Cub Scout Patch & Badge Placement Guide for New Program 2026
Updated for the new program effective June 1, 2024, this ultimate guide to Cub Scout patch placement will show you exactly where the patches go. Simple diagrams help put all those badges in the right places.
Cub Scout patch placement can be very confusing–especially for a new Cub Scout family. In this article, we’ll cover the basic Cub Scout patches and badges so that you can get your child’s uniform ready for their first Cub Scout meeting!
This post will walk you through the Cub Scout insignia placement. If you prefer to watch a video, keep scrolling!
Check out the easiest way ever to sew on Cub Scout patches!
Left Sleeve Cub Scout Patch Placement
If you aren’t a seamstress, consider using Badge Magic! It’s an easy, no-sew, no-iron solution for those Cub Scout badges.
Let’s start with the left sleeve. Your Council shoulder patch emblem goes at the very top along the shoulder seam. It is shown as position 1 on the diagram above.
Not shown in the image is the small Veteran Unit Emblem. If you use it, the emblem is worn just below the Council patch if you use it. It is for units (in our case, packs) that have been chartered at least 25 years.
The number on the emblem represents how many years your unit has been chartered. Wouldn’t it be great to be in a unit chartered 50 or 60 years ago?
Next, in position 2 above, is your pack number. Our pack number is 3 digits, but yours could be more or less than that.
A little hint if you’re sewing… Sew the unit numerals together first then sew the connected numbers onto the uniform. MUCH easier than sewing each number individually onto the shirt!
Right Sleeve Cub Scout Patch Placement
The American flag patch is sewn on the right sleeve of the Cub Scout uniform at position 1. If you purchase your uniform new, the flag will be sewn on already. If your uniform is used, the flag may have been removed, but you can buy another one from your Council.
Directly below the American flag in position 2 is your den number. In our pack, a Tiger den is given a number when it is formed, and that number stays the same for that group of Cub Scouts.
For example, when my son was a Tiger, his den was numbered Den 3. When he became a Webelos, he was still in Den 3.
When you leave the den numbers the same each year, you don’t have to replace the patch.
Not pictured in the diagram is your pack’s most recently earned Journey to Excellence (JTE) patch which is worn below the den number on the right sleeve.
Left Pocket Cub Scout Patch Placement
The World Crest Emblem is worn above the left pocket. It is centered between the left shoulder seam and the top of the left pocket. It signifies that the Scouting America is part of the World Organization of the Scout Movement.
The badges of rank for Lion, Tiger, Wolf, and Bear go on the left pocket of the blue shirt as shown in the image above. They are placed in this order:
- First Rank Badge Earned – 12:00 Position
- Second Rank Badge Earned – 9:00 Position
- Third Rank Badge Earned – 3:00 Position
- Fourth Rank Badge Earned – 6:00 Position
Some of you may be wondering about the Bobcat badge. The Bobcat rank was retired with the 2024 program changes. Instead, Bobcat is now a required adventure for every rank.
Religious knots indicating a Cub Scout has earned the Religious Emblem for their religion are worn centered above the left pocket.
Right Pocket Cub Scout Patch Placement
If your Scout earns the Recruiter patch, it is worn directly below the right pocket.
Cub Scout Temporary Patch Placement
Temporary patches can be worn on the right pocket. These include patches earned for participating in an activity or for completing an achievement.
Teach your Cub Scout how to fold Cub Scout neckerchiefs!
The picture above shows a Cub Scout day camp patch. Only one temporary patch can be worn on the pocket at a time.
Some other examples of temporary patches are:
- Pinewood Derby, Raingutter Regatta, and Space Derby Patches
- Day Camp Patches
- Popcorn Sales Patches
- Scouting for Food Patches
- Scout Sunday Patches
- Cub Scout “segments” (Council-specific)
Many temporary patches have button loops attached so that you can hang them from the right pocket button instead of having to sew them on to the right pocket flap. Makes life so much easier!
