What Are Hang Tags Clothing Brands Attach to Garments?
A hang tag, also called a swing tag or swing ticket, is a card or tag fixed loosely to a garment with string, a plastic fastener or a pin. It is removed by the customer after purchase. Unlike a sewn-in label, it does not need to survive washing, so it can be larger, more decorative and printed on a wider range of materials. That freedom is why hang tags clothing brands choose are so often the most visible expression of the brand at the point of sale.
A hang tag has three practical jobs. It identifies the brand and the product, it carries commercial information such as size, price and barcode, and it tells a story through design and materials. For a new label, a well-made tag can lift the perceived quality of a simple garment, and a poorly made tag can undermine a good one. The tag should match the product: a recycled kraft card suits an organic cotton tee, while a heavyweight coated card with foil suits a premium jacket.
This guide moves from content to materials to attachment and ordering. For the sewn-in side of labelling, read our companion piece on custom clothing labels.
What Goes on Hang Tags Clothing Brands Print
Most brands print the front for brand impact and the back for information. Before you design, list what must appear and what could. The table sets out the usual content, and the note beneath it covers what a retailer may add.
Typical hang tag content
| Element | Usually placed | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Brand name and logo | Front | The main design element; keep it clear and legible |
| Style name or collection | Front or back | Helps with recognition and repeat purchasing |
| Size | Back or front sticker | Often a printed box or an applied size sticker so one tag design serves all sizes |
| Colour name | Back or sticker | Useful for stock control |
| Barcode and style code | Back or sticker | Retailers use these for scanning and stock |
| Recommended retail price | Back or removable sticker | A sticker lets you update prices without reprinting |
| Fabric story or care highlights | Back | Short and factual; legal care and composition information belongs on the sewn-in label |
| Website, social handle or QR code | Back | A route to reorder or learn more |
| Sustainability information | Back | Only include claims you can substantiate |
A general content list. Retailers may specify their own barcode, price or ticket requirements.
A useful design habit is to keep price and size on stickers or a printed field that can change, so the main tag can be printed in larger quantities and reused across sizes and seasons.
Hang Tag vs Care Label: Where the Legal Information Lives
Hang tags are marketing and stock tools, while sewn-in labels carry the information that has to stay with the garment through its life. Fibre composition and care instructions, for example, are normally provided on a permanent label because customers need them after the hang tag has been thrown away. Do not rely on a removable tag for information the garment needs to carry.
The rules about what must appear on a garment, and in what form, can change, so confirm the current requirements before you finalise artwork. Our UK clothing labelling requirements guide explains the general picture, and you should check the latest official guidance or ask a compliance adviser if you sell abroad or through large retailers.
Hang Tags Clothing Brands Can Choose: Materials and Finishes
Material sets the look, the sustainability story and a large part of the cost. Card is the default, but the choice between kraft, coated, recycled and non-paper options matters. The table lists the main choices so you can narrow them down before you ask a printer for a quote.
Hang tag materials and finishes
| Material | Look and feel | Strengths | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kraft card | Natural brown, matte, earthy | Suits natural and sustainable brands; prints well in one or two colours | Colours look muted; full-colour print is less vibrant |
| Coated white card | Smooth, bright, crisp print | Sharp photography and colour; many finish options | Less natural; lamination can limit recycling |
| Uncoated white card | Soft matte, tactile | Premium and calm; takes embossing and foil well | Colours less saturated than coated |
| Recycled card | Slightly textured and speckled | Strong sustainability signal when sourced properly | Tone and texture vary between batches |
| Seed paper or plantable card | Paper embedded with seeds | A memorable gift-like touch | Specialist; needs clear instructions and may not suit all inks |
| Fabric or woven tag | Textile, stitched or printed | Premium feel; lasts longer | Higher cost and longer lead time |
| Plastic or synthetic | Smooth, water resistant | Durable and wipes clean | Harder to recycle; may contradict a sustainable story |
General characteristics. Ask your printer for physical samples before you decide.
Finishes can add emphasis without extra colours: foil stamping, spot gloss, embossing, debossing and edge painting all change how the tag feels. Use them sparingly, because too many effects compete with each other.
Card Stock Weight: How Thick Should a Hang Tag Be?
Card thickness is measured in grams per square metre, like fabric, and it determines how rigid the tag feels. A thin card bends, curls and feels cheap, which matters because hang tags clothing shoppers handle are judged by touch. A very thick card feels luxurious but can be harder to punch, string and pack. The ranges below are typical for common uses and vary by supplier.
Typical card weights for hang tags
Grams per square metre
Typical ranges, which vary by supplier and product. Ask for a physical sample at your intended weight before ordering.
As a rule, pick a weight that feels solid when held by the corner without flopping, and test it on the garment itself. A tag hanging from a lightweight tee may need to feel lighter than one on a heavy coat.
Shapes, Sizes and Layout
The shape is part of the brand. Rectangles are the most economical because printers cut them with little waste. Rounded corners soften the look, and custom die-cut shapes such as a logo outline or a pocket shape stand out but cost more and may need a bespoke cutting tool. Think about how the tag hangs, how the string hole sits and whether the tag will catch on other garments on a rail.
Shape and size guide for swing tags
| Format | Typical size | Best for | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small rectangle | Roughly 40 to 55 mm wide by 80 to 100 mm tall | Tees, basics and minimal branding | Economical; limited space for text |
| Standard rectangle | Roughly 50 to 60 mm wide by 90 to 120 mm tall | Most garments | Room for logo, barcode and short story |
| Large or folded tag | Folds open to a larger panel | Jackets, premium and story-led pieces | Space for fabric details and care highlights |
| Die-cut shape | Custom outline | Distinctive brand identity | Higher tooling cost; check minimum order |
| Multi-tag set | A main tag plus a smaller secondary tag | Collections with separate information | More to attach; ensure they do not tangle |
Typical sizes only, and individual suppliers differ. Confirm exact dimensions and tolerances with your printer.
