A header card is the folded printed card fixed over the top of a poly bag, blister or clear sleeve so the product hangs on a retail peg and carries your branding. It is the simplest way to turn a bagged product into something a buyer will put on a shelf, and it is often the difference between being stocked and being turned away. No minimum order.
Header card specification
| Spec | What you get |
|---|---|
| Minimum order | None. Print a short run for a buyer meeting, then scale for the rollout. |
| Width | Cut to match your bag, most commonly between 3 and 5 inches. |
| Stock | 14pt to 18pt card. Heavier stock for heavier products. |
| Finish | Gloss, matte or uncoated. Soft touch, foil and spot UV available. |
| Full color, both sides. The back of a folded card is prime space for instructions and barcodes. | |
| Hang hole | Round, euro slot or delta, die cut to your position. |
| Attachment | Stapled or heat sealed over the bag. |
| Artwork | Free design, free dieline, free digital proof. Samples on request. |
Which hang hole to specify
This is the decision that gets rushed and then costs a reprint, because retailers care about it and pegs are not all the same.
| Hole | Shape | Use it when |
|---|---|---|
| Round | A simple circular punch | Light products and your own retail space. Simplest to produce, but it tears most easily under load |
| Euro slot | A keyhole, round at the top with a slot below | The safest default. Most retail peg programmes accept it, and the slot spreads the load so the card does not tear off the peg |
| Delta | A rounded triangle, sometimes called a sombrero | Heavier products, where the load needs spreading across a wider bearing edge |
If you are selling into a chain, ask the buyer for their packaging specification before you print. Many retailers set the hole type, the distance from the top edge and the position across the card, and a card that does not match gets rejected at the distribution center rather than at the shelf.
Sizing a header card
Three measurements, and only one of them is guesswork.
- Width. Match the bag exactly. A card narrower than the bag looks like a mistake, and a card wider than the bag catches on neighboring product.
- Height of the visible front panel. Usually between one and a half and three inches. This is the part the customer sees above the product, so it has to carry the logo legibly at arm length on a busy peg wall.
- Fold depth. The card folds over the back of the bag, and the back panel is normally the same height or slightly shorter. That back panel is where the barcode, the instructions, the material content and the country of origin go.
Send us the bag dimensions and the product weight and we will come back with a card size and a stock weight that will hold it.
Header card or hang tab
They solve the same problem in different ways. A header card folds over the top of the bag, is stapled or heat sealed, and gives you a printed surface on both sides. A hang tab is a small self adhesive strip with a hole in it, stuck to an existing package, with no printed area worth speaking of.
Choose a header card when the package needs branding, a barcode and product information. Choose a hang tab when the package is already fully printed and all you need is a way to hang it. If you are not sure which your retailer expects, ask them, because a hang tab on a plain bag will not present well on a shelf.
Choosing the stock
14pt card suits light products such as jewelry, small accessories, patches and stickers. 16pt is the general purpose choice and covers most hardware, pet accessories and cosmetics. 18pt is for anything with real weight, or for a product that will be handled repeatedly on the shelf before it sells.
Heavier stock also holds the fold better. A light card creases unevenly at the top, and that crease is the first thing a buyer notices when they pick the product up.
Ordering header cards in bulk
- No minimum order. Print a handful for a buyer meeting, then scale to the rollout quantity.
- Free design, free dieline and a free digital proof before anything is printed.
- Free samples so you can staple a real card to a real bag with a real product in it.
- Reorders run from your approved file.
- Free shipping with tracking.
- Price match. Send a written quote for the same size, stock, finish and quantity and we will beat it.
Where we ship
We are a national supplier rather than a local one. Header cards ship to every US state, shipping and tracking are free, and the quantity matters far more to the price than the address.
Frequently asked questions
What is a header card?
A header card is a folded printed card fixed over the top of a poly bag, blister or clear sleeve so the product can hang on a retail peg. It gives a bagged product a branded face, a place for the barcode and product information, and a hole to hang by.
What size should a header card be?
Match the width to the bag exactly, most commonly between 3 and 5 inches. Make the visible front panel between one and a half and three inches high, so the logo reads at arm length on a busy peg wall. The back panel carries the barcode, instructions and material content. Send us the bag dimensions and the product weight and we will specify it.
Which hang hole should I choose?
A euro slot is the safest default, because most retail peg programmes accept it and the slot spreads the load so the card does not tear off. A round hole is the simplest and is fine for light products in your own retail space. A delta hole suits heavier products. If you are selling into a chain, get their packaging specification first, because many set the hole type and its exact position.
What card stock should I use?
14pt for light products such as jewelry, patches and small accessories. 16pt for general use, which covers most hardware, pet accessories and cosmetics. 18pt for anything with real weight or that will be handled repeatedly before it sells. Heavier stock also holds the top fold cleanly, and a badly creased fold is the first thing a buyer notices.
How is a header card attached to the bag?
Either stapled through the folded card and the bag, or heat sealed. Stapling is fast, reversible and works with any bag. Heat sealing gives a cleaner look and no metal in the pack, which matters for some product categories and some retailers.
Should I use a header card or a hang tab?
A header card when the package needs branding, a barcode and product information, because it gives you two printed faces. A hang tab, which is a small self adhesive strip with a hole in it, when the package is already fully printed and you only need a way to hang it. A hang tab on a plain bag will not present well on a shelf.
Can header cards be printed on both sides?
Yes, and you should use both. The front sells the product and the back carries the barcode, the instructions, the material content and anything the retailer requires. Because the card folds, both faces are already there whether you print them or not.
Is there a minimum order for header cards?
No. There is no minimum quantity and no minimum order fee, so you can print a short run for a buyer meeting and scale once you have the listing. Free design, a free dieline, a free proof and free samples come with it.
Pairs with: custom bags, retail packaging, custom hang tags and display boxes.
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