School lanyards are an essential part of uniforms and workwear across all stages of the education sector. From staff to students, academic institutions across the UK use lanyards to provide identification and security.

Lanyards for Education and Safeguarding

Security and safety are paramount in school settings, and lanyards play a vital role in safeguarding policy using colour coding systems. By providing an instant visual clue, lanyards help staff members identify people on site, helping to differentiate students and staff from visitors or contractors carrying out repairs.

All our lanyards come with a safety break to ensure they come away from the neck easily when pulled. We keep the following pre-printed school lanyards in stock for rapid delivery at any time of the year:

• Student lanyards – available in black, blue, purple or red
• Staff lanyards – available in black, grey, red, or dark blue
• Visitor lanyards – available in red (contact us for other colours)
• Contractor lanyards – available in orange or yellow

 

By using door control policies and lanyard colour coding, you can ensure safeguarding standards are met at your school. More than just an important safety feature, school lanyards can also be incorporated into the uniform to provide a sense of belonging.

Using custom printing techniques, we can incorporate your school colours, crest, logo or motto into the design to make your lanyards unique to your institution

School Lanyard Uses

Both primary and secondary schools can use lanyards to differentiate staff and visitors. Lanyards are also sometimes used to separate classes of students, though this is more common in secondary schools as younger children are likely to lose their lanyard or fidget.

Popular Lanyard Uses in Primary and Secondary Schools

Most schools use colour-coded systems to differentiate between roles.

• Staff lanyards often feature the school logo with “STAFF” prominently displayed. Dark blue and grey are popular for staff members. Many schools choose to include a clip or ski pass extension on staff lanyards, allowing teachers to attach their keys and easily manage multiple classrooms or access cupboards throughout the day.
• Visitor lanyards typically use a bright, attention-grabbing colour – we stock bright red, though we can offer other colours on request. Choosing a bright colour makes it obvious when someone unfamiliar is on site and should be accompanied by a DBS checked member of staff, helping to maintain safeguarding standards.
• Student lanyards are more common in secondary schools but can be extremely useful, especially in large schools. Using colour coding systems, you can differentiate students by year group or class, helping teachers know which students should be where – useful if you find them roaming the halls when they’re supposed to be in class! More than helping teachers identify student, lanyards for schools can create a sense of identity and belonging as part of their school uniform.
• Sixth Form lanyards can be used just like any other student lanyard, but most schools choose to make sixth form lanyards unique in some way. Whether it’s different colours or text, sixth form lanyards should make these students stand out. Older students often act as role models for younger students and play a larger role in shaping their school as mentors, prefects or members of the school council.

Lanyard Uses for Colleges and Higher Education

Colleges and universities face different identification challenges to schools, as most colleges in the UK do not require uniforms except for on certain courses like nursing. With everyone being in casual clothes, this makes it even harder to identify staff and students on campus, making lanyards even more important in higher education settings.

Colleges and universities also often have less strict entry and exit policies as attendees are older and do not need to be monitored as closely. In city campus colleges/universities, buildings may be separate from the main campus building and accessed by scanning ID cards. Most colleges and universities choose to add rigid ID card holders to their lanyard order, allowing students to attach their photo IDs or access cards.

Popular Lanyard Uses in Colleges and Universities

Student lanyards help identify genuine students across multiple buildings and accommodation blocks. Whilst older students can be trusted to be more responsible, academic institutions still have safeguarding duties. When combined with ID cards and access systems, lanyards serve part of a wider security infrastructure.

Staff lanyards allow for clear role identification. Lecturers, security, and administrative personnel may have different coloured lanyards to distinguish different staff departments.

Course or department lanyards help identify students within specific areas. This is particularly useful in large colleges and universities where different departments occupy separate buildings, and colour coding systems can help identify students on the wrong part of campus.

Event lanyards are useful for busy event days such as open days, career fairs and throughout Fresher’s week. Lanyards can be used to identify external visitors and can be kept by participants after the event is over as a gift/promotional item with your branding everyone loves a freebie!)

Custom Lanyards for Education

Creating Your Custom Design

Using our inbuilt lanyard design tool, you can build your own personalised printed lanyards quickly and easily. It takes just a few minutes and allows you to upload and position your institution logo, choose colours and add text. You can also select additional lanyard accessories such as ski pass reels, clips or badge holders. If you’re struggling to design your lanyard, we show you how to use our personalised lanyard design tool on our blog or you can talk to our team for further guidance.

