Custom Name Patches

Personalized Name Tags for Work Shirts and Uniforms

The classic oval name patch, about 3.5 inches wide and 2 inches tall, has been on mechanics', drivers' and technicians' shirts for decades because it works. It's readable from across a counter, it survives the wash, and when someone leaves you swap the patch, not the shirt.

Most crews wear the name on the right chest and the company logo on the left. Script lettering gives a retro garage look; block capitals read faster from a distance and suit healthcare, security and hospitality. For shoulder logos, department badges and the rest of a uniform program, see our work uniform patches.

Sew-on backing is the standard for work shirts, since uniform services wash at high heat that can loosen adhesive over time. If you launder in-house on normal settings, iron-on plus a few stitches at the edges is a quicker route.

Name Tapes for Tactical and Military Gear

A name tape is a narrow strip, commonly about 1 inch tall and 4 to 5 inches long, lettered in block capitals. It sits above a chest pocket or on the loop panel of a plate carrier, duty vest or range bag.

Hook backing is the norm for gear. The hook side is sewn to the back of the tape, so it presses onto any loop panel and comes off before the vest goes in the wash. We make personalized velcro name patches in subdued thread-and-twill combinations or full color. Our hook-and-loop patches page covers loop panels and backing sizes in more detail.

One honest note: we stitch from the specs you give us and don't certify patches as regulation-compliant. If a tape is going on an official uniform, check your branch's or agency's current requirements for size, colors and lettering, and send them with your order. For unit crests, squadron logos and deployment designs, browse our military patches made to spec.

Iron-On Name Labels for Kids, Camps and Backpacks

A name patch is the label that doesn't peel off. Parents use them on school jackets, sports bags, camp duffels and the hoodie that keeps coming home from practice with someone else.

Personalized name iron-on patches bond well to cotton, denim, canvas and cotton-poly blends. They don't hold on most backpacks, which are nylon or polyester and can melt under an iron. For those, sew the patch on, or use a hook-backed patch if the pack has a loop panel. A small embroidered name with a simple icon, like a soccer ball or a star, helps younger kids spot their own gear before they can read well.

Name Patch Sizes and How Much Text Fits

Text size is the real limit. Embroidered letters need to be at least a quarter inch tall to stay sharp, so a standard oval fits a first name of up to about 10 letters comfortably. Longer names, hyphenated names and two-line layouts (name over title) step up to a wider rectangle. When a name is tight, we'll show you options on the mockup rather than squeeze it.

Embroidered Name Patches: Fonts, Thread Colors and Borders

Every name patch is built from three choices:

• Font: block, script or a slab-serif "varsity" style. Bold, simple fonts read best at small sizes; thin or decorative fonts lose detail in thread.
• Thread and twill colors: high contrast wins. White on navy, red on white and black on khaki read from across a room. For gear, subdued pairs such as black on tan or brown on olive keep a low profile.
• Border: a raised merrowed border for classic ovals and rectangles, or a flat heat-cut edge for tight shapes and name tapes.

You can also choose how much of the patch is stitched. A name patch is usually 50% coverage, with the twill as the background and only the letters and border in thread, which keeps it thin and flexible. Custom embroidered name patches can carry a small logo or icon too, as long as it stays simple at that size.

Pairing Name Patches With Branded Company Logos

There are three good ways to put a name and a logo on the same uniform:

1. Two patches: a branded logo patch on one side and a name patch on the other. Logos can be ordered in bulk and kept on the shelf, while names are ordered as people join.
2. One combined patch: logo above, name below. It's the tidiest look for one location but means a new patch for every new hire.
3. Direct embroidery for the name: stitch the name straight onto the garment and use a patch only for the logo. See our name embroidery directly on garments for monograms and names on shirts, jackets and bags.

Need the shirts too? We supply work shirts with name patches and logos already applied, so your branded uniforms arrive ready to wear.

Ordering a Batch With a Different Name on Each

There's no minimum per name, so a crew of 14 can order 14 different patches, one each. To keep a batch clean:

• Send the list as typed text or a spreadsheet, one name per line, spelled exactly as it should be stitched, including capitals and accents.
• Decide on nicknames up front. "Robert" or "Bobby" is a common correction after the fact.
• Check every name on the mockup. You'll see a digital mockup to approve before anything is produced, and spelling is the one thing we can't fix once it's stitched.
• Order a spare logo patch or two for the next hire.

Embroidered logos carry a one-time $35 digitizing fee per design. The stitch file is then yours to download from your account, and reorders of the same design skip the fee. For a name list, tell us the font and layout you want and we'll confirm on your quote how the names are set up. Live prices are on each name patch product in this collection. Orlando-metro customers can pick up at our Orlando-area warehouse, or we ship anywhere in the US.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can each patch have a different name?

Yes. Every patch in an order can carry a different name, and there's no minimum per name. Send your list as typed text or a spreadsheet with one name per line, and check each spelling on your mockup before production. The font, colors, size and backing usually stay the same across the batch so the crew matches.

What size is a standard name patch?

The classic work-shirt name tag is an oval about 3.5 inches wide by 2 inches tall. Rectangles of 3.5 by 1.5 inches suit scrubs and polos, and name tapes for vests and uniforms are commonly 1 inch tall by 4 to 5 inches long. Longer names or a name with a title may need a wider patch.

Do you make military-style name tapes?

Yes. We embroider name tapes in block capitals on subdued or full-color twill, with hook backing for loop panels or sew-on backing for uniforms. We stitch to the specifications you provide and don't certify regulation compliance, so check your branch's current requirements for size, colors and lettering and include them with your order.

Can name patches be ironed on?

Yes, on cotton, denim, canvas and cotton-poly blends. Press firmly for 30 to 45 seconds with a dry iron and a cloth on top, then press the back. Iron-on doesn't hold on nylon backpacks, rain shells or performance fabrics, so sew those or use hook backing. For work shirts washed hot, add a few stitches around the edge.

How fast can I get name patches?

Timing depends on quantity and backing, and production starts when you approve your mockup. If you need custom name patches for a start date or an event, rush orders are available, with the rush fee quoted with your order. Tell us your in-hand date up front, and local customers can pick up at our Orlando-area warehouse. For what drives cost, read our guide to name patch pricing.