Custom Printed Hang Tags and Thank You Cards
Custom hang tags (swing tags) are printed board tags tied or fastened to a product to carry its brand, price, size and barcode; thank you cards are printed inserts that go inside the parcel. Apparel, accessories, jewellery, candle, cosmetics, gift and bakery brands buy them, usually in the same order as their bags, tissue and stickers.
The tag has to work for the shopper who lifts the product, for the retailer's scanner and for the labelling rules of the market; the card speaks to a customer who has already paid.
9 Packaging, a B2B printed packaging manufacturer and exporter based in Istanbul, Türkiye, produces custom hang tags and thank you cards for businesses: rectangular and parcel-shaped tags, custom die-cut shapes, kraft and white board, supplied with string. The sections below cover shape, board, attachment, print and what to send for a quotation. Five supporting guides go deeper on sizes, board, string, tag content and insert cards.
Which hang tag shapes does 9 Packaging make?
Three shape families cover most orders: rectangular tags, parcel-shaped tags with an angled or cut top corner, and custom die-cut shapes made to a brand outline. Rectangular is the lowest-risk, most economical choice because the cutting die is simple and many tags fit on a press sheet. Custom die-cuts need a dedicated cutting die and usually nest less tightly on the sheet, wasting more board, so they cost more per tag but give a recognisable silhouette.
| Shape | Typical look | Where it works | Production note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rectangular | Straight edges, optional rounded corners, hole at top centre or corner | Apparel, general retail, price and size tags, bakery and gift tags | Simplest die; highest sheet yield |
| Parcel shape | Rectangle with the top corners cut at an angle, reinforced hole, luggage-tag look | Heritage, workwear, leather, craft and gift brands; shipping and gift tags | Standard die shape, slightly more waste than a plain rectangle |
| Custom die-cut | Brand shape, product outline, circle, arch, scalloped edge, window | Premium launches, seasonal ranges, products where the tag is part of the display | New cutting die per shape; thin points and tight curves limit what survives handling |
Sizes, hole positions and the limits on custom outlines are in hang tag sizes and shapes. Final dimensions and die layout are confirmed at quotation and technical review.
What do you need to print on a clothing hang tag?
For clothing sold in the EU, the UK and the US, hang tags are generally the place for brand, price, size and marketing, while fibre content, country of origin and care information are regulated and follow different rules for the tag and for the sewn-in label. Whether a fact may sit on the tag alone, or must be on a permanent label, depends on the market and the rule.
The EU Textile Regulation (EU) 1007/2011 requires fibre composition to be shown on a durable, legible, accessible label or marking; Great Britain keeps the Regulation as assimilated law, enforced through the Textile Products (Labelling and Fibre Composition) Regulations 2012 (SI 2012/1102), while Northern Ireland applies the EU text directly; the US has the Textile Fiber Products Identification Act (16 CFR Part 303) and the FTC Care Labeling Rule (16 CFR Part 423). This is general information, not legal advice. The details, with official sources, are in what to put on a clothing hang tag.
How do thank you cards for packages fit in?
Thank you cards are inserts placed inside a parcel or bag, typically A6 or business-card size, printed on 300 to 400 gsm board or a lighter 250 gsm card stock. They carry a short note, a care or reorder instruction, a discount or review request, or a social link. They are cheap per piece, they weigh almost nothing and they are often the only printed thing in the parcel that speaks to the customer directly.
What goes on the card, the sizes that fit common mailers and the paper options are covered in thank you cards for packages. For protective and presentation inserts in mailer boxes, see the mailer box inserts guide and inside printing and unboxing design.
What artwork do you need to send?
Send print-ready vector artwork with a die line, outlines for fonts, 3 mm of bleed and the hole position marked, plus Pantone references where colour matters. If barcodes are on the tag, send them as vector or high-resolution files and check scan quality on the proof. The packaging artwork guide covers file preparation in general.
Tag-specific points:
- Keep text and barcodes at least 3 to 4 mm inside the cut edge and away from the hole area.
- Mark whether the hole is drilled, punched or eyeletted, and its diameter and distance from the edge.
- Name every version: size or colourway tags that differ only by one line of text are best supplied as a labelled list, not as separate unnamed files.
- If tags must be numbered, barcoded or carry variable data, say so at the start; this changes the print method.
- Mark which side of the tag faces out when the tag is attached, and whether the reverse is printed.
How do you compare a hang tag order between suppliers?
Compare suppliers on the same board, gsm, size, number of print colours, finishes, hole and attachment specification, packing and the proof process, not on unit price alone. A lower price often reflects a lighter board, a simpler string or a different finish. Quotation line items and how they interact are explained in packaging cost drivers, and what to send with an enquiry is in the packaging RFQ guide.
MOQ, price breaks and lead time depend on board, size, print method, finishes and the number of versions, and are confirmed at quotation. See what determines MOQ and packaging lead times. For buyers in the EU, UK or US, sourcing packaging from Türkiye covers customs and documentation basics.
Specification checklist for a hang tag and thank you card quotation
Send the following in one message to request a quotation; a packaging RFQ template is available for the commercial details.
- Product type and shape: rectangular, parcel, or custom die-cut (attach the outline).
- Finished size in mm (width x height), hole diameter and position.
- Board: kraft or white; weight in gsm; uncoated or coated; one- or two-sided print.
- Print: number of colours, Pantone references, photographic areas, finishes (lamination, foil, emboss) wanted.
