A poly bag header card is the stiff printed card folded over the top edge of a garment bag: brand and specifications on the front, size, barcode or after-sales information on the back. It is not a hang tag — a hang tag travels on the garment, a header card belongs to the packaging, and the two do quite different display jobs. Used well, a header card makes a bagged product stand up and read clearly on shelf; printed on the wrong stock, it curls after the sea freight and comes back as returns and rework.
This guide breaks the header card down into the decisions that have to be made early: how it differs from a hang tag and a sticker, how size relates to bag width, how to choose paper weight and lamination, the trade-offs in printing and finishing, punching and fixing methods, and how the card, the bag and the carton have to fit together. It closes with the six items worth stating in your enquiry.
1. Header Card, Hang Tag, Sticker: Three Different Carriers
The three carriers answer different versions of the same question: who carries the brand information, and how it presents itself to the customer. The cheapest is not automatically right, and the most refined choice may not show its value on a shelf.
| Carrier | Cost level | Hand and feel | Best for | Main risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Header card (fixed to the bag) | Medium | Stiff, large printable area | Retail shelves, hanging or flat display | Mismatched against bag width it curls at the edge |
| Hang tag (on the garment) | Medium to high | Refined, allows foil and embossing | Brand story, price and selling points | Rubs against the garment, needs a fastener and string |
| Self-adhesive sticker (on the bag) | Lowest | Flat, no dimensionality | Direct-to-consumer e-commerce, temporary marking | Lifts and falls off, may leave residue |
2. Fixing the Size: Bag First, Card Second
The card width normally matches the bag width, or runs 1 to 3 mm narrower, and the folded height sets the display area on the front. The table below shows common pairings; the bag width, carton orientation and shelf rail still have the final say.
| Card width | Folded height | Bag width | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60 mm | 40 to 45 mm | 60 to 70 mm | Socks, underwear, small accessories |
| 80 mm | 55 to 60 mm | 80 to 95 mm | T-shirts, kidswear, home textiles |
| 100 mm | 65 to 75 mm | 100 to 120 mm | Shirts, sweatshirts, sets |
| 120 mm | 85 to 95 mm | 120 to 150 mm | Coats, formalwear, gift-set packaging |
Die-cut shapes make a header card stand out on shelf, but the fold line of the bag has to be built into the plan: cut too low and it covers the seal, cut too high and it tears in transit. For shaped cards, ask for a die drawing and fold a real bag once before committing.
3. Paper Stock and Weight: Stiffness, Colour and Moisture
- Coated white board, 300 to 400 gsm: the most versatile option, stable colour, good stiffness after folding, right for most brand cards.
- Single or double-sided coated art paper, 250 to 350 gsm: high colour saturation for large images and photography, but the surface fears water, so lamination is advisable.
- Kraft paper, 250 to 350 gsm: natural feel with a warm tone, but printed colour reads darker; good for eco-minded or workwear brands.
- Black board and speciality stocks: a premium look, usually needing matte lamination or spot varnish for scuff resistance; dark surfaces show fingerprints.
- Grey-backed board: the cheapest option, but cut edges expose the grey core, so it is unsuitable for a card that faces the customer.
- Lamination choice: matte resists fingerprints and looks refined; gloss brightens colour but scratches easily; if recycling matters, discuss easy-to-separate or unlaminate options.
4. Printing and Finishing: Spend Where the Customer Looks
Large runs suit offset printing: stable colour and low unit cost. Small trial runs and personalised series are more flexible in digital, but confirm the rub resistance of digital inks and how spot colours reproduce.
- Pantone spot colour: the most consistent way to hold a brand colour across batches, more reliable than four-colour builds, especially near navy, true red or metallic tones.
- Foil stamping: a local lift in perceived value, but keep the foil area off the fold line or it cracks when folded.
- Spot varnish and embossing: effective on logos and graphics, with a clear tactile relief, but they need bleed and enough paper thickness.
- Eco options: soy or water-based inks, FSC-certified paper and designs that reduce lamination. If a recyclability claim will be printed on the packaging, lamination and foil are usually the first things questioned, so agree the wording in advance.
5. Punching, Fixing and Shelf Hanging
- Top punch: commonly 6 to 8 mm, or a euro slot to fit retail hooks; the hole usually sits 6 to 10 mm from the top edge, confirmed against rail diameter and the weight of the garment inside.
- Hooks: metal or plastic hooks through the punch for hanging display, inexpensive but a visible improvement on shelf; watch tear resistance at the hole when the bag is fully loaded.
- Fixing to the bag: heat sealing, staples, adhesive strips and glue dots all have trade-offs. Adhesive strips are clean but temperature-sensitive, staples hold best but leave holes, heat sealing is the cleanest and needs the parameters dialled in.
- Base board: a folded garment plus a board insert lets the bag stand upright; header card and board together make the complete shelf silhouette, most obviously in gift-set packaging.
6. Making Card, Bag and Carton Work Together
- Agree the bag width tolerance together: poly bag width typically varies by plus or minus 2 to 3 mm, so sizing the card from 1 mm under to 2 mm over the bag width midpoint is the safer zone.
- The card adds thickness at the bag top: a 300 to 400 gsm card folded over thickens the seal area noticeably, so carton quantity and packing pattern need adjusting or the outer box bulges.
- Moisture and curl: laminated cards hold up better in hot, humid sea freight; unlaminated cards benefit from moisture protection or a heavier sheet.
- Keep the carton orientation consistent: cards facing the same way and no heavy load on the fold line cuts down corner damage and rework on arrival.
7. Six Items to Send with Your Enquiry
- Card size: flat size and folded height, plus the bag width it must fit.
- Paper and weight: and whether lamination is needed, matte or gloss.
- Quantity: including the trial quantity and expected reorder rhythm.
- Print method and colours: four-colour or spot, with or without foil, embossing or spot varnish.
- Finishing: hole position and shape, fixing method, card orientation and stacking.
- Application and market: retail hanging, e-commerce despatch or gift-set packaging, and whether eco certification or a recycling claim is required.
Related Articles
- Trims FAQ: all articles
- Poly Bag Types: OPP, PE, CPE and Zip Bags Compared
- Hanger Bag Guide: Materials, Sizes and Customisation
- Garment Packaging Guide: From Inner Pack to Master Carton
- Poly Bag Thickness Guide: Mil, Micron and Real Strength
Have the bag and the brand files but unsure how large the header card should be or which stock to use? Send the bag width, carton orientation and brand assets — we will propose a card specification for your shelf or e-commerce setup and sample it first so you can approve on the physical piece.
Request a header card quote →