Read this article for some ideas on what to do with those temporary Cub Scout patches when you put a new one on your child’s uniform.
Webelos Uniform Patch Placement
Webelos and Arrows of Light wear the tan uniform shirt like Scouts BSA. When the Scouts earn their Webelos rank, they will wear the badge sewn onto the left pocket.
The Arrow of Light rank patch goes directly below the left pocket. It is the only Cub Scout badge that may be worn on the Scouts BSA uniform.
If you would rather watch a video, click below!
What about Adventure Loops?
Whenever a Cub Scout completes an Adventure, they earn either a loop or a pin.
The Lions, Tigers, Wolves, and Bears wear their Adventure loop on their Cub Scout belt.
Webelos and Arrows of Light display their Adventure pins on the Webelos colors.
How Do You Attach Scout Patches?
Unfortunately, Cub Scout patches are not iron on. They’ll need to be sewn on with either a sewing machine or by hand. I discovered this super easy way to hand sew them.
And that’s where all the patches go! If this was helpful, please share it with your Cub Scouting friends.
Yours in Scouting,
Sherry
87 responses
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Thank you! I saw other scouts wearing it at camp so I wondered about it. It’s kind of a bummer that it’s not to be worn with the official uniform. I wish I’d known that when I filled out my survey on the pilot program as I would have brought that up. 🙂 Thanks for the heads up!
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My son completed the Lion pilot program last year and is moving on to Tigers. He received a diamond shaped Lion badge similar to the other ranks. How does this play in to the placement (clock reference) now that there’s an additional badge?
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Hi, Gretchen! Here’s what I found in the FAQ document about Lions:
Q: I see that the Lion badge is the same diamond shape as the Tiger, Wolf, and Bear rank badges. Can my Lion wear his Lion badge on his Cub Scouting uniform when he becomes a Tiger?
A: There is currently not a permanent place for the badge on the Cub Scout uniform. The badge should be treated as a great recognition piece for the hard work of earning the 5 required adventures, but as it represents a pilot program, it should not be worn as part of the official Cub Scout uniform.Here’s a link to the document: http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/Lion_FAQs.pdf
Hope this helps!
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Update:
With the transition of the Lion program to a full time program, they are also changing the badge to a rectangle to be worn under the left pocket. So when you Lion’s move up to Tigers, etc. they can still wear their badge on their Cub Scout uniform.
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[…] my favorite handy guide for badge placement, including pictures. If you don’t want to sew them on, I recommend […]
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Sorry for the spelling ( my cubscout) and ( Fareway patch
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Hi, there! Are you in the United States? I can’t find information about the Fareway patch, so I thought you might be involved in Cub Scouting in another country.
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Where do I put me cubscout patches he earns, like his farway patch etc??
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Thanks for the simple diagrams. We handed out our Bobcat badges tonight, and I gave each parent the picture from your site.
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Glad it was helpful. Thanks for reading!
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This is helpful. Thank you! One question – I see you have Bobcat, Tiger, Wolf and Bear rank badges on the left pocket… Where do you put the Webelos badge?
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Jordan:
See my reply to Rondi above. -
@Old Time Cub Scouter, So scout completed B, T, W, B. He is now working on his Webelo badge. He needs to move to a larger size so he will go to the tan shirt. He won’t earn the Webelo badge until spring, so should he display those four on his left pocket as he did for the blue uniform? (We used the plastic holder.)
Or maybe just leave those four blank?
If we don’t use those four on the tan shirt, I assume they just become part of his collection at home.Also, how about the belt and beltloops when they move to the tan uniform?
Thanks. -
@melissa,
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@melissa,
That’s a good question! The BSA’s Guide to Awards & Insignia states “With the exception of the Cub Scout badges of rank, members wear only the insignia that show their present status in the movement. Members should make every effort to keep
their uniforms neat and uncluttered. Previously earned badges and insignia—not
representing present status—make a fine display on a BSA red patch vest, on a trophy
hide or blanket, exhibited in the home of the recipient, or at functions where such a display is invited.”
