Types of Custom Patches

Which Type of Custom Patch Should You Order?

Every patch type we make starts from the same place — your artwork, redrawn by our designers into a free proof you can revise until it’s right. Where the types differ is in how that artwork gets reproduced: stitched in thread, woven on a loom, molded in soft rubber, printed in dye, or pressed into leather. That production method decides how much detail your patch can hold, how it feels, and where it’s happiest living. Here’s how all eight compare, so you can match the patch to the design instead of the other way around.

Embroidered Patches — the Classic

If you picture a patch, you’re probably picturing embroidery. Custom embroidered patches are stitched in rayon thread — up to 7 colors free, from a palette of 252 — with your choice of 75% or 100% thread coverage. The raised stitching gives bold logos, mascots, and lettering a texture nothing printed can match. They’re the default for uniforms, jackets, and any design built from solid shapes and clean outlines.

Woven Patches — for Fine Detail

Woven patches use thinner threads on a tighter weave, so they can render small text and intricate line work that embroidery would swallow. If your design has fine serifs, thin borders, or a lot of words in a small space, custom woven patches keep every letter legible on a smooth, flat surface with 100% thread coverage.

PVC Patches — Rugged and Waterproof

Molded from soft, flexible rubber, custom PVC patches are waterproof, fade-proof, and effectively indestructible — mud, sun, and wash cycles don’t touch them. They can be molded in 2D layers or full 3D relief, which makes them the go-to for tactical gear, outdoor brands, and morale designs that need to survive the field.

Chenille Patches — the Varsity Look

That fuzzy, raised letterman-jacket texture is chenille. Custom chenille patches are built for big, bold shapes — varsity letters, mascots, and award patches — where the soft loop pile does the talking. They’re the classic choice for school awards and anything with a vintage athletic feel.

Leather Patches — Rugged Heritage

With your design debossed into synthetic leather, custom leather patches trade color for character. They’re the signature look on hats, denim, and heritage brands — a nod to the aviation patches they descend from — and they age with the garment instead of against it.

Printed Patches — Photo-Real Color

Dye-sublimated printed patches reproduce artwork the way a photo print does — gradients, shading, tiny details, and unlimited color at no extra cost. If your design is a photograph, a detailed illustration, or anything with color blends thread can’t stitch, this is the type that gets it exact.

Iron-On Patches — No Sewing Required

An iron-on backing puts a heat-activated adhesive behind any embroidered or woven design, so anyone can attach it with a household iron in minutes. It’s the practical pick for handing patches out to a team, a troop, or customers who’ll apply them at home.

Hook & Loop Patches — Swap Anytime

Hook and loop patches attach with velcro backing, so they move between garments and gear in seconds. They’re standard on military uniforms and tactical packs, and the right call any time one patch needs to serve several jackets — or come off before the wash.

Still Deciding?

A quick rule of thumb: bold artwork with solid colors wants embroidery; tiny text wants a woven patch; outdoor abuse wants PVC; photographs want print. And you don’t have to decide alone — send us your artwork with a free quote request and our designers will recommend the type that will make it look best, before you spend a cent.