Custom Fire Department Patches
Shoulder patches, Maltese crosses, station identifiers, badge replicas. Embroidered for industrial laundering. Sew-on standard.
Shoulder Patches - The Uniform Standard
The shoulder patch is the uniform standard for every American fire department. Worn on the left sleeve (and often the right), the shoulder patch identifies the department, the city or fire district, and frequently the founding year. It is the most reproduced patch in the American fire service - which means it has to hold up to thousands of wear and wash cycles without losing color, fraying at the edges, or peeling off the uniform.
We build shoulder patches in polyester thread on polyester twill - the only combination we recommend for industrial firehouse laundering. Merrowed border standard, sew-on backing standard. Stitch density tuned for color saturation and edge sharpness. We will match an existing patch exactly from a photo or scan, or build a new design from sketches or department artwork.
Maltese Cross and Badge Designs
The Maltese cross is the central symbol of American firefighting and appears in most fire department patch designs - either as the patch outline itself or as a centered emblem inside a shield or circle. We produce traditional eight-pointed Maltese crosses with detailed center badges, department names in arched banners, and rank insignia overlays.
Badge replicas are a separate category - direct embroidered reproductions of a department's shield or badge worn as a sleeve patch, hat patch, or jacket back. These require careful digitizing to preserve fine detail (department numbers, motto banners, eagle iconography). We have built badge replicas for departments across Long Island and the tri-state area.
Station and Specialty Patches
Beyond the department shoulder patch, common fire service patch programs include:
- Station patches: Engine 1, Ladder 4, Rescue 2 specific designs.
- Specialty unit patches: Hazmat, Tech Rescue, Marine Unit, FAST/RIT, Honor Guard.
- Memorial patches: 9/11 commemoratives, line-of-duty death tributes, retirement patches.
- Probie / Class patches: Recruit class year and station identifiers.
- Morale patches: Unofficial company patches worn off-duty or on job shirts.
Pricing
| Patch Type | Size | Per Piece (10+) |
|---|---|---|
| Shoulder Patch | 4" | $14 |
| Maltese Cross | 3.5" | $15 |
| Badge Replica | 3"-4" | $18 |
| Station Patch | 3"-3.5" | $13 |
Sew-on backing included. Free digitizing on department orders $150+. Bulk discounts on full-department runs.
Fire Department Patch FAQ
What size is a standard fire department shoulder patch?+
Most fire department shoulder patches sit between 3.5 inches and 4.5 inches at their widest dimension. Shapes vary - shields, circles, and Maltese cross outlines are the most common. Departments often have a spec sheet; we will match exact dimensions and colors from your existing patch on reorder.
What does the Maltese cross symbolize in fire department patches?+
The Maltese cross is the traditional symbol of the firefighter, tracing back to the Knights Hospitallers of the 12th century, who tended to fellow knights burned by enemy fire during the Crusades. American fire departments adopted the symbol in the late 1800s as a mark of duty, courage, and the willingness to enter danger to save others. Today it appears on uniform patches, helmet decals, and department insignia nationwide.
What thread and base materials hold up to firehouse laundering?+
We use polyester thread on polyester twill base for all fire department patches. Polyester is colorfast under industrial laundering, does not bleed when bleached, and survives the heat and chemicals of firehouse wash cycles. Cotton thread fades and weakens. We do not use cotton on fire department work.
Can you replicate our existing patch exactly?+
Yes. Send us a high-quality photo of the existing patch, ideally a flat scan, and we will color-match the threads, dimensions, and border treatment. If you have the original digitized file from a previous vendor we can use that directly. We also re-digitize from scratch when no file exists.
Do you make station-specific patches?+
Yes. Many departments order a department-wide shoulder patch plus station-specific patches (e.g., Engine 1, Ladder 4, Rescue 2). We will produce the department patch and individual station variants from the same artwork base. Common for departments that want station pride on top of department identity.
Do you work with Long Island fire departments?+
Yes - we are based in Huntington, NY and have served multiple Long Island fire departments, fire districts, and volunteer companies. Local pickup and in-person artwork review are available. We do not publish customer lists out of respect for department procurement processes, but references are available on request.
Related
Department Patch Programs
Send your existing patch or department artwork. We will color-match and quote within 24 hours.
Or call (631) 458-3842