How to Make A Name Tag for Any Event: An Easy Guide
Detailed steps for making name tags for free using Avery Design & Print Online. Includes videos and step-by-step pictures.
How to make name tags
Making name tags is simple and can be done in just a few steps. Here’s how:
- Choose a material and type, like clip-on or name badge labels.
- Decide how you want to design: start with your product or browse designs.
- Personalize your name tags in Avery Design & Print Online.
- Print them yourself or get them professionally printed.
I make name tags all the time for conventions, craft fairs, and markets where I need badges for myself and my booth volunteers. I also make them for larger community events and meetups I host. So I’ve learned a few things about what makes name tags easier to create, print, and actually use at an event.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through each step using free Avery tools and templates. And if you specifically want to make name tags in Microsoft Word, I have a separate step-by-step guide for that.
How to make a name tag step-by-step
1) Choose the right type of name tag
Start by thinking about how you’ll use your name tags. Avery has adhesive name tags, clip-on and pinback badges, magnetic badges, hanging badges, and more. You can print many of them yourself or order custom-printed name tags.
Can you print name tags with a laser printer?
Yes. Just make sure you choose printable name tags that are compatible with laser printers. Some name tags work with both laser and inkjet printers, while others are made for one printer type.
If you’re printing your own, check the printer compatibility before you order. Not sure which kind of printer you have? Learn how to tell the difference between a laser and inkjet printer.
Compare types of Avery name tags and badges
When I’m making name tags for events, there are a couple considerations I always keep in mind. I think about how long people will wear their name tags, what they’ll be wearing, and whether I need something disposable or reusable.
As a final consideration, I’ll decide how to customize the name tags. Printable options are available for laser printers, inkjet printers, or both, depending on the name tag style. Most also can be written on with permanent marker or ballpoint pen. This is important to me for events where I’ll design a border and handwrite names myself or have guests write their own.
| Type | Material | How it Attaches |
|---|---|---|
| Adhesive name badges | Paper or film | Fabric-safe adhesive |
| Clip-style badges | Cardstock and plastic | Plastic holder with a clip on the back |
| Pin-style badges | Cardstock and plastic | Plastic holder with a pin on the back |
| Magnetic badges | Cardstock and plastic | Plastic holder with magnets on the back |
| The Mighty Badge* | Metal and plastic | Metal holder with magnets on the back |
| Hanging badges | Cardstock and plastic | Plastic holder with cords |
Are magnetic or clip-on name badges better?
Magnetic name badges are a good choice when people will be wearing a wide variety of clothing because they don’t need a collar, lapel, or neckline to attach to. Clip-on badges work well when you know people will have an easy place to clip them, such as with business or business-casual attire.
I usually lean toward magnetic badges when I don’t know what everyone will be wearing. Think about a turtleneck—where would you comfortably put a clip? On the other hand, very thick clothing, such as a heavy winter jacket, can make a clip-on badge worth considering. Unusual materials can complicate things too, especially at costume parties or conventions, so think about what people are likely to wear to the event when choosing between the two.
2) Decide how you want to design
Once you’ve figured out what type of name tag you want to make for your event, there are two ways to start personalizing them. If you already have Avery name tags that you plan to print yourself, start with the product number on the package. If you’re still deciding what you want or plan to order custom-printed name tags, you can start by browsing designs instead.
How to begin when you’re starting with an Avery product
Go to the Avery template finder page and select “Find a Template” from the dropdown.
Enter the Avery product number for the name tags you want to use.
On the template page, click the big, red “Start Designing” button to open ADPO.
Use the left menu to browse by category, then click the template you want to use.
Getting started by choosing a design template first
Go to the Find a Design page on Avery.com.
Choose Name Badge Templates to browse designs by category.
From here, choose Print Yourself or Custom Printed based on how you want to make your name tags. You can use the filters to narrow down the available options. You can also hover over a design to see what type and size of name tag it works with.
For Print Yourself designs, choose the Avery product number you plan to use, then select Customize This Template.
3) Personalize your name tags
Whether you choose to start with a product or start with a design, next comes the fun part. Avery Design and Print Online is our free software for making name tags, labels, and more. In the software you can use blank templates to design from scratch or upload complete designs and place them perfectly for printing on Avery products. The next steps here will show you how to edit an Avery design template to make it work for your event. In the tool you can add names, text, logos, images, colors, QR codes, and customized elements.
