Name tapes
A name tape is the simplest patch there is: a strip of fabric, about an inch tall, with a surname stitched in block capitals. It sits above the chest pocket on uniforms, plate carriers, range jackets and duty bags. We make custom name tapes embroidered on the fabric you choose, sew-on or with a Velcro hook back, from 50 pieces — and every tape in an order can carry a different name.
| Price | From $0.75 per piece — 3 × 1 in tape at 1,000 pieces; full grid on patch pricing |
| Minimum order | 50 pieces |
| Production | 10–12 business days standard, 5–7 rush at no extra charge |
| Shipping | Free and tracked worldwide, usually 3–7 business days in transit |
| Proof | Free digital proof — nothing is made until you approve it |
| Payment | 50% deposit once the proof is approved, 50% before dispatch |
What you get
- Your names, in block capitals. Send a list — one name per tape, as many different names as the order needs.
- Your choice of ground fabric. Camouflage patterns, solid colours such as coyote, ranger green, olive, black or navy, or a match to a tape you already wear.
- Thread matched to the job. Subdued tones for field uniforms, high-contrast for workwear and duty kit.
- Sew-on or Velcro hook back. Hook-backed tapes come ready for a loop panel; sew-on tapes are stitched round all four sides.
- Branch and organisation tapes too — the matching tape for the other side of the chest.
Name tape sizes and prices
Tapes are priced on the average of height and width, on the same grid as every embroidered patch, so a 5 × 1 inch tape is priced as a 3-inch patch.
| Tape size | Typical use | Priced as | 50 pcs | 1,000 pcs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 × 1 in | Caps, bags, small kit | 2 in | $2.95 | $0.75 |
| 4 × 1 in | Work shirts and jackets | 2.5 in | $3.45 | $0.90 |
| 5 × 1 in | Field uniforms, plate carriers, tactical jackets | 3 in | $3.95 | $1.05 |
Prices in between follow the full grid: 100, 300 and 500 pieces are on our price list. A mixed list of names is priced as one order, not as separate designs.
Army, Marine and Air Force style name tapes
Name tapes for military-style uniforms are the biggest part of this work: Army name tapes and “U.S. ARMY” tapes for OCP-pattern uniforms, US Marines tapes, and Air Force name tapes. Each service sets its own rules for tape colour, lettering and placement, and those rules change.
Short answer. If the tape is for a duty uniform, check your current service regulation and unit policy before ordering — some require tapes from authorised sources. We make tapes to the colours and size you specify; we do not certify them as regulation issue. For airsoft, training, veterans, range wear, cadets and civilian kit, there is no such restriction.
For where the tapes sit on the OCP coat, see our guides to Army patch placement and Air Force patch placement.
Velcro name tapes
A Velcro name tape has the hook side sewn to its back, so it presses onto a loop panel above the pocket and moves between jackets, plate carriers and bags. This is the standard way to wear a name on most modern field uniforms and tactical gear. Hook backing costs the same as sew-on. For the panel itself and how to fit one, read how to sew on a Velcro patch.
Who orders custom name tapes
- Veterans and service members — replacement and spare tapes for personal kit.
- Airsoft and paintball teams — a full roster of names on matching tapes.
- Police, fire, EMS and security — names for duty jackets and vests. See police patches.
- Cadet and JROTC units — tapes for a whole intake at once.
- Workwear — a name above the pocket of a mechanic shirt or chef coat. For oval and shaped name badges see custom name patches.
Specification
| Construction | Embroidered lettering on twill or camouflage-pattern tape |
| Height | 1 inch standard; other heights quoted |
| Lettering | Block capitals; one name per tape |
| Backing | Sew-on or Velcro hook |
| Edges | Hot-cut or merrowed |
| Minimum | 50 tapes per order; names can all differ |
Common questions
How much do custom name tapes cost?
A 3 × 1 inch tape is $0.75 at 1,000 pieces and $2.95 at 50. A 5 × 1 inch tape is $1.05 at 1,000 and $3.95 at 50.
Can every tape in an order have a different name?
Yes. Send the list with your quote request. The order is priced on the total number of tapes.
Do you make Velcro name tapes?
Yes. The hook side is sewn to the back at no extra cost, ready for a loop panel.
Are your name tapes regulation for military uniforms?
We make them to the colours and size you specify. Service rules differ and change, and some units require authorised sources, so check your current regulation before wearing them on duty.
What is the minimum order?
50 tapes per order, and the names can all be different.