Custom Custom back patches for jackets and vests
Embroidered back patches up to 9 inches
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Embroidered back patches up to 9 inches, from 10 pieces.
A back patch is a large embroidered patch worn on the back panel of a jacket or vest, where it is the single biggest piece of branding a garment can carry. Super Label Store makes custom back patches from 10 pieces per design, in any shape up to 9 inches, with up to 9 thread colors included, from $97 for a run of ten.
Everything about a back patch follows from its size. It is the one patch that is read from across a room rather than across a table, so the design can carry a full club name, a brand wordmark or an illustration that would be unreadable at chest size. It also needs more thought about attachment, because a large patch on a moving panel carries more stress at its edges than a small one ever does.
Super Label Store embroiders patches for clothing brands, clubs and crews in its own production facilities, rated 4.8 out of thousands of reviews. The same artwork that runs as a 2 inch chest patch runs as a back patch without redrawing, which is why most orders that include one include both.
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Fast production time. 4-12 business days or less.
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Download and print your proof (pdf) before ordering, scale 1:1.
Inspiring custom back patches
Back patches for jackets
A jacket back panel is the largest flat area in most wardrobes, and it is where a back patch belongs. Super Label Store makes custom back patches for jackets up to 9 inches across, which fills the center of a back panel on everything from a denim trucker to a bomber to a workwear chore coat.
The panel decides the placement more than the jacket does. On a jacket with a center back seam, a patch either sits above the seam across the shoulder blades, or straddles it, and straddling means the patch has to flex at that line every time the wearer moves. On a jacket without a seam, you have the whole panel and the usual choice is to center the patch between the shoulder blades, roughly a hand width below the collar.
Shell material matters as much as shape. Denim, canvas, twill and heavy cotton hold a stitched patch indefinitely. Nylon shells, leather and coated fabrics take a sew-on or velcro backing rather than heat. For jacket patches that are not back patches, including chest, sleeve and pocket placements, see our page on custom jacket patches.
Back patches for vests
A vest back panel is flatter and more uniform than a jacket, which is why vests carry the largest and most detailed back patches of anything people wear. There is no sleeve seam to work around and the panel sits still, so a 9 inch patch reads cleanly from a distance.
Custom back patches for vests usually come as a set rather than a single piece: a main patch in the center with smaller pieces above and below it. Super Label Store makes each element as its own design, with the same 10 piece minimum on each, so a three-part set is three orders of ten rather than one order of thirty.
Sew-on is the usual backing on a vest. The garment goes on and off daily, the patch is permanent, and stitching around the edge is what keeps a large piece flat through years of wear. For club, chapter and motorcycle designs specifically, see our page on custom biker patches.
Denim and jean jacket back patches
Denim is the best surface a back patch can land on. It is flat, densely woven and heavy enough that a large patch does not pull the fabric out of shape, which is exactly what happens when the same patch goes on a lightweight shell.
A denim jacket back patch can go on with an iron-on backing alone, because the weave gives the adhesive plenty to grip. Even so, most people stitch a large one as well. The reason is mechanical rather than aesthetic: a 9 inch patch has roughly 28 inches of edge, and every inch of that edge is somewhere the corner can catch on a seatbelt, a bag strap or a doorframe. A line of stitching around the perimeter takes twenty minutes and settles it.
Wash a new jean jacket once before you apply anything. New denim often carries a mill finish that sits between the fabric and the adhesive, and it is the most common reason a first attempt lifts at a corner.
How large should a back patch be?
Super Label Store embroiders patches up to 9 inches, and that is the size most back patches are ordered at. A 9 inch patch spans the width between the shoulder blades on an adult jacket and is readable from several metres away, which is the whole point of putting one there.
Below that, the sizes that come up most are 6 to 7 inches for a back patch on a smaller frame or a fitted jacket, and 4 to 5 inches for a patch that sits high between the shoulders rather than filling the panel. Large back patches work best when the design is built from bold shapes and clear lettering, because the viewing distance that makes them worth having is the same distance that loses fine detail. That is the one rule worth remembering about big back patches: the bigger the patch, the simpler the artwork should be.
Text needs roughly 3.5 to 4 mm of width per character to stay legible in thread. On a 9 inch patch that is generous, so a back patch is the one format where a full club name, a city and a founding year all fit comfortably on one piece.
Iron on, sew on or velcro
Every back patch from Super Label Store comes with a choice of backing, and at this size the choice matters more than it does on a small patch.
- Sew-on. A plain back, stitched around the edge. The right choice for a vest, for anything washed often, and for any patch at the top of the size range. A large patch carries its weight at the perimeter, and stitching is what holds that perimeter flat.
- Iron-on. Iron on back patches use a heat-activated backing that bonds without stitching. It works well on denim, canvas and twill, and it is the quickest route from patch to finished jacket. For a patch this large, most people iron it on to position it and then stitch the edge.
