Gift tags
Hamper Tags: Sizing, Tying and What Actually Holds
A tag that spins to face the wrong way has done nothing for you.
Most tag problems are physical rather than aesthetic. It faces backwards, it tears at the hole, it is too small to read across a table. All fixable before you order.
Sizing to the box
Small boxes and bags, under 6 inches
A tag around 2 x 3.5 inches. Anything larger dominates the parcel.
Standard hamper boxes, 8 to 12 inches
2.5 x 4 inches. Big enough to carry a name and a greeting and still read from a few feet away.
Large hampers and baskets
3 x 5 inches or larger. On a big basket a small tag disappears entirely.
The readability test
Put the tag on the box, stand back six feet, and see whether you can read the name. That is roughly the distance from which someone identifies their hamper on a table.
Stopping the tag spinning
A tag hung from a single hole will rotate, and half the time it presents its blank side.
Two holes, not one
Thread through both and it sits flat. This is the simplest fix and almost nobody does it.
Tuck it under the ribbon
Thread the tag, then run the ribbon over the tag's top edge so it is pinned rather than dangling.
Print both sides
If it will spin regardless, make both faces worth seeing. Greeting one side, name the other.
What to tie it with
Jute twine
Suits kraft boxes and rustic packaging. Thick, so check the punch hole diameter before ordering.
Satin ribbon
Best for weddings and premium hampers. Slips through a standard hole easily and holds a bow.
Elastic loops
Fast for large volume. Slide over a corner rather than tying. Worth it above about two hundred hampers, purely on assembly time.
Cotton string
The safe middle. Cheap, holds a knot, does not fray as fast as jute.
Stopping tags tearing
Tearing at the hole is a weight problem. At 300 gsm with a clean punch, a tag will not tear under a ribbon. At 200 gsm it will, particularly if the hole sits close to the edge.
Reinforce for heavy items
If the tag is carrying weight rather than decorating, a small eyelet is worth the effort.
Quantities
Your recipient list plus fifteen percent. Hamper counts grow in the final week without exception, and a second short run will not match the first batch of foil.
Packs start at 20. Volume pricing begins around 100 pieces, so a wedding or a corporate season usually clears it in one order. Browse best wishes tags and thank you tags, or get a combined quote on the bulk order page.
Shop hamper tags
Related reading
FAQ
1. What size tag suits a standard hamper box?
About 2.5 x 4 inches for an 8 to 12 inch box. Small boxes take 2 x 3.5 inches and large baskets want 3 x 5 inches or bigger.
2. How do I stop a gift tag spinning around?
Use two holes and thread through both so it sits flat, or run the ribbon over the top edge of the tag so it is pinned rather than dangling.
3. Do tags come with string?
Tags arrive punched and ready to tie. String is not included, because most customers match it to their own packaging.
4. Why do my tags tear at the hole?
Usually paper weight. At 300 gsm with a clean punch a tag holds under ribbon. At 200 gsm it tears, especially if the hole sits close to the edge.
5. What is the best string for a large hamper run?
Elastic loops above about two hundred hampers, purely for assembly speed. Satin ribbon for weddings, jute for kraft packaging.
6. How many tags should I order?
Your list plus fifteen percent. Counts grow in the final week, and a second run will not match the first batch of foil.