Free Printable Backpack Tags for Kids

These DIY backpack name tags are perfect for younger kids to use during the school year!  Grab the printable backpack tags and add your child’s name, contact information, and dismissal instructions for a smooth after school experience.

Both of my daughters rode the school bus home from school every afternoon during elementary school.  And every year on the first day of school, I would be worried sick about them forgetting their bus number or accidentally getting on the wrong bus.  Can you imagine a more upsetting scenario for a 1st or 2nd grader?

But in third grade my oldest daughter had a teacher who made the kids backpack tags, and the worry washed away a bit.  Thanks to that genius teacher, my daughter could just reference her bag tag to make sure she didn’t forget her school bus number… one less thing to worry about during the beginning of the school year as kids are getting accustomed to a new routine!

So I decided to create my own custom backpack tag printable in the hopes that these school printables can help you stress a bit less, too!

Just print out the correct backpack name tag (based on if your child is a car rider or a bus rider), customize the back of the tag with your child’s name and contact information, and attach the colorful tag to your child’s backpack.  Such a simple solution for easy afternoon dismissal at elementary schools!

*And be sure to check out this post for more back to school ideas like this one!

*This post contains affiliate links, which means if you click a link and make a purchase, I earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Read my full terms of use for more info.

Why You’ll LOVE These Backpack Name Tags

• Easy to assemble – Just print the tags on white card stock and insert into a plastic luggage tag sleeve that you can get on Amazon.  Or you can also laminate the tags if you wish.
• Add your child’s bus information – If your kids are bus riders, you know how important it is that they know what bus to get on in the afternoon and what their home address is.  These free printable bag tags can help with that!
• Different designs to choose from – The tags are available in different colors, so you can let your kids select which one they want.  This is a great way to get them excited about back to school, too!
• Different tags for how your child gets home from school – The back side of the tag is available in 4 different versions, so you can select the tag that shows your child’s after school instructions: bus rider, car rider, walk, or after school care.
• No software or special computer programs to use – Just print out the tag that shows the first letter of your child’s name, and fill in the back side of the tag by hand.  Easy peasy!

What You Need to Make Your Own Backpack Tags

You have a few different options for creating your backpack name tags so that they last year round.  You can either print the tags and insert them into plastic pouch luggage tags, or you can laminate the backpack tags.  Here are the supplies needed to make these super cute school backpack tags for both methods:

• free printable backpack name tags – You can grab the free template at the end of this post.
• white card stock – Whether you use the plastic badge inserts or you laminate the tags, I suggest that you print the backpack tags on white card stock because it will be more durable and your finished tags will look much nicer.
• scissors or paper trimmer – I prefer to use a paper trimmer because it’s much faster and the lines are neat and straight.
• hole punch
• zip tie – A zip tie helps secure the tag to your child’s backpack so that it doesn’t fall off and get lost.
• laminator and laminating pouches OR clear luggage tags – You have a few different options for how to assemble the plastic badges.  Instructions down below.

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Assembling the Printable Backpack Tags

Making your own backpack name tags couldn’t be easier with these printable tags.  

After printing out the tag with the letter of the alphabet that corresponds to your child’s first name, cut the tags out along the outer line – I prefer to use a paper trimmer for this step, but regular scissors work also.  Write the following information on the tags:  child’s name, teacher, grade, and bus number (if applicable).  Then follow these instructions to make your tags waterproof:

To Laminate the Tags:

• Stack the two tag pieces on top of each other.  Stack the front letter tag and the back information tag on top of each other, lining them up so that the blank backs are touching each other.  This is how you will run them through the laminating machine so that you can see both sides of the tag when you turn it over. *TIP – It helps to place a piece of folded over tape in between the two pieces to hold them together.
• Place the tags in the laminating pouch. I suggest that you press them up into the side of the pouch that is already folded/sealed.  *See the photo below.  This helps to keep the two pieces straight as they go through the laminator.
• Laminate the back pack tag.  Feed the pouch through the laminator.  Immediately when it comes through, lay the pouch on a flat surface to cool.

• Once laminated, carefully cut out the tag, leaving a 1/8″-1/4″ lamination edge to preserve the seal.
• Punch a hole in the top of the tag to attach it to your child’s backpack.  You can use a hole punch and a zip tie to secure the tag in place.

For the Plastic Luggage Tags:

​If you don’t have a laminator, or you want to be able to swap out the tag easily if your child’s information changes, then you can use these plastic luggage tags that I found on Amazon.  

Simply cut out the front and back sides of the backpack tags, and slide them into the plastic sleeve.  The luggage tags that I purchased came with high-quality metal loops that you can use to easily attach the tag to the loop at the top of your kids’ backpacks.

Free Printable Backpack Tags for Kids

Want to grab these tags for dismissal time?  The free printable backpack tags are available in two adorable options!  Just click the links down below and a new window will open with the pdf file.  Then you can download and print from there!

Click HERE for the Blue Gray Checkered Backpack Tags

Click HERE for the Red Heart Backpack Tags

*Note – These printable backpack tags are provided for FREE for your personal use only.  You may not sell or distribute these tags in anyway.  Feel free to share this post with friends or teachers, and they can download their own copy of the backpack tags.  Thanks!

Other Back to School Ideas

If you loved these backpack tags, then be sure to check out some of my other back to school ideas down below:

School Memory Box Printables – Whether your kids are in 1st grade or middle school, you’ll want to keep their school momentos as keepsakes.  These printables are the perfect way to create your own school memory box or binder for each child!

First Day of School Signs – Grab these free printable first day of school signs for your back to school photo tradition! I’ve even got last day of school signs to match!