Custom morale patch started from a minimal idea of representing the identity, unit, crew, where they belong, what they stand for, or just a sense of humor of their wearer.
In this guide, you will learn all about the custom morale patches, what they are, types, significance, and where to get your custom morale patch ready.
What Is a Morale Patch?
Custom Morale patch are like badges for visual representation of identity, morale, or humour that go beyond decoration. Other than that they also aid in boosting brand identity and team spirit fast, but generally used in the military.
Military Origin of Morale Patches
During World War 1, the US Army began wearing insignia on their sleeves to identify their units, their identities, and their missions, and to foster a sense of unity and brotherhood.
Later, during the Vietnam War era, soldiers began creating and using unofficial humorous patches to poke fun as a way to cope with their stress
Why Civilians and Teams Wear Morale Patches Today
Wearing morale patches started from uniforms has now become universal, the civilians use them on their bags, jackets, or caps to signal who they are, their values, and their comic sense.
As for teams, whether a fire station team, a scouts team, a cycling club, or an airsoft squad, use morale patches to create coherence among the team members.
Types of Morale Patches
Custom morale patches come in a great variety of styles, materials, and formats, each one gives a different feel, look, and use case.
Custom Pvc Morale Patches
Custom PVC morale patches are made of polyvinyl chloride, which is a soft rubber-like material suitable for outdoor use and harsh conditions like weather, water, sunlight, and friction. It gives the best durability among all the patch types
Custom Embroidered Morale Patches
Custom Embroidered morale patches are the oldest and most commonly used type of patches. They are made up of colored threads stitched together on a twill or felt fabric base. The raised threads give it a 3D look, they are suitable for bold designs.
Custom Woven Morale Patches
Custom woven morale patches are made up of thinner threads than the embroidered morale patches. The thin colored threads are woven together tightly to form the shapes and designs on a twill or polyester fabric base, it is suitable for complex designs for better visual representation
Custom Leather Morale Patches
Custom leather morale patches are made up of synthetic leather. They are designed with several techniques like laser engraving, embossing, debossing, printing, or cut and inlay onto the leather
Sublimated/Printed Morale Patches
Sublimation is a dyeing process in which the solid dye is converted into a gas through heat and pressure, then it bonds with the polyester fabric fiber permanently. The dye does not sit on the fabric, it becomes a part of it that can not be washed or peeled off.
While in printing, the ink is directly applied to the patch surface to form designs and illustrations, these patches go well with the illustrated or photographic patches.
Custom Military Morale Patches
The custom military patches are solely made to be used by military officers and soldiers, they represent a deployment location, a mission, a memorable incident, unit, identities, and designations.
Custom Tactical Morale Patches
Custom tactical morale patches are made to be used by tactical teams or working gear in operational or training environments, such as fire stations, scouts, security teams, and airsoft or paintball squads.
Funny Custom Morale Patches
Funny custom morale patches are made to be worn by anyone from any organization. They represent humour through funny slogans, inside jokes, or a meme, they represent that the wearer belongs to a light and less serious environment.
Backing Options for Morale Patches
As there are different types of patches, there are also different backing options available as well to attach a patch.
Velcro/Hook and Loop Backing
The hook and loop backing of a morale patch is widely known as Velcro. The hook side, consisting of tiny plastic hooks, is attached to the patch. In contrast, the loop side, consisting of small loops made of fabric-like components, is attached to the location where the patch is meant to be placed.
The hook side grabs and attaches to the loop side. Custom morale patches Velcro backing made it easy to remove and change the patch to a new one.
Iron On, Sew On, Adhesive Backings
- Iron on patches come with a heat-activating glue that melts upon heating it simply with an iron.
- Sew on patches come without any glue, they are to be sewn directly onto the fabric.
- Adhesive patches come with an adhesive glue on the back of the patch, which works like a sticker.
Who Uses Morale Patches?
Custom morale patches for law enforcement are commonly worn by:
- Military officers
- Soldiers
- Police
- Security officers
- Special forces
Custom morale patches for teams are commonly worn by:
- Club members
- Airsoft or paintball teams
- Scouts
- Cycling or sport groups
How to Design a Morale Patch on Your Own
Here is how to make a morale patch:
- To design a patch, first you have to clarify the purpose of a patch, what it represents, and if you want custom morale patches with logo of your brand or organization, or if you want just a slogan that represents humour or pride.
- Choose a shape for your patch that can be a circle, oval, square, rectangle, or custom silhouette, i.e., animals, weapons, skull, etc.
- Pick a color theme of high contrast for better readability.
- Draw a sketch of your design according to your preferences.
- Digitalize the design using Adobe Photoshop or CorelDRAW in a vector format.
- Send your design to the manufacturer.
Morale Patch Size Guide
A small patch of about 1 to 2 inches is good for:
- Helmet
- hats/caps
- Pouches
- Bag straps
A medium patch of about 2 to 3 inches is good for:
- Plate carrier
- Vest
- Backpack
A large patch of about 3 to 4 inches is good for:
- Back panels
- Jackets
- Large bags
An extra-large patch of about 4 to 6 inches is good for:
- Statement pieces
- Event patches
- Collectible designs
Common Shapes & Their Standard Sizes
| Shape | Typical Size |
| Rectangle (name tape) | 1” x 3” |
| Square | 2” x 2” |
| Circle | 2.5” – 3” diameter |
| Shield | 2.5” – 3.5” |
| Custom shape | 2” – 4” |
How to Choose the Right Custom Morale Patch Maker
A good custom morale patch maker should offer:
- Free mock-up
- Free design revision
- Multiple materials: embroidered, PVC, woven, leather
- Different shapes and sizes
- Backing options (Velcro, iron-on, sew-on)
- Durable stitching or high-grade PVC
- Weather resistance (important for airsoft/tactical use)
- Clean edges and strong backing
Look for all these qualities in a custom morale patch maker before placing an order.
Custom Morale Patch Costs: What Affects the Price
Typical Price Range
- $0.50 – $7 per patch (for bulk custom morale patches orders)
- $4 – $8+ per patch (for custom morale patches no minimum order)
Factors That Affect the Price
To calculate the cost of custom patches before ordering, you have to keep the following factors that affect the cost in your mind.
Quantity
- When you get patches, the cost per unit is higher.
- If you place orders, like ten to twenty five it is expensive.
- If you buy in bulk, like five hundred to one thousand or more patches, they become very cheap, per piece.
Materials
Different materials have different prices.
- Embroidered is usually the cheapest.
- Woven is good for detail, it costs a moderate amount.
- PVC costs more, but it is very durable.
- Leather and chenille materials have premium pricing.
Design
The more complex your design is, the higher it costs.
- More colors
- Fine details or small text
- High stitch count
- 3D or layered designs
FAQs
What is a morale patch?
A patch with a humorous slogan or image that is used to boost spirits.
How are morale patches made?
Morale patches can be made through embroidery, woven, PVC, or leather.
What type of fabric is used for morale patches?
Most commonly used fabrics for morale patches are cotton, felt, and polyester.
Can you design your own morale patch?
Yes, you can design your own morale patch using any photo, text, or logo.
Design and Own Your Morale Patch With Confidence
Custom morale patches are really cool. You can do a lot with them. They are great for putting on gear. Custom morale patches are also good for promoting a brand, and let you make something nice to look at.
Now that you know about the kinds of patches and what they are made of, you can order with confidence. You can have them ready-made through The Eagle Patch USA, with a premium quality, free mock-ups and assistance on design revision. Get your custom morale patches now and tell the world what you stand for.
