Woven patches
Woven patches are made on a loom rather than by a needle, from threads about a third the thickness of embroidery thread. That single difference is why a woven patch can hold six-point type and a shaded gradient, and why it sits flat instead of standing proud.
| Price | From $0.95 per piece — 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 |
Woven or embroidered?
| Woven | Embroidered | |
|---|---|---|
| Detail limit | Type down to about 2 mm; fine linework holds | Type from about 5 mm; linework thins out |
| Feel | Flat, flexible, low profile | Raised, textured, substantial |
| Best size | Small — 1 to 3 inch | Medium to large — 2.5 inch up |
| Colour blends | Handles shading and blends | Flat colour blocks only |
| Typical use | Detailed logos, name tapes, small badges | Bold crests, workwear, uniforms |
If your logo has small type in it and you have been told embroidery will not work, this is the construction you were being steered towards.
Where woven patches work best
Woven is at its best small, where embroidery runs out of room for detail. Typical sizes:
| Use | Common size | Why woven |
|---|---|---|
| Detailed logo on a cap front | 2.5 × 2 in | Small type and fine lines stay sharp |
| Small logo on a cap side or sleeve | 1.5 – 2 in | Detail that embroidery would fill in |
| Name tape | 3 × 1 in or 4 × 1 in | Thin, flat and easy to read |
| Sleeve or chest badge with text | 2 – 3 in | Holds type down to about 2 mm |
Still deciding? The side-by-side guide woven vs embroidered patches shows when each one wins.
Specification
| Item | Standard |
|---|---|
| Construction | Damask weave, polyester threads |
| Detail limit | Type down to about 2 mm cap height |
| Edges | Merrowed, hot cut, laser cut |
| Typical size | 1–4 inch |
| Minimum order | 50 pieces |
| From | $0.95 per patch |
Choosing a backing
| Backing | Best on | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Iron-on (heat seal) | Cotton and cotton-rich blends | Permanent enough for everyday wear; will lift on nylon, waterproofs and heavy fleece |
| Sew-on (plain back) | Anything, including technical fabric | The only backing that reliably outlives the garment |
| Velcro (hook & loop) | Tactical, service and ID panels | Designed to come off — the loop side is sewn to the garment once |
| Peel-n-stick | Events, samples, photography | Temporary. Not a wash-safe backing |
| Magnetic | Garments you cannot pierce | No holes at all; keep away from cards and devices |
| Button loop | Caps, bags, lanyards | Hangs rather than attaches |
How do I order woven patches?
- Send artwork. Any format — a logo file, a photo of an old patch, or a sketch on paper.
- Approve the proof. You get a digital proof with the size, colours and border marked. Nothing runs until you sign it off.
- Production. 10–12 business days as standard, 5–7 on a rush, at no extra charge.
- Tracked delivery. Shipped worldwide, to you or straight to your printer.
What do you guarantee on every order?
These are the terms every order is made under — the same ones written in our order terms, not a sales promise.
- Free proof, usually the same working day. It shows size, thread colours, border and backing.
- Unlimited free changes. Ask for as many proof revisions as you need.
- Nothing is made until you approve it in writing. You can cancel free of charge at any point before approval.
- Remade at our cost if it does not match the proof. Tell us within 14 days of delivery with photos and we cover the remake and the return shipping on our errors.
- No setup or digitizing fees. Redrawing and digitizing your artwork is part of the price.
- Free tracked shipping worldwide.
Honest limits: thread is matched as closely as thread allows, so a small shift against a printed Pantone chip is normal, and very fine detail is flagged on the proof before you approve it.
Common questions
Is woven cheaper than embroidered?
At small sizes, usually yes, because there is no stitch count to pay for. At large sizes the gap closes and embroidery often wins on presence. Ask for both on the quote and compare.
Can woven patches be washed?
Yes — they are polyester and hold up well. The failure point is the backing, not the patch; sew-on outlasts iron-on on anything washed weekly.
What is the difference between a woven label and a woven patch?
Both are woven the same way. A label is thin and sewn into a seam, usually with no border. A patch goes on the outside of the garment, has a finished border and is fitted with a sew-on, iron-on or Velcro backing.
Can woven patches be ironed on?
Yes, on cotton and cotton-rich fabrics. For anything washed weekly, sew-on lasts longer, because the adhesive is the part that wears out, not the weave.
Ready to order woven patches?
If your artwork has small type or fine detail, send it over and we will show you what it looks like woven before you commit.
Get a free quote
Send us your artwork, size and quantity for woven patches and we will come back with a price and a free digital proof. Nothing goes into production until you approve the proof, and shipping is free worldwide.
Related reading
- Patch types compared — the full construction comparison
- Thread, twill and materials — what each construction is made from
- How to identify and date an old patch — reading a woven weave against an embroidered stitch
- Patch sizes and how quotes are measured — the average of height and width, and what it costs
- Custom sublimated patches — the other flat construction, with no colour limit
- How to sew on a patch
- Woven vs embroidered patches