- Attachment: string material, length, loop or separate; or elastic, pin or fastener type.
- Versions: number of artworks, languages, size variants; any numbering or barcodes.
- Quantities per version and total, and delivery country and Incoterm.
- Thank you cards: size, paper, print sides, and any fold or perforation.
- Target dates for proof approval and delivery.
Guides for this product
Hang tags and thank-you cards
- Hang Tag Sizes and Shapes: Rectangular, Parcel and Custom Die-Cut Hang tag sizes in mm and inches, parcel-tag proportions, hole position and the limits of custom die-cut shapes, with a size chart by product type.
- Hang Tag Materials: Kraft, Uncoated, Coated and Thick Board Hang tag material compared: kraft, white, uncoated, coated and duplex board, how many gsm a tag needs, print behaviour on each and which finishes suit which stock.
- Hang Tag Strings and Attachments: Cotton, Elastic, Pins and Tag Guns Hang tag string and fasteners compared: cotton and polyester loops, elastic, safety pins, plastic fasteners and tag guns, with lengths, holes and fit by product.
- What to Print on a Clothing Hang Tag: Price, Size, Care and Fibre Rules What to put on hang tags for clothing in the EU, UK and US: brand, price, size, barcode, and which fibre, care and origin details belong on a label instead.
- Thank You Cards for Packages: Sizes, Paper and What to Write Thank you cards for packages: common sizes in mm, paper weights, one- or two-sided print, what to write and what to avoid, plus how to brief a printer.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a hang tag and a swing tag?
Nothing in practice. Swing tag is the UK and Commonwealth term, hang tag the US term, and Hangtag or Hängeetikett the German one. Both mean a printed board tag attached to a product by string, loop, pin or fastener, and removable by the buyer. A sewn-in label, which stays on the garment, is a different item.
Can I order hang tags in different shapes and sizes in one order?
Usually yes, but each shape needs its own cutting die and each size changes the sheet layout, so a mixed order costs more than one shape in one size. Quantities per version and the number of artworks affect the print method too. Send the full list of shapes, sizes and versions with your enquiry so it can be quoted as one project.
Are kraft hang tags suitable for full-colour photography?
Not usually. Kraft is brown, so light colours and white will not print as expected, and photographs look dark and muted. Kraft works best with one or two dark colours, or with white ink where available. For photographs or accurate brand colour, a white or coated board is the safer choice.
Are hang tags supplied with string?
Yes, tags can be supplied with string, either threaded through the hole or packed separately. String material, length and loop style are specified at quotation. If you attach tags with a tagging gun or pins instead, tell us at the start, because the hole or eyelet and the board strength may need to change.
Do hang tags have to carry fibre content and care information?
Not necessarily on the tag. In the EU and UK, fibre composition must be on a durable label or marking on the product, which can be a sewn-in label. In the US, care instructions must be on a permanent label and fibre content must be on a label attached to the product. What decides it is the market of sale and whether the information must stay with the item for its life, so check the rules for each market before the tag artwork is fixed.
What size is a thank you card for a package?
The most common sizes are A6 (105 x 148 mm) and business-card formats around 85 x 55 mm or 90 x 55 mm. Square cards of about 100 x 100 mm are used for gift boxes. The card has to fit the mailer or bag flat without folding, so check the inside dimensions before you decide.
Can you print on both sides of a tag or card?
Yes, tags and cards are commonly printed on both sides. The front carries the brand and the reverse carries product information, barcode or message. Two-sided print affects board choice, because show-through on thin or uncoated stock can reduce legibility. Mention both sides in the specification so the proof reflects it.
More in this category
Custom Printed Branding and Retail Accessories
Custom Stickers, Hang Tags and Thank You Cards
Products in this category- Custom Printed Parcel Hang Tags, Uncoated 300 gsm Parcel-format tags on non-kraft 300 gsm uncoated paper, digitally printed in CMYK on one or both sides. Choose from three sizes and order from 250 pcs.
- Custom Printed Parcel Hang Tags, Kraft Brown kraft tags in the traditional parcel shape, 300 gsm and digitally printed in CMYK. Available in three sizes with price tiers from 250 pcs.
- Custom Printed Rectangular Hang Tags, Uncoated 300 gsm Straight-edged rectangular tags on non-kraft 300 gsm uncoated paper with CMYK digital print. Three sizes, one or two printed sides, from 250 pcs.
- Custom Printed Rectangular Hang Tags, Kraft Rectangular tags in brown kraft paper, 300 gsm, with digital CMYK print on one or both sides. Ordered from 250 pcs, with price tiers up to 10,000 pcs.
- Custom Printed Oval Stickers, Matt, Glossy or Transparent Oval stickers printed in full colour CMYK using high-definition digital print, on matt, glossy or transparent stock. Four sizes from 30 x 40 mm to 70 x 90 mm.
- Custom Printed Rectangle Stickers, Matt, Glossy or Transparent Rectangular branded stickers in four sizes, printed in full colour CMYK on matt, glossy or transparent stock. A practical format for wordmarks, product names and short messages on bags, boxes and wraps.
- Custom Printed Round Stickers, 3-7 cm Diameter Circular stickers in five diameters from 3 cm to 7 cm, digitally printed in full colour on matt, glossy or transparent stock. Suited to round logos, seals and badge-style branding.
- Custom Shape Stickers, Full Colour Digital Print, Price on Request Stickers in a shape of your choosing, printed in full colour CMYK on one side with high definition digital printing. Pricing is quoted individually for each request.
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