Compact convention badges
2.25 x 3.5 Name Badge Template
A compact 3-1/2 x 2-1/4 inch badge for smaller convention-style holders, printed eight to a sheet with room for a name and one more line.
3.5 x 2.25 sheet layout
Use a compact 3.5 x 2.25 inch badge for smaller holders, keeping the name prominent with a short role or pronoun line beneath it. Print eight per US Letter sheet with quarter-inch gaps for trimming, and check the holder dimensions before starting.
- Badge size
- 3-1/2 x 2-1/4 inches (2.25 x 3.5), landscape
- Paper
- US Letter, portrait
- Layout
- 8 per sheet, 2 columns x 4 rows, centered with a 1/4 inch gap between badges
- Left margin
- 0.625 in
- Top margin
- 0.625 in
- Horizontal pitch
- 3.75 in
- Vertical pitch
- 2.5 in
- Geometry
- Generic centered layout
Templates
Templates that suit 3.5 x 2.25
- A bold side stripe carries the role; first name leads in large type for easy reading across a room.Use this template
- Name plus a large, friendly pronoun pill so nobody has to guess, with a slim pride stripe.Use this template
- A terminal window in monospace type, with a role tag colored for hackers, mentors and judges.Use this template
What it fits
- Clear badge holders sized for 2-1/4 x 3-1/2 inch inserts
- Smaller convention-style clip or pin-back holders that list a 2.25 x 3.5 inch insert
- Cardstock or heavy paper trimmed along the printed cut lines
Printing tips
- Turn off any Fit to page or shrink option and print at Actual size, because a badge that comes out even slightly small rattles around in a compact holder.
- Pick the paper type that matches your cardstock and load it through a manual or rear feed where one is available.
- With eight small badges on a page, a skewed feed shows quickly, so print the outlines-only test sheet on plain paper and check that the boxes run square to the paper edge.
- Should everything print a little high or low, move the grid with the offset setting in 1/32 inch steps; it reaches as far as 1/4 inch in each direction.
- On a badge only 2.25 inches tall, keep text about 1/8 inch from the top and bottom edges, where a holder's frame can cover the insert.
- Let inkjet-printed sheets dry flat before trimming so the cutter doesn't drag damp ink across the names.
Choosing 2.25 x 3.5 over a 4 x 3 insert or a CR80 card
This size sits between the two most common alternatives. It is half an inch narrower and three quarters of an inch shorter than a 4 x 3 insert, so it weighs less on a clip and suits smaller convention-style holders, fan events, workshops and meetups where people mostly need a first name. It is also 1/8 inch larger than a CR80 card in each direction, which means it will not slide into an ID card holder, so buy holders labeled for 2-1/4 x 3-1/2 inch inserts. Business card sheets are no substitute either, since a business card is 3.5 x 2 inches. For the design, give the first name about 30 to 38 points, add one supporting line at 11 to 14 points, and let a thin group color bar carry the role.
3.5 x 2.25 template questions
Will a 2.25 x 3.5 badge fit in a CR80 card holder?
No, a CR80 card is 3.375 x 2.125 inches, so this badge is 1/8 inch too wide and 1/8 inch too tall for a snug ID card holder. Either buy holders sold for 2-1/4 x 3-1/2 inch inserts or switch the design to the CR80 size in the editor, which prints eight credit card sized badges per sheet.
Can I print 2.25 x 3.5 badges on perforated business card sheets?
Not reliably. Standard US business cards are 3.5 x 2 inches, a quarter inch shorter than this badge, and business card sheets use their own spacing, so names would land across the perforations. Print on plain cardstock instead, export with cut lines, and trim with a paper cutter for clean edges.
What should go on a 2.25 x 3.5 badge besides the name?
Keep it to one supporting line: a title, a city, a table number or pronouns. A small logo fits in a corner, and a group color bar can show Staff, Volunteer or Guest without adding words. Company names longer than about 20 characters crowd this size, so move them to a larger badge if they matter to your event.
How do I keep 2.25 x 3.5 badges in order after trimming eight per sheet?
Sort your spreadsheet by last name before importing so the PDF prints alphabetically, then trim one sheet at a time and drop that sheet's badges into an envelope or card box before cutting the next. Trimming a thick stack at once tends to shuffle the order and slows down badge pickup at the door.
Print 3.5 x 2.25 badges today
Add your names to a template and download a PDF in this sheet layout, free for up to 500 people.