Hang tag size guide: standard clothing tag dimensions

For most clothing brands, a 50 × 90 mm portrait hang tag is the best all-round starting point. It has enough room for a logo, price, QR code and short product story without overpowering the garment. Move smaller for minimal basics and larger for premium packaging or information-heavy tags.

This guide covers the physical tag. For design, materials and attachment options, see our complete clothing hang-tag guide. For all garment label dimensions, visit the clothing label size guide.

Standard clothing hang-tag sizes in mm

Choose the format around the hierarchy of your artwork. Portrait tags feel classic and give the longest reading area; landscape tags suit a wide logo or a compact, modern layout.

Portrait or landscape?

Portrait is the easier default because the tag hangs naturally and leaves a clear reading order from logo to price. Landscape works when the logo is wide, when the garment is folded, or when your artwork is intentionally horizontal. Keep the chosen direction consistent across the collection.

Hole placement and string clearance

A 3-5 mm round hole works for most cotton strings, waxed cords and plastic fasteners. Place its centre 6-8 mm from the top edge and keep text at least 5 mm away. On a heavier tag, a small metal eyelet can add strength and a premium finish.

Choose the right card thickness

• 250-300 GSM: lightweight and economical for high-volume tags.
• 300-350 GSM: the dependable everyday range for most clothing brands.
• 400 GSM: a more rigid, premium feel for boutiques and gifting.

Decide what the tag needs to say

A hang tag has more room than a sewn label, but it still gets crowded quickly. Start with the essentials: your logo, product name or size, price and barcode if required. Then decide whether the back needs a QR code, social handle, short brand story, care note or return information. A tag that tries to carry everything usually reads like a receipt. Split the work between the hang tag, care label and packaging instead.

For a simple T-shirt, the front may only need the logo and product name. The back can carry price and a QR code. For a premium shirt, a larger tag can include fabric notes or a short explanation of the make. Keep the customer journey in mind. The tag is read in a shop or while unboxing, not at a desk.

Paper choice changes the perceived size

Two tags with the same dimensions can feel completely different. A 50 × 90 mm tag on uncoated natural stock feels warm and tactile. The same size on gloss-coated card can look sharper and more commercial. Dark stock makes a tag feel smaller because the edge visually recedes; a pale stock feels more open. This is why paper choice should happen alongside artwork, not after it.

• Uncoated natural card: good for craft, sustainable and understated brands.
• Matte coated card: holds fine artwork and colour cleanly without a shiny finish.
• Textured stock: suits premium ranges, but test small text before committing.
• Recycled board: gives character, though flecks can affect very fine print.

Finishes worth using, and when to skip them

Foil, embossing, spot UV and coloured edge painting can make a tag feel special. They can also make a small tag busy. Use one finishing detail when the brand needs a premium cue. A blind emboss on a heavy natural card often says more than foil, gloss and a complicated illustration all competing for attention.

• Use foil for a short wordmark or simple monogram.
• Use embossing when the paper stock is heavy enough to hold the impression.
• Use spot UV only when the design has enough empty space around it.
• Skip complex finishes on tags that will be produced in very high volume or handled roughly.

Match the tag to the garment category

Small kidswear and lightweight basics usually need a modest tag. A large heavy card can tug at the collar and look out of scale. Denim, outerwear and gifting ranges can take a larger format because the product already has more visual weight. For accessories, check where the tag will sit during transport. A wide tag may crease if it is tied to a narrow handle or zip pull.

String, loop and fastener choices

The attachment affects both appearance and usability. Cotton string feels natural and works well with uncoated stock. Waxed cord is cleaner and slightly more formal. Plastic snap locks are quick for high-volume production, but they should be chosen in a colour that does not distract from the tag. Safety pins suit delicate garments where a loop would pull the neckline out of shape.

Keep the attachment in proportion to the hole. A heavy cord through a tiny hole tears card. A thin thread through a large eyelet looks unfinished. The best test is simple: attach the sample to the actual garment, lift it by the tag and check whether the card bends or the hole begins to stretch.

Layout space that people forget

The hole, rounded corners and trim margin all take space away from the printed area. A logo that looks centred on a flat artboard can end up visually high once the hole and string are added. Leave a quiet zone around the top of the tag. Keep barcodes and QR codes away from corners. Retail staff need to scan them quickly, often while the tag is still attached to the garment.

• Leave 4-5 mm of trim space around normal text and logos.
• Leave more space around a hole, eyelet or string knot.
• Keep a QR code at a size the phone camera can scan from a normal distance.
• Place the barcode on a flat panel that will not crease during handling.

Check the tag in the real retail setting

A tag sample should be checked on the garment, inside its actual packaging and under ordinary shop lighting. Deep navy ink can read black under warm lights. Fine pale type can vanish on a glossy stock. The string may tangle with a button or catch on another garment in a packed rail. These are not artwork problems. They are product problems, and they are much cheaper to fix before the whole run is printed.

Look at the tag from the front, then turn the garment over. If the price panel is hidden or the string makes the logo sit upside down, change the attachment point. Good hang tags feel considered because the small production details have been checked.

Cost decisions that make sense

Tag size affects paper use, print area, finishing cost and packing time. A larger tag is not automatically better value just because it looks premium. If the back is mostly blank, reduce the format or use that space for information the customer will actually use. Conversely, do not force a barcode, price and long product story onto a tiny tag simply to save a few millimetres of card.

The most practical approach is to price two formats with the same stock and finish. Compare the cost difference against the artwork needs. For many brands, the jump from 45 × 70 mm to 50 × 90 mm is small enough to justify the extra breathing room. Finishes are where cost can rise quickly, especially when foil, embossing and edge paint are combined.

