Choose PVC for detail
Fine linework, small lettering and hard-edged logos come out crisp. Embroidery has to simplify all three, because a stitch has width and a moulded line does not.
PVC patches
Custom PVC patches, moulded not stitched
Soft moulded rubber that holds detail thread has to give up on. Waterproof, UV-stable, and priced on the page from 25 pieces.
- From 25 pieces
- Waterproof
- Pantone matched
- Velcro included
PVC or embroidery
Which one your design wants
If the answer turns out to be thread, the embroidered morale patch page covers that construction in the same detail.
Choose PVC for weather
Rain, salt, sun and mud. It does not absorb water or fray at the edge, so it holds up on kit that lives outside rather than in a drawer.
Choose embroidery for texture
Thread has a nap and a sheen that rubber does not, and it is the traditional look for a unit crest. It is also cheaper at volume — see the numbers below.
Specification
What you are actually buying
- Construction
- Moulded soft PVC rather than thread. The design is built up in layers in a die, so what you get is a solid rubber patch rather than embroidery on cloth.
- Detail
- Holds far more detail than embroidery. Fine lines, small text and hard colour edges survive moulding that a stitch would have to simplify away — this is the main reason to choose PVC.
- Weather
- Waterproof and UV-stable. It does not soak, does not fray, and wipes clean, which is why it outlasts thread on anything that lives outdoors.
- Relief
- Flat or raised. A raised layer gives depth to a logo or a border; flat keeps the profile low where the patch sits under a strap.
- Backing
- Hook-and-loop as standard, included in the price. Sew-on channels can be moulded into the border instead if you ask before production.
- Sizes and shapes
- 2in to 5in on the longest edge, cut to any outline. PVC has no merrowed edge to work around, so genuinely complex silhouettes are easier here than in embroidery.
- Minimum
- 25 pieces per design.
- Lead time
- 2 to 3 weeks in production from proof approval, plus 3 to 5 days in transit. A mould has to be cut first, and that time is already inside those weeks.
How it runs
Artwork to moulded
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Send the design
Vector is best here. PVC will hold whatever precision you give it, so a clean outline is worth more than it is in embroidery.
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We separate the layers
The design is split into moulding layers and matched to Pantone, with any raised relief decided at this point.
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You approve a proof
The mould is cut only after you approve. Nothing is charged and no tooling is committed before that.
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It ships free
Two to three weeks including the mould, then USPS tracked delivery with the number in your inbox.
Price per patch
What a PVC run costs
PVC starts dearer than embroidery and ends cheaper. The mould is a fixed cost spread across the run, so the volume break is steeper here than anywhere else on the price list.
| 25+ patches | 50+ patches | 75+ patches | 100+ patches | 250+ patches | 500+ patches |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25+ $7.74 Base price | 50+ $4.12 Save $3.62 | 75+ $3.45 Save $4.29 | 100+ $3.15 Save $4.59 | 250+ $2.18 Save $5.56 | 500+ $1.63 Save $6.11 |
Price per patch · velcro, shipping and tax included
Questions
Before you order
What is the minimum order for PVC patches?
25 pieces per design, the same as embroidered. The mould is cut as part of the job — there is no separate tooling or setup charge on top of the published price.
Is PVC more expensive than embroidery?
At small quantities, yes — a run of 25 is $7.74 per patch against $5.00 embroidered, because the mould is being paid for across fewer pieces. It crosses over at volume: at 500 pieces PVC is $1.63 against $2.18 embroidered.
How accurate are the colours?
More accurate than thread. PVC is colour-matched to Pantone rather than to a stock thread range, so there is no rounding a value to the nearest available spool. Very slight variation between production batches is normal in moulded rubber.
Will it fade in sunlight?
It is UV-stable and holds colour far better than thread does. Nothing is permanent under years of direct sun, but PVC is the more durable of the two by a wide margin.
Can I have a raised or 3D design?
Yes. The design can be moulded flat or built up in relief, and the two can be mixed — a raised border around a flat field, for example. Say which you want before the proof and it is priced the same either way.
What artwork do you need?
Vector is ideal for PVC because the mould is cut from clean outlines — AI, EPS, SVG or PDF. We can work from raster artwork, but PVC rewards a clean vector more than embroidery does.
Ready when you are
Start with a quote. Nothing is charged until you approve a proof.