Branded lanyards are one of the most consistently ordered promotional lanyard products in the UK, and for good reason. Worn daily in offices, hospitals, schools, events and exhibitions, a well-designed custom branded lanyard puts your logo in front of people throughout the working day. Here is everything you need to know before you buy branded lanyards for your next campaign or event.

What are branded lanyards?

A lanyard is a cord or strap worn around the neck, typically used to hold ID cards, access passes, keys or other small items. A branded lanyard takes that everyday workplace essential and turns it into a marketing tool, featuring your company logo, brand colours or custom artwork to keep your brand visible wherever the wearer goes.

What types of branded lanyards are available?

There are several types of promotional lanyards to choose from, each suited to different budgets, branding requirements and end uses:

• Flat ribbed lanyards: The most popular type of custom branded lanyard in the UK, suitable for up to four colour pantone matched printing for precise logo reproduction. The lanyard itself can also be pantone matched to your exact corporate brand colour, meaning both the fabric and the print are colour accurate. These are the go-to choice for organisations that need total brand consistency.
• Dye sublimation lanyards: Full colour printed CMYK promotional lanyards with unlimited design possibilities. No restrictions on colours, complexity or number of logos, making them ideal for exhibition lanyards, festivals and multi-sponsor campaigns.
• Woven lanyards: The design is threaded directly into the fabric rather than printed, giving a premium and tactile finish. Great for corporate gifting and higher-end events.
• Eco and recycled lanyards: Made from materials such as bamboo fibre or RPET (recycled plastic bottles), these eco branded lanyards are a responsible choice for sustainability-led campaigns without compromising on print quality.
• Antibacterial lanyards: Specially treated to inhibit bacterial growth, making them a popular choice in healthcare, NHS and care environments.
• Lanyards with pull reels: Combines a custom promotional lanyard with an integrated retractable pull reel, ideal for workplaces and events where ID cards and access passes need to be scanned regularly.
• Lanyards with pens: A two-in-one branded giveaway combining a printed promotional lanyard with a branded pen, popular for conferences, delegate packs and events.
• Charging cable lanyards: A genuinely useful tech-event option combining a full colour branded lanyard with a built-in charging cable that gets used long after the event is over.

What is the difference between dye sublimation and pantone matched lanyards?

This is one of the most common questions we get, and the answer comes down to how your branding is reproduced. With pantone matched lanyards, both the lanyard fabric itself and the print ink are colour matched to your exact pantone references. This means the physical strap colour and your logo colours are all precisely matched to your corporate brand palette, making these the right choice for branded staff lanyards and any organisation where total colour accuracy is non-negotiable.

Dye sublimation lanyards use a full colour CMYK printing process that allows for unlimited colours and design complexity, including photography, gradients and multiple logos. They are the better option for promotional printed lanyards where your design is complex, when you have several logos to fit, or when you want a printed promotional lanyard that really makes a visual impact at an exhibition or event.

Are there eco-friendly branded lanyards?

Yes. Our RPET Dye Sublimation Lanyards are made from recycled plastic bottles and printed with full colour dye sublimation, giving you eco branded lanyards without any compromise on print quality or design flexibility. Our Bamboo Fibre Lanyards are another eco-friendly option, popular with schools, charities and businesses with active sustainability commitments. Both are a great choice for anyone looking for responsible lanyard promotional products that still deliver on visual impact.

Do you offer Pride lanyards for Pride events?

Yes. Our Pride RPET Stock Lanyard is a rainbow Pride lanyard made from recycled plastic bottles, held in UK stock and available for next day despatch. At 20mm wide and supplied with a trigger clip and safety break as standard, it is ideal for Pride events, inclusive workplace initiatives and diversity campaigns where you need lanyards quickly. Please note these are a stock design and cannot be printed or customised.

If you would like a fully branded Pride lanyard with your own logo, our RPET Dye Sublimation Lanyard allows full colour custom printing on recycled fabric, though please allow approximately three weeks for production.

Can I get lanyards with multiple sponsor logos?

Absolutely, and this is one of the most popular use cases for our full colour dye sublimation lanyards. Because there is no restriction on the number of colours or logos, you can fit sponsor logos along the full length of the lanyard, making them the go-to choice for exhibition lanyards, festivals, conferences, trade shows and sporting events with multiple commercial partners. There are no additional set-up costs for adding extra logos, making them one of the most cost-effective custom promotional lanyards for large-scale events.

