Event Badge Slots and Attachments: Which Should I Choose?
When planning a conference, exhibition, or corporate event, badge design is often focused on graphics, logos, and attendee names. However, one of the most crucial functional decisions you will make is choosing the attachment slot type.
The attachment style dictates which lanyards are compatible with your badges, how comfortable they are to wear, and—most importantly—whether your badges will suffer from the dreaded “badge flip” (where badges continually spin around, hiding attendee details).
Below is our definitive breakdown of all the badge attachment options available on our site, including their benefits, drawbacks, lanyard compatibility, and recommendations.
No Attachment Holes
What it is: A solid card/badge with no punched holes or slots.
- Compatible Attachments: Clothing clips (alligator clips), magnetic backings, pin badges, self-adhesive pocket pouches, or badge holders/wallets.
- Incompatible Lanyards: Standard lanyards, open-ended lanyards, carabiner clips.
Benefits:
- Maximum Printable Real Estate: Gives you 100% edge-to-edge space for branding and artwork without cutouts interfering with text.
- Sleek & Executive: Ideal for VIP galas or executive board meetings where lanyards aren't preferred.
Drawbacks:
- Cannot be clipped directly to a lanyard.
- Pin clips can damage delicate clothing fabric; magnetic badges can fall off if bumped or worn on thick suits/outerwear.
1 × 5mm Hole Top Centre
What it is: A single round 5mm hole punched in the top centre of the badge.
- Compatible Lanyards: Single-hook lanyards (swivel hooks, dog clips, split rings, keyrings).
- Incompatible Lanyards: Dual-hook (open-ended) lanyards, wide flat strap clips, crocodile clips.
Benefits:
- Minimalist & Clean: Takes up very little header space in your artwork.
- Budget-Friendly: Pairs with basic, off-the-shelf single-hook lanyards.
Drawbacks:
- High Rotation Risk: Because the badge hangs from a single round point, it spins easily as delegates walk around, frequently turning your badge backwards.
- Limited Clip Choice: Will not accept wider plastic or metal strap clips.
1× Euro Slot Top Centre
What it is: A single wide, hat-shaped slot (Euro slot) punched in the top centre.
- Compatible Lanyards: Single-hook lanyards, crocodile/alligator clips, wide plastic strap clips, swivel hooks, oval hooks.
- Incompatible Lanyards: Dual-hook (open-ended) lanyards.
Benefits:
- Versatile Fitting: Accepts almost all standard single-point attachments, including flat clips and wider hooks.
- Industry Standard: Compatible with traditional plastic badge wallets and pouches.
Drawbacks:
- Still Prone to Flipping: Although slightly more stable than a single round hole, it still hangs from one point and can spin around during movement.
2× 5mm Holes Top Left & Right
What it is: Two small 5mm circular holes positioned at the top left and top right corners.
- Compatible Lanyards: Open-Ended / Dual-Hook Lanyards (lanyards with a hook on both ends).
- Incompatible Lanyards: Standard single-clip lanyards, flat strap clips, crocodile clips.
Benefits:
- Anti-Spin Guarantee: Anchors the badge at two separate points, keeping it completely flat against the wearer’s chest at all times.
- Perfect for Double-Sided Badges: Ensures your agenda, map, or QR code on the back stays on the back, and the delegate’s name stays on the front!
- Clean & Compact look.
2× Euro Slots Top Left & Right
What it is: Two Euro slots positioned at the top left and top right corners.
- Compatible Lanyards: Open-Ended (Dual-Hook) Lanyards, Dual Strap-Clip Lanyards.
- Incompatible Lanyards: Standard single-point lanyards.
Benefits:
- Anti-Spin Guarantee: Prevents badge rotation while accommodating larger or heavier clip styles (e.g., flat plastic strap clips or heavy-duty metal clips).
- High-End Professional Appearance: Popular for large tech summits, conventions, and premium conferences.
Drawbacks:
- Takes up slightly more artwork margin at the top corners than simple 5mm holes.
2× Slots Top Left & Right
What it is: Two horizontal slot cutouts positioned on the upper left and right edges.
