Custom Metal Hang Tags

A metal hang tag does the same job as a paper swing tag — it carries your brand at the point of sale — but it is made to be kept. It is a small plate, usually a circle, rectangle or custom outline, made from aluminium, brass, zinc alloy or stainless steel. Your logo is engraved, stamped, etched, cast or enamelled into the surface, and the tag is attached to the product with a ball chain, split ring, jump ring, waxed cord or leather strap.

Because it is heavier and more expensive than card, a metal tag is a deliberate choice. It signals that the product is meant to last, it survives handling in the shop, and customers often leave it on a bag or move it to their keys. That makes it popular with leather goods, premium denim, heritage outerwear, knitwear, gift sets and accessories.

A metal tag usually carries only the brand mark and perhaps a short line such as a collection name or year. The price, size and barcode belong on a separate paper tag or sticker, so the metal tag stays clean and worth keeping. Our guide to what to put on a hang tag covers how to split information between tags.

• Laser engraving. A laser marks the logo into the surface. No tooling is needed, fine lines are crisp, and each tag can even be numbered. It works on aluminium, stainless steel and brass.
• Stamping or debossing. A steel die presses the logo into the metal for a deep, tactile impression. It needs a one-time die, and it suits bold logos and heritage looks.
• Chemical etching. The logo is etched into the surface and can be colour-filled. Good for detailed artwork on flat tags.
• Die casting. Zinc alloy is cast in a mould made from your artwork, so the logo can be raised or recessed and the tag can take almost any outline. Plated afterwards in the finish you choose.
• Enamel fill. Recessed areas are filled with coloured enamel, the same technique as on enamel pins, to add one or more brand colours.
• Printing. UV or screen printing on aluminium for full-colour or one-colour artwork, where a printed look is acceptable.

• Handbags, wallets and leather goods. A tag on the handle or strap that customers keep as a bag charm. Our purse and bag labels cover the woven and leather-look labels inside.
• Premium denim and workwear. A brass or antique-finish tag on the belt loop matches rivets and buttons.
• Outerwear and knitwear. A small engraved tag on the zip pull or a cord loop at the hem.
• Jewellery and gift sets. A tiny tag that doubles as a keepsake; see also our paper jewelry hang tags for price and material details.
• Home goods. Throws, baskets and candles, where a metal tag adds weight and a crafted feel.

Metal tags are less suited to lightweight garments that hang on thin fabric, where the weight pulls the shoulder or neckline out of shape, and to very low-price products where the tag would cost a large part of the product.

• Use one strong mark. A logo or monogram reads best. Long text and small type are hard to engrave or stamp cleanly.
• Leave a margin around the hole. Keep the logo clear of the hole or loop so it is not cut off, and leave enough metal around the hole that it cannot tear.
• Think about both sides. The back can carry a website, a year or a short line, engraved more lightly than the front.
• Match the hardware. Choose a plating that matches the zips, buttons and rivets already on the product.
• Weigh it against the product. A heavy cast tag suits a leather bag; a light aluminium tag suits a jumper.

Send vector artwork (AI, PDF or SVG) if you can; we redraw rough logos for free. Our artwork preparation guide explains the details.