A lanyard is the least expensive piece of branding a person will wear all day. It hangs at chest height, it is read from across a hall, and it goes home with the wearer. That is why schools, conferences, hospitals and plants order them by the thousand — and why the choice of lanyard matters more than its price suggests. This guide explains the types we supply, how widths and attachments change the result, and what to send us so the quote comes back right the first time.
The five lanyard types, in one table
| Type | How the logo is applied | Widths | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sublimated lanyard | Dye-sublimation: unlimited colours, gradients, photos, fine text — printed edge to edge (two-sided printing on request) | 3/8″, 1/2″, 3/4″, 1″ — same price | Full-colour logos, event artwork, sponsor strips |
| Polypopular lanyard | Silkscreen, 1 colour on 1 side (more colours on request) | 3/8″, 1/2″, 3/4″, 1″ | The budget standard for badges and keys |
| Nylon lanyard | Silkscreen on a smooth, glossy nylon ribbon | 3/8″, 1/2″, 3/4″ | A finer, dressier look than polyester |
| Woven poly lanyard | Logo woven into the ribbon — nothing to wear off | 3/8″, 1/2″, 3/4″ | Long-term use: staff, security, membership |
| Satin-poly lanyard | Flattened embroidery on a satin strip | 3/4″ | Premium feel for corporate and awards events |
Two specialists complete the range: the reflective lanyard (silkscreen on a reflective band, for night work, road crews and safety programs) and the 1/2″ tubular lanyard, a soft, rounded ribbon that many people find more comfortable against the neck. If you only need plain lanyards in stock colours, the no-print polyester lanyards ship in black, blue or red.
Width: what 3/8″, 1/2″, 3/4″ and 1″ actually change
All our standard lanyards are 36″ long, so width is the real design decision.
- 3/8″ is discreet — a name or a small wordmark only. Fine for keys and small badges.
- 1/2″ is the classic badge lanyard: a short logo and a URL fit comfortably.
- 3/4″ is the most ordered width. Logos with a symbol and two lines of text read well, and the ribbon still feels light.
- 1″ gives sublimation room to shine: full-colour artwork, sponsor logos in sequence, or a bold single message for large events.
On the sublimated lanyard the four widths cost the same, so pick the width for the artwork, not the budget.
Attachments and safety options
A swivel hook or a bulldog clip is included on printed lanyards; tell us which one you prefer. Swivel hooks suit plastic badge holders and card slots, bulldog clips grip a paper badge or a card without a hole. For schools, hospitals and warehouses, ask for a breakaway safety clasp — the lanyard opens if it gets caught. Lanyards pair naturally with our clear vinyl badge holders, retractable badge reels and the metal clip on clear vinyl for cards with a slot.
Artwork: what makes a lanyard print well
- Send a vector file (AI, EPS, PDF or SVG). A lanyard is printed at real size on a ribbon under an inch wide, so a small JPG will look soft.
- Give us the PMS references for silkscreen and woven lanyards; for sublimation, send the artwork in CMYK.
- Design in the direction of the ribbon: a logo repeated every few inches, or a logo at the ends near the clip, reads better than one large mark.
- One colour on one side is the standard silkscreen price; a second colour or a print on the back is a small per-piece add-on (shown on each product page).
Not sure how your logo will look? Open the virtual sample on any lanyard page, upload your logo and see it on the product before you ask for a quote.
How to request a quote
Send us the product code (for example PRO102 for sublimated, PRO105 for silkscreen polyester), the width, the quantity, the number of print colours or the artwork itself, the attachment you want and your in-hands date. We reply within one business day with pricing by quantity tier, a proof of the lanyard, and the production and shipping plan. Rush orders are possible — the earlier we know the date, the more options you have.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum order for custom lanyards?
Our price lists start at low quantities and drop with volume. Tell us the quantity you need and we will quote the closest tier — for a small pilot order, a sample run is also possible.
Sublimated or silkscreened — which one should I quote?
Silkscreen if your logo is one or two flat colours and you want the lowest unit price. Sublimation if the artwork has more than two colours, a gradient, fine text or photos, or if you want both sides printed edge to edge.
Can you match my brand colour?
Yes. Give us the PMS reference for the imprint. For the ribbon itself, we match the closest stock colour and confirm it on the proof; sublimation reproduces any colour exactly since the whole ribbon is printed.
Do lanyards come with a badge holder?
The lanyard comes with its clip. Badge holders, retractors and card clips are sold separately so you can mix sizes; we can bundle them in the same quote.
