State Requirement Summary

Maine Boat Registration Number Requirements

Boats registered in Maine display an ME-prefixed number such as ME 1234 AB. Maine calls for characters 3 inches high in vertical block capital letters and Arabic numerals, reading left to right, highest practical visibility / contrasting color, positioned each side of the bow. Our lettering is designed to meet the displayed Maine size and formatting requirements. The state itself issues the validation/expiration decal — we supply the registration-number lettering.

Boat number requirements

Last regulatory review: August 22, 2026

Assigned number example

ME 1234 AB

Minimum character height: 3 inches
Lettering style: Vertical block capital letters and Arabic numerals
Contrast: Highest practical visibility / contrasting color
Spacing / separator: Space or hyphen between groups
Reading direction: Left to right
Number location: Each side of the bow
Validation decal: Display with the registration number as directed by Maine registration materials
State agency: Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife

What we sell vs. what the state issues: RegistrationDecals.com supplies the registration-number lettering, designed to meet the displayed Maine size and formatting requirements. Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife issues the official validation/expiration decal — and any separate stickers such as aquatic-invasive-species, mussel-awareness, carbon-monoxide or lake-protection stickers, which are not interchangeable with each other.

Design your ME numbers

Starts with the Maine format (ME 1234 AB). Tap the decal and type your own assigned number exactly as it appears on your certificate of number.

Tap the decal to edit

Decal color

We supply the registration-number lettering, sized to the displayed Maine requirements. Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife issues the validation decal.

Maine placement diagram

Both sides of the hull carry the number. The grey square marks where the state-issued validation decal goes — display with the registration number as directed by maine registration materials.

Port side — bow to the left

Starboard side — bow to the right

Height: 3 inches, vertical block capital letters and arabic numerals
Spacing: Space or hyphen between groups
Location: Each side of the bow
Validation decal: Display with the registration number as directed by Maine registration materials

Diagram is illustrative. Confirm exact positioning against the instructions issued with your Maine registration.

Official source

Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife — Primary state agency source. Last verified August 22, 2026 (source check 2026-08-22).

Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife

Registration requirements can change. RegistrationDecals.com summarizes publicly available boating-registration requirements to help boat owners select and display registration numbers. Always compare your registration and decals with the current instructions issued by your state boating or registration agency before applying them to your vessel.

Maine rules in detail

Assigned number format

Maine assigns numbers in the pattern ME 1234 AB, using the ME prefix. Separate Lake and River Protection Sticker requirements may apply.

Minimum character height

Maine specifies characters 3 inches high. Measure the character body itself — if the state excludes borders, outlines or shading, decorative trim does not count toward the minimum.

Required lettering style

Vertical block capital letters and Arabic numerals, reading left to right. Script, italic and decorative treatments are not what this style describes.

Contrast requirement

Highest practical visibility / contrasting color. In practice that means dark characters on a light hull and light characters on a dark hull, checked in daylight from the side of the vessel.

Spacing and separator

Space or hyphen between groups. Example: ME 1234 AB. Running the groups together with no separation does not match the stated format.

Placement on the hull

Each side of the bow. Must remain legible.

Validation decal placement

Display with the registration number as directed by Maine registration materials. The validation or expiration decal is issued by Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife — RegistrationDecals.com supplies the registration-number lettering only.

Common mistakes

Ordering the number without the ME prefix or the suffix letters.
Characters shorter than the stated minimum (3 inches) so they fit inside a narrow accent stripe.
Using a script, italic or shadowed style instead of vertical block capital letters and Arabic numerals.
Losing the required separation between the groups — space or hyphen between groups.
Placing the state validation decal somewhere other than the position Maine describes: display with the registration number as directed by Maine registration materials.

Frequently asked questions

What does a Maine boat registration number look like?

Maine numbers follow the pattern ME 1234 AB, using the ME prefix, a numeral group, and suffix letters.

How tall do Maine boat registration numbers have to be?

3 inches, measured on the character itself, in vertical block capital letters and Arabic numerals.

What lettering style does Maine require?

Vertical block capital letters and Arabic numerals, reading left to right, and highest practical visibility / contrasting color.

How much space goes between the letters and numbers in Maine?

Space or hyphen between groups. Example: ME 1234 AB.

Where do the numbers go on the boat in Maine?

Each side of the bow. Must remain legible.

Where does the Maine validation decal go?

Display with the registration number as directed by Maine registration materials. The decal itself is issued by Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife; we supply the registration-number lettering.

Who regulates boat registration numbers in Maine?

Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. Confirm the current instructions issued with your registration before applying anything to your hull. Last regulatory review: August 22, 2026.

Can I order Maine boat registration numbers online?

Yes. Enter your assigned ME number in the designer on this page, pick a color that contrasts with your hull, and we cut a matched port-and-starboard pair and ship it to the 48 contiguous states.

Do I need two sets of Maine registration numbers?

You need the number displayed on both sides of the vessel — each side of the bow — so every order ships as a matched port-and-starboard pair.

Related guides

Ready to design your ME numbers?

Our designer starts with plain block characters and proper group spacing, so you can see exactly how ME 1234 AB will read on your hull before you order.

Source: Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife · Primary state agency source · Primary · Source last checked 2026-08-22.