Practical Considerations

When designing lanyards for your academic environment, it’s good to remember the following:

• Safety breaks are essential, particularly for younger students. They’re designed to make sure that the lanyard snaps off easily if caught or pulled, preventing serious injury. We include safety breaks as standard on all our lanyards.
• Durability is important if you expect students to be using lanyards daily. Your school lanyards will have to last the full length of their educational journey; for universities and colleges this may only be 2-4 years, but for secondary schools this can be between 4-6 years if you have an attached sixth form. To ensure your lanyards last their whole school career, you should choose a high-quality lanyard manufacturer – like us at Just Lanyards!
• Badge holders and accessories add to the practical uses of your lanyard. ID card holders protect make photo identification easy for safeguarding purposes, and other accessories like ski pass reels can be used for keys.
• Quantity planning should account for new starters as well as replacements for lost or damaged lanyards.

Choosing the Right Printing Method

We recommend dye sublimation for custom printed school lanyards, as schools often have colourful and complex logos. By using dye sublimation, we can replicate complex designs easily with no limit on the number of colours. As the dye is directly impregnated into the fabric, we can print on both sides of the fabric simultaneously. There’s also no risk of the print cracking, so one lanyard will last a student their whole school career (provided they don’t lose it somewhere).

We also offer screen printing which may be more suitable for bold and simple logos or if you need precise colour matching. Which one is best for your school depends on several factors; you can learn more about dye sublimation vs screen printing on our guide to help you make your decision.

For help designing or ordering your school, college, or university lanyards our team are on hand to help!

Get in touch or start designing today!

Creating custom lanyards has never been easier. Our personalised lanyard design tool allows you to design, customise, and order professional lanyards quickly and easily directly from your browser. No artistic experience needed!  

Why Use Our Online Lanyard Designer? 

Traditionally, custom lanyard design would involve working with a dedicated designer to bring your ideas to life, resulting in a lot of time-consuming back-and-forth before finally settling on the design. Even then, you might not have gotten to see your final design before going to print.  

With our simple and intuitive design tool, you can do everything yourself without a designer. See your design in real-time, upload logos or images and adjust colours and text to your exact specifications, no need to work with a designer. Our in-house artwork team will check your design to ensure it will produce a high-quality lanyard and help make any necessary adjustments.  

With our clear pricing structure, you can see exactly what you’re paying before you commit; save your design for later and download a PDF quote or checkout immediately. Whether you’re ordering for a corporate event, school, retail business, or healthcare setting, our custom lanyard design tool makes the entire process straightforward and simple.  

Step By Step: Our Custom Lanyard Design Process 

Choose Your Printing Method 

Before entering our editor, you’ll need to select your printing method. This is because different options are available for different types of printing/services, and the editor varies slightly.  

Choose from:  

• Heat transfer lanyards – using a specialised heat-activated ink, the design is directly impregnated into the fibres of the fabric. The full design is printed on both sides together for a fast turnaround. Great for colour gradients, complex designs, or tight deadlines. Also available as an express service or using recycled rPET material from plastic bottles.  

• Screen printed lanyards – uses traditional silk screen printing techniques to deposit one colour at a time. Great for bold, clean lines and simple designs with few colours. Available in Pantone for PMS matching. Slower turnaround but creates a sharper image. Also available in rPET material, polyester, nylon, or eco-friendly bamboo.  

• Woven custom lanyards – uses strands of different colours to directly weave your design into the fabric for a high-quality design that won’t crack or fade. Results in a double-sided design with an inverted colour scheme on the back side. Suitable for designs up to 3 colours. Creates a bold, high-quality look, but at the cost of more limited design capabilities.  

Choose Your Lanyard Style 

Once you’ve chosen your production method, you’ll start by choosing between a single ended or double ended lanyard. Single ended lanyards connect to a single point in a classic “Y” shaped design for comfort when wearing around the neck, whereas double-ended lanyards offer two potential connection points for wider versatility. Choose single ended lanyards for everyday casual wear and light badges. Choose double ended lanyards for higher visibility or for larger and heavier badges – this is great for events where you need to be instantly recognisable such as trade shows or conferences.  

Select Your Width 

Lanyard width affects how large and visible you can make your design as well as how much weight your lanyards can bear. With our design tool, you can choose from a range of sizes. Narrower lanyards are suitable for lightweight badges and casual environments, whilst wider options provide more space for detailed designs and allow for heavier badges or hanging multiple items like keys.  

