Lanyards seem like a small detail when planning an event or office ID badges — until you're the one wearing a scratchy, cheap-feeling one for eight hours straight. Here's what actually separates polyester, woven, and tube lanyards.
In this guide
Polyester
The most common lanyard material — affordable, widely available, and supports vibrant, full-color logo printing through dye-sublimation. Works for corporate ID badges, conference credentials, and school lanyards.
Best for: Large-scale events, office ID badges
Woven
The design is woven directly into the fabric rather than printed on top, so it resists fading, cracking, and wear far better than printed polyester. Limited to fewer thread colors.
Best for: Permanent staff ID badges, premium branding
Tube
A soft, rounded, tubular construction that feels noticeably gentler against the neck than flat options — popular for multi-day conferences and exhibitions.
Best for: Full-day or multi-day events
If your priority is budget and full-color branding, polyester wins. If your priority is long-term durability and a premium feel, woven wins. If your priority is comfort during extended wear, tube wins.
| Material | Durability | Colour Options | Comfort | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polyester | Moderate | Full-colour, unlimited | Moderate | Lowest |
| Woven | High | Limited thread colours | Moderate | Mid-range |
| Tube | Moderate–High | Full-colour | Highest | Mid-range |
Corporate offices issuing permanent staff ID badges should lean toward woven lanyards for the durability, since these see daily use over months or years. Event organizers running a one-day conference are usually better off with polyester, since lower cost per unit matters more for a large one-time badge run. Multi-day conference organizers should seriously consider tube lanyards, since attendee comfort over multiple long days directly affects the event experience.
If you're not sure which fits your specific event size, duration, and budget, talking through the options with our team can help you avoid ordering a lanyard type that doesn't match how it'll actually be worn. Lanyards rarely exist without an accompanying badge — pairing your choice with matching event or staff ID cards ensures your entire badge system looks cohesive.
Polyester is the most common lanyard material because it's affordable, allows full-color logo printing, and suits most corporate and event needs.
Yes, woven lanyards are generally more durable since the design is woven directly into the fabric rather than printed on top, making them more resistant to fading and wear over time.
Tube lanyards have a soft, rounded, comfortable feel and are often used for events or roles where the lanyard is worn for extended periods, such as full-day conferences.
Polyester lanyards are typically best for large events due to their lower cost per unit and ability to print detailed, full-color logos quickly for bulk orders.
Yes, polyester lanyards support full-color printing easily, while woven lanyards are typically limited to a smaller number of thread colors due to the weaving process.
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Polyester, woven & tube · full-colour branding · Color Spot Printing since 2004.
