Printing conference lanyards comes down to five choices: the print method, the width, the material, the clip or attachment, and the artwork. Get these right and your lanyards look sharp, stay comfortable all day and hold up for the next event. This guide walks you through each choice in plain steps, so you can order custom lanyards for events with confidence.

TL;DR

• Dye sublimation suits full colour and photos. Screen printing suits bold logos in a few colours. Woven suits lanyards you want to reuse.
• Choose 20mm to 25mm width for a clear logo and a comfortable fit. Add a breakaway clip if staff or guests will be near machinery, crowds or children.
• Send vector artwork, give Pantone (PMS) colour codes and approve a digital proof before production.
• Order early. Allow time for a proof round, production and delivery, and ask for the timeline in writing.
• Use colour to sort attendees by access level, so you print one design instead of five.

Table of Contents

• Why lanyards still work at conferences
• Lanyard printing options compared
• Choose the right width and material
• Attachments and safety features
• Use colour and design to identify attendees
• Prepare your artwork
• Quantities, timing and cost
• Our view: start with the attendee, not the logo
• Order your conference lanyards with PromoShop
• Complete the delegate pack
• A simple ordering checklist
• FAQ
• Sources

Why lanyards still work at conferences

A lanyard does three jobs at once. It holds the name badge. It shows who belongs at the event. It puts your brand on every chest in the room.

That last job is the one that pays back. Delegates wear the lanyard from registration to the closing session. Photos, livestreams and networking all show it. Few giveaways get that much exposure in a single day.

A good lanyard also saves you work on the day. Staff can spot a speaker, sponsor or volunteer from across the room. Delegates can find the right person to ask. Your registration desk moves faster because badges are ready to wear.

Lanyard printing options compared

The print method changes how your design looks, how long it lasts and what it costs. Here are the three common methods.

Method	Best for	Strengths	Watch out for
Dye sublimation	Full-colour logos, gradients, photos, edge-to-edge patterns	Supports full-colour, edge-to-edge designs	Colour can look different on a screen than in print, so check the proof
Screen printing	Bold, simple logos in one to a few colours	Strong, solid colour blocks. Suits simple designs	Fine detail and gradients do not suit it
Woven	Reusable lanyards, staff ID, repeat events	The design sits inside the fabric, so it is durable and does not wear off	Simple shapes work best. Small text can fill in

Dye sublimation

This method suits brands with several colours, gradients or a pattern that runs the full length of the strap. If your event has a bright theme, this is usually the one to ask about.

Our Taurus full colour lanyard with breakaway is a good example of the style. It gives you a full-colour print with a safety release built in.

Screen printing

Screen printing works well when your logo is simple. Think one or two flat colours on a solid strap. It looks clean and professional. It is also a good fit when your brand colours are strict and you want a solid, even block of colour.

If your logo has fine lines or a gradient, ask your supplier how it will look. You may need a simplified version for this method.

Woven

Woven lanyards have the design built into the fabric. They are a strong choice if you plan to use the same lanyard across several events or as everyday staff ID. They suit annual conferences where the brand stays the same from year to year.

Choose the right width and material

Width is the choice people forget. It controls how much of your logo shows and how the lanyard feels on the neck.

• 10mm to 12mm: Light and low cost. Good for small logos or short text. Space for branding is limited.
• 15mm to 20mm: A balanced middle. Room for a logo and a short line of text.
• 25mm: A wide strap with plenty of room for a logo that repeats. It also sits flatter and more comfortably on the neck. Our 25mm nylon lanyards are a popular choice for conferences.

For material, nylon has a soft, silky feel and premium look often chosen for corporate and government use. Polyester is a common, practical choice for large runs. Ribbed styles add texture and a different look. See our Aquarius ribbed lanyard if you want something less flat.

Eco-friendly materials

Many delegates now notice what swag is made from. Recycled PET and bamboo lanyards are available in Australia for organisations that want to reduce their footprint. If your conference has a sustainability message, the lanyard should match it. For more on how branding and environmental choices fit together, see this guide to environmentally friendly branding.

We also share more ideas in our guide to sustainable conference swag.

Attachments and safety features

The clip at the end matters as much as the strap. Here are the common types.

• J-hook or bulldog clip: Simple and fast. Good for paper badges and card holders.
• Swivel hook: Stops the badge from twisting. Good for double-sided name tags.
• Lobster clip: Strong and secure. Suits keys and heavier items.
• Breakaway release: A small clip near the neck that opens under pressure. It lets the lanyard come away if it gets caught.

We suggest a breakaway on every conference lanyard. It costs little and removes a risk. It is especially important for schools, healthcare and industrial settings, where safety breakaways are recommended. If your conference is for education staff or students, see our page on branded merchandise for the education sector.

Use colour and design to identify attendees

A lanyard is a wayfinding tool. The right colour lets your team read the room in seconds.

Colour-code access levels

You do not need five print runs to show five groups. Print one design and vary the strap colour, or vary a coloured badge holder. For example:

• Delegates: your main brand colour
• Speakers: a second brand colour
• Sponsors: a contrasting colour
• Staff and volunteers: a bold, easy-to-spot colour
• VIP or backstage: a distinct colour used only for that group

Keep the colours far apart. Two similar blues will cause confusion at a busy door. Use no more groups than your team can remember.

Pair lanyards with event security

Colour-coding only works if your door staff know the system. Brief them before doors open. If you hire crowd control or access staff, share the colour key in advance. This event security staffing guide explains what to plan for when staffing an Australian event.