The editing tool shows you exactly how your design scales across different widths, so you can choose which size works best for your artwork and intended use.  

Pick Your Colour 

Choose from an extensive colour palette to match your brand identity perfectly or use your Pantone (PMS) codes for a custom colour match. Our colour selector displays your lanyard in real-time, so you can experiment with different options and choose complimentary colours.  

Add Text and Upload Your Logo 

The text tool makes adding custom wording quick and easy. Type your text directly into the designer, adjust font and sizes, then position your message exactly where you want it.  

Uploading your logo is equally straightforward, simply select your file and our tool will display it instantly. You’ll see your logo appear on the lanyard preview, allowing you to resize, reposition, and adjust until it looks perfect. The tool accepts common file formats such as jpeg or png, but to get the best possible image quality we require editable PDF, EPS or AI (Adobe Illustrator) files. If you haven’t got these files, our in-house art designer can create these for you.  

Our real-time visual editor lets you preview and tweak your design as you go.  

Choose Your Clip Style 

We offer a range of clips including strong metal hooks, plastic, crocodile clips, or ski pass reels. Each option is clearly illustrated, helping you choose the right option for your needs such as holding badges or keys.  

Select your preferred clip style and see it appear on your lanyard design, letting you preview all options before making a decision.  

Select Your Stitch Finish 

Add your finishing touches – choose from a neatly stitched finish, metal crimp, beads, or a metal stud for improved strength. These details might seem small, but they can make your lanyards look cleaner and more professional as well as improving the strength and durability of your lanyards. 

Add Badge Holders and Ski Reels 

Enhance functionality by adding additional accessories. badge holders or ski reels directly through the design tool.  

Choose from the following:  

• Ski pass reel – a retractable reel in a metal or plastic casing, perfect for keys, access cards, or key fobs that need to be scanned frequently. This allows easy scanning without the need to take off your lanyard, reducing the change of losing items.  

• Badge holder – useful for displaying identification cards, especially helpful for education, security, or the medical sector where safeguarding may be an issue. Choose from solid plastic options which are durable but only display information on only one side, or clear wallets that allow a clear view from all sides at the cost of strength.  

• Quick release buckle – in addition to a safety break (which is included as a standard for safety reasons) a quick release buckle reduces strangulation hazards by giving wearers the option to quickly disengage their lanyard if pulled or caught. It also makes it easy to remove keys, identification badges, or access fobs then quickly reattach to the lanyard for ease of use.  

Save, Quote, or Purchase 

Once your design is complete and you’ve chosen any additional extras, you’ll have a choice to checkout immediately or save your design for later.  

Save Your Design for Later 

Not ready to order immediately? No problem. Save your design and return to it whenever you’re ready. This is particularly useful when you need approval from colleagues, want to compare different design options, or simply need time to finalise your budget. 

Your saved design remains accessible, allowing you to make adjustments or proceed with ordering whenever the time is right. 

Download a PDF Quote 

Useful for when you want to compare pricing and options, our instant PDF quote lets you download a clear breakdown of all costings, allowing you to present a range of options to colleagues/decision-makers in your company.  

Purchase Online 

When you’re ready to proceed, you can make your purchase quickly and easily. The design tool connects seamlessly to our secure checkout system, with your specifications automatically transferred, ensuring that what you’ve designed is exactly what you’ll receive. 

Our streamlined checkout process accepts various payment methods and provides immediate order confirmation, giving you the assurance that we’ve got your order and are getting ready to start working on your design.  

The Benefits of Custom Lanyard Design Online 

Instant Visualisation – See exactly what you’re ordering before you commit. No surprises, no disappointments. 

Complete Control – Make decisions at your own pace. Experiment with options until you’re completely satisfied. 

Transparent Pricing – Know the cost upfront with no hidden fees or unexpected charges. 

Time Efficiency – Design and order in minutes rather than days of email exchanges. 

Accuracy – Eliminate miscommunication by showing us exactly what you want. 

Get Started 

Our personalised lanyard design tool allows everyone and anyone to create custom lanyards whether you need them for staff uniforms, charity events, or promotional freebies. Our simple design tool makes the process quick, easy, and streamlined.  

Before we enter production, every design is approved by our in-house art team to guarantee excellent results, giving you the reassurance that your design has been quality-checked by professional lanyard designers.  

Getting started couldn’t be easier, simply follow the steps outlined above in our professional personalised lanyard design editor.  

