Custom Iron-On Letters, Names & Numbers for Clothing
Custom iron-on letters from DTF Owl are heat-applied text printed on EU-made PET film, used for personalising sports kits (running vests, football shirts, rugby jerseys), school uniforms, name labels, and workwear. Type your words, choose a font and colour, and check every printed size before ordering. Lettering orders start at £4.99, with delivery calculated at checkout.
Better Than a Premade Letter Pack
Premade iron-on packs give you one font, one colour, one size, and a fixed A–Z - so you run out of E's with twenty unused Q's, X's and Z's left in the drawer. Custom costs a little more than the cheapest pack; here's what the difference buys.
| Premade pack | DTF Owl custom | |
|---|---|---|
| Fonts | One, usually plain block | Any of our print-tested fonts |
| Colours | Black or white | Any colour - works on any shirt |
| Sizes | One fixed size | Any size, checked so it prints crisp |
| Letters | Fixed A–Z, luck of the draw | Exactly the letters you need, in your quantities |
| Quality | Flock or thin vinyl, peels in the wash | Professional print, survives 50+ washes |
| Instructions | Rarely included | Full iron & heat-press guide with every order |
How Iron-On Letters Work
Start with your text or choose an alphabet or number pack. For names and phrases, choose separate transfers or arrange up to ten lines together as one stacked design. Choose your font and colour, then set the letter height or overall width.
The preview shows every entry, including all lines in a stacked design. Names and phrases keep their letter spacing together on the transfer. Alphabet packs give you separate characters to arrange yourself, with exactly the quantities you choose.
Review the wording, copies and dimensions of every transfer. Your price updates as you design, and your draft is saved on your device. We pack the transfers to suit your order and include application instructions.
What People Use Iron-On Letters For
From a runner's name on a vest to a full squad of football shirt numbers
Running Vests & Race Numbers
Print your name, club name, or charity on a running vest for marathons, parkruns, half-marathons, and charity runs. The crowd can cheer your name if they can read it - iron-on letters make that happen.
Football, Rugby & Cricket Shirts
Player names and squad numbers for youth leagues, Sunday leagues, and club sides. Any font, any colour, properly sized to match your kit supplier's standard.
School Uniform Name Labels
Iron-on name labels for school jumpers, PE kits, coats, and book bags. Print a full class set on one gang sheet or order just a few for your child. Survives the school washing cycle.
Workwear & Staff Names
Employee names and job titles for polo shirts, overalls, aprons, and hi-vis jackets. Print individual names without ordering custom embroidery runs for each new starter.
Event & Charity Vests
Charity names, fundraising slogans, and memorial text for walks, runs, and cycling events. Print motivational messages or sponsor names in any size.
Personalised Gifts
Names, initials, nicknames, and short messages on t-shirts, hoodies, baby grows, and bags. Choose any font from script to block capitals to match the occasion.
Iron-On Letters for Running Vests
The UK running community - from local parkruns to the London Marathon - has a long tradition of printing names on vests so spectators can cheer runners by name. If you have ever stood on the sidelines of a race, you know the difference it makes to hear your name called out at mile 20.
Our iron-on letters are built for this. They bond to polyester and poly-blend running vests at 150°C, survive sweat and rain during the event, and hold up through post-race washing. For charity runs, you can print the charity name, a memorial message, or your fundraising URL on the back of the vest in a size that is readable from the spectator barriers.
Running vest sizing guide
| Position | Recommended letter height | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Front chest | 3-5cm | Runner's name for spectators |
| Back (large) | 5-8cm | Club name or charity |
| Back (secondary text) | 2-3cm | Fundraising URL or slogan |
Iron-On Name Labels for School Uniforms
Every September, parents across the UK face the same task: labelling every piece of school uniform before the first day of term. Iron-on name labels are faster than sewing, more permanent than stick-on labels, and cheaper than buying pre-made labels from school uniform suppliers.
With DTF Owl, you can design your own name labels in any font and colour, fit an entire class set onto a single A3 or roll sheet using our gang sheet tool, and cut them apart yourself. This is particularly useful if you want to include a small icon or colour-coded marker alongside the name - something pre-printed label packs rarely offer.
Our labels are printed on REACH-compliant, formaldehyde-free PET film that is safe for children's clothing. They survive the school washing cycle (30-40°C regular washes) and stay readable all year.
Iron-On Letters FAQs
Do you charge per letter?
The lettering designer calculates your price from the printed dimensions and number of copies, with a £4.99 minimum per lettering order. You see the total as you design. Delivery is extra and confirmed at checkout.
What fonts can I use for iron-on letters?
Choose from the available fonts in our lettering designer and preview your own text in each style. The designer checks which characters the font supports and its minimum printable size. To use a font outside our library, create your artwork separately and upload it through our gang sheet tool.
How do I get the letters straight on a garment?
The easiest method: fold the garment in half vertically and press a light crease to find the centre line. Position your transfer centred on that crease, then tape the corners lightly with masking tape before pressing. For running vests and sports shirts, lay the garment on a hard flat surface (not an ironing board) and use a ruler to check alignment before pressing.
What size letters work for a running vest?
For the runner's name on the front of a vest, 3-5cm tall letters are standard. The back of the vest can take larger letters (5-8cm) if you want the name readable from a distance. For parkrun or marathon events where spectators are calling out names, bigger is better. Set the letter height or overall width in the designer and check each transfer against your garment.
Can I iron letters onto polyester running vests?
Yes. Our DTF transfers bond well to polyester. Use 150°C and avoid exceeding 160°C, as polyester can scorch at higher temperatures. Press for 10 seconds with firm pressure through parchment paper. Most running vests are polyester or poly-blend, and our transfers adhere well to both.
Can I order several names or a whole team?
Yes. Choose separate transfers and add one name per entry, or paste a list. Set the number of copies for each name. Use matching letter heights for a consistent team set, or give every name the same overall width. You can check every name, quantity and printed size before checkout.
Can I do numbers as well as letters?
Yes. Type the number as a text entry, choose a numbers pack, or select individual characters. Supported symbols depend on your chosen font; the designer will tell you if a character is unavailable. Check the printed size against your garment before ordering.
Do iron-on letters survive regular kit washes?
Yes. Our iron-on letters last 50+ washes when applied correctly. This is important for sports kits that get washed weekly. Wash inside-out at 30-40°C and avoid tumble drying on high heat. The letters will not crack, peel, or fade under normal washing conditions.
Ready to Order Custom Iron-On Letters?
Type your names, words or numbers, choose the style and size, and preview every transfer. Orders from £4.99, plus delivery. Application instructions are included.
Start Designing