Custom fire, police and
EMS patches that still match in ten years.
Department crests, shoulder pairs, unit and rank insignia. Your Pantone codes and stitch file are locked to a permanent record on first approval, so the batch you order after the next uniform turnover is identical to the one on the shelf.
- Pantone-matched thread
- Mirrored shoulder pairs
- 50-piece minimum
- Free US shipping
What a department actually orders.
Most departments run several pieces at once rather than a single patch. Each has its own size and backing logic.
Department shoulder crest
The identity piece, worn as a mirrored pair on both sleeves. Usually 4 inches, embroidered, sew-on. This is the design worth locking hardest.
Station or unit identifier
Station numbers, engine and ladder companies, precinct or district markers. Smaller, often 2 to 3 inches, and frequently carries small type.
Rank and collar insignia
Small pieces worn in matched sets. Bullion gold and silver threads are available where the department standard calls for a metallic finish.
Specialty and detail units
K9, dive, hazmat, SWAT, arson, technical rescue. Usually a smaller run than the department crest, so quantity planning matters more.
Commendation and service
Years-of-service marks, commendations, and memorial pieces. Often ordered in small quantities against the 50-piece minimum, so departments tend to batch them.
Carrier and duty-vest patches
Velcro hook backing so a patch comes off in seconds. PVC is common here because it is waterproof and wipes clean instead of being laundered.
Public-safety work from our floor.
Three pieces with their actual specs. More in the patch library, where you can zoom in on the stitch detail.
Uniforms turn over. The patch shouldn't drift.
Public safety is one of the few buyers who orders the same patch for decades. New hires, uniform replacement cycles, and a second set for every member mean you come back to the same design year after year. That is exactly where most patch orders go wrong: a reorder gets re-quoted from a fresh JPEG, a thread gets substituted, and the new sleeve is a half-shade off the old one.
We handle it structurally. On your first approval we write the Pantone codes, the finished dimensions, the border and backing spec, and the digitized stitch file into a permanent design record and mark it locked. A reorder clones that record. Nothing is re-interpreted, no setup charge appears, and you do not re-run the approval cycle for a repeat of the same piece.
If your department standard is written in Pantone values already, send them and we match to those directly. If it is not, we specify the codes on your proof and those become the standard. Our thread color chart shows the palette we stock.
Which patch type suits which piece.
Departments frequently run more than one type across the same uniform program. There is no single right answer for every piece.
Embroidered for the crest
The traditional uniform look, with raised thread that reads as authority at a distance. Sew-on, merrowed edge, and it survives industrial laundering for years.
Woven for fine seals
If your crest carries a motto ring, a founding date, or small type inside a seal, woven holds that lettering where embroidery would close it up.
PVC for carriers
Waterproof molded rubber for duty vests and plate carriers. Wipes clean rather than laundering, and takes velcro backing.
Weighing the first two against each other? The embroidered vs woven guide compares them on detail, durability, and cost.
Getting the spec right the first time.
Size by placement
Our standard line runs 2 × 2, 3 × 3, 4 × 4, 5 × 5, and 7 × 7 inches, and pricing is based on the finished size you select when you quote. A shield or oval is not a problem: send the finished width and height and we confirm the right size before production. For a full back panel or anything larger, we quote by hand within 4 hours.
| Placement | Typical size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Shoulder crest | 4 × 4 in | The identity piece. Ordered as a mirrored pair for left and right sleeves. |
| Station or unit ID | 2 to 3 in | Often carries small numerals or type. Check legibility at final size. |
| Rank and collar | 2 in | Small matched sets. Bullion metallic thread available. |
| Carrier or vest | 3 to 4 in | Velcro hook backing. PVC worth considering for weather and cleaning. |
Backing
Sew-on is included and is the right default for any patch going on a laundered uniform. Velcro hook is a per-patch upcharge and is the standard for carriers. We do not offer peel-and-stick adhesive backing, because our manufacturer flags it as unreliable over time. The backing guide covers how each option wears.
| Backing | Price | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Sew-on | Included | Dress and duty uniforms. Survives industrial laundering. |
| Velcro (hook) | +$0.55 each | Carriers and duty vests. Loop side sold separately. |
| Iron-on | +$0.15 each | Rarely used on uniforms. Not offered on PVC, which cannot take the heat. |
Nothing is produced before your department signs off.
- 01
Price it
Build the spec in the calculator for an instant number, or send a full piece list and we quote it by hand.
- 02
Proof
A free mockup within 24 hours showing Pantone codes and exact dimensions. Revisions are unlimited and free.
- 03
Approval
We never auto-approve a proof. Production starts on an explicit approval click, which is what locks the design record.
- 04
Delivery
7 to 10 day delivery with tracking, free within the US. Deadlines are confirmed before you pay.
PANTHER PATCH is a factory-direct manufacturer. We are not an approved, authorized, or contracted supplier to any department, agency, or government body, and we make no claim to be. Uniform standards, insignia approval, and purchasing rules are yours to set. We build the patch to the specification you approve, and we do not produce insignia designed to impersonate a department you are not part of.
What a department patch costs.
Per-patch price for a 4 inch embroidered patch with sew-on backing, from the same engine as the calculator. A crest ordered as a mirrored pair counts both sleeves toward quantity.
| Quantity | 50 | 100 | 500 | 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 × 4 in, sew-on | $4.80 | $4.50 | $3.20 | $2.50 |
Digitizing, included
Building the stitch file is part of the patch price, and the locked record means a reorder needs no setup either.
No setup fees, free US shipping
No plate or art charges. Mockups and unlimited revisions before approval are included.
Batch the small pieces
The minimum is 50 pieces per design. Departments usually batch rank and specialty patches into one order rather than running each separately.
Full breakdown on the pricing page, or see what moves the cost. Larger uniform programs may fit our wholesale terms.
What departments ask before ordering.
Our shoulder patches are worn as a mirrored pair. Can you make both sides?+
Yes, and it is worth flagging when you order. A directional crest, an animal facing one way, or an angled banner usually needs a mirrored version for the opposite shoulder so both face forward on the wearer. We build both as one design record, quote them together, and lock the pair so a reorder never arrives with two left shoulders.
We reorder every year as uniforms turn over. Will batch six match batch one?+
That is the specific problem the design record solves. When you approve the first proof we write the Pantone codes, exact dimensions, and stitch file into a permanent record, and every later order runs from that record rather than being rebuilt from your artwork. There is no setup charge and no fresh approval cycle on a repeat of the same design.
Can you reproduce the fine lettering on a department seal?+
Often, but the honest answer depends on the size. Small type inside a seal, a motto ring, or an incorporation date can close up when stitched in embroidery thread. If your crest carries that kind of detail we will either recommend sizing up or switching that piece to a woven patch, which holds much finer lettering. We tell you at the mockup stage, before you commit.
Do you make patches for tactical carriers as well as dress uniforms?+
Yes, and they usually want different builds. A dress uniform patch is normally sew-on embroidered. A carrier or duty-vest patch is normally velcro hook so it can be swapped or removed, and PVC is a sensible choice there because it is waterproof and wipes clean. The same artwork can be produced in both formats.
Are you an approved vendor for our department?+
No. PANTHER PATCH is a factory-direct manufacturer, not an approved or authorized supplier to any department or agency. Purchasing rules, uniform standards, and insignia approval are handled entirely by your department. We make the patch to the specification you approve.
Get your department patches priced.
Build the spec and see a real per-patch price, or send us your full piece list and we will quote it by hand within 4 hours.