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LED Light-Up Cheer Bows
White bows with built-in LEDs that glow any color at the click of a button, one bow per athlete.
$66 USD per bow · 10-bow minimum
For coaches and team parents weighing DIY bows: make the practice extras, and order the bows the squad performs in so every one matches. Our light-up cheer bows are white bows with built-in LEDs that change colour with the button on each bow. See the light-up cheer bows page for current pack sizes and team pricing.
When should a team order bows instead of making them?
| Situation | Make them | Order them |
|---|---|---|
| One or two practice bows | Yes: a weekend project | Not needed |
| Extras for practice or theme weeks | Yes, if a parent enjoys it | Or order a few |
| Matching bows for the whole squad on game night | Possible, with a lot of hours | Yes: identical bows, one order |
| Glitter, rhinestones or names | Needs a heat press and practice | Yes |
| A fixed date: senior night or a pink out | Risky | Yes: send the date when you order |
| Bows that light up | Not the same way | See the product page |
Woo! Jr.’s author started making bows because her daughter’s team only provides one bow for performances, and she wanted extras for practices and other events (source: Woo! Jr.: how to make a cheer bow). That is where DIY earns its place: the extras. The bow the squad performs in is the one worth ordering. For the team-order side, see buying cheer bows for a team.
What supplies do you need to make a cheer bow?
Two published tutorials agree on the basics (sources: Woo! Jr.: how to make a cheer bow, Be Incredibow by Kaely: cheer bow basics):
| Supply | What the tutorials use | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Grosgrain ribbon | 3 inches wide; cut to 25 inches in one tutorial, 3 by 28 inches as one bow maker’s standard | Stiff enough to hold its shape |
| Centre ribbon | 3/8 inch, or 1/2 to 7/8 inch | Wraps the pinch and hides the tie |
| Rhinestone ribbon (optional) | Flexible rhinestone trim | Sparkle on the centre |
| Hair tie | A seamless or metal-free ponytail holder | Holds the bow in a ponytail |
| Zip tie, or needle and thread | Secures the folds at the centre | Stops the loops slipping |
| Hot glue | For the centre wrap | Holds the centre ribbon down |
| Fray check or a lighter | Seals the cut ends | Stops grosgrain unravelling |
| Stiffener (optional) | Hairspray or a spray stiffener, dried before folding | Keeps a single-layer bow upright |
Lengths vary by maker: the Be Incredibow beginner course says the most popular ribbon width is 3 inches and that bow makers prefer anywhere from 26 to 30 inches; a glitter bow adds glitter heat-transfer vinyl and an iron or heat press. The course also warns that the hairspray it uses as a stiffener is flammable until completely dry (source: Be Incredibow by Kaely: cheer bow basics). That is the cheer bow supplies list a parent buys once and then again for every new colour.
The finished size to aim for: a classic pony bow is about 7 by 7 inches with tails of about 5 inches on 3-inch ribbon, and smaller athletes often wear a 6-inch bow. See the cheer bow size chart for 6, 7 and 8 inch bows and how to measure one.
How do you make a cheer bow, step by step?
- Cut the ribbon to length and seal the ends. The Instructables tutorial cuts the ends at a 60-degree angle and heats them so the grosgrain doesn’t unravel (source: Instructables: Cheer Bow).
- Cross the ends into an awareness-ribbon shape, wrong side up (source: Woo! Jr.: how to make a cheer bow).
- Bring the back loop up to the crossing so both loops are even. Even loops are the whole bow.
- Pinch the centre into an accordion fold and secure it with thread or a zip tie pulled tight.
- Attach the hair tie to the back, with the zip tie or by sewing through its fabric cover, not the elastic.
- Wrap the centre with the narrow ribbon and hot glue it down; add rhinestone ribbon on top if you want sparkle.
- Cut the tails into the classic V. The Be Incredibow course aims for the fork about 1.5 inches up (source: Be Incredibow by Kaely: cheer bow basics).
