How do I design a custom name badge?
At NameBadge.com, you can design custom name badges in about 5 minutes using our online designer. Start by selecting your badge shape and size (most popular is 1" x 3" rectangle). Upload your company logo (PNG, JPG, AI, EPS, or PDF formats). Add name placeholders and choose font styles. Select your background color to match your brand. Pick your fastener type (magnetic is most popular). Then just enter the names for each badge and checkout. Real designers review every order before printing to catch issues. If you'd rather not design yourself, call us at 1-800-977-0585 and we'll design it while you're on the phone.
What is the best size for a name badge?
The most popular name badge size is 1" x 3" (one inch tall by three inches wide). This accommodates a first name, last name, and small logo comfortably. If you need to include titles, credentials (like RN, MBA), or department names, go with 1.5" x 3" for more space. For executive metal badges, 1" x 3" creates an elegant, understated look. For retail and restaurant where readability matters from distance, 1.5" x 3" with larger fonts works better. We also offer oval and custom shapes for specific brand needs.
What if I don't have a good logo file?
Send us what you have—we can often work with it. Our designers can recreate logos from low-resolution files, photos of existing badges, business cards, or even website screenshots. This is free and included with your order. Vector files (AI, EPS, PDF) are ideal because they scale perfectly. High-resolution PNG or JPEG files (at least 300 DPI) work well too. What to avoid: tiny images pulled from websites, blurry phone photos, or heavily compressed JPEGs. If your logo will look pixelated when printed, we'll contact you before production rather than printing a bad result.
Can you design the name badge for me?
Yes—we offer free design assistance. Email us your logo, company name, and any specific requirements (colors, fonts, what information to include). Our designers will create 2-3 design options for you to choose from. You can also call 1-800-977-0585 and we'll design while you're on the phone, getting your feedback in real time. For complex projects (multiple badge types, color-coded departments, custom shapes), we recommend a quick phone call to discuss before we start designing. There's no extra charge for design help.
What font size should I use on name badges?
For names, use at least 18-24pt font to ensure readability from 6+ feet away. Bolder font weights (semibold, bold) are easier to read than thin or light weights. For titles and secondary text, 12-14pt is acceptable. Avoid fonts with thin strokes or decorative scripts—they don't read well at badge sizes. Sans-serif fonts (Arial, Helvetica, Gotham) are cleaner than serif fonts for most badges. If you're designing for retail or customer service where names need to be visible across a room, go with 24pt or larger for names.
How do I get exact brand colors on my badges?
Send us your Pantone color codes, hex values (like #FF5733), or RGB values and we'll calibrate our equipment to match precisely. If you have brand guidelines, send those over. Don't know your exact colors? Send us your logo file and we'll extract the colors for you at no charge. Our sublimation printing process ensures every reorder matches previous batches exactly—critical for organizations ordering badges over time across multiple locations. Unlike cheap print sites where colors vary batch to batch, we maintain color consistency.
What file types do you accept for logos?
Best: Vector files (AI, EPS, PDF, SVG) because they scale perfectly to any size without quality loss. Good: High-resolution PNG or JPEG files at 300+ DPI. Acceptable: Lower resolution images if we can recreate the logo (we'll contact you). Not ideal: Tiny web images, heavily compressed JPEGs, screenshots, or Word documents with embedded images. PNG files with transparent backgrounds work best because they sit cleanly on any badge color. If you only have a low-quality file, send it anyway—our designers can often recreate simple logos from scratch.
Should I include full name or first name only on badges?
It depends on your workplace culture and industry. Customer-facing roles (retail, restaurants, hospitality) typically use first name only—it's friendlier and protects employee privacy. Corporate offices usually use first and last name for formal identification. Healthcare requires full name plus credentials (RN, MD, PA-C). Some companies add titles for managers or specific roles. The key is consistency across your organization. For security-sensitive environments, full names help with identification. For service-focused environments, first names create approachability.
What background colors work best for name badges?
High contrast is key. Dark text on light backgrounds (white, cream, light gray) or light text on dark backgrounds (black, navy, dark green) are most readable. Avoid medium-value backgrounds with dark text—the contrast isn't strong enough. Your brand colors usually work well, but if your brand uses light blue or light gray, consider darker text. White backgrounds with your brand color as an accent (border, stripe, logo) is a safe choice. Avoid busy patterns or gradients that compete with the name for attention.
Do you offer digital proofs before printing?
Yes—every order gets reviewed by our design team before printing. If you want to see a proof before we produce, just let us know when ordering and we'll email you a digital mockup for approval. For standard orders, we review your design and only contact you if we spot issues (pixelated logo, text cutoff, color concerns). For rush orders, tell us upfront if you need a proof so we can build that into the timeline. Proofs are free and we make unlimited revisions until you're satisfied.