Design for the camera and the eye

• Use high contrast. Light text on a dark strap, or the reverse, reads best.
• Repeat the logo along the strap so it shows however the lanyard hangs.
• Keep text short. A web address or event hashtag is enough.
• Leave a plain section near the clip. The badge will cover it.
• Check the design on both sides. The back of the strap is often visible too.

Prepare your artwork

Artwork is where most delays start. A little preparation saves days.

1. Use vector files. Send your logo as an AI, EPS or vector PDF. A vector file stays sharp at any size. A low-resolution image can print blurry.
2. Give PMS colour codes. Pantone codes tell the printer which colour you mean. Screens and printers show colour differently, so codes remove guesswork.
3. Simplify for screen printing. Remove gradients and fine detail if you choose that method.
4. Request a digital proof. Check spelling, spacing, colours and the direction of the print. These are the usual steps for custom lanyards.
5. Approve in writing. Once you approve, production starts. Changes after that can cost time and money.

If you do not have print-ready artwork, we offer free artwork design. Send us your logo and your idea. We will prepare a proof for you to review.

A note on First Nations art

Many Australian events want to feature Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art. Do it with care. Where possible, buy First Nations art directly from the artist or from suppliers that are members of the Indigenous Art Code. Do not copy or adapt the art without permission. Get the licence in writing before you send the design to print.

Quantities, timing and cost

Plan the order around your event date, not the other way round.

How many to order

Count your delegates, speakers, sponsors, staff and volunteers. Then add a buffer for late registrations and replacements. Around 5% to 10% extra is a sensible rule of thumb. Minimum order quantities vary by supplier and lanyard type. Typical minimums are around 50 to 100 units. Ask for the minimum on your chosen style when you request a quote.

How long it takes

Three stages take time: artwork and proof, production, and delivery. For a typical custom order, production and delivery after approval can take roughly 7 to 15 business days. Add the time you need to review the proof, and add time for any changes.

Our advice is to order at least four weeks before the event. That leaves room for a second proof and for delivery to your venue. If your date is closer, ask about our Express Service. We will tell you what is possible for your product and quantity.

What affects the price

Price depends on four things:

• Quantity. Larger runs cost less per lanyard.
• Print method. Full colour, screen print and woven are priced differently.
• Width and material. Wider and premium materials cost more.
• Attachments and extras. Breakaways, badge holders and custom clips add to the total.

We do not publish a fixed lanyard price here, because it changes with these choices. Ask for a quote and we will confirm the figure before you approve. If you find a lower price for the same product, our Price Beat Guarantee applies.

Our view: start with the attendee, not the logo

We have supplied branded merchandise to Australian businesses for over 25 years. Lanyards are one of the most requested event items, and the same mistakes come up often.

The first is choosing on price alone. A thin strap with a tiny logo costs less. It also gets less attention and sits badly on the neck by lunchtime. A wider strap with a clear print does more for your brand.

The second is leaving artwork to the last week. Most late orders we see could have been on time with a vector file and a quick sign-off.

The third is forgetting how the lanyard will be worn. Delegates walk, sit, queue and lean over tables. A breakaway clip and a comfortable width are small details that people notice.

We source through a trusted global supply chain and factory-direct. That helps us keep quality steady and pricing competitive. It also means we can match the product to your event rather than push one style.

Our advice: decide what the lanyard must do on the day. Then pick the method, width and clip to suit.

— PromoShop

Order your conference lanyards with PromoShop

Need lanyards for a conference, expo or staff event? Browse our custom lanyards range. You can choose the style, add your logo and request a quote. Our team can help with free artwork, so you do not need a designer.

Not sure which style suits you? Get in touch. We will help you choose the width, print method and clip. If your event is in a major city, see our pages for Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra. You can also see the full range on the PromoShop home page.

Complete the delegate pack

A lanyard is the start of your event branding. Pair it with items delegates will keep and use:

• Branded pens for note-taking in sessions
• Promotional drinkware for the conference floor
• Table top pull up banners for registration and sponsor desks

Keep the colours and logo consistent across all items. The pack then looks planned, and the brand is easy to recognise.

A simple ordering checklist

1. Confirm your attendee numbers and add a buffer.
2. Choose the print method: dye sublimation, screen print or woven.
3. Pick the width and material.
4. Choose the clip and add a breakaway.
5. Decide your colour-coding for access levels.
6. Gather vector artwork and PMS codes, or ask us to design it.
7. Request a quote and a digital proof.
8. Approve the proof in writing.
9. Confirm the delivery address and date.
10. Check the lanyards on arrival, before the event day.

FAQ

What is the best print method for conference lanyards?

It depends on your design. Dye sublimation is best for full-colour logos and patterns. Screen printing suits simple logos in one or two colours. Woven is best for lanyards you plan to reuse. Send your logo and we will advise.

How wide should a conference lanyard be?

For most conferences, 20mm to 25mm works well. It gives your logo room and sits comfortably on the neck. Narrower straps cost less but show less branding. Pick the width based on your logo and how long people will wear it.

Do conference lanyards need a breakaway clip?

We recommend one on every lanyard. A breakaway lets the strap release if it snags. It matters most in schools, healthcare and industrial settings. It also makes sense at crowded events.

How early should I order custom lanyards for an event?

Order at least four weeks ahead. That covers the artwork proof, production and delivery. If your event is sooner, ask us about our Express Service and we will tell you what is possible.

What artwork file do I need?

Send a vector file such as AI, EPS or vector PDF. Include your PMS colour codes. If you only have a standard image, our team can prepare the artwork for you at no charge.

Sources

• The Complete Guide to Ordering Custom Lanyards in Australia
• Respect culture in tourism, business.gov.au
• Event security staffing in Australia
• Environmentally friendly branding and office design

Recommended

• Custom Lanyards & Design Your Own Lanyards