Manufacturer · Fashion & Home Accessories
There is no universal standard for clothing label sizes – each brand selects the size based on the logo, garment, and sewing location. However, there are established ranges in practice: brand labels in the collar usually measure a few centimetres in length and about 1.5–3 cm in height, size labels are small squares or rectangles, and care labels tend to be narrow and long. Below you will find typical label size ranges and guidelines on how to choose your label size.
Clothing Label Sizes: Typical Ranges
The values in the table represent common market sizes, not mandatory standards. The exact size is always determined by the design.
| Label Type | Typical Width (Height) | Typical Length | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brand Label (Collar) | 15–30 mm | 40–80 mm | Larger for coats and jackets |
| Size Label | 10–20 mm | 15–30 mm | Often folded in half |
| Care Label | 25–40 mm | Depends on text and languages | Sewn into side seam |
| Flag Label (Side Seam) | 10–15 mm | 20–40 mm | Folded, visible from outside |
| Leather Label (Jeans) | 30–50 mm | 50–90 mm | Sewn on outside of waistband |
| Hang Tag (Cardboard) | 40–60 mm | 70–100 mm | Rectangular or shaped |
What Determines the Label Size
The Logo
A horizontal logo with a long name requires a longer label, while a square or round logo needs a taller but shorter label. First determine the minimum height at which the logo remains legible, then add margins around it.
The Garment
The label should be proportional to the garment. On a narrow neckline of a T-shirt, a large label may stick out and irritate. For coats, jackets, and knits, a larger label looks substantial and is visible when hung.
Folding
Folded labels reduce visible length: a label folded at the edges loses a few millimetres on each side, while one folded in the middle shows only half its length. Therefore, the visible size and the tape size differ – specify which you mean when requesting a quote.
Amount of Information
Care labels grow longer with each additional language, separate compositions for shell and lining, and care symbols. Plan the length after compiling all text.
Standard Tape Widths
Woven and printed labels are made from tapes with specific widths. Choosing a standard width is usually more practical, as it allows use of available materials. Non-standard sizes are also possible, especially for woven labels woven on wide looms and cut to size. Ask the manufacturer which widths are available for your chosen material.
How to Choose the Size in Three Steps
- Print several size options at 1:1 scale – for example, three brand label sizes.
- Place them on the garment at the sewing location and check how they look from the front, back, and on a hanger.
- Check the legibility of the smallest text from arm’s length.
Choosing is much easier when you see the label on the actual garment rather than on a screen.
One Size for the Entire Collection
If you have different garments – T-shirts, shirts, jackets – it may be tempting to order different labels for each. However, this increases the number of designs and costs. Often a better solution is one brand label size for all models and a larger size only for outerwear. The garment size is placed on a separate small label sewn below the main one.
Sizes for Children’s Clothing and Underwear
For close-fitting garments, size is a matter of comfort. Brand labels for baby and children’s clothing are smaller and made from soft materials – satin or fine damask with ultrasonic cutting. Many brands move the label out of the neckline in underwear and place all information in the side seam. Care labels can also be shorter if the composition is in only one or two languages. When a lot of text is required, a longer and narrower label is better than a wide one, as it feels less bulky in the seam. Double-sided printing, which distributes information on both sides of the tape, is also a good solution to shorten the label.
Sizes of Hang Tags
For cardboard hang tags, the size depends on the information on the back – price, barcode, QR code, model description. A larger hang tag allows space for brand story but should not overshadow the garment itself. Also consider the hole for hanging – it should be far enough from the edge to avoid tearing.
Common Mistakes When Choosing Label Size
- Choosing size based only on screen view without testing on the garment.
- Forgetting seam allowance – text ends up in the fold.
- Label too large for T-shirt or underwear collar.
- Care label too small for multilingual text – font becomes unreadable.
- Different label sizes that need to be aligned vertically.
You can find soft tape labels in various sizes in the woven labels collection, and the full range in the clothing labels category.
Custom Size Labels – Polkom
Polkom is a Bulgarian manufacturer of accessories for fashion, furniture, footwear, and bags based in Sofia with over 30 years of experience. We produce custom labels in the size that fits your logo and garment, offer standard and non-standard widths, provide fast samples, and deliver across the EU. Send your logo and approximate measurements via the contact page – we will suggest the right size. Minimum order quantities depend on the product.