Sustainability claims need care

Recycled paper and natural strings can support a lower-waste packaging approach, but the claim should match the actual materials. A recycled tag with a plastic lamination or a mixed-material fastener may be harder to recycle than it first appears. Keep the construction simple when recyclability is a priority: uncoated paper, one-colour print and a paper or cotton attachment where practical.

There is also a simple way to reduce waste: order a tag size that earns its place. A useful tag is more likely to be kept, reused or scanned. A bulky tag with no useful information goes straight into the bin.

Questions your printer will ask

• What is the final cut size and orientation?
• Which paper, GSM and finish are required?
• Is the hole round, drilled, punched or fitted with an eyelet?
• What attachment is needed and how long should it be?
• Does the artwork need a barcode, QR code, variable price or size field?
• Is there an approved colour reference for the logo?

Three useful tag setups

Minimal everyday apparel tag

Use a 45 × 70 mm portrait tag on 300 GSM uncoated or matte card. Put the logo on the front and price, size and barcode on the back. Use a 3 mm hole and a short cotton string. This format is tidy, affordable and easy to attach at volume.

Premium collection tag

Use a 50 × 90 mm or 55 × 95 mm tag on 350-400 GSM stock. Give the logo generous empty space. Add one finish, such as blind embossing or a small foil mark, rather than covering the card with effects. Use an eyelet only if it fits the brand style and the tag will be handled repeatedly.

Information-led product tag

Use a larger portrait format or a double-sided folded tag when the product needs fabric notes, a care explanation, a QR code and retail information. This works well for denim, outerwear, handcrafted products and giftable items. The extra space should make the information easier to use, not merely fill the card.

Final approval sequence

Approve the artwork at the final cut size. Then approve the printed card. Then attach it to the garment and inspect the whole product. Each stage catches a different problem. Digital artwork catches layout errors. The printed card catches stock, ink and finish issues. The attached sample catches real-world problems: weight, orientation, creasing and whether the tag gets in the way.

Keep one approved physical tag with the production file. Future seasons often reuse a tag structure even when the artwork changes. That sample gives everyone a reference that is more reliable than a description in an email.

Build a tag system, not a one-off

Brands with several product categories do not need a different tag shape for every item. A small system is easier to manage. For example, use one compact tag for basics, one larger tag for premium garments and one information-led tag for outerwear or gifting. Keep the same logo position, type style and attachment family across all three. Customers will recognise the brand even when the product changes.

This also helps the production team. The printer knows the card stocks and finishes. The packing team knows where the tag attaches. The retail team knows where to find the barcode. When a new collection arrives, only the product-specific information changes. The structure does not need to be reinvented.

When to change the standard size

Change the standard format when the product genuinely calls for it. A tiny infant garment should not carry the same heavy tag as a men’s denim jacket. A delicate silk piece may need a safety pin and a smaller card. A gift box can take a broader, more decorative tag. Start from the existing system, then adjust for the physical product rather than chasing novelty.

That restraint is usually what makes a tag feel polished. The paper, copy and attachment have a clear job. Nothing is there merely because it could be printed.

Last checks before the print run

Read every variable field carefully: product name, size, MRP, barcode and website. These details are easy to overlook because the logo gets most of the attention during design review. Check the finished trim marks too. A tag can have perfect artwork and still look wrong if the hole is off-centre, the rounded corners are inconsistent or the crop is too tight around a logo.

Ask for one final flat proof and one attached sample. Compare them with the approved specification. If both look right, production can move quickly. If either one feels compromised, fix it before the quantity makes the decision expensive.

A well-made tag is a small piece of product design. It should explain what matters, survive handling and leave the garment looking better than it did without it. Keep the approved sample with the production specification. It becomes the quickest reference for the next reorder.

Getting hang tags made at Labelwala

We make labels and hang tags in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, and we have been doing it for 25 years. Hang tags usually get quoted alongside a neck label and a care label, because most brands order the set together and it is cheaper to run them as one job.

• Minimum order: 1,000 pieces.
• Quotes: we usually reply within 2 hours on a working day.
• Production: 7-10 days once the artwork is approved. Rush jobs run 3-5 days.
• Delivery: across India; how long depends on where it is going and how much of it there is.

Four things decide a hang tag quote: the finished size, the card weight in gsm, the finish, and whether you need string or a fastener fitted. Tell us all four and the price comes back without a round of questions. If you are unsure about the card, say what the tag has to survive. A tag that gets handled on a rail all season needs more weight than one that ships inside a polybag.

Send artwork as vector with the fonts outlined, and mark where the hole goes. The hole is the detail most often left off, and a tag punched through the logo cannot be fixed after printing.

We are rated 5.0 on Google from 26 reviews. Ask for a physical sample before the full run: card weight and finish are things you have to hold to judge, and no proof on screen will tell you how a 300 gsm uncoated tag feels against a 250 gsm matt-laminated one.

Hang-tag ordering checklist

• Choose the finished width and height from the actual information to print.
• Confirm portrait or landscape orientation before artwork setup.
• Mark the hole size and its exact position.
• Choose paper stock, finish and attachment string together.
• Request a printed sample against the garment before production.

Hang tag size FAQs

What is the best hang-tag size for a T-shirt?

A 45 × 70 mm or 50 × 90 mm portrait tag suits most T-shirts. Use the smaller option for a simple logo and price, and the larger tag if you add a QR code or brand story.

Can a hang tag be too large?

Yes. A tag that is too large can look out of proportion and add unnecessary cost. Match it to the garment size and the amount of information you genuinely need to show.

Should I use rounded corners?

Rounded corners are optional, but they reduce sharp edges and give a softer, refined finish. They work especially well for premium lifestyle and kidswear brands.