or a Scalable Vector Graphic. If you only have a raster file, then be sure to use one that has the maximum resolution and try not to have small text.

How can I ensure my logo is readable?

Make sure there is a real contrast between the colors, and use bold strokes along the edges. Less text is always better. If your design has several different parts, try to keep the brand mark as the most prominent part of the design and put all the other information on the packaging or in inserts.

What is the usual minimum order size?

Minimums can be different for each product and the method that is used to imprint onto it, but a lot of custom items usually fall in the average range between 50-250 units. Select variants may have a smaller minimum order size, and then large items may require more than the starting order.

How long does it usually take to produce the items that I ordered?

The answer can depend on several different things like method used to imprint or produce the items, the time of year, and how quickly someone approves each of the proofs, but the average time is about 5-15 business days after approving the proofs. If you need the items by a certain date, then be sure to confirm the timelines first before you set the quantities.

Imprint scratching

Whether an imprint is scratch resistant is determined by two things; the print method used and the handling of the item. For high contact use, select an imprint method that is more durable and avoid micro details that will unevenly wear.

Do dark product colors affect printing?

Yes, dark colors often require higher-contrast inks. In addition, printing on dark colors requires simplistic shapes to achieve legibility. If your logo is dark, use a light product color or add a light underlay when possible.