Short answer: choose the tag around the machine feed first, then the paper and design. A beautiful tag with the wrong repeat, stiffness, hole position or winding direction can stop the line before the tea reaches the box.
The six details that decide whether a tea bag tag will run
| Check | What to provide | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Finished size | Width, height, shape and thickness | Controls cutting, pickup and clearance |
| Paper or board | Current sample, target stiffness, surface and colour | Affects print, tear resistance and handling |
| Artwork | Print sides, colours, bleed, registration marks and approved reference | Defines print and inspection criteria |
| Attachment | Hole, string, staple, knot, adhesive or the line’s existing method | Changes strength and position requirements |
| Repeat and roll | Pitch, web width, core, maximum diameter and unwind | Matches the tag feed and changeover limits |
| Machine | Brand/model when available, speed range and a current tag or roll label | Helps turn a sample into a workable production specification |
Start with an existing sample when you can
If the current tag already runs, send several unused pieces, a roll label and photos of how it enters the machine. We can compare dimensions, paper feel, attachment position, print repeat and winding direction. If there is no current sample, the machine manual and a clear drawing are the next best starting point.
Do not approve colour and machine fit in the same way
Artwork approval confirms layout, spelling and colour reference. It does not prove that the roll will feed correctly. For a new size, paper or attachment method, ask for a representative sample or trial roll and agree what will be checked: feeding, cutting, pickup, attachment, print position and roll condition.
Questions buyers often miss
Are tags supplied with string attached?
Not automatically. The Tea Bag Tags product page covers printed tag rollstock. A tag-and-string or mesh assembly is a separate quotation route and needs its own machine details.
Can one tag size fit every line?
No. The machine path, repeat, attachment method and clearance matter as much as the finished dimensions.
What should be on the purchase specification?
List the approved artwork, finished dimensions, material, repeat, web width, core, roll diameter, unwind, quantity per roll, roll label and packing method. Keep the approved physical sample with the specification.
Send a tag brief that can be quoted
Share the tag dimensions, artwork, attachment method, repeat, roll setup, machine information, quantity and destination through the Tea RFQ. If you are still choosing filter media, tags and wrappers together, begin with the Tea Packaging Materials Hub.
Last reviewed: 13 October 2026.
