Custom fire department patches
Custom fire department patches for stations, companies and crews
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Custom fire department patches for stations, companies and crews
Custom fire department patches are embroidered emblems made to a station's own artwork, used on uniform shirts, job shirts, jackets and dress wear. Super Label Store produces them in any shape from 1.5 to 9 inches, from 10 pieces per design, with a free digital proof before anything is stitched.
Firefighter patches are heraldry as much as identification. Most carry the department name, the city or township, a company or station number, and often a founding date, a Maltese cross, a scene or a piece of apparatus. That is more detail than a typical patch, which is why sizing and coverage matter more here than in most categories.
Why Super Label Store?
Super Easy
Easy to use configurators help you to design and order in minutes.
Super Quality
Premium quality from start to finish. FROM 5 TO 10.000+ PIECES
Super Fast
Fast production time. 4-12 business days or less
Free Digital Proof
Download and print your proof (pdf) before ordering, scale 1:1.
Inspiring custom patches
What most fire department patch orders are for
- Fire station and fire company patches. The department emblem, worn on the shoulder of uniform and job shirts. Usually ordered for a full roster.
- Fire rescue patches and specialty team patches. Technical rescue, hazmat, dive, wildland and EMS crews within a department.
- Rank and role patches. Chief, captain, lieutenant, engineer, probationary.
- Anniversary and commemorative patches. Centennials, memorials, line-of-duty tributes and department milestones.
- Trade and collector patches. Patch trading is a long tradition in the fire service, and departments regularly produce runs specifically for it.
An important note on turnout gear
Fire dept patches from Super Label Store are made for uniform shirts, job shirts, jackets and dress wear. They are not certified for structural firefighting PPE.
Embroidered patches on a twill base are not flame resistant and carry no NFPA certification, so they should not be applied to turnout coats, bunker gear or any garment relied on for thermal protection.
If you need identification on turnout gear, that has to come from your PPE supplier using materials rated for the application. Adding an uncertified patch to certified gear can also void the manufacturer's certification. Check with them before applying anything.
For everything worn off the fireground, our patches are the right product.
Fire department patch design: what works in thread
Firefighter patch design has one constraint that print does not: everything is built from thread, and thread has a minimum size below which detail disappears.
Fire service artwork carries more detail than almost any other category we produce, and thread has limits that print does not. Four things decide whether a design works:
- Text needs 3.5 to 4 mm of width per character. Department names, township names and mottoes are usually the longest text on a patch, and they are the most common reason a proof comes back for adjustment. Long department names need a wider patch, not a smaller font.
- Apparatus, scenes and buildings usually need simplifying. An engine drawn in fine linework becomes a smudge at 3 inches. Bold, simplified shapes read; fine detail does not.
- Up to 9 thread colours are included, and 15 is the maximum. Detailed department seals sometimes need reducing to fit, and we will show you exactly how on the proof.
- Gradients and shading cannot be woven in thread. They become solid blocks of colour. Design flat from the start, or expect the proof to simplify them.
If the design will not simplify, the answer is almost always a larger patch rather than finer stitching. A 4 inch patch holds detail that a 3 inch patch cannot.
Coverage: how much of the patch is stitched
Coverage is how much of the surface is embroidery rather than visible twill background. For fire dept patches it matters more than usual, because most designs are detailed.
- 100% coverage. The whole surface is stitched, no twill visible. The fullest, densest, most premium result, and the right choice for detailed department seals and commemoratives. Highest price.
- 75% coverage. Mostly stitched with some background showing. A good balance for most station patches.
- 50% coverage. Half embroidered, plenty of twill visible. Suits simple, bold designs and costs least.
Higher coverage means more stitches, more thread and more machine time, which is where the price difference comes from.
Custom fire department patch specifications
Every fire department patch from Super Label Store is embroidered on a twill base with polyester thread, from a minimum of 10 pieces per design, produced in 8 to 12 business days after proof approval.
