UIL patches are custom patches that Texas students wear on letter jackets to show what they achieved in University Interscholastic League contests: academic events, band, choir, orchestra, theatre and athletics. Most are embroidered, 2 to 4 inches, with the event, the level reached (district, region or state) and the year. Schools, booster clubs and parents order them from 25 pieces per design.
This guide covers which UIL patches students earn, the sizes that fit a letter jacket, what they cost, and when to order so they arrive before your awards banquet.
Which UIL patches do students earn?
Every school sets its own letter jacket rules, but most UIL patches fall into these groups:
| Area | Common patches | Levels |
|---|---|---|
| Academic contests | Event icons for Number Sense, Calculator Applications, Mathematics, Science, Spelling and Vocabulary, Literary Criticism, Ready Writing, Computer Science, Accounting, Social Studies, Current Issues and Events, journalism, debate and speech events | District, region, state |
| Band | Concert and Sight-Reading Division I, Sweepstakes, marching band region, area and state, Solo and Ensemble Division I, state solo and ensemble medalist | Region, area, state |
| Choir and orchestra | Concert and Sight-Reading Division I, Sweepstakes, Solo and Ensemble Division I, state medalist | Region, state |
| Theatre | One-Act Play advancing, all-star cast, honorable mention, technical awards | District, area, region, state |
| Athletics | Sport icon, district champion, playoff round, state qualifier | District through state |
A band “Sweepstakes” patch is one of the most popular. It recognizes a band that earned Division I (Superior) ratings in concert and sight-reading and, for high school bands, in marching that year.
Popular UIL patch designs
- Event icon with the year: a calculator, beaker, gavel or trumpet with “2027” underneath.
- Level bars: small rectangular tabs that read “District”, “Region” or “State Qualifier”, stacked under the event patch as a student advances.
- Placement patches: “1st Place District”, “Regional Champion”, “State Medalist”.
- Program patches: “UIL Academics”, “Sweepstakes”, “One-Act Play”, in your school colors.
- School crest: your mascot or crest with the year, often the first patch on the jacket.
Send us the event names, levels and years in a list, and we turn them into a matching set so every patch on the jacket looks like it belongs together.
UIL patch sizes for letter jackets
| Patch | Typical size |
|---|---|
| Event icon | 2 to 3 in (5 to 7.5 cm) |
| Level bar or year tab | 2 to 3 in wide, about 1 in tall |
| Placement or title patch | 3 to 4 in (7.5 to 10 cm) |
| School crest | 4 to 5 in (10 to 12.5 cm) |
Letter jackets are usually wool with leather sleeves, so sew-on backing is the right choice. It is included in the price, and iron-on glue does not bond well to wool or leather. Not sure about size? Print our patch size chart and hold it against the jacket.
What UIL patches cost
Most UIL patches are embroidered. Price per patch in USD with sew-on backing, from our live price list:
| Quantity | 2 in (5.1 cm) | 3 in (7.6 cm) | 4 in (10.2 cm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | $4.14 | $5.50 | $5.59 |
| 50 | $3.38 | $3.95 | $4.51 |
| 100 | $3.01 | $3.67 | $4.23 |
| 250 | $2.67 | $2.96 | $3.56 |
| 500 | $2.35 | $2.73 | $3.01 |
Shipping is free and we pay the import duties. The minimum is 25 pieces per design. If a design reads small (long event names, fine lettering), woven patches hold small text better and cost about the same. See all types on the pricing page.
How schools save money on UIL patches
- Order the program patch in bulk. A “UIL Academics” or band program patch that every member earns can be ordered at 100 or 250 pieces for a much lower price per patch, and kept in stock for next year.
- Make level bars generic. A “State Qualifier” bar without the event name works for every event, so one order of 50 covers the whole team.
- Keep event-specific patches at 25. Use the minimum for patches only a few students earn.
- Reorder at the same colors. Once you approve a sample, we record the thread colors, so next year’s patches match this year’s on the same jacket.
When to order UIL patches
Allow about 5 weeks from order to delivery: a free mockup within 6 hours, a physical sample in 2 to 3 days, about 2 weeks of production after you approve the sample, then about 2 weeks of shipping.
Most UIL academic, theatre and music results come in during the spring, and many banquets are held in April and May. Two ways to beat the deadline:
- Order patches that don’t depend on results early. Program patches, year tabs and level bars can be ordered in winter and handed out as students qualify.
- Order results-based patches the week results are in. Have the design approved in advance, then just confirm quantities.
Have a hard banquet date? Message us on WhatsApp before ordering and we will tell you honestly whether it is realistic. See how long custom patches take for the full timeline.
Questions about UIL patches
Can you put the UIL logo on our patches?
No. The UIL logo is the league’s trademark, so we do not reproduce it. We make your school’s own design with the event name, level and year in text.
What is the minimum order for UIL patches?
25 pieces per design. Ordering program patches and generic level bars in larger quantities lowers the price per patch.
What backing is best for a letter jacket?
Sew-on, which is included in the price. Iron-on adhesive does not bond well to wool or leather.
Can you match our school colors?
Yes. Send your Pantone (PMS) codes or school colors. Your mockup lists the thread colors, and the physical sample shows the real colors before production.
How long do UIL patches take?
About 5 weeks from order to delivery. Order at least 5 weeks before your banquet.
Get a free mockup of your UIL patches
Send your school colors, the events and the years. Your mockup arrives within 6 hours.