The two sizes that cover most orders, what fits on each, and when a larger badge is worth the extra cost.
Badge size quietly decides everything else on the layout. Pick 1 x 3 inches and you get room for a first name, a short title, and a small logo. Pick 2 x 3 inches and you can add a department, a location, a pronoun line or a certification without shrinking the name.
1 x 3 inches: the default
A 1 x 3 badge is what most retail, restaurant and office teams order. It reads cleanly from about six feet when the first name is set around 24-30 point, and it lies flat on a shirt or lapel without pulling the fabric. It's also the size where volume pricing is most aggressive: printed plastic runs $8.99 for one piece and $6.49 each at 1,000 or more.
- First name at large size, plus one supporting line
- Logo up to about 0.8 inches tall on one side
- Best choice for badges worn daily on light fabrics
2 x 3 inches: when information matters more than footprint
Healthcare, education, conferences and multi-site retail usually need more than two lines. A 2 x 3 badge fits a full name, a role, a department and a location code while still keeping the name the biggest thing on it. It's also the practical minimum size if you want a photo or a QR code next to the text.
How to test a layout before you order
Print the proof at 100 percent on plain paper, cut it out, and hold it at arm's length. If a stranger can't read the first name at that distance, the name is too small. Shrink the supporting lines, not the name. Every order here includes a free digital proof, so this test costs two minutes and nothing else.
Common mistakes
- Setting the job title at the same size as the name, so neither one reads first
- Centering a wide logo behind the text, which drags down contrast on both
- Choosing 1 x 3 and then trying to cram in four lines of copy
- Using all caps for long titles, which eats about 15 percent more width than mixed case
Still unsure? Order a $2.99 sample pack and hold real badges up in the room where they'll actually be worn. Lighting and viewing distance settle this faster than a screen ever will.