Valve tag sizes and shapes

We make plastic valve tags in four shapes and 17 sizes: round 1″ to 3″, square 1″ to 3″, octagon 1½″ to 3″ and rectangular 2″ × 1″ to 4″ × 2″. For most jobs a 2″ round, square or octagon tag is the one to pick: with a service line and a short number it engraves ½″ numbers and ¼″ letters, the heights MasterSpec Sections 22 05 53 and 23 05 53 ask for.

RoundSquareOctagonRectangle

All 17, side by side

Pick a color and see every size drawn to scale with the same wording, its letter heights and its price. Click one to start building with it.

Round 1″2 lines: 7/32″ numbers · 5/32″ letters3 lines: 7/32″ · 1/8″$1.14 – $1.34
Round 1¼″2 lines: 11/32″ numbers · 7/32″ letters3 lines: 9/32″ · 3/16″$4.56 – $5.36
Round 1½″2 lines: 7/16″ numbers · 1/4″ letters3 lines: 11/32″ · 1/4″$4.56 – $5.36
Round 2″2 lines: 19/32″ numbers · 11/32″ letters3 lines: 15/32″ · 11/32″$4.56 – $5.36Reaches ½″ numbers · ¼″ letters
Round 2½″2 lines: 3/4″ numbers · 13/32″ letters3 lines: 19/32″ · 13/32″$10.26 – $12.06Reaches ½″ numbers · ¼″ letters
Round 3″2 lines: 29/32″ numbers · 1/2″ letters3 lines: 23/32″ · 15/32″$10.26 – $12.06Reaches ½″ numbers · ¼″ letters
Square 1″2 lines: 5/16″ numbers · 5/32″ letters3 lines: 1/4″ · 1/8″$1.14 – $1.34
Square 1½″2 lines: 7/16″ numbers · 1/4″ letters3 lines: 3/8″ · 1/4″$4.56 – $5.36
Square 2″2 lines: 19/32″ numbers · 11/32″ letters3 lines: 17/32″ · 11/32″$4.56 – $5.36Reaches ½″ numbers · ¼″ letters
Square 3″2 lines: 29/32″ numbers · 1/2″ letters3 lines: 25/32″ · 1/2″$10.26 – $12.06Reaches ½″ numbers · ¼″ letters
Octagon 1½″2 lines: 7/16″ numbers · 1/4″ letters3 lines: 3/8″ · 1/4″$4.56 – $5.36
Octagon 2″2 lines: 19/32″ numbers · 11/32″ letters3 lines: 17/32″ · 11/32″$4.56 – $5.36Reaches ½″ numbers · ¼″ letters
Octagon 3″2 lines: 29/32″ numbers · 1/2″ letters3 lines: 25/32″ · 15/32″$10.26 – $12.06Reaches ½″ numbers · ¼″ letters
Rectangle 2″ × 1″2 lines: 13/32″ numbers · 7/32″ letters3 lines: 11/32″ · 3/16″$2.28 – $2.68
Rectangle 2½″ × 1¼″2 lines: 1/2″ numbers · 9/32″ letters3 lines: 7/16″ · 1/4″$6.84 – $8.04Reaches ½″ numbers · ¼″ letters
Rectangle 3″ × 1½″2 lines: 19/32″ numbers · 11/32″ letters3 lines: 17/32″ · 9/32″$6.84 – $8.04Reaches ½″ numbers · ¼″ letters
Rectangle 4″ × 2″2 lines: 13/16″ numbers · 7/16″ letters3 lines: 23/32″ · 3/8″$9.12 – $10.72Reaches ½″ numbers · ¼″ letters

Drawn with CHWS / V-214 / N.O. “2 lines” is a service line and a three-digit number. Prices in CAD per tag, 1/16″ – 1/8″ thick.

Round valve tags

The everyday valve tag: six diameters with a top hole for chain or an S-hook.

If your spec asks for ½″ numbers and ¼″ system letters, use 2″. A 1½″ round tops out at 7/16″ numbers — and 1¼″, 1½″ and 2″ all cost the same.

Render of a yellow 2-inch round plastic valve tag engraved GAS V-101 N.C. on a brass bead chain
SizeMetricNumber (3 lines)Service lineNumber only1/16″ each1/8″ each
1″25 × 25 mm7/32″1/8″5/16″$1.14$1.34Build
1¼″32 × 32 mm9/32″3/16″3/8″$4.56$5.36Build
1½″38 × 38 mm11/32″1/4″7/16″$4.56$5.36Build
2″51 × 51 mm15/32″11/32″19/32″$4.56$5.36Build
2½″64 × 64 mm19/32″13/32″3/4″$10.26$12.06Build
3″76 × 76 mm23/32″15/32″29/32″$10.26$12.06Build
1″
1¼″
1½″
2″
2½″
3″

How the wording fits

WordingTagTop lineNumberBottom line
DCW / 101Round 1½″1/4″7/16″—
Round 2″11/32″19/32″—
Round 2½″13/32″3/4″—
DCW / V-101 / N.O.Round 1½″1/4″11/32″7/32″
Round 2″11/32″15/32″11/32″
Round 2½″13/32″19/32″13/32″
DCW / V-101 / NORMALLY CLOSEDRound 1½″won’t fit — shorten it or go bigger
Round 2″won’t fit — shorten it or go bigger
Round 2½″13/32″9/16″3/32″

Square valve tags

The corners give the top and bottom lines room a circle doesn’t have.

