What Info Do You Put on a Garment Swing Tag?

Shoppers decide fast. Your tag must answer the “what is it, how do I care, how much, why this brand” questions in seconds. Below is a precise, UK-ready checklist for what info do you put on a garment swing tag, with sizes, layout rules, barcode/QR specs, and printer-friendly templates.

Quick Answer

Put the essentials in a clean hierarchy: brand mark, style/fit name, size, price, SKU/EAN barcode, and a one-line care or fabric note. Add a QR if it has a clear job (care, subscribe, warranty). Use 60×100 mm on 450–600 gsm card with a matt back and a protected 25×35 mm barcode block. Keep finishes away from codes and hole areas.

Core Comparison/Specs Table — Garment Tag Content & Build

Field / spec	Why it matters	Practical rule	Notes
Brand mark	Recognition in 0.5s	Small, crisp, top zone	Tie to logo hang tags
Style/fit name	Reduces questions	Short, plain language	E.g., “Relaxed Taper”, “Overshirt”
Size	Fast try-on decision	Big, clear; match rail labels	Pair with apparel tags
Price	Clarity & trust	12–14 pt, consistent position	Tabular figures look cleaner
SKU / EAN-13	Stock & tills	EAN at ≥80% magnification; 25×35 mm box	Build on card hang tags
One-line fabric/care	Returns drop	“100% cotton. Wash cool.”	Expand via QR if needed
QR (optional)	Post-purchase value	≥12 mm symbol; clear CTA	Use only if it earns space
Finish choice	Perceived quality	One hero only (foil or deboss)	See paper hang tags & foil stamped logo
Stock	Tactile cue	450–600 gsm uncoated/cotton; matt back	Natural look? Try brown kraft swing tags
Hole & corners	Ops + snags	Ø3–4 mm; centre 5 mm from edge; 2–3 mm radius	Peghook? Add hang tabs

Decision Framework

• Decide the tag’s job. If the rail already shows price/size, the tag sells feel and care. If not, the tag must carry both.
• One layout for all SKUs. Lock a master grid (size, hole, corners, barcode box). Consistency reads as quality.
• One hero finish. Foil or blind deboss. Layering effects looks noisy and slows production.
• Keep scanners happy. Codes live on a matt, untextured rectangle. Never run foil/UV over bars or QR.
• QR needs a purpose. Care, subscribe, warranty, or lookbook—pick one. If it’s vague, drop it.
• Environment sets stock. Dry rails: uncoated/cotton. Humid/back-of-house: coated/matt-lam back. Tough zones (rare in garments): consider PVC only if absolutely necessary.

Best Practices / Rules

• Hierarchy. Logo → style/fit → size → price → barcode → QR. Emotional cue first; functional second.
• Type sizes. Body 10–11 pt; size 12–14 pt; micro text ≥8 pt on textured boards.
• Margins. 3 mm bleed; keep live content 3 mm inside.
• Hole spec. Ø3–4 mm; centre 5 mm from nearest edge; 3 mm ink-free collar.
• Corner radius. 2–3 mm to avoid rail snagging (especially knitwear and denim).
• Barcode. EAN-13 at ≥80% magnification (bar width ≥0.33 mm). Keep a 25×35 mm clean box on a matt area.
• QR. Symbol ≥12 mm with a 2.5–4 mm quiet zone. High contrast. Short, human CTA: “Scan for care”.
• Finishes. Keep foil/spot UV/emboss ≥3 mm away from edges, hole, and any code areas.

Materials & Finishes (what the shopper feels)

Cotton & premium uncoated boards (500–600 gsm).
Soft tooth and dense feel. Black ink sits rich; deboss reads clean. Ideal for core and premium apparel. Start from card hang tags.

Uncoated 450–500 gsm (workhorse).
Great balance of cost and feel. Pair with a matt back for codes. Tie to your core 60×100 mm spec under apparel tags.

Kraft (350–450 gsm).
Natural, honest. Keep copy short and contrast high. White ink for the mark if needed. Explore brown kraft swing tags.

Coated with matt lam back.
Tougher rails and frequent handling. Put barcode/QR on the matt side. A small foil pin on the face can lift perceived value. See paper hang tags & foil stamped logo.

Fabric/woven fronts.
If you use woven or fabric elements, keep machine-readable codes on a paired paper card. Browse woven tags and silkscreen printed fabric tags.

Shapes / Formats / Use-Cases

Rectangular (55×85 or 60×100 mm).
The default for garments. Best yield, clean hierarchy, scan-safe.

Square (60×60 mm).
Logo-first boutique looks. Put the barcode on a rectangular back block. Good bridge to rounded tags.

