Custom branded lanyards transform a functional workplace item into a powerful branding tool. Whether you're reinforcing corporate identity, promoting an event, or creating merchandise, custom lanyards offer excellent visibility at relatively low cost. This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about ordering custom printed lanyards in Australia, from design considerations to supplier selection.
Why Custom Branded Lanyards?
Before diving into the how, let's consider the why. Custom lanyards offer several distinct advantages over plain alternatives:
Brand Visibility
Lanyards are worn at chest level, making them highly visible in photos, during meetings, and throughout the workday. Your logo or message is constantly displayed to everyone the wearer interacts with. At events and conferences, attendees effectively become walking advertisements for sponsors.
Professional Appearance
Branded lanyards signal organisational cohesion and attention to detail. They distinguish your team from generic alternatives and create a more polished impression. For client-facing roles, branded lanyards reinforce corporate identity at every customer interaction.
Cost-Effective Marketing
Compared to other branded merchandise, lanyards offer excellent value. They're used daily (ensuring repeated brand exposure), have long lifespans, and cost relatively little per unit—especially in larger quantities.
Event ROI Consideration
Conference lanyards are often kept as souvenirs, extending brand exposure well beyond the event itself. Quality lanyards may be reused by recipients, multiplying your marketing investment.
Printing Methods Explained
The printing method you choose affects appearance, durability, colour options, and cost. Understanding these methods helps you make the right choice for your needs.
Screen Printing
Screen printing applies ink through a stencil onto the lanyard surface. It's cost-effective for simple designs with limited colours (typically 1-4). The ink sits on top of the fabric, so it may crack or fade with heavy use and washing. Best for: text-based designs, simple logos, budget-conscious orders.
Dye Sublimation
Dye sublimation uses heat to transfer designs into the polyester fibres themselves. This allows unlimited colours, photographic imagery, and edge-to-edge printing. The design becomes part of the fabric rather than sitting on top, making it highly durable and washable. Best for: complex logos, multi-colour designs, photographs, premium applications.
Key Takeaway
Dye sublimation is the gold standard for custom lanyards in 2026. The cost premium over screen printing has diminished significantly, while the quality difference remains substantial.
Woven Lanyards
Rather than printing, woven lanyards incorporate the design directly into the fabric during manufacturing. Text or simple patterns are woven into the strap using coloured threads. This creates an elegant, textured effect with exceptional durability—the design cannot fade or wear off. Best for: text-based branding, premium corporate lanyards, designs intended for years of use.
Heat Transfer
Heat transfer applies a printed design from transfer paper onto the lanyard surface using heat and pressure. Quality varies significantly between suppliers. Generally considered less durable than dye sublimation. Best for: small quantities, quick turnaround needs, budget orders.
Design Considerations
Effective lanyard design requires understanding the medium's unique constraints and opportunities.
Dimensions and Layout
Standard lanyard widths range from 10mm to 25mm. Your design must work within this narrow format. Key considerations include:
- Repeat pattern: Most lanyards feature a repeated design along the strap. The repeat interval depends on lanyard length and design complexity.
- Orientation: Text can run horizontally (easier to read when flat) or vertically (reads correctly when worn). Most designs use horizontal text.
- Safe zone: Keep critical elements away from the edges where folding and hardware attachment may obscure the design.
Colour Considerations
- Use your brand's official colour codes (Pantone, CMYK, or RGB depending on printing method)
- Consider how the lanyard colour affects logo visibility
- Dark text on light backgrounds generally reads better than the reverse
- Request a colour proof before final production
Colour Matching Warning
Monitor colours and printed colours never match perfectly. Always request a physical sample before approving large orders. What looks perfect on screen may appear differently on fabric.
