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Name badge sizes and the right paper for each

Every size below opens in the editor with the matching sheet layout, so your design prints where the badges are.

Each size opens in the editor with the matching sheet layout.

The most common event badge is 3 × 4 in (76.2 × 101.6 mm) for lanyard holders. Adhesive name tags are about 2⅓ × 3⅜ in (59.3 × 85.7 mm), and ID cards are CR80, 85.6 × 54 mm (about 3⅜ × 2⅛ in).

Standard name badge sizes

Every size the editor supports, with the sheet it prints on. Pick one and the editor opens with that size and layout, so your design prints where the badges are.

Name badge sizes, materials and badges per sheet
Size Dimensions Material Per sheet Use it for Sheet profile Open in the editor
Peel-and-stick name tags Avery 5395 / 8395 adhesive (3⅜ × 2⅓ in) 3⅜ × 2⅓ in 85.7 × 59.3 mm Adhesive sticker Landscape 8 per US Letter sheet Workshops, mixers and one-day events where people stick the name tag straight onto clothing. Pre-cut sheet, compatible with Avery 5395 Manufacturer dimensions (print a test page first) Use this size: Avery 5395 / 8395 adhesive (3⅜ × 2⅓ in)
Inserts for 4 × 3 in clear badge holders Avery 5392 insert, landscape (4 × 3 in) 4 × 3 in 101.6 × 76.2 mm Holder insert Landscape 6 per US Letter sheet Conferences and trade shows with clip-on or lanyard holders — the most common holder size. Pre-cut sheet, compatible with Avery 5392 Manufacturer dimensions (print a test page first) Use this size: Avery 5392 insert, landscape (4 × 3 in)
Vertical inserts for 3 × 4 in lanyard holders Avery 5392 insert, portrait (3 × 4 in) 3 × 4 in 76.2 × 101.6 mm Holder insert Portrait 6 per US Letter sheet Lanyard badges that hang vertically, with room for a logo, role band and QR code. Pre-cut sheet, compatible with Avery 5392 Manufacturer dimensions (print a test page first) Use this size: Avery 5392 insert, portrait (3 × 4 in)
Business-card size inserts Avery 5390 insert (3½ × 2¼ in) 3½ × 2¼ in 88.9 × 57.2 mm Holder insert Landscape 8 per US Letter sheet Small clip-on or pin holders for meetings, staff and volunteers. Pre-cut sheet, compatible with Avery 5390 Manufacturer dimensions (print a test page first) Use this size: Avery 5390 insert (3½ × 2¼ in)
A4 badge inserts for 86 × 55 mm holders Avery L7418 insert (86 × 55 mm, A4) 86 × 55 mm 3.39 × 2.17 in Holder insert Landscape 8 per A4 sheet UK and international events using clip or pin holders, printed on A4. Pre-cut sheet, compatible with Avery L7418 Manufacturer dimensions (print a test page first) Use this size: Avery L7418 insert (86 × 55 mm, A4)
A4 peel-and-stick name badges Avery L4785 adhesive (80 × 50 mm, A4) 80 × 50 mm 3.15 × 1.97 in Adhesive sticker Landscape 10 per A4 sheet Stick-on name badges for UK and international events, printed on A4 label sheets. Pre-cut sheet, compatible with Avery L4785 Manufacturer dimensions (print a test page first) Use this size: Avery L4785 adhesive (80 × 50 mm, A4)
Cut-your-own inserts for standard holders 4 × 3 in landscape insert (plain paper or card) 4 × 3 in 101.6 × 76.2 mm Cardstock Landscape 6 per US Letter sheet Printing on any cardstock and cutting along the crop marks to fit 4 × 3 in holders. Plain US Letter paper or card, crop marks Our own layout, cut along crop marks Use this size: 4 × 3 in landscape insert (plain paper or card)
Large conference lanyard badges 4 × 6 in portrait lanyard insert 4 × 6 in 101.6 × 152.4 mm Cardstock Portrait 2 per US Letter sheet Big conference badges in 4 × 6 in lanyard pouches — 2 per Letter sheet, cut along the marks. Plain US Letter paper or card, crop marks Our own layout, cut along crop marks Use this size: 4 × 6 in portrait lanyard insert
Business-card size badges 3½ × 2¼ in badge (plain paper or card) 3½ × 2¼ in 88.9 × 57.2 mm Cardstock Landscape 9 per US Letter sheet Small badges cut from cardstock for business-card size holders. Plain US Letter paper or card, crop marks Our own layout, cut along crop marks Use this size: 3½ × 2¼ in badge (plain paper or card)
Plastic ID cards (credit-card size) PVC ID card CR80, landscape (85.6 × 54 mm) 85.6 × 54 mm 3.37 × 2⅛ in PVC card Landscape 1 per page Durable plastic cards from a card printer (Zebra, Evolis…) or a print shop — one card per page. One card per page (card printer or print shop) One badge per page Use this size: PVC ID card CR80, landscape (85.6 × 54 mm)
Vertical plastic ID cards with a clip slot PVC ID card CR80, portrait (54 × 85.6 mm) 54 × 85.6 mm 2⅛ × 3.37 in PVC card Portrait 1 per page Staff and access cards worn on a lanyard or clip — keeps the top clear for the punched slot. One card per page (card printer or print shop) One badge per page Use this size: PVC ID card CR80, portrait (54 × 85.6 mm)
Engraved-style staff name badges Pin / magnetic badge (3 × 1 in) 3 × 1 in 76.2 × 25.4 mm Print-shop pin Landscape 1 per page Reusable plastic or metal staff badges made by a print shop — sends one file per name with bleed. One badge per page with bleed (print shop) One badge per page Use this size: Pin / magnetic badge (3 × 1 in)
Staff name badges with a logo Pin / magnetic badge (3 × 1½ in) 3 × 1½ in 76.2 × 38.1 mm Print-shop pin Landscape 1 per page Reusable staff badges with room for a logo and job title, made by a print shop. One badge per page with bleed (print shop) One badge per page Use this size: Pin / magnetic badge (3 × 1½ in)
Large A6 lanyard badges A6 portrait lanyard badge (105 × 148 mm) 105 × 148 mm 4.13 × 5.83 in Cardstock Portrait 2 per A4 sheet Festival and conference badges in A6 lanyard pouches — 2 per A4 sheet, cut along the marks. Plain A4 paper or card, crop marks Our own layout, cut along crop marks Use this size: A6 portrait lanyard badge (105 × 148 mm)

