Conference badge size guide
Conference Badge Size Guide
The right badge size is the one your content actually fits. Here is how to choose it before you design anything.
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Updated 7 June 2026
Choose the badge size before you design the badge
Conference badge size is a production decision, not a design one.
Get it wrong and you spend the rest of the process shrinking the first name to make everything fit. Get it right upfront and the layout falls into place.
This conference badge size guide covers the standard badge size options used in Australia, the UK, and North America, with confirmed font size minimums, physical print test results, and a decision rule that takes less than 60 seconds to apply.
Section 1
What is the standard conference badge size?
There is no single global standard. Most conference name tags fall between A7 and A6 in Australia and the UK, or between 3×4 inch and 4×6 inch in North America. These badge sizes are equivalent formats.
| Badge size | Dimensions | Region | Common name |
|---|---|---|---|
| A7 | 74 × 105 mm | Australia, UK, EU | Standard conference badge |
| A6 | 105 × 148 mm | Australia, UK, EU | Expanded conference badge |
| 3×4 inch | 76 × 102 mm | North America | Standard lanyard badge |
| 4×6 inch | 102 × 152 mm | North America | Expanded lanyard badge |
A7 and 3×4 inch are near-equivalent. A6 and 4×6 inch are near-equivalent. If you are working with holders from a North American supplier and content in AU/UK standard sizes, add 2-3mm to the shorter dimension when confirming holder fit. For reference, the A-series badge dimensions come from the ISO 216 paper size standard.
The typical badge size for a corporate conference or networking event is A7 (3×4 inch). Move to A6 (4×6 inch) when the badge needs to carry more content without reducing name size.
Section 2
Badge holder size vs badge insert size
Most badge size confusion is actually about holders.
A holder is the plastic wallet the badge sits in. An insert is the paper badge you print and slide inside. A holder described as “A6” may have a maximum insert pocket that is 2-4mm smaller than true A6 in each dimension.
Before you design, confirm:
- What holder you have ordered or plan to order
- The holder’s maximum insert size, listed on the product page or packaging
- Whether you are printing to the edge or leaving a safe margin
Section 3
A6 vs A7 badge decision: 3×4 or 4×6?
ISO standard sizes
Compact: A7. Large: A6.
North American standard sizes
Compact: 3×4 badge. Large: 4×6 badge.
Use A7 (74×105mm / 3×4 inch) when:
- The badge needs first name, last name, organisation, and job title
- Event identity is contained to a logo and event name
- No front QR code is required
- One sponsor logo or none
- The event is a standard conference, workshop, or networking event
Use A6 (105×148mm / 4×6 inch) when:
- A QR code is required on the front
- More than one sponsor logo appears on the front
- The first name drops below 32pt on A7
- Long names or job titles cannot fit without compression
- The badge needs schedule snippets, access tiers, or role information
- You want more white space around the recognition zone
The one rule that overrides everything else: if the first name cannot be 32pt or larger, the badge is too small. Move up.
Section 4
Font size by badge size — confirmed minimums
These ranges are based on physical print tests at actual badge size, passed at 2 to 3 metres distance.
| Badge size | First name minimum | Typical range | Last name | Organisation / Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A7 / 3×4 inch | 32pt | 32 to 38pt | 22 to 28pt | 14 to 18pt |
| A6 / 4×6 inch | 32pt | 32 to 48pt | 22 to 34pt | 14 to 20pt |
The minimum is not a target. It is the floor below which the badge fails the 3 metre readability test. Increase where space allows.
The 3 metre test
Print one badge at actual size. Tape it to a wall. Step back three metres. If the first name is not instantly legible, the font size is too small.
This test catches most badge size problems before print. Run it before approving any layout.
Print your badge at actual size
Tape it to a wall
Step back three metres
If the first name does not read instantly, increase the size or move to a larger badge format
Section 5
Content capacity by badge size
Use this as a planning guide before you start designing.
| Content element | A7 / 3×4 inch | A6 / 4×6 inch |
|---|---|---|
| First name (max comfortable length) | ~12-14 characters at 36pt | ~16-20 characters at 40pt |
| Last name | 1 line | 1-2 lines |
| Organisation | ~30 characters at 16pt | ~45 characters at 16pt |
| Job title | 1 short line | 1-2 lines |
| QR code | Back recommended | Front acceptable (2×2cm min) |
| Sponsor logos | 1 small logo | 2-3 logos |
| Event branding | Header or footer band | Header or footer band |
If your content exceeds the A7 column for more than two rows, start with A6.