Now, since Webelos Scouts are still a part of the Cub Scout program, this excerpt from the Guide to Awards & Insignia states that Cub Scouts are allowed to wear their previous badges of rank on their field uniform, and that members should wear “the insignia that show their present status in the movement”. Your son’s present status is that of a Bear Cub Scout. Confused yet? I know, me too!
Now a few years back when the BSA made the tan shirt the official uniform shirt for Webelos Scouts, the oval-shaped Webelos badge is the only badge of rank specifically mentioned to be worn on the left pocket of the field uniform according to the Webelos Scout Uniform Inspection Sheet (see link: https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/510750(19)_Webelos_Inspection_WEB.pdf).
With that being said, and to hopefully answer your question, it is my opinion that you should leave the left pocket open on your son’s new tan shirt until he earns and is presented with his Webelos badge of rank. Save his other badges and awards for a patch vest, trophy blanket, or shadow box display as mementos of his Cub Scout experience.
Now when a Cub becomes a Webelos Scout, they have a choice of which official belt that they can wear with their uniform- either the blue web belt with the Webelos insignia on the buckle, or the green web belt with the Scouts BSA insignia on the buckle. I believe that the Adventure loops will only fit on the blue web belts, so if your son chooses to wear the green belt, you can put away his loops as keepsakes. Speaking of which, I have seen where some crafty people slide the Adventure loops onto paint-stirring sticks that were cut to length and assembled as a frame for a picture of their Scout in uniform. Just another option to proudly display your son’s achievements!
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A solution I found to help with sewing patches/badges on any uniform is to use school glue. You add a little school glue to the back of the patch/badge and put it on the shirt. While the glue is still wet, you can adjust the patch so that it ends up in the right place. Leave the shirt hanging OVERNIGHT. In the morning, when the glue is dry, it will hold the patch in place while you sew it on. The next time you wash the shirt, the glue will wash away. Works for me every time.
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One thing that I see which is missing or off in the article is the spacing above the left pocket. The diagram makes it appear that the World Crest is just above the Service Year pin. This leaves no room (and the article does not mention) “knot” patches. While they are primarily for Boy Scouts & adult leaders, many cub scouts earn the religious award, which they can earn as a Tiger, Wolf, or Bear. (They can earn a different award as a Webelos). The knot patch (if more than one religious award is earned, they have small medal pins called devices that are worn on the knot patch). Along with the patch, the boys receive a medal that is worn on the uniform for special occasions (Blue & Gold, etc). It is worn at the top of the left pocket flap.
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Hi, Rich! Thanks for bringing that up. The base diagrams were taken directly from the BSA uniform inspection sheets which doesn’t have the religious emblem pictured. You’re right. If the Cub Scout earns the religious emblem, the knot is worn above the left pocket. The Guide to Awards and Insignia says that on page 77 in the Religious Emblems section.
Thanks for sharing this with everyone.
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Rich/Sherry:
You are both correct in that the BSA Guide to Awards and Insignia reserves the space immediately above the left pocket seam for “square knot” emblems (and their corresponding devices) which were not pictured on the above diagram. The diagram above also does not accurately portray the placement of the World Crest emblem in relation to the top of the left pocket. As Sherry stated above, the placement of the World Crest Emblem is “centered (horizontally) over the left pocket and vertically between left shoulder seam and top of the pocket” (see the Guide to Awards and Insignia, Section 3, Scouting Honors and Special Recognition, Participation and Achievement, page 66). This placement will generally leave plenty of room between the pocket and the World Crest Emblem for most Scout’s (and Scouter’s) square knot emblems and Service Stars.
As a Scout/Scouter’s tenure increases, they may acquire multiple square knot emblems/devices for advancement or achievement, recognition in some program area, service or tenure in the program, and training. If the Scouter chooses to wear all of his/her square knot emblems on their uniform, they may have to raise the World Crest emblem as needed to accommodate their knot emblems and Service Stars.
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