Print a test page first

The pre-cut sheet profiles use the manufacturers’ published dimensions. We haven’t print-tested these stocks ourselves yet, and printers feed paper a little differently, so print the first page on plain paper and hold it against a real sheet up to the light before you print the lot.

Lanyard and holder badge sizes

A holder is the clear plastic pocket on the lanyard or clip. The insert is the paper or card you print and slide in. Holders are sold by the insert size they take, so a “4 × 3 in holder” takes a 4 × 3 in insert, and the holder itself is a little bigger.

  • 4 × 3 in landscape or 3 × 4 in portrait: the standard insert, 6 per sheet on pre-cut stock compatible with Avery 5392.
  • 4 × 6 in portrait: large conference badges, 2 per US Letter sheet, cut along the crop marks.
  • 105 × 148 mm (A6) portrait: the international large badge, 2 per A4 sheet.
  • 3½ × 2¼ in: small business-card size inserts, 8 per sheet (Avery 5390 compatible).
  • 86 × 55 mm: the A4 insert, 8 per sheet (compatible with Avery L7418).

Portrait holders hang straight on a lanyard and leave room for a logo, a role band and a QR code. Landscape holders suit clips and pins, and show a long name on one line.

How to measure your holder

  1. Measure the inside of the pocket, not the outside of the holder, across and down.
  2. Choose an insert a little smaller, about 1/16 to 1/8 in (2 to 3 mm) each way, so it slides in without bending.
  3. Check where the slot, clip or punched hole sits. Our templates keep the top of portrait badges clear for it.
  4. No exact match? Use a custom size and print it with crop marks (below).
A vertical badge holder with a paper insert The holder is bigger than the insert. Measure the pocket inside the holder and use an insert a little smaller. The strip under the slot or clip at the top stays clear of text. keep clear Slot or clip Pocket opening Insert: the paper you print (3 × 4 in) Holder: the plastic pocket Insert a little smaller than the pocket
Holder and insert are different sizes. The strip under the slot or clip stays clear of names.

Sticker name tag sizes

Peel-and-stick name tags need no holder. In the US the usual sheet is compatible with Avery 5395 and 8395: 2⅓ × 3⅜ in (59.3 × 85.7 mm), 8 per US Letter sheet with rounded corners. On A4, labels compatible with Avery L4785 are 80 × 50 mm, 10 per sheet.

Stickers suit one-day events, mixers and workshops. For several days, or for people who would rather not stick a label on their clothes, use inserts in holders instead. The classic “Hello my name is” template is drawn for these sheets.

Compatible with Avery 5395: 2 × 4 labels on US Letter 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Avery 5395 compatible: 3⅜ × 2⅓ in, 8 per Letter sheet.
Compatible with Avery L4785: 2 × 5 labels on A4 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Avery L4785 compatible: 80 × 50 mm, 10 per A4 sheet.

ID card (CR80) size

ID and access cards use the CR80 size: 85.6 × 54 mm (about 3⅜ × 2⅛ in), the same as a credit card. Print them on a card printer, or send them to a print shop.

