ID and events
Lanyard buying guide: materials, clips, print methods and lead times
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Before you order, decide what the lanyard has to do. Some runs only need a clear role colour so visitors and staff are easy to spot. Others need your logo across the strap so the pass doubles as brand merch. Those two jobs lead to different products: in-stock lanyards for role colours ready to go, and custom printed lanyards when the artwork is yours.
This guide walks through fabric, width, print method and hardware so you can put a custom order together with confidence.
Start with the job, not the product
Ask three practical questions:
- Who wears it, and for how long? A one-day conference guest and a school staff member put different demands on the strap and the fitting.
- Does the logo have to appear? If yes, you need a custom printed run. If no, a pre-printed visitor or staff colour may be enough.
- Where will it be worn? Offices and venues are straightforward. Schools, worksites and areas near machinery usually call for a breakaway release.
Once those answers are clear, fabric and print choices fall into place quickly.
Fabric: polyester, nylon or recycled
Most custom printed lanyards are polyester. It takes screen and full colour print well, wears cleanly and suits events, offices and schools.
| Polyester | Flat nylon | Recycled polyester | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feel | Soft woven strap, the everyday option | Smoother and glossier | Same feel as standard polyester |
| Screen or full colour | Screen or full colour | Screen or full colour | |
| Choose it when | You want a reliable all-rounder | You want the strap itself to look premium | Your order needs a recycled yarn |
Flat nylon lanyards give a denser, shinier finish. Recycled polyester lanyards match standard polyester for print and wear when procurement asks for recycled content.
Width: 10, 15, 20 and 25 mm
Custom printed lanyards come in 10, 15, 20 and 25 mm.
- Wider straps leave more room for the logo and read more clearly across a room or a queue.
- Narrower straps sit lighter under a collar or blazer and suit everyday desk wear.
Full colour artwork usually looks cleaner at 15 mm and above, because fine detail needs space on the strap. A bold one or two colour logo can sit well on a narrower width.
Print: screen or full colour
Screen printing lays down solid spot colours. It suits wordmarks and simple logos in one or two colours. See screen printed lanyards.
Full colour printing reproduces gradients, photographs and designs that wrap edge to edge. See full colour printed lanyards.
Send artwork as a vector file when you can. Pixelated screenshots are the usual reason a proof comes back for a redo. On a custom order you approve a digital proof before production starts, then the run moves with a quick turnaround.
Clips, holders and breakaways
The fitting at the end of the strap matters as much as the print.
Common options include a single claw or lobster clip for a standard badge, a double clip when the card needs two attachment points, and a retractable clip when the badge has to reach a reader without removing the strap. A plastic card or badge holder finishes an ID set.
If the strap is meant to hold keys rather than an ID card, that is a different product. See key lanyards vs ID lanyards.
Breakaway releases are available on custom orders. Add one when the lanyard is worn around the neck at a school, on a worksite or near machinery. The release separates under pressure so the strap cannot snag. In-stock packs do not include a breakaway, so choose a custom order if you need one.
Putting a custom order together
When you are ready to order:
- Who wears it. Guests, staff, contractors, teachers or mixed roles. That drives colour splits and whether a breakaway is needed.
- Fabric, width and print. Polyester unless you have a reason to choose nylon or recycled. Width from 10 to 25 mm. Screen print or full colour, with a vector logo if you have one.
- Clip and card. Single claw, double clip, retractable, and whether a badge holder is included.
- Quantity and proof. Order for the headcount plus a small spare. Approve the digital proof, then production starts.
Browse the full lanyards range for both in-stock packs and custom printed options in one place.
When an in-stock pack is enough
In-stock lanyards cover plain polyester and pre-printed visitor, staff, contractor, security and VIP colours. They need no artwork, and they can be dispatched the same day anywhere in Australia. Use them for reception desks, venue entry and quick top-ups when a logo is not required.
Choose custom printed when the logo, colourway or wording has to match your brand.
Frequently asked questions
What width lanyard should I choose?+
When should I choose screen print over full colour?+
Do I need a breakaway on my lanyards?+
When is an in-stock lanyard enough?+
Order custom lanyards
Printed polyester, nylon, and recycled straps with the clip your badge needs.