Hang Tags for Clothing: What to Include and How to Attach Them
What goes on a clothing hang tag, common sizes and materials, how tags differ from required labels, and how to attach them in production.
Hang tags for apparel brands: contents, hedged sizes and materials, tags vs required labels (not legal advice), attaching in production.
Hang tags for clothing are printed cards attached with a string or fastener that carry the brand name, size, price and often care or fiber notes; they do not replace the sewn in or printed label that US rules require, so plan tags and labels together.
Key rule: the label carries the required information; the tag sells the garment. This page is general information, not legal advice.
Part of the business and pricing guides in the DAX Learning Hub. Related: Neck Label Printing, Selling T Shirts at Craft Shows, Start a Custom Apparel Business and Blank Inventory and Sizing.
Hang Tags vs Neck Labels vs Sticker Labels
| Item | What it usually carries | Cost structure | Attach method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hang tag | Brand, size, price, barcode or SKU, story, optional care or fiber notes | Print run of cards plus fasteners; unit cost drops with quantity | String, loop, safety pin or plastic fastener through the garment or label |
| Neck label (sewn or printed) | Required items such as fiber content, origin, responsible company and care, plus brand and size | Woven or printed labels, or tagless printing; setup plus per piece | Sewn into a seam or printed inside the neck |
| Size or price sticker | Size or price only | Low cost rolls | Stuck on a poly bag, tag or folded garment; removable |
Neck label printing and relabeling are covered in the neck label guide. This page covers the removable tag.
What Goes on a Hang Tag
- Brand name and logo.
- Size, in a spot that is easy to read on the rack.
- Price, or a blank area for a price sticker.
- Barcode or SKU if you sell through stores or track inventory.
- Short brand story, website or social handle.
- Optional care summary or fiber notes, matched to the permanent label.
FTC rules include specific disclosure requirements when a tag names a fiber without giving the full fiber content, so check the FTC's current guidance before printing fiber claims on a tag. Keep any tag claims consistent with the label and avoid claims you cannot back up.
Materials, Sizes and Attachments
A common apparel hang tag size is about 2 by 3.5 inches, roughly business card size, with smaller squares and slim tags for accessories and larger tags for outerwear or premium lines. Printers commonly suggest a heavy cardstock in roughly the 14 to 18 point range so tags do not curl, and a punched hole about a quarter inch from the top edge with a clear zone around it. Kraft, coated card and plastic are all used. Confirm stock, size and hole spec with your printer's template.
Attachment options include cotton or polyester string, elastic loops, safety pins, and plastic fasteners applied with a tag gun. String and pins can avoid holes in delicate fabric; tag guns are fast for volume but pierce the fabric, so place the fastener through a seam or label rather than the body. Choose by fabric, look and volume.
Design both sides of the tag. The front usually carries the brand, while the back carries size, price, barcode and a short line of care or story. Keep type large enough to read in a store, and leave the area around the hole empty so the punch does not cut through text.
Tags vs Required Labels
In the US, the FTC's textile and care labeling rules call for required information, such as fiber content, country of origin, the responsible company and care instructions, on labels attached to the garment. Care instructions belong on a permanent label. A hang tag can repeat care information, and care information may need to appear on the package or a hang tag if the label cannot be seen at sale, but the tag does not replace the permanent label.
Rules have exceptions and details that depend on the product and the market. Check the FTC's current guidance, and ask counsel for anything formal. This is general information, not legal advice.
Ordering and Attaching Tags in Production
- Finalize the label plan first, then design the tag to match.
- Request the printer's template for size, bleed, safe area and hole position.
- Order a quantity that covers the run plus spares for reprints and samples.
- Decide where the fastener goes: through the neck label, a side seam or the sleeve tag.
- Attach after decoration and final inspection, before folding and bagging.
- Spot check size tags against the order before shipping.
Small brands often attach tags by hand with string or pins at first. A tag gun speeds things up as volume grows. Store tags by size and style, the same way you organize blanks; see blank inventory and sizing.
Common Hang Tag Mistakes
The usual problems are tags that disagree with the label, a punch hole that lands on the logo or text, sizes that are hard to read on the rack, and tags attached through the body of a delicate shirt. Proof the tag against the label and the printer template, keep text clear of the hole zone, and choose an attachment that suits the fabric. Order a small proof run before a large print order.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hang Tags (FAQ)
What information goes on a hang tag?
Usually brand, size, price, barcode or SKU, and a short story or website, plus optional care or fiber notes that match the label.
Do hang tags replace care labels?
No. US rules call for care instructions on a permanent label. A tag can repeat them. This is not legal advice.
What size is a hang tag?
About 2 by 3.5 inches is common for apparel, with smaller and larger options. Confirm with your printer's template.
How are hang tags attached?
With string, elastic loops, safety pins or plastic fasteners applied with a tag gun, usually through a label or seam.
Do small brands need hang tags?
Hang tags are optional branding, not a substitute for required labels. Many small brands use them for craft shows and retail; see the craft show guide and start a custom apparel business.
Supplier note: figures and settings here are hedged starting points that vary by blank, film, stone, leather, ink and certificate; confirm every claim against the supplier or manufacturer spec sheet, the garment care label and current certificates. Tag sizes, stocks and hole specs vary by printer; this page is general information, not legal advice.
Browse more guides in the DAX Learning Hub, and check cities and dates on the DAX show schedule when you are ready to see labels, tags and packaging in person.