Patch types
Woven and embroidered patches look alike in a product photo and completely different in your hand. One is thin, flat and sharp; the other is thick, raised and textured. Which is better depends on one thing more than any other: how much fine detail is in your artwork.
Short answer. Choose woven if your design has small text, thin lines or fine detail — woven holds lettering down to about 2 mm and lies flat and thin. Choose embroidered if you want the classic raised, textured look and your design is bold — embroidery needs lettering of about 5 mm or more. Embroidered starts at $0.75 a patch, woven at $0.95.
The difference in one table
| Woven patch | Embroidered patch | |
|---|---|---|
| How it is made | Threads woven together on a loom into a flat damask fabric | Thread stitched onto a twill base by an embroidery machine |
| Look and feel | Thin, flat, smooth, with a slight sheen | Raised, textured, the classic “patch” look |
| Smallest readable text | About 2 mm | About 5 mm |
| Fine lines and small logos | Excellent | Details soften and fill in |
| Thickness | Thin and flexible | Thicker and stiffer |
| Edges | Merrowed, hot cut or laser cut | Merrowed, hot cut or laser cut |
| Starting price | $0.95 | $0.75 |
When a woven patch is the better choice
- Your logo has small text — a slogan under the logo, a website address, a small date.
- The design has thin lines, outlines or fine detail that embroidery would fill in.
- The patch is small — under about 2 inches, where every millimetre of detail counts.
- You want it to sit flat and light on thin fabric, a sleeve or a hat without bulk.
- You are making labels or tags for clothing, where a thin, soft patch matters.
When an embroidered patch is the better choice
- You want the traditional raised look — club, uniform, scout, biker and workwear patches.
- The design is bold: large letters, simple shapes, strong colours.
- You want texture and depth that catches the light.
- The patch goes on heavy fabric — denim, canvas, a work jacket — where a thick patch looks right.
- You want the lowest price per patch at volume.
Price compared
Embroidered patches start at $0.75 each at volume and woven at $0.95. Embroidery is priced on how much of the patch is covered in stitches, so a fully covered embroidered patch adds 15%. Woven pricing is driven by loom set-up, so small woven patches are relatively cheap. Exact prices by size and quantity are on the price list.
Durability
Both last for years on a garment that is washed normally. Embroidered patches are thicker and shrug off rough wear; woven patches are thinner and flatter, so there is less to catch or fray. Both can take any backing — sew-on, iron-on, Velcro or peel-and-stick — and both last longest when stitched on.
Common questions
Are woven patches better than embroidered?
Not better — better at different things. Woven wins on fine detail and small text; embroidered wins on texture, the classic look and price.
Which lasts longer, woven or embroidered?
Both last for years. Embroidery is thicker and more resistant to abrasion; woven is flatter so its edges catch less. Stitching either one on matters more than which you pick.
Can a woven patch look raised?
No. Woven patches are always flat. If you want depth, choose embroidered, or PVC for a moulded 3D face.
Why is woven more expensive than embroidered?
Woven starts at $0.95 against $0.75 for embroidered, because every woven patch needs its own loom set-up. On small, detailed designs the gap is small, and woven gives a sharper result.
Read next: Patch shapes · Embroidery digitizing
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More in this section: patch types compared — every construction side by side.
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We make embroidered, chenille, woven, leather and PVC patches to order — from $0.75 a patch, with a free digital proof before production and any backing you need.