Manufacturer · Fashion & Home Accessories
There is no single standard for clothing label sizes – every brand chooses a size according to its logo, the product and the sewing position. In practice, however, there are established ranges: brand labels in the neck are usually a few centimetres long and about 1.5–3 cm high, size labels are small squares or rectangles, and care labels are narrow and long. Below you will find indicative label sizes and rules for choosing your own.
Clothing label sizes: indicative ranges
The values in the table are typical for the market, not mandatory. The exact size is always determined by the design.
| Label type | Typical width (height) | Typical length | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brand label (neck) | 15–30 mm | 40–80 mm | Larger on coats and jackets |
| Size label | 10–20 mm | 15–30 mm | Often centre-folded |
| Care and composition label | 25–40 mm | Depends on text and languages | Sewn into the side seam |
| Flag label (side seam) | 10–15 mm | 20–40 mm | Folded, visible on the outside |
| Leather label (jeans) | 30–50 mm | 50–90 mm | Sewn on the outside of the waistband |
| Cardboard hang tag | 40–60 mm | 70–100 mm | Rectangular or shaped |
What the size depends on
The logo
A horizontal logo with a long name needs a longer label, while a square or round logo needs a taller, shorter one. First determine the minimum height at which the logo is legible, then add margins around it.
The product
The label must be in proportion to the garment. In the narrow neck opening of a T-shirt a large label sticks out and irritates. On coats, jackets and knitwear a larger label looks solid and is visible when the garment is hung.
The fold
With folded labels, part of the length goes into the seam or is folded over. An end-fold label loses a few millimetres on each side. A centre-fold label shows only half its length. That is why the visible size and the tape size are different – specify which of the two you mean in your inquiry.
The amount of information
A care label grows with every additional language, with separate compositions for shell and lining and with the care symbols. Plan the length once you have gathered all the text.
Standard tape widths
Woven and printed labels are made from tapes of set widths. Choosing a standard width is usually more practical because it allows materials in stock to be used. Non-standard sizes are also possible, especially for woven labels, which are woven on wide cloth and cut to size. Ask the manufacturer which widths are available for the chosen material.
How to choose a size in three steps
- Print several options at 1:1 scale – for example three sizes of the brand label.
- Place them on the garment at the sewing position and see how they look from the front, back and on a hanger.
- Check the legibility of the smallest text at arm's length.
The choice becomes much easier when you see the label on the real product rather than on a screen.
One size for the whole collection
If you have different products – T-shirts, shirts, jackets – it is tempting to order a different label for each. This, however, increases the number of designs and the costs. Often a better solution is one brand label for all styles and one larger version just for outerwear. The garment size goes on a separate small label sewn below the main one.
Sizes for childrenswear and underwear
For products that fit close to the body, size is a matter of comfort. The brand label on baby and children's clothing is made smaller and from a soft material – satin or fine damask with ultrasonic cutting. In underwear, many brands move the label out of the neck area altogether and put all the information in the side seam. The care label can also be shorter if the composition is in only one or two languages. When a lot of text is needed, it is better for the label to be longer and narrower rather than wide, because it is felt less in the seam. Double-sided printing is also a good solution: the information is split across both sides of the tape and the label becomes shorter.
Hang tag sizes
For hang tags, the size depends on the information on the back – price, barcode, QR code, style description. A larger hang tag gives room for the brand story but should not overshadow the product itself. Also think about the hanging hole – it must be far enough from the edge not to tear.
Common mistakes when choosing a size
- A size chosen on screen only, without a trial on the garment.
- A forgotten sewing zone – the text ends up in the fold.
- Too large a label in the neck of a T-shirt or underwear.
- Too small a care label for multilingual text – the font becomes illegible.
- Different sizes for labels that should sit one below the other.
You will find soft tape labels in different sizes under textile labels, and the whole range in the clothing labels category.
Made to your measurements – Polkom
Polkom is a Bulgarian manufacturer of sewing accessories based in Sofia with over 30 years of experience. We make custom labels in the size that fits your logo and product, offer standard and non-standard widths, make fast samples and deliver across the EU. Send your logo and approximate measurements via our contact page – we will propose a suitable size. Minimum quantities depend on the article.
