diff --git a/src/lib/ae_events/types/ae_badge_template_cfg.ts b/src/lib/ae_events/types/ae_badge_template_cfg.ts
index 7e060ffa..14905488 100644
--- a/src/lib/ae_events/types/ae_badge_template_cfg.ts
+++ b/src/lib/ae_events/types/ae_badge_template_cfg.ts
@@ -36,6 +36,13 @@ export interface BadgeTemplateCfg {
     // Leave unset (or "0") for no bleed.
     bleed?: string;
 
+    // Header image vertical offset. CSS length applied as margin-top on the badge_header div.
+    // Default (unset) = "2rem" (matches the prior hardcoded mt-8).
+    // Negative values shift the image toward the top edge; larger values push it down.
+    // Useful when a background image's designed zone doesn't align with the default position.
+    // Any CSS length works: "-0.5in", "1rem", "8px".
+    header_margin_top?: string;
+
     // Allow arbitrary extra keys to preserve forward-compatibility.
     [key: string]: any;
 }
diff --git a/src/routes/events/[event_id]/(badges)/badges/[badge_id]/ae_comp__badge_obj_view.svelte b/src/routes/events/[event_id]/(badges)/badges/[badge_id]/ae_comp__badge_obj_view.svelte
index c61f9377..ae1aec53 100644
--- a/src/routes/events/[event_id]/(badges)/badges/[badge_id]/ae_comp__badge_obj_view.svelte
+++ b/src/routes/events/[event_id]/(badges)/badges/[badge_id]/ae_comp__badge_obj_view.svelte
@@ -319,6 +319,13 @@ let bleed_offset = $derived.by(() => {
     return `-${b}`;
 });
 
+// Header image vertical position. Defaults to "2rem" (= prior hardcoded mt-8).
+// Set cfg_json.header_margin_top on the template to shift the image up (negative) or down.
+let header_margin_top = $derived.by(() => {
+    const v = template_cfg?.header_margin_top;
+    return v && typeof v === 'string' && v.trim() ? v.trim() : '2rem';
+});
+
 /**
  * Layout-aware section heights for Element_fit_text.
  *
@@ -662,13 +669,14 @@ const code_to_icon: {
                     <div
                         class="badge_header
                 image
-                m-0 mt-8
+                m-0
                 max-h-[1.10in]
                 min-h-[.50in]
                 max-w-full overflow-hidden
                 p-2
                 hover:outline-2 hover:outline-gray-500/75 hover:outline-dashed
-                ">
+                "
+                        style="margin-top: {header_margin_top};">
                         <img
                             class="header_image"
                             class:header_full_width={banner_full_width}
diff --git a/src/routes/events/[event_id]/(badges)/templates/ae_comp__badge_template_form.svelte b/src/routes/events/[event_id]/(badges)/templates/ae_comp__badge_template_form.svelte
index 599d48f3..c003c29f 100644
--- a/src/routes/events/[event_id]/(badges)/templates/ae_comp__badge_template_form.svelte
+++ b/src/routes/events/[event_id]/(badges)/templates/ae_comp__badge_template_form.svelte
@@ -65,6 +65,8 @@ let cfg_controls_auth_editable: string[] = $state([]);
 let cfg_body_text_color = $state('#000000');
 // Background image bleed (CSS length, e.g. "0.125in", "3mm"). Empty = no bleed.
 let cfg_bleed = $state('');
+// Header image vertical offset (CSS length). Empty = default 2rem. Negative = shift up.
+let cfg_header_margin_top = $state('');
 // Alignment overrides: 'left' | 'center' | 'right' | 'justify'
 let cfg_align_name = $state('center');
 let cfg_align_title = $state('center');
@@ -160,6 +162,7 @@ async function load_template(id: string) {
 
             // Background bleed (CSS length, e.g. "0.125in"). Empty = no bleed.
             cfg_bleed = parsed_cfg.bleed ?? '';
+            cfg_header_margin_top = parsed_cfg.header_margin_top ?? '';
 
             // Alignment overrides (nested under cfg_json.align and cfg_json.qr_alignment)
             cfg_align_name = parsed_cfg?.align?.name ?? parsed_cfg.align_name ?? 'center';
@@ -238,6 +241,13 @@ async function handle_submit() {
         delete cfg_obj.bleed;
     }
 
+    // Header image vertical offset: save if set, remove key when cleared (falls back to 2rem default)
+    if (cfg_header_margin_top.trim()) {
+        cfg_obj.header_margin_top = cfg_header_margin_top.trim();
+    } else {
+        delete cfg_obj.header_margin_top;
+    }
+
     const data_to_save: key_val = {
         name,
         background_image_path,
@@ -343,6 +353,14 @@ function toggle_cfg_controls_auth_editable(key: string) {
                     <span>Header Path (URL) — top banner image (used when no background image)</span>
                     <input type="text" bind:value={header_path} class="input" />
                 </label>
+                <label class="label">
+                    <span>Header Image Vertical Offset</span>
+                    <input type="text" bind:value={cfg_header_margin_top} class="input" placeholder="e.g. 0.5in, -4px, 1rem (default: 2rem)" />
+                    <p class="text-xs text-surface-400 italic">
+                        Shifts the header image up (negative) or down (positive) within the badge front.
+                        Any CSS length works. Leave blank to use the default (2rem).
+                    </p>
+                </label>
                 <label class="label">
                     <span>Logo Path (URL, if no Header Path)</span>
                     <input type="text" bind:value={logo_path} class="input" />