A cheer bow template, a printed guide with the fold lines, or a gridded cutting mat keeps the loops and tails the same from bow to bow. And use a hair tie, not a clip: Woo! Jr.’s tutorial notes that standard clips will not stay in place through tumbling such as backflips, but ponytail holders will (source: Woo! Jr.: how to make a cheer bow).
How long does it take to make bows for a whole squad?
The Instructables tutorial estimates 15 minutes for one bow (source: Instructables: Cheer Bow). Plan longer for a first attempt. For a squad, multiply it:
| Squad | Bows (one each plus two spares) | Folding time at 15 minutes a bow | On top of that |
|---|---|---|---|
| JV squad of 12 | 14 | 3.5 hours | Cutting, sealing, drying stiffener, re-dos |
| Varsity squad of 16 | 18 | 4.5 hours | The same, and again for each cause-night colour |
| Squad of 24 | 26 | 6.5 hours | The same, and a second parent to share the work |
Then multiply by the bows in a season. Varsity’s rotation of a sideline bow, a gold bow for September, a pink bow for October and a sparkle bow for competition is four bows per athlete (source: Varsity Spirit: Celebrate Bow-vember). For a squad of 16 with two spares, that is 72 bows, or 18 hours at the tutorial’s pace, before a single bow is redone.
Why is matching a whole squad the hard part?
One bow is a craft project. Eighteen identical bows is production. These are the things that drift from bow to bow:
- Loop size. Woo! Jr.’s tutorial stresses that both loops must be even and the same size; across a squad, every bow also has to match the next one.
- Tail length. The same tutorial cuts tails a little short so they don’t block the athlete’s vision (source: Woo! Jr.: how to make a cheer bow). Whatever length you choose has to repeat on every bow.
- Bow size. Cheerleading Company’s placement guide warns that oversized bows can overwhelm smaller athletes and throw off proportions (source: Cheerleading Company: how to put a cheer bow in). Pick one size from the cheer bow size chart and hold every bow to it.
- Finish. Glitter and rhinestone bows add a heat press or hand-placed stones, and a new skill.
Kaely, the bow maker who teaches the Be Incredibow course, writes that her early bows looked rough, that it was a year or so before she had a heat press, and that every cheer bow is handmade, so none may ever be perfect (source: Be Incredibow by Kaely). For a parent making 18 bows the week of a game, that is the real risk: not one bad bow, but a line of bows that don’t match.
Can you make a light-up cheer bow yourself?
Not the way you make a ribbon bow. Our light-up cheer bows are white cheer bows with built-in LEDs. Click the button on the bow to change the light colour, or let it cycle through the colours, and set every bow to the same colour so the squad glows together. The LEDs and the colour button are built into the bow, and a folded ribbon has neither. See the light-up cheer bows page for current pack sizes and team pricing.
A home version would mean tucking a battery light string into a ribbon bow. That runs into the same problems teams find with DIY light-up poms: where the battery box goes, matching a squad, and coin-cell safety. Under Reese’s Law, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission made a standard mandatory that requires a tool, or two simultaneous movements, to open a button or coin battery compartment, and it advises keeping products with accessible batteries away from children if the compartment has no screw closure (source: U.S. CPSC). See DIY light-up pom poms vs buying them for the full comparison.
How do you put on a cheer bow correctly?
Cheer bow placement is simple: the bow sits high, at the crown, on top of a high ponytail, over the elastic, with the tails hanging down over the ponytail. Cheerleading Company’s step-by-step (source: Cheerleading Company: how to put a cheer bow in):
- Prep the hair. Dry hair, brushed smooth, with a light gel at the roots for grip.
- Make the high ponytail. Tilt the head back slightly, gather the hair at the crown and secure it tightly, wrapping the elastic two to three times.
- Position the bow. With the loops facing forward, slide the bow’s elastic under the ponytail elastic so it anchors to the base of the ponytail.
- Tie and tighten. Pull the bow elastic snug and double-knot it.
- Centre it. Straight and flush against the head, not tilted.
- Lock it in. Hairspray, and bobby pins under the bow if needed.
