Woven Label Size Guide: Standard Dimensions in mm & Inches
Short answer: Most woven labels fall between 10 and 70 mm on their longest side. The common neck label is about 50 × 20 mm finished (2 × 0.8 in), care labels run 30 × 50 mm or larger, and size tabs are small — 10–12 × 25–30 mm. Size is decided by garment position first and design second, and we cut labels to any spec you specify.
Why size follows the garment, not the design
A woven label works only if it fits where it is sewn. A 70 mm neck label crowds a slim T-shirt collar; a 15 mm size tab disappears on a jeans waistband. Buyers who start from the garment position — collar, side seam, hem, hat band — end up with labels that look intentional, stay readable and sew cleanly. This guide lists the finished sizes that factories see most, so your RFQ can name a size the first time instead of iterating on proofs.
Common finished sizes at a glance
| Label type | Typical finished size (mm) | Approx. (inches) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neck label (brand) | 50 × 20 | 2.0 × 0.8 | The classic collar label; end or Manhattan fold, sewn top and bottom |
| Neck label (slim) | 45 × 15 | 1.8 × 0.6 | Minimal look for knitwear and lightweight tops |
| Neck label (large / designer) | 60–70 × 20–25 | 2.4–2.8 × 0.8–1.0 | Statement collars, outerwear, premium streetwear |
| Care label | 30 × 50 (up to 35 × 70) | 1.2 × 2.0 | Printed or woven; usually folded in half at the seam, so the visible side is half the height |
| Size tab | 10–12 × 25–30 | 0.4–0.5 × 1.0–1.2 | One line of text, caught in the side seam |
| Side seam / hem label | 25–35 × 35–50 | 1.0–1.4 × 1.4–2.0 | Center (loop) fold flag with two printable faces |
| Hat / cap interior | 20–35 × 10–18 | 0.8–1.4 × 0.4–0.7 | Small loop or flag inside the sweatband |
| Waistband label | 30–40 × 15–20 | 1.2–1.6 × 0.6–0.8 | Flat label sewn down on all edges |
Treat these as starting points, not rules. Woven labels are cut to order, so a 52 × 19 mm label is as easy to produce as a 50 × 20 mm one — the size table simply shortens the decision.
Sizing a real order? Send the artwork and the garment position — size suggestions and tiered pricing come back free.
Get a QuoteChoosing by garment position
- Collar / neck — 45–70 mm wide, 15–25 mm tall. End fold or Manhattan fold for clean anchor points.
- Side seam — small flags 25–35 mm long, center folded so both faces are visible; plan front and back artwork.
- Hem and sleeve — 25–35 mm, miter or center fold, depending on whether the label hangs or lies flat.
- Hats and caps — 20–35 mm on the visible side; keep text to one or two lines because the sweatband area is curved.
- Waistband and jeans — 30–40 mm flat labels, sewn on all edges so they stay put under stretch.
Finished size vs cut size
Always specify the finished size — the visible label after folding — plus the fold type. The factory adds the fold allowance to calculate the cut size, so a 50 × 20 mm end-fold neck label is woven wider than 50 mm. If you send the cut size by mistake, the visible label comes out smaller than the design. Say "finished size" explicitly in the RFQ and check the proof drawing. For the full picture of how folds change the sewing route, see the woven label fold guide.
How small can woven text go?
Woven construction is thread-based, so there is a practical floor: plan for a minimum letter height of about 1 mm in bold weave, and 2–3 mm for thin, script or serif fonts. Below that, details blur into the weave. When a label needs very fine text — multi-line disclaimers, small legal copy — a printed care label or heat-transfer label holds detail that weaving cannot. The artwork guide has a per-construction minimum text table.
FAQ
What is the most common woven label size?
For neck labels, roughly 50 × 20 mm (about 2 × 0.8 inches) finished is the most common starting point. Care labels usually run 30 × 50 mm or larger because they carry more information.
Can I order a non-standard label size?
Yes. Woven labels are cut to your exact specification — there is no fixed catalogue of sizes. Send the finished size and fold type, and the proof drawing confirms the dimensions before production.
Should I send finished size or cut size?
Always send the finished (visible) size plus the fold type. The fold adds an allowance, so the factory computes the cut size; if you send cut size by mistake, the visible label comes out smaller than your design.
How small can woven text go?
Plan for a minimum letter height of about 1 mm in bold weave, and 2–3 mm for thin or script fonts. Below that, switch to printed or heat-transfer labels, which hold finer detail.
Do hat labels and neck labels use the same sizes?
Not usually. Hat and cap interior labels are smaller — typically 20–35 mm on the visible side — because they sit inside the sweatband, while neck labels run 45–70 mm wide.
Related reading: Custom woven labels · Fold guide · Custom care labels · How to order
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