Embroidery vs leather patch on a Richardson 112
Both are done in-house at Battle Born Clothing and both cost about the same per cap. The decision comes down to your logo, the look you want and the quantity. Here is the honest comparison we give buyers.
Cost per cap, side by side
| Quantity | Embroidered (≤6,000 st) | Leather patch (glued) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12-23 | $21.50 | $21.50 | $0.00 |
| 24-47 | $20.50 | $21.00 | patch +$0.50 |
| 48-71 | $20.00 | $20.50 | patch +$0.50 |
| 72-95 | $20.00 | $20.00 | $0.00 |
| 96-119 | $19.50 | $19.50 | $0.00 |
| 120-143 | $19.50 | $19.00 | emb +$0.50 |
| 144+ | $18.50 | $18.50 | $0.00 |
Embroidery adds $18.99 one-time digitizing per logo. Leather patch has no setup fee. Sewn-on patches add $1.00 per cap. At 144 the two are identical: $18.50.
How each handles your logo
Embroidery
- Full color: up to 15 thread colors, no color charge.
- Gradients become solid steps; fine lines under 1 mm are simplified.
- Text under 0.25 in tall does not sew cleanly.
- Big solid fills push stitch count over 6,000 and raise the price.
Leather patch
- One tone: engraving burns the leather darker. No color.
- Any outline: rectangle, circle, shield, state, logo silhouette.
- Holds fine line detail better than thread, but tiny text still fills in.
- Size limited by the cap front: 2.5 in wide on a 112, 4 in on a 112FP or 168.
Look and durability
Embroidery is the uniform look. It is washable, sits flat and reads as a company cap. A leather patch is the retail look. It stands off the cap, ages with wear and sells for more at a merch counter. Our heat-bonded patches have held up in daily use since we started making them in 2020; sewn edges add a stitch line some retail buyers prefer. Neither is more durable in a way that should decide the order.
Who picks which
| Buyer | Usually picks | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Trucking, construction, oilfield crews | Embroidery, or patch for foremen | Multi-color logo, uniform look, reorders |
| Breweries, taprooms, distilleries | Leather patch | Resale margin; patch caps sell at $30+ |
| Outfitters and ranches | Leather patch | Field look; one-tone logos |
| Car clubs and race teams | Embroidery, 3D puff | Color, numbers, sponsor side hits |
| Corporate gifts, golf | Embroidery on 112; patch on rope caps | Clean on a 112; patch is the rope cap style |
| Nonprofits | Either | Patch for fundraisers, embroidery for volunteers |
Do both
A common order is a leather patch on the front and an embroidered side hit (flag, year, sponsor). Or a patch run for owners and an embroidered run for the crew with the same logo. We quote mixes on one quote. See the leather patch and flat embroidery pages for details, and the pricing page for add-ons.
Questions
Which is faster?
Same 28-day standard turnaround from proof approval. Patch orders skip digitizing, so the proof sometimes comes a day sooner.
Can a patch have a colored logo?
Not engraved. Options are a one-tone engraved patch, or a patch with the main mark engraved and color details embroidered beside it.
Which is better for a small logo?
A small simple wordmark looks good either way. Under 1.5 in wide we lean embroidery; a patch that small looks like a label.