Attachment Methods: String, Pins and Fasteners
How the tag is attached affects speed, security and the finished look. Some methods suit knitwear, others suit denim or woven shirts. Whichever you choose, avoid anything that can scratch the customer or damage the fabric, and check that the attachment can be removed easily. The table compares the common options.
Hang tag attachment methods
| Method | How it works | Suited to | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| String loop | A loop of cord passes through a hole and loops around a garment feature | Most garments, especially premium pieces | Looks refined; more labour in packing |
| Tagging pin (kimble-style) | A plastic pin shot through the garment with a tagging gun | Fast application on woven or sturdy fabrics | Can leave a small hole in delicate fabrics |
| Plastic fastener (barb) | A looped plastic fastener passes through the tag and a hem or label | Volume retail | Efficient; not very premium |
| Safety pin | A metal pin attaches the tag to a seam or label | Small runs or special items | Can snag fabric and requires care |
| Ribbon or twine | Decorative cord tied or looped | Gift and boutique products | Visual impact; check colour fastness against pale garments |
General methods. Ask your factory which attachment suits your fabric and packing process.
Attach tags to a seam, label or loop where possible rather than piercing the main fabric. This protects the garment and keeps the tag from becoming a defect.
Barcodes, Prices and Retailer Requirements
If you sell through shops or marketplaces, the hang tag usually carries the scannable barcode. The most common retail barcode in the UK is the EAN-13, issued through the GS1 numbering system, and your retailers will tell you whether they need one barcode per size and colour. Never copy a barcode from another product; each unique variant needs its own number.
Retailers often have their own rules about ticket size, placement and price format, so ask for the supplier guide before you print. Putting the recommended retail price on a sticker rather than the printed tag lets you adjust price by market without reprinting. If you are still working out those numbers, our guide to pricing clothing for wholesale and retail shows how to set them.
Sustainability Claims and Hang Tag Materials
Hang tags clothing buyers handle first are visible, so any environmental claim printed on them will be read and checked. Use FSC-certified or recycled paper where it suits the brand, but only claim certification when your printer can provide supporting documentation. FSC is a chain-of-custody certification for forest products, so the certificate has to cover the supplier and the product you receive.
- Avoid broad words such as eco-friendly or green unless you can explain precisely what they mean.
- Say what the material is, such as recycled card or FSC-certified paper, rather than implying a general benefit.
- Keep tags simple to recycle: avoid mixing plastics, heavy laminates or metal parts where possible.
- Print a short, factual note on how to dispose of the tag.
- Consider whether a tag is needed at all, or whether the information can be printed on the sewn-in label.
Our guide to sustainable packaging for clothing brands covers the packaging side of the same decision.
How to Design and Order Hang Tags Step by Step
Ordering hang tags clothing brands need for a launch is usually quicker than ordering garments, but delay in the artwork or the proof stage can hold up packing. Start early and plan so that the tags arrive before the garments are ready to ship.
From brief to attached tags
- 1List the contentCollect brand, logo, barcode, size method, price approach and any story text.
- 2Choose material and sizePick the card, finish, shape and string hole position.
- 3Prepare artworkSupply vector files or high-resolution images with bleed and safe margins.
- 4Check a proofReview a digital or physical proof for colour, spelling and barcode scan.
- 5Order and deliverConfirm the quantity, with a small overage for spoilage, and the delivery date.
- 6Attach and inspectAttach in a consistent position and inspect tags at final QC.
A general ordering sequence. Check the supplier for minimums, proof options and timings.
Scan test every barcode on a proof before printing. A single wrong digit makes the whole run unusable for retail.
Hang Tag Design Checklist and Indicative Comparison
Before approving the final proof, check the content and the physical choices. The ratings table gives an indicative comparison of the main materials on the points that most often matter to a brand, and the checklist follows.
Indicative comparison of hang tag materials
1 dot = low, 5 dots = high
| Kraft card | Coated card | Recycled card | Fabric tag | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premium feel | ●●●●● | ●●●●● | ●●●●● | ●●●●● |
| Print vibrancy | ●●●●● | ●●●●● | ●●●●● | ●●●●● |
| Sustainability signal | ●●●●● | ●●●●● | ●●●●● | ●●●●● |
| Durability | ●●●●● | ●●●●● | ●●●●● | ●●●●● |
| Low cost | ●●●●● | ●●●●● | ●●●●● | ●●●●● |
Indicative ratings based on typical fabric/process characteristics, not laboratory results.
Use the ratings to shortlist, then confirm with physical samples. Once you have chosen, run the checklist below against the final proof.
Hang tag checklist
- Brand name and logo are legible at the printed size
- Barcode scans and matches the correct style, colour and size
- Price and size are on stickers or fields that can be changed
- Card weight and finish tested on a physical sample
- String hole position and attachment method suit the garment
- Environmental claims are factual and supportable
- Artwork has bleed and safe margins and fonts are outlined
- Spare tags are ordered for samples, photoshoots and replacements
How Ruhrose Approaches Hang Tags and Trims
Ruhrose develops hoodies, jersey garments, denim and woven casualwear for UK brands, with production in Bangladesh, and trims such as labels and tags belong in the tech pack from the start. We do not design or print hang tags ourselves, so you would normally source the tags from a specialist printer and tell us where and how they should be attached. Including them at sample stage means you can check the look, the attachment and the packing before bulk. For packing standards on denim, our jeans packaging, folding and labelling guide explains the details.