Which side should a name badge be worn on, left or right?

The convention is to wear a name badge on the right side of your upper chest. When you reach out with your right hand to shake, your body turns slightly and the badge on your right sits right where the other person is already looking, so your name is easy to read during the introduction.

Why the right side?

It is about the handshake. A badge on the right lines up with the natural sightline created when two people greet each other, which is why retail, hospitality, and sales teams usually default to the right. A badge buried on the lower chest or tucked behind a lapel is missed no matter which side it is on, so placement height matters as much as the side.

When is the left side correct?

Plenty of uniforms, service branches, and corporate dress codes specify the left side, often so the badge lines up with a logo, a pocket, or other insignia. If your employer has a rule, follow it. Consistency across a whole team looks far more professional than everyone picking their own side.

Quick placement tips

• Keep the badge high on the chest, between the shoulder and the top of a shirt pocket, not down near the waist.
• Hang it straight and level so the name reads cleanly.
• Do not cover it with a lanyard, scarf, or jacket lapel.

Whichever side your team chooses, you can pick a magnetic, pin, or lanyard attachment when you design a badge here, or request a quote for a full team. Every badge is manufactured in-house in the USA.