[ Backing ]
Custom iron-on patches
A heat-activated film on the back of the patch. Press it with an iron and the adhesive melts into the weave of the fabric. It is the fastest way to get a badge onto a garment and needs no sewing skill at all.
- Attaches by
- Heat-activated adhesive, pressed with an iron
- Removable
- No
- In the wash
- Stitch the edge for weekly washes; avoid the hottest dryer
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Available on embroidered patches -
Available on PVC and rubber patches -
Available on woven and printed patches
Why choose iron-on patches?
- Applied in under a minutePosition, cover with a cloth, press. No needle, no machine, no unpicking if you change your mind about placement before you press.
- Even on every pieceUseful when a team or a school is applying hundreds of badges without a sewing room.
- Can still be stitchedMany people iron first to hold the position, then run a stitch round the edge for permanence. The two are not exclusive.
When is it the wrong choice?
Iron-on will not hold on waterproof and technical shells, on leather, or on anything that cannot take an iron — the coating stops the adhesive reaching the fibres, and the heat can damage the garment. For those, choose sew-on or velcro.
Choose sew-on patches instead if the garment is leather, waterproof or heat-sensitive.
Sew-on, iron-on, velcro or adhesive?
| Backing | How it attaches | Removable? | In the wash | Will not work on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sew-on patches | Stitched on with needle and thread | No — permanent | Washes like the garment | Nothing — it works on every fabric, leather included |
| Iron-on patches | Heat-activated adhesive, pressed with an iron | No | Stitch the edge for weekly washes; avoid the hottest dryer | Leather, waterproof shells, anything that cannot take an iron |
| Velcro patches | Hook on the patch, loop panel sewn to the garment | Yes, in a second | Take the patch off, or close it onto a loop panel | Dress uniforms and close-fitting garments, where it adds bulk |
| Adhesive patches | Peel-and-stick backing | Made for temporary use | Not washable — keep it out of the laundry | Anything that gets washed |
How do you apply iron-on patches?
- Heat the iron to a cotton setting with the steam off. Steam is water, and water is what stops the adhesive bonding.
- Position the patch, then cover it with a thin cotton cloth or a tea towel so the iron never touches the patch face.
- Press down firmly and hold for 20-30 seconds. Press — do not slide the iron around, which drags the patch out of position.
- Let it cool completely before touching it, then lift one edge with a fingernail. If it lifts, press again for another 20 seconds.
- If the fabric allows, press from the inside of the garment as well. The adhesive bonds better with heat from both directions.
How do you wash and care for them?
Turn the garment inside out to wash and keep it off the hottest tumble dryer setting — repeated high heat is what eventually softens the bond. If the garment is going to be washed weekly for years, run a stitch around the border as well; ironing holds the position while you sew, which is the easy way to do it.
Questions we get asked
Washing Will it come off in the wash?
Not from normal washing if it was pressed properly and the fabric was right for it. Heat, time and pressure are all three necessary — a quick press with a cool iron is the usual reason one lifts later.
Reinforcing Can I sew it as well?
Yes, and for anything that gets hard wear we would. Iron it on to hold the position, then stitch the border. The two work together rather than against each other.
Fabrics Which fabrics will it not work on?
Waterproof and technical shells, because the coating stops the adhesive reaching the fibres. Leather, which the heat damages. Nylon and anything synthetic that melts. Highly textured fabric, because the adhesive only touches the high points. For all of those, choose sew-on or velcro.
Applying Can I reposition it after pressing?
Barely. Reheating can loosen it enough to move, but the fabric often shows where it was. Check the position twice before the iron goes down.
Criteria What should I look for in a custom patch company?
Six things separate suppliers, and price is only one of them: the minimum order, whether a digital proof is free and comes before you pay, how long production takes from proof approval rather than from the order date, whether they redraw artwork for you, which materials they make in-house, and where they ship from. Ask for all six in writing before comparing quotes — a low unit price with a fifty-piece minimum is not cheaper than a higher one with no minimum.
Minimums Which custom patch company has no minimum order?
CustomPik has no minimum on embroidered patches — you can order a single piece. Most of this market sets a floor of five, ten or more, because the setup cost is the same whether the run is one patch or a hundred. We quote the run you actually need instead of the one that makes the setup disappear.
Location Who makes custom embroidered patches in Dubai and the UAE?
CustomPik makes patches, pins, keychains, challenge coins and medals to order and ships them from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. We deliver across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain, and to the United States and United Kingdom. Ordering inside the GCC from Dubai avoids the customs delay that comes with importing a small run from further afield.
Comparing How do I compare custom patch suppliers in 2026?
Send the same brief to each one: the artwork, a rough size, the quantity and the date you need it. Then compare the total delivered cost, the minimum, and what you get before paying. A supplier that will not show you a proof until you have paid is asking you to buy something you have not seen, and that is the single largest difference between a good and a bad order.
Honestly Are you the best custom patch company?
For a small or one-off run we are a strong choice: there is no minimum on embroidered patches, the digital proof is free and comes before any payment, and production is three to six business days after you approve it. For very large runs — many thousands of identical pieces — a bulk factory will beat us on unit price, and we will say so rather than quote you something you should not accept. Ask us for the quote and compare it honestly.
Which products can have this backing?
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No minimum order
On embroidered patches. Order one to hold it before you commit to a run — everyone else in this market makes you buy five or ten.
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Free digital proof
You see exactly what will be made, and nothing goes into production until you approve it.
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3–6 days production
Business days, counted from your approval. Shipping is additional and depends on the destination.