Hang Tag Sizes and Guidelines

If you’re thinking of creating your own fashion line in the near future, then you should think about getting hang tags. The main purpose of a hang tag is to provide as much information to the customer as possible about how to care for a product. Because hang tags come in a wide variety of sizes, you should be mindful of how large or small the hang tag should be.

Hang tags can come in as many as a dozen sizes, with the smallest being 1.375 × 2.75 inches and the largest being 5.125 × 10.25 inches.

While hang tags may seem like simple sheets of paper, there’s actually quite a lot more to them. In this guide, I will cover what hang tags are, their sizes, what types there are, and what information you should include on your hang tags.

What Is a Hang Tag?

If you’ve ever seen a piece of cardstock or plastic attached to an item of clothing with a string, then you’ve seen a hang tag.

A hang tag provides information for the article of clothing, including the size, color, fabric, and price. It pretty much tells the customer everything they need to know before they make their purchase.

While hang tags may seem unremarkable, they play a huge role in the garment industry. When racks are packed with clothes from different manufacturers, you will have to find a way to make your product stand out, and hang tags are the way to do it. They can be bright in color and/or unique in shape to grab the attention of shoppers.

Hang Tag Sizes

Hang tags come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. However, the standard hang tag will be rectangular in shape.

The standard hang tag size depends on the supplier. For instance, some suppliers will start with 2 × 4-inch tags, but some of the smallest hang tags available measure only 1.375 × 2.75 inches.

Below, I’ll provide a table that includes 12 hang tag sizes and their dimensions.

Again, the actual size of a hang tag will vary from supplier to supplier. So, a local supplier in your area might not provide as many size options, while another may have over 20 sizes to choose from.

In addition, the sizes mentioned above specifically refer to rectangular hang tag sizes. If you search hard enough, you can find hang tags of virtually any size. Some hang tags are also shaped as booklets, which allow you to include even more information about the product.

What Are Hang Tags Made of?

While the most common material used for hang tags is cardstock, you can find a more specialized material to make your hang tags and products stand out.

Metal—Metal hang tags are typically made of iron, stainless steel, and copper. However, due to their steep price per unit compared to other materials, they are very rarely used outside of denim clothing.

Leather—Hang tags made of animal skin give off a rustic look, which is great for outdoor attire.

Textile—Materials like silk, cotton, and canvas can also be used for hang tags. They are costlier than cardstock but considerably cheaper than metal hang tags.

Plastic—Plastic hang tags are stiff, durable, and require no finish unless you want to make them pop.

Rubber—Rubber hang tags are less common than the other types of hang tags, but they are weather-resistant, which is great for selling clothes outdoors.

Types of Hang Tag Finishes

Not only can you choose from a wide variety of hang tag shapes and sizes, but there are also several types of finishes available.

Below, I’ll offer brief descriptions of ten of the most common hang tag finish types that are widely available.

Matte Lamination—While soft and muted in looks, the lamination will provide extra protection to the print, which ensures that it will not tear or fade.

Gloss Lamination—This type of hang tag has a glossy, reflective surface that doesn’t just provide a similar level of protection as matte lamination but also aims to grab the attention of shoppers.

Silk Lamination—This form of lamination is used to protect cardstock from stains, creases, ink bleeds, and chipping, as well as prevent fading caused by light exposure.

Foil—You can apply a foil stamping onto cardstock that resembles a metallic finish while increasing durability.

Metallic PMS—This produces a mild metallic effect of virtually any color that is usually more cost-effective than foil stamping.

Heat-Raised Ink—This type of hang tag slightly raises the rink from the surface of the hang tag, which produces a minor yet noticeable 3D effect.

Embossing—Instead of creating a 3D effect with the rink, embossed hang tags are stamped to create ridges in the shape of the brand’s logo.

Debossing—Instead of creating raised ridges on the hang tag, debossing involves stamping the hang tag to create inward indents, which work exceptionally well with foil stamping.

Blind Embossing/Debossing—In addition to having an embossed or debossed logo or caption, blind embossing/debossing includes a back to the hang tag, which covers the raised or stamped print from behind.

What Information to Add to Hang Tags

Again, the purpose of a hang tag is to provide as much information about the product or brand to the customer. As such, you should include all relevant information that your customers will need to contact you or to make an educated purchase decision.

Below, I’ll mention what sort of information you should consider adding to hang tags to get the most out of them.

1. Logo
2. Brand name
3. Tagline
4. Product information (size, material, etc.)
5. Price
6. Universal Product Code
7. Brand website
8. Social media page(s)
9. E-mail
10. Phone number
11. Care instructions