Round (Ø60–70 mm).
Friendly and giftable. Works for tees, knit caps, seasonal drops. Move codes off-face to a back card. See circular tags.

Fold-over/booklet.
When you need translations, extended care, or a story without crowding the face. Keep the outside calm; inside does the work.

Jeans & heavywear.
Consider slightly larger cards or thicker stocks for presence. Pair with category-specific cues via jeans paper hang tags.

Travel / outerwear cross-overs.
If you sell garments with accessories, long-ticket logic can help on travel pieces (rare). Reference luggage tags for format thinking—still keep codes matt.

Cost & Yield / Lead Times

• Yield. Rectangles with modest radii nest best; expect 8–15% savings vs quirky die-cuts.
• Spend on stock first. Upgrading to 550–600 gsm usually beats stacking finishes for perceived value.
• One effect = one pass. Foil, deboss, or spot UV—choose one hero. Every extra pass adds time and spoilage risk.
• Typical UK timings.
  • CMYK on card: 3–5 working days
    • Foil/emboss/white ink: 5–10 working days
  • Complex folds/booklets: 7–12 working days

File Setup & Templates

• Document. Build at final size with 3 mm bleed and 3 mm inner safe.
• Layers & plates. FOIL, DEBOSS, SPOT_UV, WHITE_INK, DRILL, BARCODE_ZONE, QR_ZONE. Knock out beneath effects.
• Barcode zone. 25×35 mm, matt, untextured. Bars in 100% K. Keep human-readable numerals below the bars.
• QR zone. ≥12×12 mm, clear quiet zone, dark on light. No gradients or image fills.
• Typography. Use tabular lining numerals for price. Avoid micro reverse-outs on textured boards.
• Export. PDF/X-1a or X-4; profiles embedded; crop marks off; bleed on.

Template / CTA

Get a quick quote — attach your artwork and specs.
Checklist: size (mm), stock/GSM, one hero finish, hole Ø & position, corner radius, fields you want on tag (brand, style/fit, size, price, SKU/EAN, care line, QR job), quantities/SKUs, deadline. If you want a calm, scalable system, start with 60×100 mm, 500–600 gsm uncoated/cotton, matt back, and a protected code box.

Real Examples (UK-Relevant)

High-street tees (Manchester).
Kept 60×100 mm, 500 gsm uncoated, micro-foil pin on the mark. Back carried price, EAN, and a one-line care. Buyers described the tags as “clear and solid”; tills scanned first time under warm LEDs.

Denim wall (Birmingham).
Jeans used 550 gsm card with 2–3 mm corner radius. Fit name sat large; size and price aligned in a fixed grid. A QR to a size guide reduced try-on friction.

Knitwear rail (Edinburgh).
A cashmere line dropped gloss and moved to a matt back. Care read easily; snagging fell. The simple change made the rail feel premium.

Campus capsule (Leeds).
Square 60×60 mm logo-led face; barcode on a small back block. The format felt boutique but scanned cleanly.

Giftable hoodies (York).
Kraft 400 gsm with white-ink logo, “Wash cool” on the back. Natural look matched the product; reviews mentioned “sustainable packaging”.

Printer Brief (Garments, one page you can hand over)

• Sizes. 60×100 mm (core). 55×85 mm (compact). 60×60 mm (logo-led).
• Stock. Uncoated/cotton 450–600 gsm (default). Kraft 350–450 gsm (natural).
• Finish. One hero: foil or blind deboss or spot UV.
• Back. Always matt for codes.
• Hole & corners. Ø3–4 mm; centre 5 mm from edge; 2–3 mm corner radius.
• Codes. EAN-13 ≥80% magnification (bar ≥0.33 mm); 25×35 mm barcode box; QR ≥12 mm with 2.5–4 mm quiet zone.
• Plates. Supply vectors for effects and DRILL. Keep effects ≥3 mm from edges, hole, and codes.
• Packing. Bundles per SKU; carton labels; recycled outers; consistent orientation for stringing.

Category Playbook: What To Include by Garment Type

T-shirts & sweatshirts
Keep it simple. Front: brand mark. Back: size, price, EAN, and a one-line care (“Wash cool, line dry”). Add a QR only if it leads to size/fit or a care video. Baseline spec 60×100 mm, uncoated 500–600 gsm, matt back.

Denim & workwear
Shoppers check fit first. Put the fit name big (“Slim Taper”, “Relaxed Straight”), then size and inseam if relevant. Price near barcode. Consider a short fabric callout (“Selvedge, 13 oz”). Corners 2–3 mm to stop rail snagging.

