What to Put on a Hang Tag: Front, Back and Fine Print
What to put on a hang tag, side by side: logo, product name, care notes, barcodes and QR codes, with sizes in inches and a checklist to use before you print.
Give each side of the tag one job
A hang tag is read in two moments. The front is seen from a step away, in a second or less. The back is read only after someone picks the product up.
So the front should identify you, and the back should answer questions. When both sides try to do everything, neither does it well.
A simple split works for most products: logo and one line on the front, details on the back. Everything below fits into one of those two places.
| Item | Front or back | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Logo or brand name | Front | Recognized at a glance |
| Short tagline | Front | Sets the tone in one line |
| Product name and variant | Back, or front if space allows | Confirms what the shopper holds |
| Price | Back, top corner | Easy to find, easy to update |
| Size, color or SKU | Back | Used by staff and shoppers |
| Care or use notes | Back | Read after the decision to buy |
| Barcode or QR code | Back, bottom | Needs a flat, clear area |
| Website or social handle | Back, last line | For people who want more |
The front: brand first, everything else second
Your logo should fill about half the front, centered or set slightly above the middle. On a 2 x 3.5 in tag, that is roughly 1.25 in across.
Leave the top 0.5 in clear for the hole or grommet. Logos placed right under the hole look cramped once the string goes in.
A single short line under the logo is enough. Think "Small-batch soy candles" or "Hand-dyed in small runs", not a full sentence.
If you use a finish like foil or embossing, put it on the front logo. That is the part people touch and notice first.
Product name, variant and stock code
Shoppers want to confirm they have the right item. Put the product name and the variant, such as size, scent or color, near the top of the back.
Staff want a code they can match at the till or in the stockroom. A short SKU in small type at the bottom works well and stays out of the way.
If one tag design covers many variants, leave a blank line for the variant. Our product tags with price and SKU space are laid out for exactly that.
Spell out sizes and colors the way your website does. When a shopper searches for the product later, matching names help them find it.
Printed price or a blank space
Print the price only if it will not change during the life of the tags. Otherwise, print a box or line and add prices by hand or with a small sticker.
Put the price in the same spot on every tag, usually the top right of the back. Shoppers learn where to look, and staff can update tags faster.
Currency matters if you sell abroad. A dollar sign looks odd in a UK shop. Leave the price blank on stock that ships to several countries.
Markdowns need their own tag rather than a crossed-out price. Bold, separate sale tags with a write-on price box look tidier and are easier to remove after the sale.
Care, materials and use notes
Care notes matter most on apparel, textiles and leather. Keep each instruction to a few words, like "Cold wash" or "Dry flat".
Check any labeling rules that apply where you sell. Some markets require fiber content or origin on a sewn label, so the hang tag should repeat it, not replace it.
For garments, the back of a 2 x 3.5 in tag fits around six short care lines. Our page on clothing hang tags with care notes shows how apparel brands lay this out.
- Washing and drying method
- Ironing or steaming notes
- Main material, such as 100% cotton
- Use notes, such as burn time on a candle
- Storage notes, such as keep away from sunlight
A line about the maker
A short maker line gives a tag personality. Where it is made, who makes it, or how it is made can all work in one or two sentences.
Keep it honest and specific. "Hand-poured in small batches" says more than a list of adjectives.
If your story needs more than two sentences, a single flat tag is the wrong format. Folded hang tags with room for a story give you a full inside spread.
Write it in your own voice. A tag that sounds like the person who made the product feels more personal than polished marketing copy.
Copy for gift, food and home products
Not every tag hangs on clothing. Candles, soaps, jars and gift sets need different details, and shoppers look for different things.
Food and drink makers usually add a flavor, a best-use idea or a serving tip. Keep any required ingredient or allergen details on the main label, where shoppers expect them.
Candle and home fragrance tags often carry scent notes and burn guidance. Gift products lean toward a short message and a blank line for a name.
On these products, the tag often hangs from a jar neck or a ribbon. Plan for a smaller tag, such as mini hang tags for gifts and favors, and check how it reads when it twists sideways.
- Candles: scent notes and burn time
- Soap and bath: main oils or scent
- Jars: flavor and a serving idea
- Gift sets: a short message and a name line
Barcodes and QR codes that scan
Barcodes and QR codes fail most often because they were shrunk to fit. Both need a minimum size and a clear margin to scan reliably.
Print them in solid black on a light, flat area. Avoid placing them over a fold, a curve or a textured stock, and keep them away from the hole.
Test every code from the proof with a phone or scanner before you approve. A code that works on screen can still fail once it is printed at size.
Point a QR code somewhere useful: a care page, a refill page or a short video of the maker. A code that only opens your homepage gives people little reason to scan.
| Code | Smallest practical size | Clear margin |
|---|---|---|
| Retail barcode | About 1.5 in wide, 0.75 in tall | About 0.125 in each side |
| QR code | About 0.75 in square | About 0.1 in all around |
| SKU text only | 6 pt type or larger | None needed |
Writing your tag copy in six steps
Write the copy before anyone opens a design file. It is much easier to size a tag around finished words than to trim words to fit a layout.
When the copy is ready, send it with your logo in one free quote request with your tag copy. We lay it out and send a proof.
- List everything you might want on the tag.
- Mark each item as must-have or nice-to-have.
- Assign each must-have to the front or the back.
- Cut every line to the fewest words that still make sense.
- Decide which items change often and leave space for them.
- Read the final copy aloud to catch errors and awkward phrasing.
What to leave off a hang tag
Most crowded tags are crowded with things that belong somewhere else. Removing them makes the rest easier to read.
Repeating the same fact on both sides is the most common waste. If the logo is on the front, the back does not need it again at full size.
Leave off anything that changes faster than you will reorder tags, such as promotions or seasonal dates. Leave off long policies too; a short web address can point to them.
Once the copy is trimmed, check that the tag size still makes sense. Our hang tag sizes guide lists common sizes and how much copy each holds.
Questions this guide answers
Your logo or brand name and the product name. Most shops also add a price or a space for one.
Usually the back, top right. The front stays clean for the brand, and the price is easy to find.
Each price change is a new version on the proof. A blank price box lets one design cover every price.
About 0.75 in square is the smallest that scans reliably. Leave a plain margin around it.
Yes, if there is a flat area wide enough. On small circles, a product tag or sticker often works better.
They help shoppers, but they usually do not replace a sewn care label. Check the labeling rules where you sell.
The back fits about six to eight short lines at a readable size. The front fits a logo and one line.
Keep body text at 6 pt or larger, and 7 pt or more for longer lines. Thin script fonts need to be bigger.
Yes, as a short address on the last line of the back. It points shoppers to more detail without crowding the tag.
Yes. A folded tag or the back of a flat tag works well for a short note.
We lay out your copy for free and send a digital proof. You can ask for changes as many times as you need.
Spelling, prices, codes and the space around the hole. Scan any barcode or QR code from the proof.
Ready to print? Send your size and artwork for a free proof. Request a quote →