What is the minimum order quantity for custom patches?

Every patch type at PatchDesign.AI has a minimum order quantity, and all of them are low. Embroidered patches start at 6 pieces. PVC patches, in either 2D or 3D, start at 10. Woven and printed/sublimated patches start at 25, and chenille patches start at 50. The design tool and the review process are identical regardless of quantity, so a 6-piece order goes through exactly the same expert review as a 6,000-piece one.

Most competitors set minimums of 50–100 pieces for embroidered patches because their quoting and setup workflows assume volume. A 6-piece floor makes us a natural fit for prototype runs, one-of-a-kind gifts, memorial patches, and small organizations that only need a handful of pieces.

PVC minimums are higher than embroidered because a custom silicone mold must be created for each unique design, and that tooling cost is spread across the order. We've set the floor at 10 rather than the 50–100 the industry typically requires, which means the per-piece price at 10 pieces is high relative to a large run — but a small PVC order is genuinely available if that's what you need.

Pricing scales with quantity. The per-patch cost drops meaningfully as you move from 10 pieces to 50 to 100 to 500 and beyond, because setup and handling costs are amortized across more units. Our pricing calculator on the Pricing page lets you compare total and per-piece cost at different quantities before you commit.

If you're not sure how many patches you need, it's worth ordering a small run first. A small order lets you check embroidery density, color accuracy, and sizing against the real garment or backing before you commit to a large quantity. Many customers find that ordering 10–20 first saves money compared to re-ordering a full run with corrections.

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