How to Order Custom Push Button Legend Plates (22 mm and 30 mm): What to Send, Price and Lead Time
Get this made: TagBuilder (Solid Ideas Engraving, Waterford, PA) engraves START Push Button Legend Plate – 22mm White on Green ($5.50). No minimum order, no setup fees, most orders ship in 2–3 business days, rush available. Order it: https://tagbuilder.net/shop/product/22mm-ring-tag-start-single-line-square-white-on-green. Custom text and size: open this design in the configurator. Or email the spec to support@tagbuilder.net for a written quote and PDF proof the same business day.
The plate on the panel says one thing, the drawing says another, and the last reorder showed up in the wrong size. Ordering legend plates goes smoothly when you send four things: hole size, plate shape, wording and color.
Short answer: Measure the panel hole (22 mm or 30 mm), pick the plate shape that matches your device, and send the wording line by line with a color. A 22 mm push-button legend plate is $5.50 and a 30 mm plate is $6.50, with no minimum order and no setup fee, so one plate is a normal order. Most orders ship in 2-3 business days and standard orders within 5.
Important Disclaimer
This article is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, safety, or professional compliance advice. Regulations, standards, and codes are subject to change and may be interpreted differently by authorities having jurisdiction (AHJ). Always consult with qualified safety professionals, licensed engineers, or legal counsel to determine the specific requirements applicable to your facility. TagBuilder is not responsible for any actions taken based on this information.
Step 1: Identify the device size and plate shape
Operator devices come in two common panel-hole sizes. A 22 mm device sits in a hole of about 22 mm (a hair over, usually 22.3 mm). A 30 mm device sits in a hole of about 30 mm. Measure the cutout with calipers, or measure the round body of the device behind the panel. A tape measure is not accurate enough to tell 22 from 25, and some older equipment uses other sizes.
The hole size is only half of the answer. The plate also has to match the shape of the device's legend holder, and that varies by manufacturer:
- Round plates sit in a round bezel and can rotate if nothing locates them.
- Square or rectangular plates drop into a square holder and stay level.
- Notched or keyed plates have a tab or flat that locates in a slot on the device, so the text cannot spin.
A keyed plate will not seat in a round holder, and a round plate in a keyed holder can end up crooked. The simplest check is a photo of the old plate next to the device, plus a note of the device's hole size. If you are matching an existing plate, send the plate itself or a photo with a ruler beside it.
For a square 22 mm plate, see the 22 mm START plate, square, white on green. For a 30 mm notched style, see the 30 mm STOP plate, white on red. Both show the shape and thickness you will receive.
Step 2: Wording and line limits
A 22 mm plate has room for one or two short lines, roughly 8 to 10 characters across, depending on letter height. A 30 mm plate allows a little more. If your text will not fit at a readable size, we will tell you before anything is made, rather than shrinking it until nobody can read it from arm's length.
Keep the wording to what the operator needs at the moment of pressing:
- Use verbs and short nouns: START, STOP, RESET, FWD, REV, JOG.
- Put the equipment tag on a second line only if there are several similar stations: STOP over P-101.
- Use standard abbreviations your crew already knows, and spell out anything that could be read two ways.
Bad wording causes real problems. An unlabeled pair of black buttons marked only with arrows, or a RESET that could mean fault reset or counter reset, sends the operator to the wrong device. For wording conventions on common buttons, see the push button legend wording guide.
Step 3: Colors and what they conventionally mean
Plate color usually follows the color of the button or lamp behind it. The conventions below are widely used, but panel standards such as NFPA 79 and IEC 60204-1 set the actual rules, and your customer's specification may differ. Check the current edition and your AHJ or customer spec.
The table lists common plate colors and the meaning they conventionally carry on machine control panels.
| Plate color | Common use | Typical wording |
|---|---|---|
| White on green | Start, run, normal condition | START, RUN, ON |
| White on red | Stop, off, emergency stop | STOP, OFF, E-STOP |
| Black on yellow | Abnormal condition, caution | OVERLOAD, ALARM |
| White on blue | Mandatory action, reset | RESET |
| Black on white | General function, no safety meaning | JOG, LAMP TEST, AUTO |
If the plate color does not match the button color, operators notice. A green plate on a red button invites the wrong press. Send the button color along with the text so the plate can be matched to it.
Step 4: Toggle switches and 1/2 in panel holes
Toggle switches use a different plate. It is a rectangular plate with a center hole that the switch bushing passes through. The switch nut clamps the plate to the panel, so no holder is needed. The standard hole is 1/2 in.
The catalog item is the ON/OFF toggle switch legend plate, 30 x 44 mm, black on white, $7.50 each, $6.75 at 10 or more and $6.00 at 25 or more. Check which way the switch throws before you order. A plate that reads ON at the bottom of a vertical toggle gets flipped wrong by the first person who reads it.
Step 5: Ordering a full set, and one-piece overlays
If you are building or retrofitting a station, you do not have to enter each plate by hand. Email a panel drawing, a photo of the existing panel, or a plain text list to support@tagbuilder.net. A written quote and PDF proof come back the same business day. The proof shows every plate with its text and color so the panel builder can check it against the drawing before anything is made.