If you’re having trouble, simply contact our team and we’ll be happy to provide support. 

Personalising your lanyards with your own branding can be a highly beneficial investment. It helps you to further promote your brand or organisation at every opportunity, whether you’re a regular business, a charity, or an education/health-focused facility. The design process is easy for customising your own lanyards, but there are some things you need to think about in order to avoid issues.

Your lanyard design checklist

When you’re about to begin the process of designing your own personalised lanyards, what key things do you need to think about?

What are you using the lanyards for?

The first step is to know exactly what you want those specific lanyards to be used for. Are they going to be used for visitors, for example? Are they going to carry smart keys for unlocking access points in your business? Are they going to be worn by staff when used on events and promotions? Think very clearly about what you intend to use each lanyard for. Lanyards can be evergreen and used for a broad range of purposes, or they can be used for very specific needs. What you intend to do with them will inform your design choices.

What kind of colours are you going to use?

Colour is a key consideration when it comes to designing customised lanyards. If you’re just using them as general employee access lanyards you might want to think about using colours that complement, or even match, your existing brand colour scheme. Or you can take things in another direction and colour code the lanyards you’re purchasing relative to their specific uses. So, for example, a certain colour lanyard can correspond to a certain level of security access at your premises. Plan this ahead of time.

Is your branding appropriately scalable?

If you intend to use customised branding on your lanyards, such as logos or specific typefaces, you need to make sure that your branding is scalable – meaning it needs to look as good and as clear on the small lanyard as it does on a huge billboard. This is a core element of good branding, and if you have used a reputable marketing agency to assist you with the development of your branding this should have been a key consideration of your branding development. Keep things as simple as possible, and use colour to ensure your branding stands out.

Consider recyclability wherever possible

Think about the long term life cycle of your lanyards. In many cases, lanyards are durable and rugged enough to last much longer than you might need them for if you’re using them for a very specific purpose. In this case, you can make an environmentally and cost-conscious decision to reuse and repurpose them, rather than simply buying new ones. Consider this in your initial design stage.

Customising lanyards with your branding is easy

With these key tips in mind you’re ready to start custom branding your lanyards – and now you can do so safe in the knowledge you won’t encounter any issues. Make your start today.

Branded lanyards are the perfect way to get your name out there. As well as serving a practical function, a personalised lanyard allows your company’s logo to be seen clearly by everyone. First impressions count in business, and branded lanyards give your company an appearance of professionalism. Whatever your business, a set of personalised lanyards is sure to turn some heads at your next event or trade show.

At Just Lanyards, we pride ourselves on offering quality lanyards at affordable prices. However, that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t be on the lookout for a bargain. We understand that every penny counts in business, so here are some tips to save even more money on your next order.

1. Buy in bulk

As with any product, lanyards are cheaper if you buy them in bulk. A larger order is cheaper for us to produce, and we pass those savings onto you. If you’re planning to hold more events over the coming months, or if you’re expecting to recruit new staff in the future, why not order several batches of lanyards at once? As well as getting a cheaper price per unit, you will also save on the shipping costs that come with multiple orders.

2. Plan ahead

Ordering your lanyards in advance is always a good idea. Not only does it save you the stress of a last-minute order, it also works out cheaper. We can provide express printing and delivery in an emergency, but we charge extra for these services. Planning ahead and ordering early saves you these additional costs. In fact, all of our branded lanyards come with free 3 week delivery within the UK as standard.

3. Find a sponsor

Many businesses are keen to sponsor personalised lanyards. If you’re taking your lanyards to a large event or trade show, other companies will be keen to take advantage of this advertising opportunity. You may be able to find a local business that is willing to pay some or all of the cost of your lanyards in exchange for adding their company logo to the design.

4. Simplify your artwork

While it may be tempting to use an elaborate design for your lanyards, it can be an expensive option. A simpler design with fewer colours will be cheaper to print and may actually be more effective. Complex designs can be confusing to the casual observer, whereas a simple but bold design will stick in their minds.

5. Use a cheaper material

Our lanyards come in a range of materials, and some are cheaper than others. For example, choosing polyester lanyards instead of nylon lanyards can save you a considerable amount of money. Of course, it’s important to make sure that your chosen material is suitable for the intended purpose of your lanyards.

With Just Lanyards, you can stand out from the crowd without spending a fortune. Get in touch today for more tips on getting the most out of your lanyards.