Quick answer: For event staff and volunteer shirts, safety green or safety orange tees printed with a big "STAFF," "VOLUNTEER" or "EVENT CREW" on the back are the easiest way to make your team findable in a crowd. For anyone directing cars in a parking lot or near a road, add an ANSI Class 2 vest over the shirt. A bright tee alone isn't rated hi-vis.
Races, festivals, school events, church parking teams, community cleanups, tournaments: every event has the same problem. Guests can't find the person in charge. Here's how to outfit event staff and volunteers so they're easy to spot, safe around traffic and on-brand.
Why safety colors beat a regular event tee
- They're hard to miss. Fluorescent green and orange are designed to catch the eye, even in a sea of colorful clothes.
- Guests already read them as "staff." People associate safety colors with someone who can help.
- They photograph well. Your team stands out in event photos and social posts.
- They're inexpensive. A safety-color cotton-blend tee costs about the same as any basic tee.
Build your event kit by role
| Role | What to wear | Suggested gear |
|---|---|---|
| General volunteers and info booth | Printed safety-color tee | Jerzees 363M Safety Color Tee |
| Parking and traffic volunteers | ANSI Class 2 vest over the tee | West Chester Class 2 Vest or Class 2 Multi-Pocket Vest |
| Team leads and supervisors | Different-color vest so leads stand out | Multi-Pocket Vest in Red, Royal Blue, Pink and more |
| Early morning and evening crews | Long sleeve for warmth and sun | Jerzees 363L Long Sleeve, Safety Colors |
| Outdoor all-day events | Sun protection add-ons | Hi-Vis Trucker Hat, UPF 50+ Neck Gaiter |
Color-coding that actually works
For bigger events, give each role its own color so anyone can tell at a glance who does what:
- Safety green: general volunteers
- Safety orange: parking and traffic
- Red: first aid and security leads
- Royal blue or navy: event organizers and VIP hosts
Our non-ANSI Multi-Pocket Safety Vest comes in Red, Pink, Deep Green, Black, Navy and Royal Blue with reflective stripes. It's perfect for role color-coding when the vest doesn't need to be traffic-rated. We explain the difference in enhanced visibility vs ANSI hi-vis.
Design tips for event staff shirts
- Big word on the back. "STAFF" or "VOLUNTEER" in large block letters across the upper back. That's what people see from across a field.
- Small logo on the front. Event or organization logo on the left chest or front center.
- Dark ink on bright shirts. Black or navy reads best on safety green and orange. See what shows up on safety colors.
- Skip the date if you want to reuse them. Undated shirts can be worn next year.
- Get your file print-ready. Transparent PNG, 300 DPI at print size. Full checklist in how to prep your logo file.
Ordering sizes for volunteers
You rarely know every volunteer's size in advance. A common split for adult unisex tees is roughly 10% S, 25% M, 30% L, 20% XL, 10% 2XL and 5% 3XL. Adjust for your group, and order a few extras in L and XL for last-minute sign-ups. Our Jerzees tees run S-3XL. For larger volunteers see our big and tall fit guide.
A note on traffic safety
If volunteers are directing cars, crossing kids at a school event or working a road race course, a bright tee isn't enough. Put an ANSI Class 2 vest on anyone in the path of vehicles, and after dark, make sure the vest has reflective tape. Traffic-rated vests are in our ANSI Class 2 collection.
FAQ
What color shirts should event staff wear?
Choose a color guests won't be wearing. Safety green and safety orange are the most visible and instantly read as "staff."
Can I order a small number of custom shirts?
Yes. Use the customization option on the product page and upload your artwork. We'll email a mockup for approval before printing. Larger quantities? Visit our wholesale page.
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