Choosing ID Badge Accessories for Your School or Business

Once you’ve created a great ID badge, you also need to put some thought into the badge accessories you’re going to need to go with it. The environment in which your badge is used will factor into the way you choose to hold or display it; for example, if it’s for a conference, where you want to be sure that the person’s name and level of access is prominently displayed, you’ll probably want to go with a badge holder on a lanyard.

 

But if it’s for a school or office building that requires you to scan the ID badge at a door reader, you might want to consider something like a retractable ID badge reel, which allows you to pull the ID card out and scan it in front of the reader without having to remove the ID badge from around your neck or detach it from the badge holder clip.

 

There are no hard and fast rules regarding what “should” be done for each environment, but there are definitely some basic guidelines that can help you make that decision. With so many badge accessories to choose from, you want to make sure you’re getting the one that works best for your specific environment.

 

Start With the Badge Holder

Before you decide how it will be displayed (lanyard, retractable reel, etc.), you’ll have to choose what kind of badge holder you’re going to use. Badge holders can range from simple, clear see-through sleeves to rigid card holders to armband badge holders that keep cards protected and out of the way but easy to access.

 

Whatever it is you choose, make sure that your method of displaying the badge is right for your environment. For example, if you’re in a warehouse or manufacturing environment, an ID badge dangling from someone’s neck can be a health hazard and get caught on equipment. In that case, an armband badge holder would be a safer, better fit.

 

Once you’ve evaluated what type of badge holder is right for your environment, you can start looking at the accessories to go with it.

 

Picking Your Badge Holder Clips

 

If you’re like most people, you probably haven’t given a lot of thought to what kind of clips you’re going to need. Our badge holder clips come in a variety of styles to suit whichever way you choose to use them.

 

Your choices start with simple, durable straps ranging in length from 2.75 inches to 5.75 inches. The straps, which fit through the slot in the ID badge or badge holder, then can be clamped onto an article of clothing with the metal clip. Metal snaps will keep the badge securely in place, and this is a popular option for workplaces where identification is worn on a shirt pocket or clipped to a lapel so it can be easily seen.

 

If clipping your ID badges to clothing isn’t an option — or isn’t your best option — you can also use a strap adapter that will allow you to hang your ID badges on a neck chain instead of attaching it to a metal clip. The strap adapter can be used with any chain, including our 30-inch steel beaded chain.

 

In environments where you don’t want to use metal clips or a metal chain, a good alternative is the magnetic badge attachment. These are perfect for situations where you want a more streamlined appearance or where wearers might not want to attach a badge to their clothing using a clip. The badge attachment uses adhesive to stick to the back of your ID badge, then attaches to your clothing using magnetic force.

 

Reel Options for Your ID Badges

Retractable reels are popular options in environments such as health care settings, where workers need to have easy access to their ID badges, but also need them to stay out of the way. Retractable reels are also great for workplaces or campuses where a prox card is needed to access a door via a card reader. They’re designed to retract smoothly and quickly for the fastest, most convenient experience possible.

 

Retractable reels come with three different styles of belt attachments:

 

• Metal clips at the top of the reel casing

• Steel side clips at the back of the reel casing

• Alligator clips at the back of the reel casing

You can choose the type of clip that best suits your environment, and choose from six different casing colors: black, red, clear, blue, white or chrome. There are no-twist and swivel options to allow you to further tailor the reel’s performance to your specific environment, and you can choose from either 30- or 36-inch lengths. Reels also can be customized with your company’s logo to incorporate them into your overall branding.

 

Lanyards Provide More Options, Customization

Another popular way to display badges is to use a lanyard, which have a variety of different options for attaching to your ID badge or holder. From economy ID lanyards with plastic hooks to those with more durable hardware such as steel split rings, there are a number of different options to make sure you can find one that fits your needs and budget.

 

While economy lanyards will do the job, you can also get custom-printed lanyards with your logo, website or slogan on them. These are an excellent tool for your overall company branding in addition to being long-lasting and durable.

 

Find the ID Accessories That Are Right for You

When it comes to ID badges, there are a lot of different elements to consider. From the design of the badge itself to how it will be displayed and secured, you have several options to choose from. Spend time researching exactly what you need from your ID badge accessories to make sure you choose the option that is most convenient for your users and is best suited for your environment.