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.
Reference guide, reviewed 2026-08-20
Standard sizes and what fits
| Size | Lines | Name line | Second line | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 x 3 in | 2 | 14 characters at 28 pt | 22 characters at 14 pt | First name plus role, retail and food service |
| 1.5 x 3 in | 3 | 16 characters at 30 pt | 26 characters at 15 pt | Full name, title and a logo, the most ordered size |
| 2 x 3 in | 4 | 16 characters at 32 pt | 28 characters at 16 pt | Logo on top, name, title, department or store number |
| 2.25 x 3 in oval | 3 | 14 characters at 28 pt | 24 characters at 14 pt | Hospitality and salons, softer look on a uniform |
| 0.625 x 2.5 in | 1 to 2 | 18 characters at 14 pt | 18 characters at 12 pt | Engraved metal uniform tags, police and service bars |
| 0.5 x 2.375 in | 1 | 16 characters at 12 pt | not available | Slim engraved tag for shirts with a narrow flap |
Character counts assume upper and lower case at the type sizes listed, with a 0.125 inch margin on all four sides.
Type size against reading distance
| Cap height | Point size | Comfortable reading distance |
|---|---|---|
| 0.20 in | 20 pt | 3 feet, a counter or desk |
| 0.28 in | 28 pt | 5 feet, a sales floor aisle |
| 0.35 in | 36 pt | 7 feet, a showroom or lobby |
| 0.50 in | 48 pt | 10 feet, a trade show booth |
Measured on printed badges in normal indoor light. Engraved metal reads slightly smaller because contrast is lower.
Pick the size from the longest name on the list, not the average
Every rollout has one person whose name and title will not fit. If you size the badge for the average, that person ends up in 18 pt type while everyone else is in 30 pt, and the set stops looking like a set.
Sort your name list by character count before you order. Look at the longest entry, add the longest title, and choose the size that holds both at readable type. It costs nothing to decide this before proofing and it saves a reprint.
Where a logo eats your space
A logo placed on the left takes roughly a third of the badge width. A logo across the top of a 1.5 x 3 costs you about 0.4 inches of height. Both are fine, but you cannot do a left logo, a full name, a title and a department line on a 1 x 3 and still read it from across a room.
- Left logo, two text lines: 1.5 x 3 works
- Top logo, three text lines: 2 x 3
- Logo plus a long title plus a department: 2 x 3, no exceptions
- No logo at all: 1 x 3 stays readable and costs the least
Titles that break layouts
Long job titles are the usual culprit. "Assistant Front End Manager" is 28 characters and drops your second line to about 12 pt on a 1 x 3, which is unreadable at counter distance. Shorten it on the badge. "Front End" or "Manager" does the job, and the full title still lives on the org chart.
Questions we get on this
What is the most common name badge size?
1.5 x 3 inches. It holds a full name, a title and a logo at readable type, and it sits well on a shirt, blouse or blazer.
How many characters fit on a 1 x 3 name badge?
About 14 characters on the name line at 28 pt, and about 22 characters on a second line at 14 pt. Longer names still fit, they just get smaller.
Can I order mixed sizes in one order?
Yes. Mixed sizes in one order are normal, for example managers on a 2 x 3 with a department line and floor staff on a 1 x 3. Pricing follows the total quantity on the order.
Products referenced in this guide
Premium Name Badges
as low as $9.99 per badge at 1,001+
Standard Plastic Name Badges
as low as $6.49 per badge at 1,001+
Engraved Metal Name Tags
Related guides
Pin, 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.
Badge 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.
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