The same guide lists the usual mistakes: a loose ponytail lets the bow slide, low placement can make the bow disappear during a performance, and a twisted elastic gives a crooked bow. Have a captain check the whole line from the front before warm-ups; a crooked bow is easier to see than to feel.
Our light-up bows can have a hair tie and are worn in the same place: high at the crown, over the ponytail elastic, with the tails hanging down.
How do you order light-up bows and matching poms?
See the light-up cheer bows page for current pack sizes and team pricing.
Pair them with light-up poms: set every bow to the poms’ colour with the button on the bow, and switch the poms by remote. At our team rate of $120 a pair on 10 or more pairs:
| Group | Pairs | Cost at the team rate |
|---|---|---|
| Squad of 12 | 12 | $1,440 |
| Squad of 16, two spares | 18 | $2,160 |
| Squad of 24, two spares | 26 | $3,120 |
Email or DM us with your team size, your colours and your first game or event date. We make our light-up products ourselves and will tell you plainly what fits your date. See team orders for how a group order works.
Add to your team order
Light-Up LED Pom Poms
Metallic streamers with LEDs built into the pom, a rechargeable pack, and one remote that changes the whole team’s color at once.
$145 USD per pair
Frequently asked questions
How do you make a cheer bow?
Cut 3-inch grosgrain to about 25 to 30 inches, cross it into a ribbon shape, bring the back loop to the centre, pinch and tie the centre, attach a hair tie, wrap the centre with narrow ribbon and hot glue, then cut V tails and seal the ends.
What ribbon do you use for cheer bows?
3-inch grosgrain is the standard, because it is stiff enough to hold its shape. A narrower ribbon, 3/8 to 7/8 inch, wraps the centre.
How long does it take to make a cheer bow?
One Instructables tutorial estimates about 15 minutes a bow. For a squad of 16 with two spares, that is about 4.5 hours for each bow style.
Where should a cheer bow sit?
High at the crown, on top of a high ponytail, over the elastic, with the tails hanging down over the ponytail. Low placement can make the bow disappear in a performance.
How do you tie a cheer bow into a ponytail?
With the loops facing forward, slide the bow’s elastic under the ponytail elastic, pull it snug, double-knot it and centre it.
Can you make light-up cheer bows at home?
Not the same way. Ours are white cheer bows with built-in LEDs and a button on the bow that changes the light colour. A home version means a battery light string, with the coin-battery safety rules that come with it.
What size should a cheer bow be?
Most cheer bows are 6, 7 or 8 inches wide. The classic pony bow is about 7 by 7 inches overall, with tails of about 5 inches on 3-inch ribbon; smaller athletes often wear a 6-inch bow.
Is it cheaper to make cheer bows?
For a few bows, the materials can be. For a whole squad, count the hours, the spares, the re-dos and the extra bows for cause nights before you decide.
More cheer bow guides:
- Light-up cheer bows for teams: the hub: what the bows do, matching poms, how many to order.
- Cheer bows for teams, in bulk: materials, sizes, how many per athlete and who pays.
- Cheer bow size chart: 6, 7 and 8 inch bows, jumbo bows and our light-up bow measured.
- Competition cheer bows: light-up bows for all-star teams on the mat and at awards.
- Custom cheer bows: team colours, names, tails and light-up bows.
- Cheer bow colors: white, red, blue, purple, black, two-colour and cause-night bows.
- Glow bows and light-up cheer bows: LED vs glow-in-the-dark vs neon bows for glow nights.
- Senior cheer bows: what coaches and booster clubs order for senior night.
- Cheer accessories checklist: everything a squad orders each season.
- Shop light-up cheer bows: current packs and team pricing.
See also: DIY light-up pom poms vs buying them and how to choose cheer pom poms.
Sources: Woo! Jr.: how to make a cheer bow, Be Incredibow by Kaely: cheer bow basics, Be Incredibow by Kaely, Instructables: Cheer Bow, Cheerleading Company: how to put a cheer bow in, Varsity Spirit: Celebrate Bow-vember, U.S. CPSC.
Brand, school and booster club names are used only to identify sources. None is affiliated with or endorses Neon Cowboys.
Questions: info@neoncowboys.com.
