Pet Tag Engraving Guide: Font, Size, and What to Put on It
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A pet ID tag is one of the most functional personalized items you can order — and one where the details actually matter. Here's how to get the most out of your tag engraving.
Font: Readability Over Style
This is not the place for a flowing script font. A person who finds your dog at 10pm needs to be able to read the phone number immediately, possibly while the dog is moving. Use a clean, bold font with high legibility.
Our standard engraving font for pet tags is a clean block letter that reads clearly at the tag's actual size. If you request a specific font, we'll let you know if it works at the size you need.
What to Engrave: Front
Put the pet's name on the front, large. That's it. People who find a lost pet look at the front of the tag to learn the animal's name — it helps them approach and calm the animal.
Front of tag: PET'S NAME (large, center)
Optional: a small icon (paw print, bone, heart) if your tag has room. These add personality but don't sacrifice the name size for them.
What to Engrave: Back
The back of the tag is the critical side. The person who finds your pet will flip the tag and look for a number to call.
Back of tag — in order of importance:
- Your cell phone number (the one you'll always have with you)
- A second number — spouse, family member, vet
- "MICROCHIPPED" — prompts a vet or shelter to scan before assuming the animal is unowned
- City and state — not your full address (privacy), but enough to establish locality
What to leave off the back:
- Email address — nobody emails about a found pet
- Full street address — unnecessary and a security risk
- Long messages ("I'm lost, please help!") — wastes space you need for contact info
- The pet's breed — irrelevant for reunification purposes
Tag Size: Match It to the Dog
- Cats and dogs under 15 lbs: 3/4" tag — lightweight, won't annoy small animals
- Dogs 15–50 lbs: 1" tag — standard size, good balance of readability and weight
- Dogs 50+ lbs: 1.25" or 1.5" tag — more room for text, durable for active dogs
Material: Stainless Steel vs. Aluminum
- Stainless steel: heavier, scratch-resistant, won't tarnish. Best for active dogs who swim, dig, or rough-house. Laser engraving on stainless steel produces a clean white mark against the silver surface.
- Aluminum: lighter, more affordable. Fine for indoor cats and small, calm dogs. Anodized aluminum engraves to a bright contrast.
How Long Does the Engraving Last?
Laser engraving on metal is permanent. Unlike stamped tags (where the impression can flatten) or printed tags (where the ink wears), laser engraving removes material from the surface. Your pet's name and your phone number will be fully readable for the life of the tag — even after years of swimming, digging, and running through brush.