- Velcro. A hook backing with a loop panel on the garment, so the patch comes off. Standard on tactical gear and useful wherever the design changes, for a club that updates a chapter name or a crew that swaps designs between seasons.
Said plainly: sew-on for permanence, iron-on for speed, velcro for anything you want to change. Our pages on custom iron on patches and custom velcro patches go into each backing in more detail.
Desgin your custom back patches
Ordering custom back patches
Designing a back patch
Three choices decide how a back patch looks, and all three are made when you order.
Shape. A Heat Cut edge follows the outline of your artwork exactly, so shields, rockers, wings and irregular outlines all work. A Merrow Border is the classic stitched edge, around 5 mm wide, and it suits simple outlines such as circles, rectangles and shields. On a large patch a Merrow Border reads as a deliberate frame rather than an edge treatment.
Coverage. Embroidery coverage of 50, 75 or 100 percent sets how much of the twill base stays visible. At back patch size the difference is obvious: 100 percent gives a dense, solid, heavy piece, while 50 percent lets the base color through and keeps the patch lighter and more flexible on the garment.
Colors. Up to 9 thread colors are included in the price and 15 are available. Flat shapes and clear lettering reproduce best, and that holds doubly at this size, because the viewing distance a back patch is designed for will not show a gradient or a thin outline anyway.
Upload your artwork and the design team prepares the stitch file at no cost. A PNG with a transparent background gives the cleanest result for a custom outline, since a file with a white background is often read as a rectangle.
Ordering custom back patches
Super Label Store makes custom back patches from 10 pieces per design, from $97 for ten, with the unit price falling as the quantity rises. The minimum applies per design rather than per order, so a three-part vest set counts as three designs of ten each.
Production takes 8 to 12 business days plus shipping, or 4 to 8 business days with rush production at $85 per design, available from 200 pieces. A free Photo Proof is available as an option: we embroider one patch, photograph it and send you the image before the rest of the run is made, which is worth taking on a large design where the stitch direction across a wide area is hard to judge from a flat file.
Shipping is free on orders over $200. For patches at chest and sleeve size, and for the full specification, see our custom embroidery patches page.
Frequently asked questions about back patches
What is a back patch?
A back patch is a large embroidered patch worn on the back panel of a jacket or vest. It is the biggest patch format, designed to be read from a distance, and it usually carries a club name, a brand mark or an illustration that would be unreadable at chest size.
How big is a back patch?
Super Label Store embroiders patches up to 9 inches, which is the size most back patches are ordered at and spans the width between the shoulder blades on an adult jacket. Smaller back patches of 6 to 7 inches suit a fitted jacket or a patch that sits high between the shoulders.
What is the minimum order for custom back patches?
10 pieces per design, from $97. The minimum applies per design rather than per order, so a vest set of three different pieces counts as three orders of ten.
How much do custom back patches cost?
From $97 for 10 at Super Label Store. The unit price falls as the quantity rises, and coverage and color count affect it too, because the price follows stitch count. 50 percent coverage is the most economical and 100 percent the most expensive.
Should a back patch be sewn or ironed on?
Sew-on for a vest, for anything washed often, and for any patch at the top of the size range. Iron-on works well on denim, canvas and twill. At back patch size most people do both: iron it on to hold the position, then stitch the perimeter so the edges stay flat.
Can I put a back patch on a denim jacket?
Yes, and denim is the best surface for it. The weave is flat, dense and heavy enough to carry a large patch without pulling out of shape. Wash a new jacket once first, because new denim often carries a mill finish that gets between the fabric and the adhesive.
Where exactly does a back patch go?
Centered between the shoulder blades, roughly a hand width below the collar. On a jacket with a center back seam, either keep the patch above the seam or accept that it will flex along that line, in which case stitching the edge matters more.
Can I order a back patch in a custom shape?
Yes. A Heat Cut edge follows the outline of your artwork exactly, so shields, rockers, wings and irregular shapes all work. A Merrow Border suits simple outlines and adds around 5 mm of stitched edge around the design.
How many colors can a back patch have?
Up to 9 thread colors are included in the price and 15 are available. Flat shapes and clear lettering reproduce best, which matters more at this size because a back patch is designed to be read from a distance.
Can I get a set of back patches for a vest?
Yes. A vest set is usually a main patch with smaller pieces above and below it, and each element is its own design with its own 10 piece minimum. Three pieces is three orders of ten rather than one order of thirty.
How long does production take?
8 to 12 business days plus shipping, or 4 to 8 business days with rush production at $85 per design, available from 200 pieces. A free Photo Proof is available as an option before the full run is made.
Do large back patches need extra stitching?
A 9 inch patch has roughly 28 inches of edge, and that perimeter is where a corner can catch on a strap or a doorframe. A line of stitching around the edge takes about twenty minutes and keeps a large patch flat for the life of the garment.