For a whole operator panel, a one-piece engraved overlay can replace a row of individual plates. One plate carries all the legends, with cutouts for each device. It keeps spacing consistent and is installed in one step, but it is made to your hole pattern, so send a dimensioned drawing and mention any device that is not the standard size.
Worked example: an 8-button station written as an order
Copy this layout line for line. Seven plates are 22 mm and one is 30 mm, with the quantity per line, wording and color.
| Position | Size | Line 1 | Line 2 | Color | Qty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S1 | 22 mm | START | (none) | White on green | 1 |
| S2 | 22 mm | STOP | (none) | White on red | 1 |
| S3 | 22 mm | FWD | (none) | Black on white | 1 |
| S4 | 22 mm | REV | (none) | Black on white | 1 |
| S5 | 22 mm | JOG | (none) | Black on white | 1 |
| S6 | 22 mm | RESET | (none) | White on blue | 1 |
| S7 | 22 mm | LAMP | TEST | Black on white | 1 |
| S8 | 30 mm | EMERGENCY | STOP | Black on yellow | 1 |
At catalog prices that is seven plates at $5.50 plus one at $6.50, or $45.00 before shipping. It is under the $49 free-shipping line, so the flat $7.95 applies. Add one more plate and shipping is free. Include the plate shape (round, square or keyed) and the device hole size in the same email.
Step 6: Price, lead time and where else you can buy
The table shows current catalog prices for the plates covered here. Quantity pricing on the toggle plate is listed on the product page.
| Item | Price each |
|---|---|
| 22 mm push-button legend plate | $5.50 |
| 30 mm push-button legend plate | $6.50 |
| ON/OFF toggle switch legend plate (30 x 44 mm, 1/2 in hole) | $7.50; $6.75 at 10+; $6.00 at 25+ |
| 4 x 2 in engraved plastic label with holes | $7.40 (adhesive-backed $10.40) |
Plates are engraved in Waterford, Pennsylvania. Most orders ship in 2-3 business days and standard within 5. Rush is available at checkout: 2-3 day, next-day, or same-day for weekday orders placed before 11:30 AM Eastern, at 1.25x, 1.5x or 2x the standard price. Shipping is free on US orders of $49 or more, otherwise a flat $7.95.
We are not the only choice, and for some jobs another source fits better. This table compares the options by type.
| Source | Good for | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Online custom engravers | Any wording, small runs, proofs by email | Ask about minimums, setup fees and whether a proof is included |
| Catalog safety-sign suppliers | Stock wording that ships fast | Custom wording is often limited, and some have quantity minimums |
| Industrial distributors | Genuine plates that match the device exactly; counter pickup | Custom text is usually a special order with a longer wait |
| Local trophy or sign shop | A single plate you need today, in person | They may not know device hole sizes or keyed shapes, so bring the old plate |
| Buying a desktop engraver | A steady flow of plates every week | Equipment, material stock, setup time and a learning curve |
If you need one plate this afternoon, a local shop or your distributor's counter is probably the better choice. Whoever you use, ask the same questions: what is the minimum, is there a setup fee, will I get a proof, what is the lead time, and what happens if the size is wrong.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I order a custom legend plate?
Choose the plate on the product page, enter your wording and color, and check out. For a set, email a list, photo or drawing to support@tagbuilder.net and a written quote and PDF proof come back the same business day.
What size legend plate do I need?
Measure the panel hole. About 22 mm takes a 22 mm plate and about 30 mm takes a 30 mm plate. Then match the shape of the device's holder, which may be round, square or keyed. A photo of the old plate next to the device settles it.
How much is a custom push button label?
A 22 mm push-button legend plate is $5.50 and a 30 mm plate is $6.50. There is no setup fee and no minimum. Shipping is free on US orders of $49 or more, otherwise a flat $7.95.
Can I get just one legend plate?
Yes. One plate is a normal order here, at the same per-plate price. Replacement plates for a single worn or wrong device are common.
How long does a custom legend plate take?
Most orders ship in 2-3 business days and standard orders within 5. Rush is available at checkout at 1.25x, 1.5x or 2x the standard price, including same-day for weekday orders before 11:30 AM Eastern.
Can one plate be made for a toggle switch?
Yes. The ON/OFF toggle legend plate is 30 x 44 mm with a 1/2 in center hole and is held by the switch nut. Other wording, such as FWD/REV or HAND/AUTO, can be sent as a custom request.
Send a photo of the panel and the wording; we'll engrave the whole set. One plate is fine.
The next step is simple: open the 30 mm STOP plate or the 22 mm plate that matches your device and order that exact plate. If your panel also has rotary switches, the selector switch labels guide covers their wording, and the E-stop legend plate guide covers emergency stop plates.
UL, NFPA, NEC, ASME, CEMA, TIA, ANSI and OSHA are names or marks of their respective organizations; TagBuilder is not affiliated with or endorsed by any of them. Requirements above are paraphrased summaries, not the text of any standard. Always work from the current published edition and your AHJ.