Shirts & tailoring
Precision sells. Add collar measurement and fit (“15.5″ / Regular Fit”). One neat provenance line (“Woven in Portugal”) helps. Front stays calm; all data sits on the back. Deboss beats large foil here.

Knitwear & cashmere
Protect fibres. Use soft corners and avoid heavy relief near edges. Keep a bold care line (“Hand wash cool / Pilling is natural”). A QR to a knit care page reduces returns.

Activewear
Buyers want performance. Add fabric tech (“Moisture-wicking, 4-way stretch”), a wash rule, and size clarity. Keep the barcode on a fully matt box; sweaty hands and gloss don’t mix.

Outerwear
Bigger story, same footprint. Include fit, insulation/fill, and care. If you need more copy, use a fold-over: outside calm, inside details. Long ticket only if it’s a luggage/travel piece.

Kidswear
Clarity beats charm. Prioritise age/height, care, and price. Keep finishes away from edges and hole. Add a QR to a size guide if you sell across wide age bands.

Underwear & basics
Speed matters. Put size and fit near the top, price near the barcode, and a short care. Avoid fussy finishes that can scratch.

Occasionwear & bridal
Silence outside; specifics inside. Fold-over with a discreet crest outside. Inside: fabric, lining, care, and a QR to alterations/appointments. Keep barcodes small but readable.

Caps, beanies, accessories
Smaller copy load. Use 55×85 mm or 60×60 mm. If the face is round or square, move the barcode to a rectangular back block. Keep the hole position consistent across the range.

Layout Grid: A Simple, Reusable System

• Top zone (face). Brand mark only or mark + style/fit.
• Middle zone (back). Size → price (tabular figures) → one-line fabric/care.
• Bottom zone (back). EAN-13 in a 25×35 mm matt box.
• Optional zone. QR ≥12 mm with a single purpose (care, subscribe, warranty).
• Fixed mechanics. Hole Ø3–4 mm, centre 5 mm from edge; 2–3 mm corner radius; 3 mm bleed and inner safe.

This grid answers what info do you put on a garment swing tag while remaining fast to reorder and easy to scan.

Microcopy That Reduces Returns (steal this)

• Fabric: “100% cotton.” / “Organic cotton blend.”
• Care: “Wash cool. Dry flat.” / “Delicates bag recommended.”
• Fit: “Relaxed through thigh.” / “Boxy fit.”
• Provenance: “Cut and sewn in the UK.” / “Woven in Italy.”
• QR CTA: “Scan for care video.” / “Scan for size guide.”

Keep each line ≤8–10 words. Microcopy should be effortless at a glance.

Testing Plan (1-week sprints)

• Sprint 1 — stock weight. 450 gsm vs 600 gsm; measure intercept adjectives (“quality”, “weight”) and returns.
• Sprint 2 — finish restraint. Micro-foil vs deboss; track dwell and scan latency.
• Sprint 3 — QR job. “Care” vs “Subscribe”; compare redemption and support tickets.
• Sprint 4 — layout. Price left vs right of barcode; record till errors.

Lock winners into the master spec; stop re-debating solved details.

Printer Brief (Garment, extended)

• Master sizes. 60×100 mm (default), 55×85 mm (compact), 60×60 mm (logo-first).
• Stocks. Uncoated/cotton 500–600 gsm (premium), uncoated 450–500 gsm (core), kraft 350–450 gsm (natural). Always matt back.
• Finishes. One hero only: foil or blind deboss or spot UV. Keep ≥3 mm clear of edges, hole, and codes.
• Codes. EAN-13 at ≥80% (bar ≥0.33 mm). Barcode box 25×35 mm. QR ≥12 mm with 2.5–4 mm quiet zone.
• Mechanics. Hole Ø3–4 mm; centre 5 mm from edge; 2–3 mm corner radius; 3 mm bleed; 3 mm inner safe.
• Plates/layers. FOIL, DEBOSS, SPOT_UV, WHITE_INK, DRILL, BARCODE_ZONE, QR_ZONE. Knock-outs beneath effects.
• Proofing. One-up on final stock; pass handheld + till scanners under warm LEDs; approve only on first-time reads.
• Packing. Bundles per SKU; labelled outers; consistent orientation for stringing.

FAQs (5–6 concise Q&As)

Where To Explore Next

Start with one master system and duplicate it across categories. Use small, logical changes (square for boutique capsules, minis for jewellery) without touching the hole, corner, or code grammar. When the grid is stable, shift focus to copy clarity and QR journeys that actually reduce returns or grow email sign-ups. Your tag’s job is to answer what info do you put on a garment swing tag in seconds—everything else is optional.