- Compatible Lanyards: Open-ended lanyards, dual strap clips, dual flat metal/plastic hooks.
- Incompatible Lanyards: Standard single-hook central lanyards.
Benefits:
- Anti-Spin Guarantee: Keeps badges front-facing throughout the event.
- Modern Aesthetic: Clean rectangular cutouts fit neatly with flat lanyard straps.
Drawbacks:
- Exclusive to dual-attachment lanyard setups.
3× Slots Top Left, Centre & Right
What it is: Three horizontal slot cutouts spanning across the top of the badge (Left, Centre, and Right).
- Compatible Lanyards: Universal Compatibility! Works with single-hook lanyards (using the centre slot) OR dual-hook/open-ended lanyards (using the outer two slots).
- Incompatible Lanyards: None.
Benefits:
- Ultimate Flexibility: If you buy badges in bulk for multiple events, this single punch style allows you to use single-hook lanyards for small events and dual-hook anti-spin lanyards for major conferences.
- Saves inventory hassle for event planners.
The Double-Sided Badge & Rotation Problem Explained
If you are using double-sided badges (e.g., Name/Company on the front, Event Schedule or Wi-Fi info on the back), choosing a 2-hole or 2-slot configuration is essential.
When a badge is hung from a single central point (1x hole or 1x slot), natural body movement and lanyard twisting cause the badge to flip back and forth constantly. Delegates spend half their day wearing a backwards badge with their name hidden!
By choosing 2× Holes or 2× Slots paired with an open-ended (double-hook) lanyard:
- The badge is locked horizontally across two points.
- It remains 100% front-facing all day long.
- Delegate networking is smoother, barcode/QR scanning at entry gates is faster, and sponsor visibility on the badge is guaranteed.
Quick Summary Table for Event Organisers
| Attachment Layout | Lanyard Type Needed | Anti-Spin / Anti-Flip? | Best Suited For |
| No Holes | Pins, Magnets, Clips | N/A | VIP Galas, Executive Meetings, Magnetic Badges |
| 1× 5mm Hole | Single Hook / Swivel | ❌ No | Single-day events, basic name badges, budget setups |
| 1× Euro Slot | Single Hook, Strap Clip | ❌ No | Standard exhibitions using single-clip lanyards |
| 2× 5mm Holes | Open-Ended Dual Hook | YES | Double-sided badges, multi-day conferences, sleek look |
| 2× Euro Slots | Open-Ended Dual Hook / Strap Clips | YES | Premium conferences, heavy-duty badge attachments |
| 2× Slots | Open-Ended Dual Hook / Strap Clips | YES | Standard anti-twist double-sided event badges |
| 3× Slots | Single OR Dual Lanyard | YES (if using outer 2) | Reusable event inventory, maximum versatility |
Need More Guidance?
If you need more guidance or are ready to order badge stock for your event, then either fill out the enquiry form or head straight over to our shop.
At BadgeWave, we supply only the highest quality card and self-adhesive badges to withstand single and multi-day events. Our prices are affordable, our level of service is unrivalled and our knowledge and expertise comes from our 100+ years in the print industry. We look forward to working with you to power your next event.
- August 28, 2026
FAQS
Frequently Asked Questions
This will depend on what you want to print onto your badges on the day of your event. Our thermal tickets are designed to be printed on the Zebra range of printers, namely the ZD621 and GK420D. These printers will print your data and text in a single colour. Our Inkjet tickets are designed to be printed on the Epson C3500 and C4000 range of printers, which both allow for full-colour on the day printing.
Direct thermal technology uses a heat-sensitive coating to create clear, high-quality text or images from a single-colour printer, offering a simple and efficient printing solution without the need for ink or toner. Our Inkjet material is specially coated to allow a CMYK print process in full colour.
Typically, our on-site printers will accept any badge width up to a 4” wide. The most common size for an event badge is 4” x 12”, which folds to 4” x 6” double sided.
You can view our artwork requirements on the downloadable, editable templates on each product page.
Yes this is possible! We would just need a good understanding of your event, your branding guidelines, what is required to be printed on the badge and the logo(s) that you wish to feature. Email us at: BadgeWave@soabar.co.uk