Section 6
Orientation: portrait or landscape?
Most conference badges are portrait (vertical). This matches the natural lanyard position and is easier to read at a glance.
Landscape (horizontal) works well for 3×4 inch badges when name length is short. It is less common in the A6 format where vertical space is useful for additional content.
Portrait is the safer default for most events. Choose landscape only when name length is predictably short and no utility content is required.
Section 7
Badge size and the inclusion standard
A name is an identity, not a space constraint.
Attendees with longer names deserve the same readability as attendees with short names. If your badge design cannot fit a 15-character first name at 32pt without compression, the badge is too small for that attendee.
For events with diverse name lengths, A6 or 4×6 is the more inclusive choice. It gives longer names room to breathe at the same font size shorter names use.
Section 8
Holder compatibility guide
| Badge insert size | Common holder format | Typical source |
|---|---|---|
| A7 (74×105mm) | Standard lanyard holder | Officeworks, Staples, badge suppliers |
| A6 (105×148mm) | Large lanyard holder | Badge suppliers, event stationery |
| 90×54mm | ID card holder | Officeworks, corporate suppliers |
| 3×4 inch (76×102mm) | Standard US lanyard holder | North American event suppliers |
| 4×6 inch (102×152mm) | Large US lanyard holder | North American event suppliers |
For mixed suppliers, treat holder listings as a starting point only. The final event badge size should always be confirmed against the actual insert pocket, because name badge dimensions vary slightly between holder manufacturers.
Section 9
Producing badges at the right size
Choosing the right size is the first production decision. The second is making sure the layout, merge, and print workflow handles your chosen size correctly.
A badge template gives you somewhere to type a name at the right size. A production system generates print-ready layouts from your guest list, at the right size, in batches, automatically.
The Conference Name Badge Design Kit includes tested templates for both A7 and A6 in five layout patterns. The guest merge and print layout workflows are built for both sizes. Physical print tests at actual badge size have been completed and passed for both A7 and A6.
The Kit is launching August 2026.
Design system
Use the full conference name badge design system
For the readability rules, hierarchy, and production decisions that work at both sizes, read the complete Conference Name Tag Design System.
Read the Design SystemSection 10
Conference badge size FAQs
What is the standard size for a conference badge?
Most conference badges in Australia and the UK use A7 (74×105mm) for standard events or A6 (105×148mm) when additional content is required. In North America, the equivalent sizes are 3×4 inch and 4×6 inch. There is no single global standard, but A7 / 3×4 inch is the most common choice for corporate conferences.
What is the typical badge size for a conference?
A7 (74×105mm / approximately 3×4 inch) is the typical badge size for a corporate conference or networking event in Australia and the UK. A6 (105×148mm / approximately 4×6 inch) is used when the badge needs to carry additional content such as QR codes, multiple sponsor logos, or agenda access.
What are badge dimensions for conference events?
Standard Australian and UK conference badge dimensions are A7 (74mm wide × 105mm tall) and A6 (105mm wide × 148mm tall). In the US, standard dimensions are 3×4 inch (76mm wide × 102mm tall) and 4×6 inch (102mm wide × 152mm tall).
What is the minimum font size for a conference badge?
32pt is the minimum first name size for any conference badge. On A7, use 32 to 38pt. On A6, use 32 to 48pt. Never reduce the first name below 32pt. If the name does not fit at 32pt, move to a larger badge size or reduce secondary content.
Should conference badges be portrait or landscape?
Most conference badges use portrait (vertical) orientation. Portrait works for both A7 and A6 and aligns naturally with the lanyard position. Landscape is suitable for simple A7 / 3×4 inch badges with short names and minimal content.
What is the difference between badge holder size and insert size?
The holder is the plastic wallet. The insert is the paper badge that goes inside. The maximum insert size is often 2-4mm smaller than the named holder size. Always check the maximum insert specification before designing.
How do I know if I need A7 or A6?
Start with A7. Move to A6 if: the first name drops below 32pt, more than one sponsor logo is required on the front, a front QR code is needed, or the layout feels crowded with the required content.
About
About Terra Tag
Terra Tag makes sustainable conference name badges and lanyards for events across Australia. We have produced more than 130,000 conference badges across corporate, government, university, and research events.
The Conference Name Badge Design Kit applies the same production standards to a reusable workflow teams can use to produce their own event badges in Google Slides. Launching August 2026.
A conference badge is small, but it carries one of the most important jobs at an event: helping people recognise each other quickly enough to start a conversation.