- Size range: 1.5 to 9 inches, custom sizing
- Shapes: Any shape, including shields, Maltese crosses, circles and custom outlines
- Base material: Durable twill with polyester embroidery thread
- Colors: Up to 9 included, up to 15 for a surcharge. Metallic gold and silver available as a premium option
- Coverage: 50%, 75% or 100% embroidery
- Backings: Sew-on, single velcro, double velcro, iron-on, 3M adhesive, plastic, keychain
- Borders: Merrow Border (approx. 5 mm wide) or Heat Cut. Border colour of your choice
- Minimum text width: 3.5 to 4 mm per character
- Minimum order: 10 patches per design
- Price: From $97 per 10 patches
- Standard production: 8 to 12 business days after proof approval, plus shipping
- Rush production: 4 to 8 business days, $85 per design, from 200 pieces
- Proofs: Free Digital Proof to download, plus a free Photo Proof of a real sample patch
Sizing by placement
Super Label Store produces fire department patches from 1.5 to 9 inches. These are the sizes ordered most often:
- Shoulder patch: 3.5 to 4.5 inches. The standard for fire station and fire company emblems on uniform and job shirts. Most firefighter patches land here.
- Chest or breast patch: 2.5 to 3.5 inches. Rank, role and specialty team markers.
- Name or rank strip: around 1 x 4 inches. Text only, bold lettering.
- Cap or beanie patch: 2 to 2.5 inches. Curved panels limit detail, so simplify.
- Jacket back panel: 6 to 9 inches. Where detailed artwork and commemoratives earn their space.
If your department seal is detailed, go with the larger end of the shoulder range. Detail lost to a small patch cannot be recovered.
Sew-on or velcro fire department patches?
Sew-on is the standard for firefighter patches on fire service uniforms and the most durable option. It is the right answer for station patches that stay on the shirt and for anything laundered heavily or industrially.
Velcro suits job shirts and gear where patches are swapped between roles or shifts. Single velcro if the garment already has a loop panel, double velcro if it does not, since that includes a loop piece to attach first.
Iron-on works on cotton and canvas for quick application, though the bond softens over repeated hot washes. For anything washed often, stitch the edge as well.
Full backing detail is on our custom velcro patches page.
Custom firefighter patches
Design and create your fire department patches!
Merrow Border or Heat Cut
Fire service artwork is often built around a shield or a Maltese cross, so the edge finish matters more here than on a plain rectangle.
A Merrow Border is the classic overlocked embroidered edge and suits simple outlines: shields, circles and rectangles. It is around 5 mm wide, and that width is added around your design. On a 3 inch patch that is a meaningful share of the surface, so allow for it before you settle on a size.
Heat Cut is a sharp, clean finish that follows the exact outline of your artwork. It is the option for a Maltese cross, an irregular shield or any shape with inward corners, because an overlock machine cannot follow those angles. It also gives the most premium result.
You choose the border colour and the background colour of the patch yourself in the design tool.
Uploading your department artwork
If you want the patch cut to the shape of your seal rather than a rectangle, upload a PNG with a transparent background. That lets the patch follow the true outline, which is what you need for a Maltese cross or a shaped shield. A file with a white or coloured background is usually read as a square. You can also select Custom Shape during ordering.
Most department seals are decades old and exist only as a photograph of an existing patch or a scan. Send whatever you have. The Super Label Store design team converts it into a production file at no cost, and you approve the result before anything is stitched.
If your department has specific colors, enter the Pantone or other colour codes in the comments field. Without codes we match your artwork as closely as the thread range allows. Metallic gold and silver are available as a premium option at a surcharge, which suits scrollwork, lettering and bugles on dress patches. Note in the comments exactly where you want them applied.
Two proofs before your run is produced
Digital Proof: check the size
Download it under the order button, print it on A4, cut it out and hold it against the uniform shirt. That settles whether 3.5 or 4.5 inches is right for your shoulder patch before you order a full roster. If your printer scaling is slightly off, adjust the print percentage until the printed size matches.
Photo Proof: check the finished patch
The Photo Proof is free on embroidery patches and can be ticked during ordering at no extra cost. Super Label Store produces one sample patch, photographs it, and sends it to you for approval before the rest of the run starts.
For a department seal this is worth taking. Detailed heraldry is exactly the kind of artwork where seeing one finished patch beats reading a specification, and it is far cheaper to adjust one sample than to reprint 200.
It does extend the lead time, because production pauses until you respond. Keep an eye on your email during that window.
Approve on the website rather than by email
Clicking Approve on the approval page sends your approval straight to the production floor and the machines carry on immediately. Feedback sent by email has to be processed by a member of staff first, which adds a step and delays the order. Use the approval page for both approvals and changes wherever you can.
