Hang Tag Eyelets vs. Fiber Reinforcing Patches: Which Hole Protection Do You Need?

The hole is the weakest point of every hang tag. Pull a 14pt tag by its string a few dozen times — on a hanger, in a shipping carton, on a garment somebody tries on — and the cardstock at the hole starts to feather and tear. Two finishes fix that: a metal eyelet pressed through the hole, or a fiber reinforcing patch bonded around it. They look different, cost different amounts and suit different products. Here is how to choose.

What an eyelet is (and is not)

An eyelet is a small rolled-flange metal ring set into the hole and crimped on the back. It gives the hole a finished metal rim that string, wire and even keyrings cannot cut. Our eyelets come in seven sizes from 3/32" to 5/16" and twelve platings — brass, antique brass, copper, nickel, zinc, white zinc, aluminum, steel, white, red, shiny black and dull black — so the metal can match your foil, your hardware or your brand palette. People sometimes call them grommets; a grommet is the larger two-piece version used on banners. On a tag you want an eyelet.

What a fiber reinforcing patch is

A fiber patch is a 9/16" disc of tough, translucent reinforcing material applied around the hole on one side or both, then the hole is punched through it. It is the classic luggage-tag and shipping-tag reinforcement: nearly invisible from a distance, flexible, and it will not scratch a bottle or a leather good. Standard holes are 3/16" and 1/4"; custom 1/8", 5/16" and 3/8" are available.

Side by side

When the eyelet wins

• Premium apparel, leather goods and accessories where the metal is part of the look — antique brass on kraft, nickel or black on silk and suede laminates.
• Tags that carry wire or a keyring, or that hang on metal fixtures all season.
• Small tags (under 2" wide) where a patch would cover too much of the design.
• When you want the hole to match foil stamping: copper eyelet with copper foil, brass with gold.

When the fiber patch wins

• Bottleneck and gift tags that touch glass, wine labels or polished packaging.
• Shipping, inventory and luggage-style tags that get re-hung and re-tied dozens of times.
• Eco and natural-stock brands that do not want mixed metal in a recyclable paper tag.
• Oversized tags on heavy garments (coats, denim, workwear) where the pull load is high and you want reinforcement on both sides.

Can you have both?

Yes, and for heavy-duty work tags we sometimes recommend it: a fiber patch on the back to spread the load, an eyelet on the front for the finish. On the Kolt configurator the two are separate add-ons, so pick either or both, then choose your string. Whatever you pick, it prints on the bindery ticket with a photo of the exact eyelet plating and the hole size, so the finishing bench never guesses.

• Suede Hang Tagssoft-touch · black or copper eyelets
• Brown Kraft Hang Tags18pt · antique brass eyelets
• Bottleneck Hang Tagsdie-cut · fiber patch friendly
• How to string hang tagsstrings, cords and knots

What size eyelet is standard for a hang tag?

1/8" and 5/32" are the most common; 3/16" and 1/4" suit thicker cords and rat-tail. We stock seven sizes from 3/32" to 5/16".

Are eyelets the same as grommets?

Functionally similar, but eyelets are the small single-piece rolled-flange rings used on tags; grommets are larger two-piece hardware used on banners and heavy fabric.

Does fiber reinforcing show on the front of the tag?

The patch is translucent and sits flush, so it reads as a faint ring at most. Choose one-sided reinforcing on the back if you want the front completely clean.

How much do eyelets and reinforcing cost?

Eyelets are $98 set-up plus $0.12 per tag; fiber reinforcing is $95 set-up plus $0.12 per tag. Both are shown live on the product page before you add to cart.