What safety features are available on branded lanyards?

Safety breakaway clips are available as standard on many of our branded lanyards, including our flat ribbed and dye sublimation options. A breakaway clip releases under pressure, preventing injury if the lanyard gets caught. This is essential for school and children's event use, and is also a common requirement in manufacturing and warehouse environments.

For NHS trusts, care homes and other settings with specific health and safety requirements, our lanyards can be supplied with additional safety breaks and trigger clips beyond the standard single breakaway. Get in touch with our team to discuss your specific requirements.

What attachments and extras can be added to branded lanyards?

One of the advantages of ordering custom branded lanyards through Indigo Promotions is the range of attachment and finishing options available. Beyond the standard trigger clip and safety break, you can choose from a wide variety of fittings and extras to suit your specific requirements:

Clip and safety break options:

• 2 x trigger clip and safety break
• 2 x safety break and trigger clip
• 3 x safety break and trigger clip
• J hook and safety break
• Croc clip and safety break
• Trigger clip and wheat straw safety break
• In-line buckle, safety break and trigger clip

Extras:

• Metal crimp, trigger clip and safety break
• Split ring and safety break
• Oval clip and safety break
• Mobile phone cord and safety break
• Rainbow finish

Whether you need multiple safety breaks for a healthcare environment, a specific clip type for an access pass, or a rainbow finish for a Pride campaign or inclusive workplace initiative, get in touch with our team to discuss your requirements.

Which branded lanyard is best for a healthcare setting?

Our Antibacterial Dye Sublimation Lanyards are specifically designed for healthcare, NHS and care environments. They feature a full colour printed design alongside an antibacterial treatment that inhibits the growth of bacteria on the fabric surface, making them a practical and hygienic choice for hospital and clinical settings. They are also supplied with safety breakaway clips as standard.

What are lanyards with pull reels used for?

A lanyard with a pull reel combines the branding benefits of a custom printed lanyard with the practical convenience of a retractable card holder. Rather than removing the lanyard entirely to scan an access pass or ID card, the wearer simply pulls the card out on the reel, scans it and lets it retract. Our Dye Sublimation Lanyards with Pull Reel are popular in office environments, venues and events where access control is a regular requirement. The pull reel itself can also be full colour domed for an additional branding opportunity.

Can I order branded lanyards with a built-in charging cable?

Yes. Our 2-in-1 Charging Cable Lanyard and 4-in-1 Charging Cable Lanyard are a brilliant choice for tech conferences, product launches and any event where keeping devices charged is a priority. Both feature a fully branded lanyard with an integrated charging cable that supports multiple device types, making them one of the most genuinely useful promo lanyards you can order, and one that gets used long after the event is over.

Can I get express branded lanyards for a last-minute event?

Yes. We offer express turnaround options on selected promotional lanyards, with some available in as little as three working days. If you are up against a tight deadline for an exhibition, conference or event, get in touch with our team directly on 01606 871555 or at sales@indigo-promotions.co.uk to discuss your requirements and we will find the best option for your timescale. Our Express RPET Dye Sublimation Lanyards are a particularly popular choice for fast turnaround orders, combining a quick lead time with full colour print and eco-friendly credentials.

Quick answers: branded lanyards

• What is the minimum order quantity? Minimum order quantities vary across the range, with some options starting from as few as 25 units. Check individual product pages for details.
• Can lanyards be pantone matched to my brand colours? Yes, our flat ribbed lanyards support up to four colour pantone matched printing and the lanyard fabric itself can also be pantone matched to your exact corporate colour.
• Are prices inclusive of print? Yes, all prices are fully inclusive of print, origination and delivery to one UK address. No hidden extras.
• How quickly can I get branded lanyards? Branded lanyards typically have a lead time of two to three weeks. If you are up against a tighter deadline, express options are available on selected products. Get in touch with our team to discuss your requirements.
• Can I get a sample before ordering? Yes, samples are available on request. Get in touch with our team to discuss.

Ready to buy branded lanyards for your next event, campaign or workplace? Browse our full range of custom promotional lanyards or call our team on 01606 871555 and we will help you find the perfect option for your brief.