Guide · labels & packaging
Swing tags: sizes, card and how to order them
A swing tag is a printed card tag that hangs from a garment or product on a string, ribbon or tag-gun barb. It carries your brand on the front and the price, size or care details on the back.
In one paragraph
The everyday swing tag is a 55 × 90mm rectangle on 350gsm card, with a 5mm hole at the top centre. Choose white card for full colour or kraft for a natural, handmade look, print one side or both, and keep words clear of the hole. Custom swing tags start at $87.74 for 100, delivered Australia-wide with no setup fee.
What is a swing tag?
A swing tag, also called a hang tag, is a small printed card attached to a product so it hangs free. It is the first thing a buyer handles after the product itself, so it does two jobs: it tells them what they need to know, and it carries your brand home with them.
Swing tags go on clothing, hats, bags, candles, soap, jewellery, plants, homewares, hampers and wedding favours: anything with a loop, handle, strap or neck. On a present the same thing is a gift tag.
A swing tag is not a label. A label sticks flat to a jar, box or bottle; a tag hangs. For something that sticks to packaging, see label rolls or sheet labels.
What we print for this
Proofed before they run
What size should a swing tag be?
There is no legal standard, but three shapes cover nearly every use:
| Shape | Size | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Rectangle | 55 × 90mm | Clothing, accessories and most products; room for a logo up top and details below |
| Banner (cut corners) | 55 × 90mm | The same room with a more finished, boutique look |
| Round | 70mm | Candles, jars, jewellery and gifts, where a simple logo is enough |
Pick by what has to fit on it, then hold a mock-up against the product: a tag should be noticed, not compete with what it hangs from.
White or kraft card?
Swing tags need stiff card so they hang flat and survive handling in store; around 350gsm is the usual weight (paper weights explained covers what GSM means).
- 350gsm white card takes full colour at its brightest: photos, bright brand colours and fine type.
- 320gsm kraft is unbleached brown board with a natural, handmade look. Dark inks and simple logos print best on it, and white does not print on kraft.
“Premium” swing tags usually means a special finish such as foiling; that is quoted per job rather than priced online.
How do you attach a swing tag?
- String: the classic. Tags can come with white or black string already threaded, ready to tie on.
- Your own ribbon or twine: order the tags without string and thread something that matches your packaging.
- Tag gun: plastic barbs, quick for larger runs of clothing.
- Safety pin or clip: for delicate fabric where a barb would leave a hole.
Every tag is punched with one 5mm hole, centred 12.5mm below the top edge.
What goes on a swing tag?
Keep it short: a tag is read in a few seconds.
- Front: your logo and brand name, and little else
- Back: product name, size or style, and the price (or leave a space for a price sticker so one tag works across a range)
- Your website, Instagram handle or a QR code; keep a QR code big enough to scan (how big should a QR code be?)
- Care instructions, materials or a thank-you
Printing both sides is what makes room for all of that. A back left unprinted is plain card you can write on. For clothing, a swing tag does not replace a sewn-in care label, so check the care labelling rules that apply to your product.
How do you set up artwork for swing tags?
- Size the file with bleed: a 55 × 90mm tag is set at 61 × 96mm (3mm bleed all round), a 70mm round at 76mm. See bleed and trim.
- Keep words and logos 3mm inside the cut, and clear of the 11mm circle round the hole. A background colour can run straight through it.
- Work in CMYK (CMYK or RGB), with photos at 300dpi at printed size (print resolution).
- Outline or embed fonts (fonts and outlining) and send a PDF (file formats for print).
Designing in Canva or Word? Canva and Word, set up right covers the export. Or skip the setup: the swing tags page has templates to edit online and artwork templates to download, with every line drawn in.
How do you order custom swing tags?
Choose the shape, card, one side or both, strings or none, and how many on the swing tags page. Runs are 100, 300, 500, 1,000, 2,000 or 5,000; at 1,000 they are $0.19 each. Every price includes GST and delivery Australia-wide, with no setup fee. You see a proof before anything is printed, and payment follows your approval.
Common questions
What is the difference between a swing tag and a hang tag?
None: both names describe a printed card tag that hangs from a product. Swing tag is the more common word in Australia; on a present the same thing is called a gift tag.
What is the smallest order of custom swing tags?
100 tags. They come in runs of 100, 300, 500, 1,000, 2,000 and 5,000, so pick the run at or above the number you need; over 5,000 is quoted.
Do swing tags come with string?
If you choose it. White or black string comes threaded through the hole and is priced into the run, or order them without string and use your own ribbon, twine or tag gun.
Can I print on both sides of a swing tag?
Yes. Choose both sides and use the back for the price, size, care details or a thank-you. Printed one side, the back is plain card you can write on.
What file do I send for swing tag printing?
A PDF in CMYK at the finished size plus 3mm bleed (61 × 96mm for a 55 × 90mm tag), photos at 300dpi, fonts outlined, and nothing within 3mm of the cut or inside the 11mm circle round the hole.
Related
Last updated .