Logo Preparation
Provide your supplier with the highest quality logo files possible:
- Vector formats (AI, EPS, PDF): Preferred for clean, scalable reproduction
- High-resolution raster (PNG, TIFF): Acceptable if vector unavailable; minimum 300dpi
- Avoid: Low-resolution web graphics, JPGs with compression artifacts, screenshots
Order Quantities and Pricing
Custom lanyard pricing follows a volume-based model with significant economies of scale.
Minimum Order Quantities
Most suppliers have minimum orders, typically ranging from 25 to 100 units for custom printing. Small quantity orders (under 50) often carry premium per-unit pricing. Some suppliers offer no minimum orders but at significantly higher costs.
Price Breaks
Typical price break points occur at:
- 50 units
- 100 units
- 250 units
- 500 units
- 1000+ units
The difference between 50 and 500 units can reduce per-unit costs by 40-60%. If you'll need lanyards over time, ordering larger quantities upfront often makes financial sense.
Setup and Design Fees
Some suppliers charge setup fees or design fees in addition to per-unit costs. Screen printing often involves per-colour setup fees. Clarify all fees before ordering to compare true costs between suppliers.
Lead Times and Planning
Custom lanyards require production time that varies by order size, printing method, and supplier location.
Typical Lead Times
- Australian production: 5-10 business days after artwork approval
- Overseas production: 2-4 weeks plus shipping (often more economical for large orders)
- Rush orders: Some Australian suppliers offer 2-3 day turnaround at premium pricing
Order Timeline Recommendation
For events or specific deadlines, we recommend:
- Finalise design 4-6 weeks before needed
- Request and approve proofs 3-4 weeks before needed
- Allow 1 week buffer for shipping and unexpected delays
Event Planning Tip
For major events, order samples well in advance to verify quality before committing to full production. Most suppliers provide paid samples from previous production runs.
Attachment and Accessory Options
Custom lanyards can be configured with various attachments to suit your needs:
Standard Attachments
- Swivel hook: Most common, works with badge slots and clips
- Bulldog clip: Grips cards directly without requiring a slot
- Split ring: For keys or items with existing attachment points
- Badge holder included: Clear vinyl pouches for complete solutions
Safety Features
- Breakaway clasp: Releases under pressure for safety compliance
- Dual breakaway: Release points at both neck and badge attachment
Additional Features
- Retractable badge reel: For frequent scanning environments
- Phone loop: For mobile device attachment
- USB holder: Integrated pocket for USB drives
Selecting a Supplier
The right supplier makes all the difference. Consider these factors:
Evaluation Criteria
- Sample quality: Request samples before ordering (paid samples are worth the investment)
- Proofing process: How are designs approved before production?
- Communication: Responsive, clear communication prevents problems
- Reviews and references: Check online reviews and ask for references
- Reorder consistency: Can they match colours and quality across multiple orders?
- Australian presence: Local suppliers offer faster turnaround and easier communication
Red Flags
- Unwillingness to provide physical samples
- Vague or unclear pricing that hides fees
- No formal artwork approval process
- Extremely low prices (often indicates quality issues)
- Poor communication during the quoting process
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Learn from others' mistakes to ensure your custom lanyard project succeeds:
- Ordering without samples: Always verify quality before committing to full orders
- Ignoring colour proofs: Approve digital and/or physical proofs carefully
- Underestimating quantity needs: Order extras for new employees, replacements, and growth
- Last-minute ordering: Rush fees are expensive; plan ahead
- Providing low-quality artwork: Garbage in, garbage out—invest in proper design files
- Choosing on price alone: Quality and reliability matter more than saving a few dollars per unit
Conclusion
Custom branded lanyards offer excellent return on investment for organisations seeking to reinforce their brand identity. By understanding printing methods, planning adequate lead times, and choosing reliable suppliers, you can create professional, durable lanyards that represent your organisation well.
Start the process earlier than you think necessary, invest time in design and proofing, and prioritise quality over minimal cost. A well-executed custom lanyard project creates years of brand visibility—while a poor-quality lanyard reflects badly every time it's worn.