Packaging and labels
Hang tag design
Hang tags are the small cards attached to clothing, accessories, homeware, candles and gifts. They carry the brand, often a price and barcode, sometimes a size, a short story or care pointer, and they are handled closely in shops. Because a tag is small and seen up close, design choices are visible: the card's weight and texture, the hole and string, the finish and how clearly the essentials read. A good hang tag design decides what the tag must carry and what belongs elsewhere, such as on a sewn-in label, plans space for prices and barcodes, chooses a size and attachment that suit the product and shop fittings, and works across a whole range without needing a new design for every item.
This page covers content, size and shape, price and barcode areas, attachment, materials, ranges and required information. Printing can be quoted alongside the design, with specifications, quantities and delivery agreed for each project. LetGetGrow designs packaging and labels and can include printing and box or pouch manufacture through suitable production partners, with specifications, quantities, production arrangements, delivery locations, costs and timelines agreed in the quotation.
Illustrative diagram
- Hole and string — suits the product
- Brand — front, clear
- Product name — optional
- Price area — space for stickers
- Barcode area — quiet space around it
- Size box — ticked or stamped
What a tag can carry
| Side | Typical content |
|---|---|
| Front | Brand, logo, perhaps product name |
| Back | Price area, barcode, size or variant |
| Back or extra panel | Short story, materials, care pointer |
| Not on the tag | Content that must stay with the product after the tag is removed |
What belongs on the tag
Tags are usually removed after purchase. Information the customer needs later, such as care instructions or details that rules require to stay with the product, belongs on a sewn-in label, the product itself or its packaging. Use the tag for what helps at the point of sale: brand, price, size and a reason to choose the product.
Price and barcode areas
Shops may add their own price stickers or barcodes, or ask you to print them. Leave a clear, plain area where a sticker can go without covering the brand, or plan where a printed barcode will sit with enough space around it to scan. Ask stockists what they need before printing.
Designing a hang tag
Purpose
Point-of-sale information.
Output: Content list
Size and shape
Suits product and fittings.
Output: Format
Design
Front, back, variable areas.
Output: Approved layout
Attachment
Hole, string or pin.
Output: Finishing spec
Sample
Printed tag on a product.
Output: Sign-off
Example: tags for a knitwear brand
Illustrative example — not a client case study
Situation: A knitwear brand sells through its own website and a few boutiques.
- The front carries the logo on textured card; the back has a plain price area and a size box ticked by hand.
- Care instructions and fibre content stay on the sewn-in label, not the tag.
- A sample tag is attached with cotton string to check it hangs neatly on a jumper.
What this shows: One tag design served the whole range. This example is illustrative.
Hang tag checks
Content
- Point-of-sale essentials
- Long-term information elsewhere
Variable areas
- Price space
- Barcode or size area
Physical
- Size suits product
- Hole and string tested
Size and shape
A tag should be big enough to read and small enough not to overwhelm the product. Rectangles in standard sizes are cheaper; shaped tags need a cutter. Consider how tags will look on a rail or shelf, where many hang together.
Attachment
Strings, ribbons, safety pins and plastic fasteners each suit different products. Delicate fabrics may snag on plastic tags; candles may need tags tied round the jar. Ask the printer about hole positions and reinforced holes for heavier items.
Card and finishes
Heavier or textured card feels more substantial in the hand, and recycled or uncoated card can suit natural products. Foil or embossing adds a premium touch, at extra print cost. Choose finishes that match the brand rather than adding them by default.
Required information
Some products, such as textiles, have labelling rules that usually apply to a permanent label rather than a tag. Check what applies to your product, and keep required information where the rules require it.
Telling a short story
A line or two about where the product is made, the material or the maker can help a shopper choose, especially in independent shops. Keep it short and true; claims such as 'handmade' or 'organic' should be accurate.
Tags in photos
Tags often appear in product photos. Check the front reads well when photographed hanging from the product, and that it does not hide features.
Questions about hang tag design
What should a hang tag show?
Brand, price area, size or variant, and a short reason to buy.
Should care instructions go on the tag?
Usually on a permanent label, since tags are removed.
Where do prices go?
In a clear area for stickers or printed prices.
Is a shaped hang tag harder to produce?
They usually need a cutter.
How should tags attach?
Choose string, ribbon or fasteners to suit the product.
Can a single hang tag design work across a whole range?
Yes, with a variable area for size or variant.
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