Hang Tag Metal Hardware: Eyelets, Metal Fasteners and Pins

Hang tag metal hardware — eyelets, metal fasteners, ball chains, pins — is the only load-bearing part of the tag. Paper and printing decide how a tag looks; the hardware decides whether it survives the rail, how it feels when a customer opens it, and whether it clears nickel release and needle detection. Choose the wrong material or plating and you get anything from fading and sharp edges to a rejected shipment.

This guide works through eyelets, metal fasteners and chains, pins and security parts, compliance testing and sampling, and closes with a hardware specification table you can copy straight into your enquiry.

1. Four Jobs Metal Hardware Does on a Hang Tag

• Load bearing: tag, spare button, string and the garment's own weight all pass through one hole and one piece of hardware — undersize it and this is where it fails
• Tamper evidence: one-way pins and locks stop a tag being removed silently, so returns can be checked for wear
• Perceived quality: gunmetal, antique bronze and champagne gold platings lift a mid-to-premium positioning far more than plastic, and it is where brands willingly pay more
• Compliance entry point: the moment metal is used, nickel release, lead limits and needle detection all apply — settle them at the selection stage

2. Eyelets: The Most Common Hole Reinforcement

Once a hang tag is punched, the string cuts into the paper edge — especially on 300–400 gsm boards and long tags. An eyelet spreads the pull across a metal ring and leaves the hole edge smooth rather than sharp.

• Bore: commonly 4–6 mm, matched to string under 3 mm or elastic cord of 1.5–2.5 mm. Too small and the cord rubs and snaps; too large and the tag hangs crooked on the rail
• Outer diameter and curl: the flange should cover 3–5 mm of paper around the hole; a two-sided curl holds far better and is the right choice for stiff or thick boards
• Material: brass plates beautifully and keeps a rich colour; iron is cheapest but rust depends entirely on plating quality; aluminium is light and soft; stainless resists corrosion but offers few plated colours
• Plating: nickel is the default, with gold or champagne, matte gunmetal, antique bronze and nickel-free options for sensitive markets
• Setting and margins: pressed with an eyelet machine and crimped tight without cracking; keep the eyelet centre at least 5–8 mm from the tag edge or the paper tears first

3. Metal Fasteners, Chains and Clips

Fasteners come in plastic and metal. Metal fasteners are common on denim, leather and mid-to-premium outerwear: a spring wire passes through a buttonhole or eyelet so the tag goes on one-handed without damaging the fabric.

• Bullet type: the wire passes through a buttonhole or eyelet and the body grips the tag — fast to fit and remove, the most universal option
• Metal clip: strong spring grip for leather, bags and heavy fabrics; it leaves a mark, which suits styles where tamper evidence matters
• Ball chains: good for footwear, bags and accessory tags and can be cut to length; check chain pull strength — thin-gauge chains straighten under load
• Wire gauge: fastener wire usually runs 0.6–1.2 mm; too thick and it opens up the fabric hole, too thin and it slips out
• Lead time: most metal fasteners are standard stock items; custom shapes or engraved branding need a mould, so allow sampling time

4. Pins and Security Parts: When Metal Is Unavoidable

• Safety pins: quick and cheap, but the point must be smooth with no burr; on childrenswear, assess sharp points and detachable small parts
• One-way locks: cannot be reattached, which suits high-ticket items and categories that get tried on
• Security compatibility: store systems treat soft and hard tags differently — agree magnet positions and tag attachment points with the brand
• Remember needle detection: every metal part enters the detection assessment, so orders that must pass a detector should switch to plastic fasteners or metal-free options

5. Selection Table

6. Compliance and Testing: Nickel, Lead and Salt Spray

• Nickel release: metal parts in prolonged skin contact fall under destination rules; EU REACH requires nickel release below 0.5 µg/cm²/week for such articles, so sensitive markets are best served by nickel-free plating or stainless
• Lead and heavy metals: childrenswear hardware must meet destination lead limits (US CPSIA asks 100 ppm for children's products); some markets also watch California Prop 65 and total heavy metals in packaging
• Salt spray: ask for a neutral salt spray report on plated parts, especially for sea freight and humid storage; a common acceptance line is no visible corrosion at 24 or 48 hours
• Needle detection: magnetic needle detectors mainly catch ferrous metal, so brass, aluminium and austenitic stainless usually pass but may trip a metal detector; for orders that must be detected, state material and position on the confirmation sheet

7. Five Sampling Checks

1. Load test: fit string and tag, apply hanging pull and confirm the hardware does not deform or the paper tear
2. Hand feel: run a finger along edges and pin points to confirm there are no burrs, hooks or sharp corners
3. Appearance: compare plating shade, pitting and strike-through against the signed sample — matte and antique finishes vary most between batches
4. Fit test: assemble on the real buttonhole or fabric eyelet and confirm it seats in one go without opening the hole or marking the fabric
5. Compliance file: keep nickel-free or nickel release data, salt spray reports and detection requirements alongside the signed sample for audits and shipping checks

Related Articles

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• Hang Tag Plastic Fastener Guide: Sizes, Load and Fitting
• Hang Tag Attachment: Cotton Cord, Elastic, Loops and Eyelets
• Nickel Release Compliance for Metal Trims
• Needle Detection Guide for Garment Trims