Buying guides for people who have to get this right the first time
Every guide here answers one question we get on the phone. What backing to use, what size fits a long title, what a logo needs to look like before it prints clean, what a 50 person rollout actually costs. No fluff, no filler.
The four charts people ask us for
Sizes, backings, materials and industry rules, laid out as tables you can scan in a minute.
Name badge size chart, with how many characters actually fit
The four sizes that cover almost every order are 1 x 3 inches, 1.5 x 3 inches, 2 x 3 inches and a 2.25 x 3 inch oval. A 1 x 3 badge holds a first name in large type plus one short line under it. Go to 1.5 x 3 the moment you need a full name, a title and a logo on the same badge.
Reviewed 2026-08-20Pin, magnet, clip or lanyard: what holds up on which uniform
Use a magnet on anything you do not want holes in: knit polos, blouses, blazers, silk. Use a pin on heavy cotton, denim, aprons and coveralls where a magnet can shear off. Use a clip when the badge moves between people or garments during a shift, and a lanyard when the badge has to be scanned or read from a distance.
Reviewed 2026-08-20Badge materials compared: plastic, aluminum, solid metal, wood
Printed plastic is the cheapest per badge and the fastest to reorder, and it looks new for roughly a year of daily wear. Brushed aluminum with full color print costs a little more and holds its finish longer. Engraved solid metal has no printed layer to wear off at all, which is why uniform and service tags are made that way.
Reviewed 2026-08-20Badge and ID rules by industry, in plain language
Most badge requirements come from state licensing boards, employer policy and accreditation standards rather than one national rule. Healthcare is the strictest, with several states requiring the licensed title to appear in readable type. Food service, education and finance are governed by employer policy and local practice, so the safest default is name, role and organization in type readable at conversational distance.
Reviewed 2026-08-20Check it before you order
Printable true size templates, volume pricing math, a text fit check and a logo file review.
Printable badge templates
True size 1 x 3, 1.5 x 3, 2 x 3 and oval layouts with safe margins, plus step by step Word and Google Docs instructions.
Volume price calculator
Enter a quantity and see the unit price, the total, the next quantity break and whether it pays to order more.
Name and title fit checker
Type a name and a title, pick a size, and see whether it fits at readable type before you order.
Logo and artwork checklist
Answer six questions about your logo file and get a pass or fail with what to fix before proofing.
Buying Guides guides
Sustainable Name Badges: What Actually Reduces Waste
Reusable frames beat any material claim. Here is what genuinely cuts badge waste and what is just a nicer looking throwaway.
September 6, 20266 minCoffee Shop Name Tags: What the Big Chains Get Right
First name only, high contrast, and a backing that survives a wash cycle. The cafe badge formula, and where independents usually slip.
September 6, 20266 minName Tags vs Name Badges: What You Are Actually Ordering
Two words, two different products in most supplier catalogs. Knowing which one you mean saves a reorder.
August 30, 20266 minBadge Holders and Reels That Survive a Full Shift
Reels fail at the cord, holders fail at the slot. Both failures are predictable, and both are avoidable.
August 28, 20267 minWhere to Buy Name Badges: Seven Things to Check First
Most badge suppliers look identical on a search results page. These seven questions separate them fast.
August 26, 20267 minName Badge Budget Math at 10, 100 and 1,000 Employees
The same badge costs a completely different amount per person depending on how many you order at once. Here's the real math.
June 22, 20268 minName Badge Sizes: 1x3, 1.5x3 and 2x3, and When Each One Reads Better
Three sizes cover almost every order. The right one depends on reading distance and how many lines you actually need.
May 22, 20267 minHow Much Do Custom Name Badges Cost in 2026?
Real published prices by material and quantity, what actually drives the cost up, and the fees you should never be charged.
March 11, 20267 minName Badge Sizes Explained: 1x3, 2x3 and When to Go Bigger
The two sizes that cover most orders, what fits on each, and when a larger badge is worth the extra cost.
March 4, 20266 minHow to Choose the Best Name Badge for Your Team
Material, attachment, size and type size. Get those four right and the badge gets worn every shift instead of left in a drawer.
February 18, 20269 minComparisons guides
Pin vs Magnet vs Clip: Which Name Badge Backing Survives Your Uniform
Three fasteners, three failure modes. Match the backing to the fabric and the badge stops falling off by week two.
May 4, 20268 minMagnetic vs Pin Name Badges: Which Backing Should You Order?
Magnets protect the uniform. Pins never let go. One safety rule decides which one you actually need.
February 4, 20267 minEngraved vs Printed Name Badges: The Honest Comparison
Engraving never fades but only does two colors. Printing does any color but wears out eventually. Here's the actual tradeoff.
December 11, 20256 minDesign guides
What Size Type Is Readable From Six Feet?
There is a rule of thumb for signage that works just as well on a badge. It puts most badge text two sizes too small.
August 29, 20265 minLogo Files That Print Clean on a Name Badge the First Time
Most proof revisions trace back to one of two file problems. Fix them before you submit and skip the back and forth entirely.
July 14, 20266 minWhat to Put on a Name Badge, and What to Leave Off
A badge holds about four pieces of information before it stops being readable. Here's how to pick the right four.
May 14, 20267 minPreparing Logo Artwork for Name Badges (Without a Designer)
Which file types actually reproduce at badge size, how small a logo can go, and the two mistakes behind most proof revisions.
March 18, 20266 minName Badge Design: 12 Rules That Make a Badge Readable
Font size, contrast, hierarchy, whitespace. The exact numbers we use on every proof we send out.
January 22, 20268 minCorporate guides
How Long Do Custom Name Badges Take? A Realistic Timeline
Proof approval, production and shipping are three separate clocks. Here's how to plan an order backwards from the day badges need to be on chests.
March 25, 20265 minOrdering Name Badges in Bulk: A Buyer's Playbook
Spreadsheet formats, proof workflows, per-location shipping, and exactly where the price breaks land.
January 9, 202610 minHow Reusable Badges Cut Badge Spend by Half
The math on chalkboard, dry-erase and window badges, for teams that actually deal with turnover.
October 28, 20255 minIndustries guides
Restaurant Name Badges: Wet Hands, Aprons and Fast Replacements
Kitchens and front-of-house wear badges harder than any other industry. Here's what actually survives a dinner rush.
July 24, 20267 minName Badges in Healthcare: Requirements and Practical Choices
Credential display rules, infection control, magnet safety, and what actually survives a twelve-hour shift.
November 20, 20258 minOrdering guides
Volunteer and Event Badges You Can Reuse Next Season
A one-day event doesn't need a one-day badge. Buy the shell once and swap the name every year.
August 5, 20266 minRush Orders: What 1 to 3 Day Production Actually Means
Rush shortens production, not the whole timeline. Understand the three clocks and a rush order won't surprise you.
July 2, 20266 minReusable and Window Badges for High-Turnover Teams
When staff churn every few months, the smartest badge is the one you never have to reorder.
June 2, 20267 minOperations guides
Reordering Name Badges for a Team That Changes Monthly
A reorder process that takes ten minutes a month, and the two badge choices that make it cheaper.
August 28, 20266 minVisitor Badges That Expire Without Buying Software
Self-expiring badges change color on their own. Here is how they work and where the cheaper options hold up.
August 27, 20266 minStill deciding?
Call (800) 243-9227 and describe the job. We will tell you which badge holds up and what it costs.