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Packaging Materials / Paper & Board
A complete guide to heavyweight paperboard for tags, labels, and retail displays.
Tagboard material is a heavyweight, durable paperboard specifically engineered for manufacturing product tags, labels, and retail displays. Unlike standard paper or lightweight cardstock, tagboard is designed to withstand handling, printing, and environmental exposure while maintaining structural integrity and a professional appearance.
From retail price tags and garment labels to industrial identification tags and packaging inserts, tagboard is a versatile material that combines strength, printability, and cost-effectiveness. Its unique balance of thickness, rigidity, and surface finish makes it the preferred choice for applications where durability and presentation are essential.
Tagboard is the invisible workhorse of retail and industrial labeling — strong enough to perform, smooth enough to impress.
Tagboard material is a heavyweight paperboard grade produced from a blend of virgin or recycled pulp fibers. It is characterized by its high basis weight, excellent surface smoothness, and consistent caliper (thickness). These properties make it ideal for applications requiring a rigid, printable substrate that can withstand handling and environmental conditions.
Tagboard is available in a range of calipers, typically from 0.012 inches (0.3 mm) to 0.040 inches (1.0 mm), and basis weights from 100 lb to 200 lb. The material is available in various finishes, including uncoated, coated, and colored options, to meet different printing and aesthetic requirements.

Tagboard material is defined by several key properties that determine its performance in different applications:
Tagboard's thickness provides the stiffness needed for tags and labels to stand upright, feed through printers, and maintain their shape during handling.
A smooth, uniform surface is essential for high-quality printing. Tagboard is calendered to achieve a smooth finish that accepts inks and toners cleanly.
The material must be strong enough to resist tearing during handling and use. Tagboard's fiber composition gives it high tensile strength.
Some tagboard grades are treated with sizing or coatings to improve moisture resistance, making them suitable for applications where tags may be exposed to humidity.
Tagboard is compatible with offset lithography, flexography, digital printing, and screen printing, allowing brands to produce tags with complex designs.
Natural, uncoated surface ideal for absorbent inks and traditional printing methods. Cost-effective and suitable for industrial tagging and shipping labels.
Clay-coated surface offers superior print quality with sharp images and vibrant colors. Ideal for retail tags, premium labels, and high-end displays.
Available in a range of colors for applications requiring visual differentiation. Common colors include white, kraft, red, blue, and green.
Tagboard material is used across a wide range of industries and applications:
Product pricing, promotional messaging, and inventory management tags used in retail environments.
Fashion apparel tags, care labels, and branding tags used in clothing and accessories.
Equipment identification tags, safety warning labels, and asset tracking tags used in manufacturing.
Informational inserts, promotional cards, and product documentation included in packaging.
Durable tags used for baggage identification and handling in travel and hospitality applications.
Shelf talkers, danglers, and point-of-purchase displays that require a rigid, printable substrate.
Consider how the tag will be used — will it be handled frequently, exposed to moisture, or require a premium appearance?
Choose the caliper and basis weight based on the required rigidity and durability. Thicker materials provide greater stiffness.
Select coated for premium print quality or uncoated for cost-effective, absorbent applications. Consider the printing technology.
Choose white for standard, kraft for a natural look, or colored for visual differentiation and promotional impact.
If tags will be exposed to humidity or moisture, consider tagboard with sizing or coatings for improved moisture resistance.
Ensure the selected tagboard is compatible with your printing technology and finishing processes.
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