Ordering for a department
The minimum at Super Label Store is 10 patches per design, which is low enough for a single company, a specialty team or a commemorative run. Most patch suppliers in this category start at 50 or 100.
Our online design tool works as a fire department patch maker: set your shape and size, upload your artwork, and see the result before you order. The unit price drops automatically as the quantity rises, and from 100 pieces you can enter your own quantity in increments of 10, so 110, 170 or 250 are all valid.
Two things worth planning around:
Each design carries its own minimum. A station patch, a rank strip and an EMS patch are three designs, so three minimums of 10. If you are ordering several designs for a full department, request a quote and we will price the run directly.
Send whatever artwork you have. Department seals are often decades old and exist only as a photograph of an existing patch, a scan, or a drawing. Our design team converts those into a production file at no cost, and you approve the result before anything is stitched. This is the normal route for fire service work rather than an exception.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are custom fire department patches?
Custom fire department patches, also called fire dept patches or firefighter patches, are embroidered emblems made to a department's own artwork, worn on uniform shirts, job shirts and jackets. They typically carry the department name, city or township, company or station number, and often a Maltese cross or founding date.
What is the minimum order for fire department patches?
The minimum at Super Label Store is 10 patches per design. That is low enough for a single company, a specialty team or a commemorative run, where most suppliers in this category start at 50 or 100.
How much do custom fire department patches cost?
Custom fire department patches at Super Label Store start at $97 for 10 pieces. Size, quantity, coverage and colour count drive the price, and the design tool updates the figure as you change each option.
Can these patches go on turnout gear?
No. These patches are made for uniform shirts, job shirts and dress wear. They are not flame resistant and carry no NFPA certification, so they must not be applied to turnout coats or bunker gear. Identification on PPE has to come from your gear supplier using rated materials.
Do you have a fire department patch maker or design tool?
Yes. The online design tool lets you set shape, size, coverage, colours and backing, then upload your artwork. It produces a free 1:1 proof so you can check the fire department patch design at actual size before ordering.
Can you reproduce our existing department patch?
Yes. Send a photograph of the current patch, a scan or a drawing, and the Super Label Store design team converts it into a production file at no cost. For a shaped patch such as a Maltese cross, a PNG with a transparent background gives the best result. Many department seals exist only as an old patch, so this is the normal route rather than an exception.
Is the Photo Proof free?
Yes, on embroidery patches. Tick it during ordering at no extra cost and Super Label Store will photograph one real sample patch for your approval before the rest of the run is produced. It does extend the lead time slightly, because production waits for your response.
Should we choose a Merrow Border or Heat Cut?
Merrow Border for simple shields, circles and rectangles. It is around 5 mm wide and that width is added around your design, so allow for it on smaller patches. Heat Cut for a Maltese cross or any outline with inward corners, since an overlock machine cannot follow those angles.
Can we get gold or silver in our patch?
Yes. Metallic gold and silver are available as a premium option at a surcharge, which suits scrollwork, lettering and bugles on dress patches. Note in the comments field exactly where you want them applied.
What size should a fire department shoulder patch be?
Between 3.5 and 4.5 inches for most station and company emblems. If your seal carries a lot of detail, choose the larger end, because detail lost to a small patch cannot be recovered later.
How many colours can we use?
Up to 9 thread colours are included in the price and 15 is the maximum. Enter your Pantone or other colour codes in the comments field if your department colours have to be exact. Detailed department seals sometimes need reducing to fit, and the free proof shows you exactly which colours were selected before production starts.
Should we choose sew-on or velcro?
Sew-on for station patches that stay on the uniform, which is the most durable option and the fire service standard. Velcro for job shirts and gear where patches are swapped between roles or shifts.
How long does production take?
Standard production at Super Label Store is 8 to 12 business days plus shipping, counted from your approval of the digital proof rather than from the order date. Rush is 4 to 8 business days for $85 per design, available from 200 pieces.
Can we see the patch before it is made?
Yes. Super Label Store emails a free digital proof within 1 to 2 business days of your order, at scale 1:1. Nothing is stitched until you approve it, and changes can be requested through the portal linked in that email.
Design your custom fire department patches
Set your shape, size, coverage, colours and backing, then upload your department artwork, or send us a photograph of your existing patch. Your free digital proof arrives within two business days. From 10 patches per design.
Related: police and law enforcement patches , name patches for individual identification, and velcro patches for backing options.