Click the text box to type new text. Once the text box is selected, you can also make other changes to the font, color, and/or size using the menu on the left.
- Edit All changes all the name tags. This is best for making changes to your overall design (like font size, style, etc.).
- Edit One makes changes to just the name tag you have selected. It’s best to switch to this for manually typing in names.
How can I import a list of names from a spreadsheet?
You can import a list of names from a spreadsheet using the Import Data/Mail Merge tool in Avery Design & Print Online. This lets you add names in bulk instead of typing them into each name tag one at a time.
Make sure Edit All is selected, then choose Import Data/Mail Merge from the menu on the left. Select Start Import/Merge, upload your spreadsheet, and follow the prompts to add your information.
If you’ve never used mail merge before, this step-by-step guide walks you through the full process.
4) Print your name tags
Once your name tags are ready, preview your design carefully before you print or order. Check that names and other details are correct and that everything is lined up the way you want it. This is something I never skip. It literally takes a minute to check the preview, but it saves so many headaches if you catch problems before anything gets printed. From there, follow the prompts to print your name tags yourself or place your order through Avery custom printing.
And if you change your mind, that’s okay too. For name tags available in both printable and custom-printed options, you can still choose to print them yourself or let us print them for you at the end.
Preview your name tags, then choose how you want to print them.
Should I print my own name tags or have them professionally printed?
It depends on what matters most for your event. Printing name tags yourself gives you more flexibility to make last-minute changes or print additional names as you need them. Professional printing can make sense when you want the printing handled for you or when the finished look is especially important.
If you’re weighing the finished look, there are a few details that can make printed materials look more polished, whether you print them yourself or order professional printing. Learn what makes printed materials look polished to help you decide what matters most for your name tags.
Do I need an Avery account to print my name tags?
No. You don’t need an Avery account to print your name tags or place a custom-printing order. You may be prompted to save your project before continuing, but creating an account is optional.
A free Avery account can be handy if you want to keep the project for later. Saving your design to your account lets you:
- Reprint or edit it later
- Share the project with someone else using a link
- Apply the design to a different Avery product
- Access the project again without saving the file to your device
Creating an account and saving projects to the cloud is free.
More questions about how to make a name tag
There isn’t one standard name tag size, but 3″ × 4″ is a common size for conferences and events, especially for name badge inserts that go inside holders. Adhesive name badges are often smaller, around 2-1/3″ × 3-3/8″. The right size depends on how much information you need to include and how the name tag will be worn.
A simple, easy-to-read font is usually best for name tags. Sans serif fonts are a great choice, especially when names need to be readable from a few feet away. I also recommend making the person’s name the largest text on the badge. Save smaller type for details like a title, company name, or group.
For a large or multi-day conference, I usually prefer hanging badges because they’re easy to see and comfortable to wear for long periods. They also work with a wide variety of clothing. Adhesive name tags can be a simpler choice for shorter events when you want something disposable and don’t need attendees to wear additional credentials or information around their necks.
Magnetic name badges are a good choice when you don’t want to put a hole in clothing, while pin badges can be useful when you need a secure attachment. Think about what people are likely to wear, too. Magnets work well with many shirts, blouses, and jackets, but very thick clothing can make them less practical.
You can design name tags for free with Avery Design & Print Online. Start with the Avery product you already have or browse free name tag designs, then personalize your name tags with names, text, logos, images, colors, and more. You’ll still need name tag materials to print them yourself, or you can order custom-printed name tags from Avery.
How to make a name tag in four steps
Making your own name tags comes down to four basic steps:
- Choose the right type of name tag: Think about how long people will wear their name tags, what they’ll be wearing, and whether you need something disposable or reusable.
- Decide how you want to design: If you already have Avery name tags, start with the product number. Otherwise, browse designs to find a look you like.
- Personalize your name tags: Use Avery Design & Print Online to add names, text, logos, images, colors, QR codes, and more.
- Print your name tags: Print them yourself or choose Avery custom printing when available.
Need more help with Avery Design & Print Online?
If you want to do more with your design, these quick tutorials can help:
