ID lanyards make it easy for a person to display his ID at all times. However, unlike basic ID clips and clamps, a lanyard lets a cardholder keep wearing his badge when using it. Most IDs are lost simply because people have to unclip them when using them to interact with card readers. Lost IDs cost money to replace and they can lead to security problems. Using lanyards is a simple way to keep cards from disappearing.

Lanyards also make IDs more visible. People will often clip their IDs to their belts or waistbands. If a person is not specifically looking for it, he most likely will not see another person's identification. When a lanyard is used, an ID will be displayed clearly to everyone else in the area.

Specialty ID Lanyards

Lanyards can be found in different colors and styles. There are highly durable braided lanyards that use two or more colors. These are popular in schools, because students can clip their badges to a braid of maroon and white, black and gold, or whatever their school colors might be. Organizations can even have their names and logos printed on lanyards, turning their IDs into marketing tools. Adding images or text to a lanyard usually only requires a group to pay a small extra fee.

One of the most recent products to surface is the "disinfectable" lanyard. It has become a staple in medical facilities, because it can be sterilized easily. These specialty products are tough enough to undergo the disinfecting process time and time again.