Guide
Custom Lanyards: Sizes, Materials & Clip Types
A lanyard is three decisions: how wide, what it's made of, and what hangs off the end. Get those right and the rest is artwork.
Quick answer
For staff ID badges, order 3/4" polyester, 36" length, swivel hook, with a breakaway. That configuration covers the overwhelming majority of office, event, school, and conference use.
Lanyard widths
| Width | Print area | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 3/8" | Very limited — short text only | Budget giveaways, keychains |
| 5/8" | Company name, simple logo | Slim, lightweight everyday badge wear |
| 3/4" | Logo plus tagline, repeating pattern | The standard — staff IDs, conferences, schools |
| 1" | Full-color artwork, sponsor logos | Events with sponsors, heavy badge holders |
| 1.5" | Large graphics, photos | Trade-show branding, festival credentials |
Lanyard length
Lanyard length is normally quoted as the total flat length of the cord, which is about double the drop. A 36" lanyard drops roughly 18", which puts a badge at mid-chest. Order 32" for children and 40" when the badge needs to reach a waist-height card reader.
Materials
- Polyester (flat): the workhorse. Smooth weave, takes full-color dye sublimation cleanly, holds color after washing.
- Nylon: shinier and softer than polyester. Ink sits on the surface, so colors are bright but slightly less sharp on fine detail.
- Tubular: shoelace construction. Cheapest per unit; best for simple screen-printed text in one or two colors.
- Woven: the design is stitched into the fabric rather than printed. Premium look, limited to simple shapes and few colors.
- Recycled PET: made from post-consumer bottles, prints like polyester. A good fit for sustainability-focused organizations.
Clips and attachments
- Swivel hook (lobster / J-hook): the default. Clips into a badge holder's hole and rotates so the badge faces forward.
- Bulldog clip: spring-loaded jaw that grips a slot-punched card directly, no holder needed.
- Split ring: a flat metal ring for keys, USB drives, and whistles.
- Carabiner: heavier duty, for tools, radios, and bottles.
- Badge reel: a retractable spool so the wearer can pull the badge to a reader without removing the lanyard.
Safety attachments
A breakaway buckle at the back of the neck pops apart under pull. Schools, hospitals, labs, and any facility with moving machinery generally require it. A side-release buckle lets the wearer detach the lower half of the lanyard to hand a badge to a reader or to a colleague without lifting it over their head.
Artwork tips
- Supply vector artwork (AI, EPS, or PDF) — a 3/4" strip is unforgiving of low-resolution logos.
- Repeat the logo every 4–6 inches so it is readable no matter how the lanyard twists.
- Avoid thin outlines and small reversed-out type; fabric printing thickens fine lines.
- Specify Pantone colors — polyester dye can shift slightly from an on-screen CMYK preview.
FAQ
What is the standard lanyard size?
The standard printed lanyard is 3/4" wide with a 36" total length, which hangs about 18" from the neck — roughly mid-chest on most adults. 5/8" is the common slim option and 1" is used when the artwork needs more room.
What lanyard material should I choose?
Polyester is the default: smooth, durable, and the best surface for full-color printing. Nylon has a slight sheen and a softer hand but costs more. Tubular (shoelace-style) is the cheapest and works for one- or two-color text.
What clip types are available?
Swivel hook (also called a lobster or J-hook) is the most common for ID badge holders. Bulldog clips grip slot-punched cards directly, split rings hold keys and USB drives, and carabiner clips are used for tools and water bottles.
Should lanyards have a breakaway?
Yes for schools, hospitals, warehouses, and anywhere near machinery. A breakaway buckle at the back of the neck separates under pull, which is a standard safety requirement in most institutional settings.
What is the minimum order for custom lanyards?
Custom-printed lanyards are ordered in bulk because setup is amortized across the run. Per-unit cost drops sharply between 100 and 500 pieces, and again above 1,000. Contact us with your quantity for exact pricing.
Order custom lanyards
Browse lanyards → or request a bulk quote with your quantity, width, and clip type.
Related reading: employee ID badges, how to make ID cards, and PVC card thickness.