Choose square when the bottom line is long, or to set a building’s tags apart from round ones.

Render of a green 2-inch square plastic valve tag engraved DCW V-214 N.O. on a brass bead chain
SizeMetricNumber (3 lines)Service lineNumber only1/16″ each1/8″ each
1″25 × 25 mm1/4″1/8″5/16″$1.14$1.34Build
1½″38 × 38 mm3/8″1/4″7/16″$4.56$5.36Build
2″51 × 51 mm17/32″11/32″19/32″$4.56$5.36Build
3″76 × 76 mm25/32″1/2″29/32″$10.26$12.06Build
1″
1½″
2″
3″

How the wording fits

WordingTagTop lineNumberBottom line
CHWS / V-214 / N.O.Round 2″11/32″15/32″11/32″
Square 2″11/32″17/32″11/32″
DHWR / 118 / THROTTLEDRound 2″11/32″19/32″1/8″
Square 2″11/32″19/32″1/4″
GAS / G-12 / NORMALLY CLOSEDRound 2″won’t fit — shorten it or go bigger
Square 2″11/32″19/32″5/32″

Octagon valve tags

A different outline that reads at a glance: emergency shut-offs, fire service, mains.

Keep most valves round and put octagons on the ones on your shut-down list — the domestic water main, the gas shut-off, fire service, boiler and chiller isolation.

Render of a red 2-inch octagon plastic valve tag engraved SPR FP-3 N.O. on a brass bead chain
SizeMetricNumber (3 lines)Service lineNumber only1/16″ each1/8″ each
1½″38 × 38 mm3/8″1/4″7/16″$4.56$5.36Build
2″51 × 51 mm17/32″11/32″19/32″$4.56$5.36Build
3″76 × 76 mm25/32″15/32″29/32″$10.26$12.06Build
1½″
2″
3″

How the wording fits

WordingTagTop lineNumberBottom line
EMERG / V-01 / SHUTOFFOctagon 2″9/32″19/32″5/32″
Octagon 3″13/32″29/32″9/32″
GAS / MAIN / N.O.Octagon 2″11/32″17/32″11/32″
Octagon 3″1/2″25/32″1/2″

Rectangular valve tags

For words and long numbers: MAIN SHUTOFF, BOILER 2 ISOLATION, HWS-001. Holes at one end or both.

A system-prefixed number like HWS-001 is seven characters; a 2″ round engraves it at ¼″, a 3″ × 1½″ rectangle at 15/32″.

Render of a blue 3 by 1-1/2 inch rectangular plastic valve tag engraved CA V-07 MAIN SHUTOFF on a brass bead chain
SizeMetricNumber (3 lines)Service lineNumber only1/16″ each1/8″ each
2″ × 1″51 × 25 mm11/32″3/16″13/32″$2.28$2.68Build
2½″ × 1¼″64 × 32 mm7/16″1/4″1/2″$6.84$8.04Build
3″ × 1½″76 × 38 mm17/32″9/32″19/32″$6.84$8.04Build
4″ × 2″102 × 51 mm23/32″3/8″13/16″$9.12$10.72Build
2″ × 1″
2½″ × 1¼″
3″ × 1½″
4″ × 2″

How the wording fits

WordingTagTop lineNumberBottom line
HWS / HWS-001Round 2″11/32″1/4″—
Rectangle 3″ × 1½″11/32″15/32″—
Rectangle 4″ × 2″7/16″5/8″—
GAS / MAIN SHUTOFFRound 2″11/32″1/8″—
Rectangle 3″ × 1½″11/32″9/32″—
Rectangle 4″ × 2″7/16″3/8″—
BOILER 2 / V-07 / ISOLATIONRound 2″7/32″9/16″1/8″
Rectangle 3″ × 1½″9/32″17/32″9/32″
Rectangle 4″ × 2″3/8″23/32″3/8″

Hardware

One fastener per tag, chosen in the builder and listed on your quote.

HardwareUse it for
Brass S-hookHanging a tag from a handwheel spoke or lever; quick to move.
Brass bead chain, 4½″Looping round a valve stem or neck. The most common choice.
Brass jack chain + S-hookLarger valves and handwheels that need a longer loop.
Nylon cable tieQuick installs, and tags fixed flat against a valve body.
No hole (adhesive back)Sticking a tag to a panel, box or valve body instead of hanging it.

Pick a size, build the set

Every size here is one click from the builder, with the letter heights and price already worked out.

Questions

What is the most common valve tag size?
1½″ and 2″ round. Specifications based on MasterSpec 22 05 53 ask for ½″ numbers and ¼″ letters, which takes a 2″ tag in our layout.
How much text fits on a valve tag?
Up to 24 characters on the top and bottom lines and 16 on the number line, but the more you add the smaller it engraves. The tables above show the letter heights for real wording.
What thickness should I order?
1/16″ is lighter and costs less; 1/8″ is stiffer and holds its shape on a chain. Both engrave the same.
Is there a minimum order?
No minimum. You can order a single tag; the price per tag is the same at any quantity.