Portrait badge inserts
3 x 4 Name Badge Template
Make tall badges that hang straight in vertical 3 x 4 inch holders, a natural fit for VIP passes, press credentials and team players.
3 x 4 sheet layout
Give VIP, media or team passes a portrait layout with room for a prominent role and stacked name lines. Print six 3 x 4 inch inserts on landscape US Letter paper, then trim them to fit your vertical holders.
- Badge size
- 3 x 4 inches, portrait
- Paper
- US Letter, landscape
- Layout
- 6 per sheet, 3 across x 2 down on a landscape page
- Left margin
- 0.75 in
- Top margin
- 0.125 in
- Horizontal pitch
- 3.25 in
- Vertical pitch
- 4.25 in
- Geometry
- Generic centered layout
Templates
Templates that suit 3 x 4
- Black and gold portrait pass with a fine frame and an access band that changes metal by tier.Use this template
- Newsroom-style media credential with a big PRESS header, outlet, credential number and dates.Use this template
- Jersey-style player badge with a V collar, last name and a giant number in team colors.Use this template
What it fits
- Vertical 3 x 4 inch clear badge holders with a top slot for a lanyard clip
- Cardstock sheets trimmed on a paper cutter along the printed cut lines
- Breakaway lanyards, badge reels and strap clips that attach at the top of a vertical holder
Printing tips
- Open the sheet preview before exporting so you can see exactly where each portrait badge lands on the page.
- This layout prints on a landscape page, so when the print window appears, set the orientation to landscape and the scale to 100% or Actual size instead of a shrink-to-fit option.
- Match the paper type setting to the cardstock you load, and use a manual feed tray for thick sheets so they don't curl.
- Print the outline-only test page once and compare it with the sheet preview; if everything sits shifted to one side, correct it with 1/32 inch offset steps, 1/4 inch at most.
- Export with cut lines on and trim on a paper cutter, since a tall badge cut slightly crooked looks tilted in its holder.
- On the landscape page the badges come within 1/8 inch of the top and bottom paper edges, so keep roles and logos at least 1/8 inch inside each badge edge and favor a light background if your printer can't reach that far.
Designing a tall 3 x 4 badge that still reads from a distance
Three inches of width is the constraint. Put the first name and last name on separate lines so each can be set larger, and try a condensed display font such as Oswald or Bebas Neue for names that run long. A first name around 36 to 44 points usually fills the width, and auto-fit shrinks the occasional very long one. Use the extra height for structure: a logo near the top, below the holder slot, then the name, then a title or media outlet, and a bold role band across the bottom such as VIP, PRESS or a team name driven by the Group column. The Team Player Number template puts a large number from the {{custom1}} field in that space. Pick 4 x 3 instead when names and company names are long and width matters more than a credential look.
3 x 4 template questions
When is a 3 x 4 portrait badge better than a 4 x 3 landscape one?
Go portrait when the badge should look like a pass: VIP, press, player and backstage badges often hang vertically from a single slot at the top. Landscape suits general attendees with long names, titles and company names, since the extra inch of width keeps that text large. Many events mix both, using portrait for special credentials and landscape for everyone else.
How do I fit long names on a badge only 3 inches wide?
Split the name into {{first}} and {{last}} on separate lines, set them in a condensed font like Oswald or Bebas Neue, and turn on auto-fit so any name wider than the badge scales down. Uppercase styling helps condensed fonts read at a distance. Step through the longest names in your list with the preview before printing the full run.
Which holders take 3 x 4 portrait inserts?
Look for clear holders labeled vertical, or portrait, for 3 x 4 inch inserts, usually with a slot or hole along the short top edge for a lanyard clip or reel. Horizontal holders for the same insert size open along the long edge and would hang your badge sideways, so check the orientation before ordering a box.
How many 3 x 4 badges print on one sheet of Letter paper?
Six, arranged three across and two down on a US Letter page turned to landscape, so a list of 60 people needs ten sheets of cardstock. Set the print dialog to landscape orientation and 100% scale, or the printer may rotate or shrink the page. Turn on cut lines in the PDF export for trimming guides.
Can a printed 3 x 4 VIP pass keep people out of restricted areas?
Not by itself. Anyone with a color printer can copy a paper badge, and the tool adds no barcodes or anti-counterfeit features. Treat the pass as a visual cue that helps staff spot guests who belong in a VIP lounge or press area, and pair it with a guest list check at the door, wristbands, or your venue's own access system.
Print 3 x 4 badges today
Add your names to a template and download a PDF in this sheet layout, free for up to 500 people.