  • Landscape CR80 for desk and access cards.
  • Portrait CR80 with the top kept clear for the punched slot, for lanyards and clips.
  • The PDF has one card per page. Add 3 mm (about 1/8 in) bleed for a print shop; leave it off for most card printers.

Pin and magnetic badge sizes

Rigid pin and magnetic staff badges, often engraved, are made by print shops rather than printed at home. The common sizes are 3 × 1 in for a name and 3 × 1½ in for a name, job title and logo.

Choose one of those sizes and export single badges: one per page, with 3 mm bleed, which is what most shops ask for. Ask the shop for its safe area and finish before you send the file.

How to choose a badge material

Paper or card inserts are cheapest for events with holders. Stickers need no holder. PVC lasts longest but needs a card printer or a print shop.

  • Paper insert for a holder

    Print on the insert sheets at 100% / actual size, tear along the perforations, slide into the holder.

    You get: PDF laid out on the pre-cut insert sheet.

    Holder insert sizes: 4 × 3 in, 3 × 4 in, 3½ × 2¼ in, 86 × 55 mm

  • Adhesive name tag sheet

    Print at 100% / actual size on the label sheet. Test on plain paper first and hold it up to a label sheet.

    You get: PDF laid out on the label sheet.

    Adhesive sticker sizes: 3⅜ × 2⅓ in, 80 × 50 mm

  • PVC plastic card

    For a card printer choose one card per page with no bleed; for a print shop add 3 mm bleed.

    You get: One card per page; add 3 mm bleed for a print shop.

    PVC card sizes: 85.6 × 54 mm, 54 × 85.6 mm

  • Pin / magnetic badge (print shop)

    Send the one-badge-per-page PDF with 3 mm bleed. Ask the shop for their safe area.

    You get: One badge per page with 3 mm bleed for the print shop.

    Print-shop pin sizes: 3 × 1 in, 3 × 1½ in

  • Cardstock you cut yourself

    Print at 100% / actual size on card, then cut along the crop marks with a trimmer.

    You get: Badges tiled on Letter or A4 with crop marks.

    Cardstock sizes: 4 × 3 in, 4 × 6 in, 3½ × 2¼ in, 105 × 148 mm

US Letter and A4 sheets

Pre-cut sheets from the US use Letter paper; UK and international sheets use A4. Each diagram is drawn to scale from the layout the PDF uses.

Custom sizes

Holder not listed? Choose Custom size in the editor and type the width and height (20 to 300 mm a side). The badges are tiled on plain Letter or A4 with crop marks, as many as fit, and the template reflows to the new shape.

Any size on plain paper

Every size can also print on plain Letter or A4 card with crop marks instead of a pre-cut sheet. A 4 × 3 in badge fits 6 to a Letter page that way.

How big should the name be?

Make the first name the largest text on the badge, so it can be read from a conversational distance. Each of our templates sets a largest size for the name and a floor it will not go below. Long names shrink toward the floor and then wrap; a name that still doesn’t fit is flagged in the review list instead of being cut off or shrunk further.

Smallest name size our templates allow, by badge size
Badge Name floor across our templates Most templates
4 × 3 in Holder insert 11–18 pt 14 pt
3⅜ × 2⅓ in Adhesive sticker 11–18 pt 14 pt
3 × 1 in Print-shop pin 8–12 pt 12 pt

Floors are the minimum point size each template allows for the name (17 templates). 1 pt is 1/72 in, so 14 pt capitals are about 3.5 mm tall.

Frequently asked questions

What is the standard size of a name tag?
For events, the most common badge is 3 x 4 in (76 x 102 mm), sized for clear lanyard holders. Adhesive name tag stickers are usually about 2-1/3 x 3-3/8 in, and staff pin badges are often 1 x 3 in or 1.5 x 3 in.
What is a standard lanyard badge size?
Most lanyard holders take a 3 x 4 in insert (landscape or portrait), or a CR80 card at 3.375 x 2.125 in. Larger 4 x 6 in holders are used at some conferences. Measure the holder's pocket and choose a slightly smaller insert.
What size is an ID card?
Standard ID and access cards use the CR80 size: 3.375 x 2.125 in (85.6 x 54 mm), the same as a credit card. Print them on a card printer or send single badges to a print shop.
What size is a name tag in Word?
Word uses the size of the label product you pick in Mailings > Labels. For example, Avery 5395 is 2-1/3 x 3-3/8 in and Avery 5392 is 3 x 4 in. Our editor uses the same published sheet dimensions.
How big should the name be on a badge?
Make the first name the largest text on the badge so it can be read from a conversational distance. Each of our templates has a minimum readable size, and names that would go below it are flagged instead of shrunk.
Should I print on paper, cardstock or PVC?
Paper or cardstock inserts are cheapest for one-day events in holders. Adhesive stickers suit short events with no holders. PVC cards last longest but need a card printer or print shop.

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