We ship worldwide!
We ship worldwide!
Boat registration number requirements are different in each Australian state. There is no single national size that applies to every boat. Most recreational powerboats require registration numbers around 150 mm high, but yachts, displacement boats, PWCs and tenders can have different requirements depending on the state.
Use the quick guide below to compare the main minimum sizes, then select your state for the full requirements covering placement, contrast, readability, uppercase lettering, PWCs and tenders.
Boat rego stickers are required in Australia, but that doesn’t mean they should be difficult to apply, fade after a season, or make your boat look worse. Most boat owners have dealt with cheap stickers that peel, crack, or never quite go on straight.
At Boat Names Australia, we’ve taken a different approach. Our boat registration stickers are designed to be super easy to install, built to last in harsh marine conditions, and custom-created to look like they belong on your boat — not like an afterthought. The result is a product that removes the usual frustration and delivers a clean, long-lasting finish you can rely on.
150 mm planing / 75 mm non-planing
75 mm – Queensland’s 75 mm yacht requirement generally applies where the vessel is not capable of achieving a planing attitude.
100 mm
Size depends on whether the boat can plane
150 mm
100 mm
100 mm
Uppercase letters required
150 mm
150 mm
100 mm
Specific placement requirements
150 mm
150 mm
75 mm
Most boats use the same 150 mm size
150 mm ≥3 m / 100 mm <3 m
150 mm ≥3 m / 100 mm <3 m
100 mm
Size mainly based on vessel length.
150 × 25 mm
50 × 12 mm
150 × 25 mm
Width refers to the stroke width of each letter. Colour and style also specified.
No. Australia does not have one national recreational boat registration-number size.
Registration is administered by individual states, which means the correct size depends on:
For example, a normal Victorian powerboat generally requires 150 mm registration numbers, while a Queensland non-planing boat may use 75 mm characters.
This is why it is important to check your state before ordering boat registration numbers.
Queensland is unusual because registration-number size depends on whether the vessel is capable of achieving a planing attitude.
Planing powerboats generally require 150 mm characters, non-planing boats and many yachts may use 75 mm, and PWCs require 100 mm.
NSW powerboats generally require 150 mm registration numbers, while yachts, sailing vessels and PWCs use 100 mm characters.
NSW also specifically requires registration letters to be uppercase, solid and clear.
Most registered recreational boats in Victoria require 150 mm registration numbers.
PWCs may use 100 mm characters, and Victoria has specific rules about where registration numbers must be positioned on the hull.
Tasmania uses a relatively simple system.
Most registered recreational boats, including planing boats, displacement boats and motorised yachts, require 150 mm registration numbers.
PWCs may use smaller 75 mm characters.
South Australia mainly bases registration-number size on vessel length.
Boats 3 metres or longer generally require 150 mm characters, while boats under 3 metres use 100 mm characters.
PWCs require 100 mm registration numbers.
Western Australia has some of Australia’s most detailed registration-number requirements.
Normal motorboats use characters at least 150 mm high × 25 mm wide, while motorised sailing vessels can use 50 mm × 12 mm characters.
WA also specifies requirements relating to character colour, style and white surrounds.
The Northern Territory and ACT operate differently from Australia’s six states.
Recreational boats in the Northern Territory generally do not require registration under a conventional recreational vessel-registration system.
The ACT generally recognises vessels registered under the law of another Australian state.
NSW specifically requires registration letters to be uppercase. Other states focus more heavily on size, readability, contrast and positioning.
For consistency and maximum readability, Boat Names Australia recommends using uppercase block-style registration lettering regardless of the state.
A registration number should be easy to identify quickly and should not use highly decorative or difficult-to-read lettering.
In most states, registration numbers need to contrast clearly with the hull.
For example:
Western Australia has more specific colour requirements and generally requires black registration characters, with a white surround where required.
Always check your individual state requirements before choosing the final colour.
Boat registration numbers should be clear and easy to read.
Your boat name can be decorative, stylised and creative, but registration numbers are primarily there for identification.
For registration numbers, we recommend:
This helps keep the registration visible and avoids decorative lettering interfering with readability.
PWC and jet ski registration sizes vary by state.
| State | PWC / Jet Ski Minimum |
| Queensland | 100 mm |
| NSW | 100 mm |
| Victoria | 100 mm |
| Tasmania | 75 mm |
| South Australia | 100 mm |
| Western Australia | 100 × 25 mm |
If you are ordering jet ski registration numbers, always select your state of registration rather than assuming one size applies Australia-wide.
Yacht registration-number sizes can vary considerably between states.
State | Yacht / Sailing Vessel Minimum |
Queensland | 75 mm* |
NSW | 100 mm |
Victoria | 150 mm |
Tasmania | 150 mm |
South Australia | 150 mm ≥3 m / 100 mm <3 m |
Western Australia | 50 × 12 mm for motorised sailing vessels |
*Applies to Queensland vessels not capable of achieving a planing attitude.
This is one of the strongest reasons to check the rules for your state rather than ordering a generic boat registration-number kit.
Start with your state of registration, then choose your vessel type.
You will generally need to know whether your boat is a:
Once you know the vessel type, check the full state guide for:
For detailed requirements, choose your state:
Queensland Boat Registration Number Requirements →
NSW Boat Registration Number Requirements →
Victorian Boat Registration Number Requirements →
Tasmania Boat Registration Number Requirements →
South Australia Boat Registration Number Requirements →
Boat Names Australia has been supplying custom boat names and registration-number kits to Australian boat owners since 2003.
We manufacture easy-to-install, pre-spaced boat registration-number kits and help customers choose an appropriate size for their vessel and state.
Because Australian boat-registration requirements vary by jurisdiction and can change, we recommend checking the relevant state guide before ordering.
If you’re unsure which size you need, tell us your state and boat type and we can help point you in the right direction.
This guide provides general information about recreational boat registration-number requirements in Australia.
Requirements may change, and unusual vessels or operating circumstances can have additional rules. If you are unsure about the requirements for your vessel, confirm them with the relevant state maritime authority.
This is much closer to the structure I’d actually publish: the hub owns the broad comparison questions, while the individual pages own the detailed regulatory questions.
Head over to our Boat Rego Stickers page to find out all about our decals.
All States in Australia require most recreational boats to be registered. Each State has slightly different definitions and exemptions but by and large, if its got an engine or is over 5m in length, registration will probably be required. This involves paperwork and of course a fee.
Every registered boat should have a registration certificate and a registration label attached to the boat. Transfer of registration and the documents required varies from State to State.
Here’s a rundown with links to the websites, most of which have the appropriate forms as downloadable documents.
South Australia Dept of Transport
No specific information provided on the website
The Northern Territories and ACT don’t require recreational boat registration at this time.
This information is provided in good faith but not guaranteed. Always check with the appropriate Government Department for any changes and corrections.
