How to Use a Tagging Gun for Clothes: Needles, Pins and Step-by-Step Guide

A tagging gun is the fastest way to attach hang tags and price tickets to clothing. With one squeeze, a hollow needle pierces the fabric and pushes a small plastic fastener through it, leaving a neat T-shaped bar on each side that holds the tag in place. Knowing how to use a tagging gun properly saves time in the warehouse, avoids holes in delicate fabrics and keeps tags secure until the garment reaches the customer. This guide explains the types of needles and plastic pins, how to load the gun, how to tag a garment step by step, how to work safely and when another fastening method is the better choice.

How a tagging gun works

A tagging gun (also called a tag gun, ticket gun or tag attacher) has three main parts: a trigger handle, a slot at the top where a clip of plastic fasteners is loaded, and a replaceable hollow needle at the front. Each fastener is a thin plastic filament with a small crossbar (the barb or T-end) on one end and a flat paddle or crossbar on the other. When you squeeze the trigger, a push rod drives the barb of the first fastener through the hollow needle and out through the fabric. When the needle is withdrawn, the barb turns sideways and locks on the inside, while the paddle stays on the outside holding the tag.

Standard vs fine needles

Tagging guns and fasteners come in two main systems that must match each other:

• Standard: a thicker needle and stronger fasteners for most garments: jeans, jackets, knitwear, sweatshirts, towels and accessories. This is the everyday choice in most warehouses.
• Fine: a thinner needle and finer fasteners for delicate fabrics such as silk, lingerie, hosiery, fine knits and shirts, where a standard needle could leave a visible hole.

Some guns are sold for extra-fine or micro fasteners, used for socks, folded items and very light fabrics. Always use the fastener type the gun is designed for: standard pins in a fine gun will jam, and fine pins in a standard gun may not feed or lock properly.

Plastic tag pin lengths

Fasteners are sold in clips of 50 joined pins, and boxes typically hold several thousand. The length is measured between the barb and the paddle and decides how much slack the tag has.

As a rule, choose a pin long enough for the tag to hang freely and be read without pulling on the fabric, but short enough that it does not snag on other garments on the rail.

How to load a tagging gun

1. Check the needle. Make sure it is straight, sharp and firmly locked in place. Remove the protective cap only when you are ready to tag.
2. Hold the clip correctly. The fasteners sit side by side on a plastic runner. The barbs (the T-ends that go through the fabric) point towards the needle.
3. Insert the clip into the slot at the top of the gun, from the side the manufacturer indicates, and push it down until the first fastener clicks into position behind the needle.
4. Test once on a scrap of fabric or cardboard to confirm the gun feeds correctly.

If the clip does not slide in easily, it is usually facing the wrong way or is of the wrong type for the gun. Never force it.

Step by step: tagging a garment

1. Prepare the tag. Hang tags for tagging guns need a punched hole, usually 3–5 mm, placed at least 5 mm from the edge so it does not tear.
2. Thread the tag on the needle through its hole, or place it on the fabric so the needle goes through both in one movement.
3. Choose the attachment point. The best places are the brand or care label, a seam allowance, a buttonhole or a belt loop. These points are strong and hide the small hole.
4. Insert the needle through the fabric layer, at a slight angle, until the needle tip shows on the other side.
5. Squeeze the trigger fully in one smooth movement. A half squeeze can leave the barb inside the needle.
6. Release the trigger and withdraw the needle straight back. The fastener separates from the clip and locks.
7. Check the result: the barb should sit flat on the inside, and the tag should hang freely.

Safety when using a tagging gun

A tagging gun needle is sharp and hollow, so treat it like any needle tool:

• Keep the needle cap on when the gun is not in use.
• Never place a hand or finger behind the fabric where the needle exits; use a flat surface or a tagging board.
• Point the needle away from yourself and other people.
• Replace bent, blunt or damaged needles at once; a blunt needle needs more force and slips more easily.
• Dispose of used needles in a closed container, and store the gun out of reach of children.
• After tagging, check that no broken fastener pieces remain in the garment or packaging.

Fabrics and products to avoid

Some materials should not be pierced, because the hole stays visible or affects function:

• Leather and faux leather: needle holes are permanent.
• Waterproof and membrane fabrics: a hole in the shell can let water in. Tag through a label or a loop instead.
• Silk, satin and very fine wovens: use a fine needle, or attach through the label only.
• Coated, laminated or sequinned fabrics: the coating can crack around the hole.
• Babywear: many brands prefer strings or loop fasteners on baby items, so no hard plastic part can be left behind.

Alternatives to a tagging gun

A tagging gun is ideal for speed, but other methods suit premium products and delicate fabrics:

• Loop pins (loop lock fasteners): a plastic loop that closes through a buttonhole or label without piercing the fabric.
• Strings: cotton, satin or elastic string tied or fixed with a seal tag; the most premium look.
• Safety pins: small metal pins through a label or seam; quick and reusable.
• Seal tags and lock pins: branded plastic or metal fasteners that show the product has not been tried on.

Our guides to hang tag strings and fasteners and how to attach hang tags compare these options in detail.

Hang tags that work well with tagging guns

The tag itself matters as much as the gun. A board of 300–400 g/m² holds the fastener without tearing, while a thin paper tag can rip at the hole. A reinforced hole or a metal eyelet adds strength for heavy garments. Place the hole where the tag hangs straight and the logo reads the right way up. We produce custom hang tags with punched holes, eyelets and strings in our own production in Bulgaria; for board weights and sizes, see cardboard hang tags for clothing. The minimum order is typically 1,000 pcs per design, with production typically in 10–20 working days after approval and delivery across Europe.

Frequently asked questions