Cardboard Hang Tags for Clothing: Board, Finishes and Bulk Orders

Cardboard hang tags for clothing are the first piece of your brand a shopper touches in the store, and for many collections they are also the carrier of price, size, barcode and product story. Whether you search for "hangtags karton", "hängetiketter" or simply wholesale hang tags, the questions are the same: which board, which finish, which format, and how to order in bulk without overstock. This guide covers the whole picture, from the board itself to repeat orders. For detailed weights and dimensions, see our companion article on hang tag sizes and paper weights; for layout and artwork, read the hang tag design guide.

What a cardboard hang tag does for a garment

A hang tag works on three levels at once. It is a brand signal: colour, board texture and finish tell the customer which price level and style to expect before they read a word. It is an information carrier: article number, size, barcode, price field, fibre content reminders or a QR code. And it is a logistics tool: warehouses and shops scan, sort and re-price garments through the tag. A good cardboard hang tag balances all three, so the decisions you make about board and finish should start from how the tag will actually be used along the chain.

Board types for clothing hang tags

Most hang tags are printed on paperboard between roughly 300 and 600 g/m². Within that range the type of board matters at least as much as the weight.

Coated white board

A smooth, bright surface for sharp photos, fine text and full-colour artwork. Coated board is the standard choice for fashion and sportswear collections with colourful branding and lots of information on the back.

Uncoated board

Uncoated board has a natural, slightly velvety feel and takes embossing and debossing very well. Colours print softer, so it suits minimalist designs, one or two colours and premium basics.

Kraft board

Brown kraft board gives an honest, natural look that works for denim, outdoor, workwear and natural-fibre lines. Dark inks and white ink print best on it.

Coloured and textured board

Through-coloured black, navy or pastel board keeps the colour on the edges as well, which looks more refined than printed solid colour. Textured board, such as linen or felt structures, adds a tactile premium effect without extra print.

Double-layer board

Two layers laminated together create thick, rigid tags of 800 g/m² and more, sometimes with a different colour in the core that shows on the edge. They are popular for premium outerwear, knitwear and gift items.

Finishes that make cardboard tags stand out

Finishes turn a plain printed card into a recognisable brand piece. The most useful ones for clothing hang tags are:

• Hot foil stamping in gold, silver, copper or coloured foil for logos and small details.
• Embossing and debossing, which add relief without adding material and look especially good on uncoated or textured board.
• Spot UV varnish, a glossy highlight on a matt background.
• Matt or soft-touch lamination for a velvety surface and better resistance to scuffing in transport.
• Die-cutting into rounded corners, arches, circles or custom shapes.
• Metal eyelets around the string hole for strength and a finished look; our eyelets are nickel-free.

As a rule, choose one hero finish and do it well. A deep deboss on thick uncoated board often says more than three competing effects. If sustainability matters, read our article on sustainable hang tags before you choose lamination.

Typical formats for clothing hang tags

Standard rectangular formats nest efficiently on the printing sheet and are easy for shops to handle. Common sizes include 50×90, 50×100, 55×85 (business-card size), 60×100 and 40×70 mm, with square formats such as 60×60 mm for accessories. Folded tags, for example 50×90 mm folded from 100×90 mm, give you four pages for a brand story, multilingual information or a care reminder. Small tags of around 30×50 mm work well for socks, underwear and children's clothing. Custom sizes are possible for any of these shapes.

Strings, pins and seals

A hang tag is only as good as its attachment. Cotton strings, elastic cords, waxed cords and ribbon suit boutique fashion; plastic tag pins and seal tags are fast on a production line and give extra security for retail. The choice also affects how the tag hangs and how it looks on the shelf, so decide it together with the tag design. Plan the string colour and length (typically 15–20 cm) at the same time as the artwork.

Wholesale and bulk hang tags: how to order smart

Hang tags are consumables. Every garment you ship needs one, so most brands order them in bulk, and the way you structure the order makes a large difference to unit cost and to waste.

Separate fixed and variable information

Keep the tag itself identical across many styles: logo, brand story, website, care hint. Put variable data such as article number, size, colour, barcode and price on a small sticker or a printed field added later. You then order larger runs of one design instead of many small runs.

Plan quantities by season

Base the quantity on your realistic production plan for the season plus a sensible buffer for samples, replacements and reorders. Wholesale hang tags are usually ordered for a full season or a full year of a basics line. The minimum is typically 1,000 pcs per design.

Keep a master specification

Record board, weight, size, finish, colours, hole position, string type and string length for every tag. When the spec is stored, a repeat order is a matter of confirming the quantity, and the result looks the same as the previous batch.

Order together with your labels

Hang tags, woven labels, care labels and stickers often share the same colours and logo. Ordering them together keeps colours consistent and simplifies delivery; we explain the benefits in our article on labels and hang tags from one supplier.

From artwork to delivery

Send us your logo, the information the tag must carry and an idea of the look you want. Our designers can prepare print-ready artwork through our express label design service, with a digital proof typically within 24–48 h. Physical samples are available before production if you want to check board, colour and finish in hand. After approval, production typically takes 10–20 working days, and we deliver across the EU. Browse the full range of hang tags or ask for our Labels 2026 catalogue for inspiration.

Checklist for your next hang tag order

1. Define what the tag must say on the front and on the back.
2. Choose the board type and weight that fit your brand and price level.
3. Select one hero finish and decide whether you need lamination.
4. Pick a standard format or a die-cut shape and set the hole position.
5. Decide on strings, pins or seals and their colour and length.
6. Split fixed and variable information to keep runs large.
7. Calculate the season quantity plus buffer.
8. Approve the digital proof and, if needed, a physical sample.

Frequently asked questions